Originality
Jen, Assistant Editor

    Perhaps it's just me, but every time I sit my lazy butt down to watch TV and kill brain cells with some radioactive waves, I click through channels and see the same damn show on every station. The same damn show, just a different subject and a different celebrity host. We've got the next top chef, next top model, next top hairdresser, next fashion designer who will make expensive clothes that you can't afford and even if you could they wouldn't fit you because they're made to fit a size negative 2.
     I also see the same stories and plots recycled in fanfiction. It seems that in every pirates story I read, there is an attractive girl who is skinny and yet abnormally skilled with swords and is deeply in love with Jack, and by the end of the story Jack has saved her life and fallen in love with her. The end. (And yes, we, meaning myself and you, are guilty of writing this. I admit it.) For once I would like to read something shiny and new. Perhaps Will falls in love with Jack and they get frisky in the rigging? Now that would be entertaining.
     My point is this: If you're going to write something, be it an old fanfiction or a script for a movie, make it something new and exciting instead of the same old pair of socks in your stocking on Christmas morning.

December 16, 2007

Fandom: Supernatural
Title: Do Not Pass Go
Author: psychochick1
Rating: T
Genre: General/Humor
Summary: Even the most ironclad contracts can have hidden escape clauses, exploitable with proper documentation. (taken from ff.net)

    The premise for this fiction is actually quite cute. It's based on the "get out of hell free" cards which are sold many places online, and probably in gag gift stores. The idea of the card comes from Monopoly's "get out of jail free" cards.
     In this long one-shot, which could be split into two chapters easily, Sammy is checking his e-mail when he comes across an ad for the card. It reminds him of one year when he, Dean and their father were snowed in and decided to play Monopoly when he was younger. Out favorite younger brother decided to buy the card since Dean has always bailed him out. He figures it's an appropriate gift to give to Dean and hopes that he'll find it amusing.
     The fic then jumps to Dean after his year has run out. Just as he goes to make the passage into Hell, he finds the card again. Figuring it couldn't hurt to try, he hands it over, unsure of what to expect.
     It's a really cute idea that I haven't seen all that much. Also, it balances humor with seriousness very well, especially with Dean's impending death.
     I recommend you check it out, it's well worth the time.

Reviewed by Rachel, Editor

December 16, 2007

Fandom: Supernatural
Title: Agendas
Author: Ani-maniac494
Rating: K
Genre: General
Summary: Sometimes there's more to one's motives than meets the eye. Post Fresh Blood. 3.07. Oneshot. (taken from ff.net)

    I thought that Agendas was a nicely written and unique story. Unlike most Supernatural fics, this one didn't center around the boys. This one-shot centered around one of this season's new characters, Bela.
     The fic, which I believe would make a very good full-length story, provides an explanation to why the theif enters into the brothers' lives. Now, I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but the explanation that Agendas provides is that Bela has been paid to take something from the Winchesters. There's more to this, of course, and it's a twist--yet still, this story is very plausible.
     The story leaves you wanting more at the end (and good news, the author is considering continuing it). I recommend you read it, and I hope very strongly that the writer will choose to make it a full-length.

Reviewed by Rachel, Editor

November 16, 2007

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Title: Evidence of Sephiroth's Humanity
Author: dantesdarkqueen
Rating: T
Genre: Humor
Summary:  Think about it. What was Seph like prior to Nibelheim? Did he ever have sick days, hangovers, telemarketers that would not leave him alone? Well, you can bet your ugly f-cking boots he did! And so this fic, which will eventually become a series of oneshots/drabbles, has come into being. Proof that Sephiroth is, beyond a reasonable doubt, as human as you and I! (taken from ff.net)

    Sephiroth is the big, bad enemy of Final Fantasy who is supposedly the absolutely perfect man. However, this fanfiction puts all those beliefs of Sephiroth's perfect life to rest. It would be hard to fashion this man's undoubtedly dark history into a humorous, yet occasionally thought-provoking and tear-inducing of both unconnected and connected chapters.
     With Sephiroth, Zach, the Turks, and various appearing characters both original and straight from the game, this fiction will have you rolling on the floor laughing. From a bare-naked Palmer, to a bad reaction to cough syrup, to an Herbal Essences addiction, to a four-shot of bad karaoke and embarrassing dancing, you'll laugh until your face turns blue.
     However, this story isn't all humor. With some dark chapters chronicling Sephiroth's past, such as a horrifying memory of Sephiroth's childhood to the death of a scientist who grows close to Sephiroth, your tears of laughter will turn to tears of sadness and sympathy.
     Each chapter is well-written, and seamlessly introduces each new character. Some of the characters will get confusing, mainly the various secretaries, but they don't appear all that often.
     Not all of the characters are original, or even from Final Fantasy VII. There are several characters straight from Kingdom Hearts 2 that will have you rolling, especially in the chapter Security System, Meet Reno. However, each character plays an important part in at least one chapter, and is not present just as a 'filler.' Each character has a conflict or at least one incident that they wish had never happened (such as the results of a drunken excursion in the chapter Nasty Discovery).
     I recommend this story as a must-read. With it's thought-provoking, hilarious, or sad chapters, it is definitely worth a look-see.

Reviewed by Sarah, Contributing Writer

Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Altered Destinies
Author: DobbyElfLord
Rating: T
Genre: Supernatural/Suspense
Summary:  Harry has defeated Voldemort, but it was a costly victory. Aberforth Dumbledore presents a plan to go back and kill the infant Riddle, but Harry will have to stay there 10 years. Can Harry alter the wizarding world's destiny? WWII and Grindelwald (taken from ff.net)

    This fic was amazing, to say the least. The character development involved seemed flawless.
     There is a lot of fluff, but it has wicked action scenes and people being maimed, so as a guy, I still enjoyed it. The author also didn't fall into so many of the traps most do, so he has one up on most fan fic authors in that his story made sense. It didn't seem to be written by a disgruntled 10 year-old. It's open for a sequel, and I personally can't wait. Good job DobbyElfLord and thank you for the entertainment.

..> ..>

Reviewed by Zach, Contributing Writer

For Immediate Release
November 14, 2007

Supernatural's Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki Receive High Honors on Veteran's Day

Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki received a very special honor on Sunday, November 11, 2007. Ackles and Padalecki, stars of the CW's television program, Supernatural, were special guests at Creation Entertainment's "Salute to Supernatural, Smallville and Buffy/Angel" in Schaumburg, IL.

Master Sergeant Kevin Wise, a Special Forces soldier, was in attendance at the convention. Wise joined Ackles and Padalecki on stage to announce that Supernatural Season One and Season Two are the most requested DVDs among armed forces personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wise also reported that Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc. and Kripke Entertainment, Inc. are going to send 3,000 copies of the DVDs to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wise next presented Ackles and Padalecki each with a thank you letter from General David H. Petraeus, Commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, as well as an honorary Special Forces coin from his unit.

Wise explained that five active Special Forces Groups are in existence. Each group has its own unique coin. Wise is a part of the 12-member Special Forces Unit ODA 045 or "Team Texas." To receive a coin, recipients must either become a Green Beret or be given one by a Green Beret. Civilians are rarely given a coin.

Ackles and Padalecki were very touched by the gesture, and presented Wise with a shooting script, signed by the Supernatural cast and crew.

This press release was sent by the fans of Supernatural. For more information on Creation Entertainment's "Salute to Supernatural, Smallville and Buffy/Angel", please contact Monica Gillen at monica@creationent.com .

This wonderful honor received by Jared and Jensen has been helped, in part, by the workings of Operation: Winchester, a website dedicated to sending care packages, along with a Supernatural DVD, to the troops.

You can help by logging onto Operation: Winchester and signing up to send a package to one of the troops stationed overseas.  Any information you may need about assisting with this venerable project can be found at the Operation: Winchester website:

www.operationwinchester.com

Note: This wasn't written by anyone from Fan Fiction Magazine. It is being reposted at the request of Supernatural Underground.

The Supernatural Underground Network

http://www.supernaturalunderground.com
http://www.supernaturalunderground.com/forum
http://www.myspace.com/supernaturalunderground
http://spn_underground.livejournal.com
http://www.supernaturalunderground.com/members.php

Staying In Character
September 30, 2007
By Rachel, Editor

    We all know it can be difficult staying true to the original characters in a movie, TV show, or whatever fandom it may be. Each character is just like any person. They have their own mannerisms and ways of speaking. Just as it is hard to emulate another person, it is hard to recreate a character.
     As a reader, one of the worst things is coming across a character who isn't written well. A Jack Sparrow who speaks all prim and proper, or Harry Potter saying "y'all," either way, it's not a pretty sight. No reader wants to read that, really. And no writer wants to write that.
     But it can be hard sometimes, getting out of your own skin. We've all gone and looked at something we wrote once and thought to ourselves, "What was I thinking?" I know it's happened to me more than once. It can be hard to catch these things yourself, seeing as it's your own mannerisms that are being added in. And sometimes it can be hard for someone who knows you well to catch on.
     The best way to avoid these mistakes is to find a beta-reader, someone who will look over your story for grammatical errors, spelling errors and plot holes. At least, if you have an honest beta. Often times, however, they are too scared to hurt the writers' feelings. But hey, better one person than all the readers in the world.
     Personally, I'd rather have a beta inform me that my Jack Sparrow says "Savvy" a bit too much, than get a mean review about it.
     But hey, that could just be me.

Title: Catch Me If You Can
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: T
Summary: After the final battle of the War Against Voldemort, Harry runs away from the wizarding world. His friends are determined to get him back, not matter what the cost. What happens when he gets caught? (COMPLETE) (taken from ff.net)

    The fic I recently wasted time on, "Catch Me If You Can," was possibly the biggest waste of time I've ever had in my life. I couldn't even make it through the whole thing, it was like the writer was trying to destroy English literature with just one incredibly grotesque story. You might be asking yourself what made it so bad, so I'll tell you in what I like to call the list of foolish writing plots. Harry falls in love and gets married, only to find his wife in fact hates him, so he finds a new wife who leaves him as well. Then Harry gets sick and falls into a coma and gets amnesia. At this point I deleted the fic from my favorites list and hoped that it never would grace the screen of my computer again.

Reviewed by Zach, Contributing Writer

October 17, 2007

Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: The Screams Series
Author: cloneserpent
Rating:  PG-13
Genre:  Horror

    Disturbing, dark, terrifying and most of all fantastic. I've been going through reading lately and all I ever seem to get anymore is crap, but to read something like this is a true breath of fresh air. Let me break this down for you without ruining the story too much:
     Harry is a crazy psychopathic torturer on a mission to help a friend, however the only thing this friend wants anymore is the sound of screams. More specifically the screams of those who have wronged them.
     I know what you're thinking, 'That's horrible, why would anyone do that? Why would our sweet precious Harry ever hurt people like that?' Well it's my job to tell you, so here goes. They tortured and killed Ron, they raped and killed Hermoine, and Harry as well, so he's not quite right in the head. So go forth and read this fic young men and women out there in the interweb, and think of me as you grin ear to ear as Voldemort gets raped with a table leg.

Reviewed by Zach, Contributing Writer

September 30, 2007

Fandom: Devour
Title: Choice
Author: Catalina Day
Rating:  T
Genre: Angst
Summary: Jake knows you can't choose who your parents are. Doesn't stop him from wishing. (taken from ff.net

    Choice is a brief one-shot which focuses on Jake (played by Jensen Ackles) after the movie. He wonders if he's crazy or not, but he can't get past what he's seen. All in all, I don't think he was crazy, and I think that this story takes that same point of view. I think that this one-shot is well-written, and since there are very few stories based off this movie, it's an original one.
     The beginning draws you in, and the end leaves you wanting more. This short story would make a great beginning to a full-length story. One thing I think the author could have elaborated upon was when Marisol came to visit him. There could have been some sort of dialogue between them where she acted innocent. However, it works well as it is, and it's always good to leave an audience wanting more.

Reviewed by Rachel, Editor