3-4-All #9 – AUs, Original Characters and Settings

Well the orders from Admiral Jespah are coming in thick and fast: –

http://boldlyreading.com/2013/09/13/blog-prompt-8-original-characters-and-settings/

Well trekfan, mdgarcia and SLWalker have at my time of drafting have posted their response and all three are worth reading.

What’s the best setting for an original character? Is it as a lone figure, thrust into a canon ship or situation? In a group of original characters but still in a canon ship, situation or series? Or as a stand-alone crew, group, political party or other agglomeration of individuals?

A1. Well I almost be tempt to say that question is much the same as mdgarcia reply. To me I was taught that characters exist to an extent need to suit the plot and to suit the writers’ wants/desires for the story.

When do original characters and scenarios tip the scale from new spins on familiar works to out and out non-Trek? Is there a bright line between Star Trek and not-Star Trek?

A2. Um, I’m not sure I’ve good answer for this one. You could say if it not a CBS broadcast then it not to Star Trek even if it is produced by pocket books. Though I think that is bogus answer. Instead I’ll go with a re-work of an old ruling Trek has heart and I can’t define it but I know it when I encounter it.

How can original character love interests be integrated into a more canon scenario? What about original character leaders?

A3. I would refer you to trekfan excellent story I don’t want it to end found at: –

http://www.adastrafanfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=1695

For canon characters who have very little back story or screen (or authorized book) time, what’s the tipping point between when canon converts into what is, for all intents and purposes, an original character?

A4. Hmm I think when people switch from thinking of it’s a minor character with new back-story to thinking of it as X author character that just happen to have appeared once.

For representations of canon characters in fan fiction that are not well portrayed (e.g. the author misses the mark and does not accurately represent the canon character’s language, ideals, vision, etc.), can the situation be salvaged by rewriting the story with an original character?

A5. Depends on the situation and the character role and the ability of the writers, some aren’t salvageable and I’ve done my fair share of them in the dark past. Hence why I don’t do many cannon characters. However others can be, so it a case by case question

For original settings, what makes them unique? Can an original setting be so extraordinary that it, in a way, almost becomes a nonliving type of Mary Sue?

A6. What make the original settings unique and in the AU sense this means what key fact or history diverge point is change is the question. Yes extraordinary verse might go a bit into a nonliving Mary Sue area but I’ve not seen any that I would make that statement about.

Bonus questions!

Who are some of your favorite original characters that you have created? Do you feel they fulfill their purposes?

A7. That like asking do someone have a favorite child, so I’m not going to answer it directly. They all had they moments and I enjoy them all. As for fulfilling their purpose, as they only purpose is to help me unwind and distress and hopefully enjoy their advantages then yes they all do.

What happens when you take a Mary Sue test Mary Sue test?

A8. Slight risky range, but I blame that on then been fit another for duty in Starfleet.

What are some of your favorite original settings that you have created? Did they work?

A9. Well I’ve enjoyed Lily AOS between Kelvin and Enterprise settings, because it does have failings and mistakes get made. But I’ve not done a True AU story yet. I’m also enjoying Ariane NX-04 because thanks to SLWalker gift story in last month challenge, he grown and add significantly to that setting.

Who else’s original characters do you enjoy reading the most, and why?

A10. Miranda Fave – USS Kestrel series, because it makes me laugh and yet keeps the Trek Feel. Trekfan – Hank and Bethany/USS Pearl Series, he tortures his characters emotionally and give then real challenges and you always wonder how they get out of this one. Note to self I must read more of it.

Those are the two stands out for me, but they are others like Terry Lynn Heritage book series, which paints the Riker’s children futures. Plus the environment of a potential future federation that has been sucked into another war is well detailed and written. Then there is Jespah HG Wells/TIC series, which show the dangers of time travel and how that 30^th century future might work. I’ll be honest I do enjoy all the OS that I’ve manage to read of the regular forums users, so please forgive me if I can’t name check them all but know that I would if had time/money/resource love to see any of them as fan produced shows in the style of TAS.