Fan fiction is not only a fun and worthwhile pursuit in its own right, but it has proven to be the lifeline through which its source material can continue to exist. Before Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, it existed solely as fan fiction for a good sixteen years, and many of the writers of the 2005 Who were products of fandom. People like Steven Moffat and Paul Cornell were writing fan fiction, keeping their beloved property alive any way they could! And now, Doctor Who is the most popular show on the BBC all these years later. All because fans just wouldn’t leave it alone.
Caprica’s cancellation left a void in the hearts of sci-fi fans all over the world who were only just starting to become emotionally invested in this thought-provoking show. When the final episodes aired this week, I saw so many tweets from people who weren’t crazy about the show but, having seen the final episodes, fell in love with the story and wished for more. Caprica bravely tackled themes and issues that are relevant to today’s world as well as provided a showcase for social/ethnic minority characters, and what disappointed fans most was that the show was canceled when it clearly had so much more storytelling potential.
So, I’ve decided to create an opportunity for fans to take matters into their own hands by exploring that potential themselves!
“Beginning of Line” will launch Tuesday, January 11th, and will begin with “Caprica: Season 2.” Season Two will include 18 brand new stories for you to enjoy, written by Caprica fans from all over the world! Each story will be accompanied by a piece of Caprica-inspired artwork also created by a fan, and will be posted weekly the way episodes would have aired had the show been allowed to continue. There will be as many iterations of the Caprica universe as there are contributors, and you will be free to discuss the merits and drawbacks of each in our forums. You’re also invited to submit Caprica-inspired fiction and artwork yourself!
Caprica and Battlestar fans are used to hearing the phrase “end of line,” the computer command that punctuated the Cylon Hybrid’s cryptic messages as well as titled the brilliant mid-season finale of Caprica. I believe that, despite Caprica’s cancellation, we’ve only started to discover what’s possible with these characters and with this world. Welcome to “Beginning of Line”!
“Beginning of Line” launches January 11th, on a humble Weebly site. Bookmark it and check back on Tuesday at the only place where you can find new, regularly updated stories set in the world of Caprica! And if you’re a writer or visual artist interested in hearing more about submitting work, email beginningofline@gmail.com!
The future of humanity begins with a choice. The future of Caprica begins with you.
Teresa Jusino was born on the same day that Skylab fell. Coincidence? She doesn’t think so. Her “feminist brown person” take on pop culture has been featured on websites like ChinaShopMag.com, PinkRaygun.com, Newsarama, and PopMatters.com. Her fiction has appeared in the sci-fi literary magazine, Crossed Genres, and her essay “Why Joss is More Important Than His ‘Verse” is included in the upcoming book WHEDONISTAS: A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon By the Women Who Love Them, coming in March 2011! Get Twitterpated with Teresa, or visit her at The Teresa Jusino Experience.
Doctor Who did not exist as “fan fiction” for 16 years. The likes of Paul Cornell and many others wrote fully licensed and offical Doctor Who fiction for first Virgin with the New Adventures and then the BBC with the 8th Doctor range (Amongst many past Doctor adventures too.
Believe me. All those books on the shelves at home aren’t fan fiction :)
Weebly link says site not published.
Says it starts Januarius 11. 10 days after Kalends and 2 before the Ides of Januarius.
@Flab – I guess I still consider that fan fiction just like I consider Star Trek novels fan fiction, as I consider Neil Gaiman’s short story “A Study In Emerald” Sherlock Holmes fan fic. Just because someone’s gotten paid, doesn’t mean it isn’t fan fiction. (though there can be debate as to what qualifies as fan fiction, I don’t like the idea that fan fiction is over here and professionally written/licensed fiction is over there. I firmly believe that when Neil Gaiman sat down to write his Doctor Who script for his upcoming episode, he was writing fan fiction. It just so happens that it actually gets to be an episode!) :) But what I was getting at was the unlicensed stuff that both those men have spoken about writing: contributing to fan magazines and anthologies. That’s really what I was talking about.
@Jedikalos – No, it isn’t, as it’s still being tweaked. Hand on heart it will be published and live on the 11th.
@skylark Thibedeau – Ha! Nice. Thank you!
@TeresaJusino. I hope you’ve gotten permissions from NBC-U. The Battlestar Pacifica RPG which had been ongoing since 2007 in Second Life recently got a DMCA takedown notice.
Skylark Thibedeau @5 – I’ve made inquiries into the legalities, and apparently it’s cool as long as no one’s making any money off of this. They don’t generally go after fan fic on the net if it’s free. My original idea was to publish an anthology of fanfic with the proceeds going to charity, but that got kiboshed real quick! It was suggested that I just make it a website instead, which I’m doing!
If further permissions end up being required, however, I’ll get them. I’m not looking to infringe on anyone’s IP! As of right now, though, it doesn’t seem necessary.
Skylark Thibedeau @5 – Also, there’s that licensed BSG Online game on Syfy.com. NBC/Uni probably went after BSG Pacifica because it had plans for its own game. Until they want to do something else with the Caprica property (which would be awesome! But unlikely for the moment…), I think this effort is safe.
@TeresaJusino. I know! I’m doing the Closed Beta. I fear an off hand comment in a conversation about the SL sims may have triggered the DMCA but I was told by a sim owner it was probably a disgruntled player who had been kicked out of BSG 47 and all of the spinoffs that complained.
I was so anxious to go to your site I totally missed the date right before it. Back I shall be when it is up!
Since this part of the world never even saw the show… will there be some orientation/background for those of us who have never seen it? Or is this just for those who are already invested?
Got the DVD set this week in New Zealand. Had no idea this existed, and it’s a shame Syfy axed another awesome show. This ratings stuff clearly undermines the stories we love to watch, ideas and ideals that challenge our inhibitions. Clearly the real world of money and corporate greed is too far removed from us mere mortals for our sci-fi fix.
I was hoping to find writers I wrote with from the Xenaverse. Perhaps they came here.
I’m forming my own ideas about where the cylons cold war truce with humanity will lead.