Can I just admit that I'm addicted to LotR fanfiction? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lush · 06-14-2008, 04:52 PM

I just need to stand up and say it: my name is Lush, and I am an addict.

I'm not into the slash, but otherwise, some of the original characters people come up with are just awesome. And yes, before anyone asks, I do gravitate toward the less family-friendly ones (which is why I'm not providing any links to my favourites on this family-friendly site).

It's like being in a thrift store - you have to dig around for the really good stuff, which makes the experience all the more rewarding.

This latest flare-up (I've been going through phases, for the past 7 years, since discovering Tolkien) could have something to do with the fact that I speak little Arabic, have no license, and find going out to the decent bookstores to be a huge hassle. I am not sure. It could also have something to do with playing Elder Scrolls, and being confronted with the enormity of Tolkien's influence over and over again.

Most importantly though, I've been wondering how much of my addiction has been influenced by my own relationship with Tolkien's work. Not in the sense that I think it can or should be improved (I'm just saying that in case anyone wants to kill me with sticks), but in the sense of how it can really crack open your mind and create these entirely new vistas within it.

Anyone else ever ponder this? Or am I the only fanfic-addicted weirdo on the Barrow-Downs at present?

P.S. Ever notice how some of the fanfics explore the concept of death? The intrepid Mary Sue/Marty Stu (or a better character) just, I dunno, falls through a crack in space-time and ends up in Middle Earth. There's something so afterlife-ish about this.

Nerwen · 06-14-2008, 09:45 PM

That's fine, Lush. In another incarnation, I'm addicted to MST-ing LOTR fan-fiction.

Lush · 06-15-2008, 04:20 AM

Yesss! And fanfiction is a great way to dork-out.

Estelyn Telcontar · 06-15-2008, 12:03 PM

Some fan fiction can be a great supplement to Tolkien's stories. Those of you who have recommendations - or are looking for some - please check out the *Fan Fiction Information* thread.

Morthoron · 06-15-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Some fan fiction can be a great supplement to Tolkien's stories. Those of you who have recommendations - or are looking for some - please check out the *Fan Fiction Information* thread.

Ummm...Estelyn, I can't even access the fan-fic forum any longer. And what I remember from when that forum was arbitrarily condensed months ago, all the newer stories (including mine) were abruptly terminated. I often enjoy reading other folk's fan-fic, but when I can't participate (the only reason seemingly being that I am not one of the 'original and accepted' posters) it leaves a rather bad taste in one's mouth.

By the way, here's the error message:

Error including required files: Can't locate /home2/barrowwight/cgi-bin/vars_display.cgi in @INC (@INC contains: /usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i686-linux /usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8 /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8/i686-linux /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.8 /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.7 /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.6 /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/5.8.5 /usr/lib/perl5/site_perl .) at ultimatebb.cgi line 54.
No such file or directory
Make sure these files exist, permissions are set properly, and paths are set correctly.

Estelyn Telcontar · 06-15-2008, 12:32 PM

Morthoron, I get the exact same error message, so it's not a personal problem of yours. I would guess that it's a remnant of the problems we had with forum software in the past. I will check with The Barrow-Wight to see what he can do about it - thanks for alerting the rest of us to the problem!

06-14-2008, 04:52 PM	#1
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	Can I just admit that I'm addicted to LotR fanfiction? I just need to stand up and say it: my name is Lush, and I am an addict. I'm not into the slash, but otherwise, some of the original characters people come up with are just awesome. And yes, before anyone asks, I do gravitate toward the less family-friendly ones (which is why I'm not providing any links to my favourites on this family-friendly site). It's like being in a thrift store - you have to dig around for the really good stuff, which makes the experience all the more rewarding. This latest flare-up (I've been going through phases, for the past 7 years, since discovering Tolkien) could have something to do with the fact that I speak little Arabic, have no license, and find going out to the decent bookstores to be a huge hassle. I am not sure. It could also have something to do with playing Elder Scrolls, and being confronted with the enormity of Tolkien's influence over and over again. Most importantly though, I've been wondering how much of my addiction has been influenced by my own relationship with Tolkien's work. Not in the sense that I think it can or should be improved (I'm just saying that in case anyone wants to kill me with sticks), but in the sense of how it can really crack open your mind and create these entirely new vistas within it. Anyone else ever ponder this? Or am I the only fanfic-addicted weirdo on the Barrow-Downs at present? P.S. Ever notice how some of the fanfics explore the concept of death? The intrepid Mary Sue/Marty Stu (or a better character) just, I dunno, falls through a crack in space-time and ends up in Middle Earth. There's something so afterlife-ish about this. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ Last edited by Lush; 06-14-2008 at 05:15 PM. Reason: because i had more to say :)

06-14-2008, 09:45 PM	#2
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	My name is Nerwen, and I am also an addict. That's fine, Lush. In another incarnation, I'm addicted to MST-ing LOTR fan-fiction. __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo.

06-15-2008, 04:20 AM	#3
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	Yesss! And fanfiction is a great way to dork-out. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

06-15-2008, 12:03 PM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Some fan fiction can be a great supplement to Tolkien's stories. Those of you who have recommendations - or are looking for some - please check out the Fan Fiction Information thread. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

06-15-2008, 12:32 PM	#6
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Morthoron, I get the exact same error message, so it's not a personal problem of yours. I would guess that it's a remnant of the problems we had with forum software in the past. I will check with The Barrow-Wight to see what he can do about it - thanks for alerting the rest of us to the problem! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'