Day 4 of 5: Slash Meme
Dec. 15th, 2011 12:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormkeeper_lovedorisNow we move onto slash pairings from literature. I know that certain factions of the LGBT community don’t appreciate fictional gay male couples written by straight women (or, for that matter, fictional lesbian couples written by straight men or straight women), so I am going against the grain with these last two pairings.
Oh, and I don’t have an icon of this pairing, so I’ll just pick the “next in the rotation” icon.
DAY FOUR: GARETH/JOHNNY (THE SEVENWATERS SAGA BY JULIET MARILLIER)
How did I first get into this pairing?
I was reading the 4th book in the Sevenwaters saga (“Heir to Sevenwaters”) and saying to myself how much I loved the series but that I sure wished there would be a character who was attracted to others of the same sex. And then, lo and behold, one of the lead characters mentions to another that Johnny and Gareth are more than friends. It’s a complicated scenario for Sevenwaters because Johnny is heir to this chieftainship and once he takes over, he will be expected to produce an heir of his own. Johnny and Gareth are both important characters in this book and its follow-up (“Seer of Sevenwaters”) although the books definitely aren’t centered around them. As soon as I read about them though, I liked the pairing a lot. The author portrays them well.
Have I written about them?
No because I feel a little weird about writing about characters who aren’t part of a huge, big-money franchise but rather belong to one, lone author. The other reason is there’s just not much of a fandom for these two and when I write, I do want someone to read it. Having said that, a fierce plot bunny has been toying with me for the past few days. Maybe if I could find even one other person who would say they’d read it….
What I do like about them?
The author really conveys that they are soulmates - both men are warriors, lovers, and best friends. They are also a good contrast – whereas Johnny is a leader and heir to Sevenwaters, Gareth is more affable and easy-going. It’s enjoyable to read about.
Where’s the fandom at nowadays?
Unfortunately, not anywhere that I can find. The author has plenty of fansites, official sites, and there’s some good discussion on her works out there, but not much on these two characters specifically. I did locate a Gareth/Johnny fanfic on LJ and left the author some nice feedback but didn’t hear from her. That one fanfic is all I have found. I was surprised that there’s no section for this series or writer on ffnet. And even worse, the author has gotten some flack (on goodreads.com, and perhaps from other sources per an email reply she sent me) for including a same-sex couple in this saga, a fact which I vented about during an earlier post. I did find some positive responses to the pairing on a fanboard for Marillier, but I’m pretty much shipping these two alone.
Also, a sixth book in the series in due out in November 2012, though unfortunately the author told me that Johnny and Gareth aren’t in it. She did say that she hasn’t ruled out the idea of writing about them again someday. I can dream.
Oh, and I don’t have an icon of this pairing, so I’ll just pick the “next in the rotation” icon.
DAY FOUR: GARETH/JOHNNY (THE SEVENWATERS SAGA BY JULIET MARILLIER)
How did I first get into this pairing?
I was reading the 4th book in the Sevenwaters saga (“Heir to Sevenwaters”) and saying to myself how much I loved the series but that I sure wished there would be a character who was attracted to others of the same sex. And then, lo and behold, one of the lead characters mentions to another that Johnny and Gareth are more than friends. It’s a complicated scenario for Sevenwaters because Johnny is heir to this chieftainship and once he takes over, he will be expected to produce an heir of his own. Johnny and Gareth are both important characters in this book and its follow-up (“Seer of Sevenwaters”) although the books definitely aren’t centered around them. As soon as I read about them though, I liked the pairing a lot. The author portrays them well.
Have I written about them?
No because I feel a little weird about writing about characters who aren’t part of a huge, big-money franchise but rather belong to one, lone author. The other reason is there’s just not much of a fandom for these two and when I write, I do want someone to read it. Having said that, a fierce plot bunny has been toying with me for the past few days. Maybe if I could find even one other person who would say they’d read it….
What I do like about them?
The author really conveys that they are soulmates - both men are warriors, lovers, and best friends. They are also a good contrast – whereas Johnny is a leader and heir to Sevenwaters, Gareth is more affable and easy-going. It’s enjoyable to read about.
Where’s the fandom at nowadays?
Unfortunately, not anywhere that I can find. The author has plenty of fansites, official sites, and there’s some good discussion on her works out there, but not much on these two characters specifically. I did locate a Gareth/Johnny fanfic on LJ and left the author some nice feedback but didn’t hear from her. That one fanfic is all I have found. I was surprised that there’s no section for this series or writer on ffnet. And even worse, the author has gotten some flack (on goodreads.com, and perhaps from other sources per an email reply she sent me) for including a same-sex couple in this saga, a fact which I vented about during an earlier post. I did find some positive responses to the pairing on a fanboard for Marillier, but I’m pretty much shipping these two alone.
Also, a sixth book in the series in due out in November 2012, though unfortunately the author told me that Johnny and Gareth aren’t in it. She did say that she hasn’t ruled out the idea of writing about them again someday. I can dream.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-12-15 08:48 pm (UTC)Well, I don't know if it was good, I got only one comment from a person who isn't familiar with HP, but at least I had fun writing it *lol*
no subject
Date: 2011-12-15 09:16 pm (UTC)Well, I don't know if it was good, I got only one comment from a person who isn't familiar with HP, but at least I had fun writing it *lol*
I guess that is the most important thing then - that you enjoyed writing it!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-16 08:01 pm (UTC)Yup :D I love writing for my unpopular pairings. I keep hoping that people who ship them too will find them and we'll have fun squeeing together!