Fanfic as a more displined form of speculation (was: Adopted!Harry)

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 58048

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "psychic_serpent" 
<psychic_serpent at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "m.steinberger" 
> <steinber at z...> wrote:
<snip theory about 18 year old Harry>  
Barb wrote:
> 
> I don't think most people have a problem with Time-Turning in 
> general; although some people have voiced a dissatisfaction with 
> JKR's having used this to solve the saving-Sirius-and-Buckbeak 
> problem in PoA, I know of many, many people who cite PoA as their 
> favorite book in the canon thus far.  I reckon that your view may 
> hinge on how much you consider this to be 'cheating,' or perhaps 
how 
> much exposure you've had to time-travel stories in science fiction 
> and fantasy (too much, I suspect, might make you more jaded about 
it 
> rather than more accepting).
> 
> Many folks are also divided about fanfiction.  Some people think 
> it 'contaminates' one's perception of the canon, while others find 
> it to be a more disciplined form of speculation about the canon, 
> even more so than posting on a list like this, as it forces the 
> fanfiction author to really think about the implications of the 
> theories that he/she is proposing and to work out as many of the 
> details as possible (assuming that's what the person is doing with 
> the fanfiction--some is more wishful thinking or 'what-if,' rather 
> than speculation about what has happened or will happen).
> 
> Unfortunately, if the theory at the top of this post were put into 
> the form of speculative fanfiction, it would be full of plot holes 
> and inconsistencies, both internal inconsistences and canon 
> inconsistencies.  


Me (Valky):

Hi Barb,
What you are saying is true. I must however make a little argument in 
defense of my own contributions, and I hope others, to the threads 
that you are referring to.
Fanfic is curious to me, as my mother was a noted fanfic writer in 
the sci-fi genre for many years. Curious, yes, but lacking any real 
personal appeal.

For me, reading the HP series takes me back to my childhood days of 
The Fabulous Five, by Enid Blyton. When the Child sleuth genre was at 
a height of popularity. 

IMHO I think we all need to ascertain that, due to the mass appeal of 
JK Rowlings cross-genre style, there will be some comprimise on the 
fandom with which we collaborate. 
Frankly I say that the Wizard Series fits many criteria of the 
Mystery/Sleuth genre. THese books are consistently presenting a 
challenge to the amateur sleuth, and personally its the most intense 
joy I get from reading them. 

As such, I must request a reprieve from further like judgement by my 
fellow fans.  

My amateur sleuthing, albeit "undisciplined" and "full of plotholes", 
is just that. It may well be improved by translation into fan 
fiction, or completely disproved.

I may also be totally inept at the activity. :P 
Yeah I guess I am, because my professional name does not start with 
Detective Inspector.

I intend no offence to those who puport Fan fiction to be more 
disciplined an art, I must say. :D THere is great merit to such a 
statement, and despite my blood relationship to a great fanfic writer 
no apt talent in me.
 
cheerfully 
Valky

=^O^=::::::"THe only one against whom i intend to work" said 
Dumbledore "is Lord Voldemort. If you are against him, then we 
remain, Cornelius, on the same side.::::::::::=^O^=