Amplirecathon 2011: Strange Professions, Unusual Identities

[podcath]

Amplirecathon 2011 Entries

I was wrecking my brain for a good way to start this amplirecathon. I first wanted to look at the way music and audio changes and sound effects were effectively used, but I knew I'd have to relisten to a lot of things and didn't have enough time for that. So I stuck to a thematic rec list. I initially had thought about expanding my worldbuilding rec list from last year (such as the brilliant and beautifully read bandom story The Sky High City (written by Sevenfists, read by Inkjunket), but I couldn't find enough different ones to fit.

I've always loved AUs, especially when the new jobs and identities seem so utterly at odds with the characters we know yet at heart we *recognize* them nevertheless. So this rec list is effectively created in honor of the wonderful gem of a story that is Setissma's Wide Open Sea. In this story, John ends up working in a marine lab and yet he is the John we know and love. A good AU for me takes not necessarily the outward signifiers (John loves flying) but instead looks at what these things represent (a passion for something, interest in the unknown, freedom and safety from other people) and creates a character where these characteristics take on a different shape.

This rec list, then, looks at AUs where the characters hold entirely different professions and jobs, live entirely different lives--and yet they're still themselves. However, I avoided two categories (or the list would have been much longer): (1) stories that are road-not-taken AUs, and stories where the fields are related (music star instead of actor and vice versa; physics professor instead of physicist in SGA, present day prince, etc); and (2) rentboys, strippers, pornstars, etc. on the one and school and uni AUs on the other hand. In both these categories there are so many excellent ones that I felt they should constitute their own lists.

I wanted to spread it over fandoms, authors, readers, but came across something I'd long noticed and pondered: some fandoms just have more/better AUs. Add to that that podfic is a tiny selection, and it was difficult to find anything in some fandoms I listen to (HP, Merlin, SPN) and hard to pick amongst its wealth in others. So instead, I tried to not repeat professions and I looked for stories where the professions were somewhat central to characterization and/or plot. There are many more, but I hope this proves a nice cross-section.


Strange Professions, Unusual Identities

Assassins AI (Kris/Adam) - winterlive - All These Things That I've Done (read by klb): [m4b, 44.6 MB, 1:35:01] Klb's reading is a bit more acted out than many other readers', but for AI, and especially since this is from Adam's point of view, it's perfect. It's a seemingly out of character AU that nevertheless works with our sense of Adam and Kris and their perceived dynamic. Klb got me into listening to AI for the most part, and her readings thus are exactly how I think of the two. Crazed intended violence and hot sex round out this lovely podfic!

Spies J2 (Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki) - fleshflutter - Someone You Might Have Been (read by fayjay): [m4b, 316.4 MB, 11:03:52] there are many amazing AUs in J2, but even with this steep competition, Fleshflutter's epic stands out. Jared is a government spy/assassin and Jensen is his handler, and the crazed and complex journey starts from there. Fayjay brings her brilliant style to the story and makes this eleven-hour-performance seem effortless and immensely enjoyable. This is a pleasurable tour de force on all levels. [musical intro]

Soldiers J2 (Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki) - Tabaqui - South China Sea (read by juice817): [m4b, 25 MB, 52:09] When first listening to this podfic I was uncertain how to feel. Tabaqui's a great writer and Juice817 one of my favorite readers, yet I always feel uncomfortable when our guys are set into historical situations, especially devastating and traumatic ones. I feel in the end the story walks the fine balance of Jensen and Jared as Vietnam soldiers during the war and in the aftermath. It's a story that has stayed with me for a long time and got me thinking, so between that and the beautiful reading, I'm including it.

Aristocrat and new money AI (Kris Allen/Adam Lambert) - Astolat - A Matter of Inconvenience (read by lunchy_munchy): [m4b, 58.6 MB, 2:03:24] This story is a tad outside of the realm of this rec list insofar as it is a historical AU (and in a fictional gay-men-can-get-married Regency one to boot), but it's realist otherwise and certainly places them in a different socio-economic and professional setting to see how that changes all main characters. It's Astolat, which pretty much guarantees great writing, plotting, and consistent characters. The reading is great in terms of performance but quality-wise it has a metally static sound to it. It's easy to get used to and lunch_munchy's animated reading of the dialog makes it worth it!

Hockey players DS (Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski) - dira sudis - Hawks and Hands (read by issaro): [m4b, 381 MB, 26:30:00] Issaro was one of the first podficcers I listened to, and I fell in love with her long, calm, high quality readings. This recording was actually the result of an auction, if I remember correctly, and luckily so--Hawks and Hands is a central AU not just in DS fandom but, I'd argue, in fandom period. Ray and Fraser are clearly themselves but also these hockey players, and there's great characterization and intriguing plot. The reading is pretty much flawless and consistent, which is particularly impressive given the length, and the sound quality is excellent. It's a tad slower than I prefer, but that's both Issaro's style and DS standard i'd say.

Tennis players J2 (Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki) - lazy_daze - Topspin (read by chemm80): [m4b, 140 MB, 4:47:34] I don't even like tennis, but this story and its reading makes me be there right smack in the center and makes me care! The AU manages to translate the J2 characterizations into their different styles, and the reading is engaged and consistent. [musical intro]

Race car driversSGA (Rodney McKay/John Sheppard) - Celli Lane - Fireball (read by shaenie): [m4b, 72.7 MB, 2:34:27] This is a perfect AU in the way i was looking for: we have all the characters we love and they are all in character both in terms of themselves and their dynamics yet the world that is depicted couldn't be farther from Atlantis. This is NASCAR, something I care extremely little about and yet the story had me on the edge of my seat. I cared! I loved it as a story and then shaenie's superb reading brought it to me as a podfic with great reading (she has a very soothing voice that allows me to focus on the exciting plot!) with no distracting sound issues whatsoever. A real treat!

University professors DS (Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski) - The Hoyden - Academic Punk (read by luzula): [m4b, 129.1 MB, 2:21:28] Luzula is one of the few non-native speakers I thoroughly enjoy listening to (and that is not meant as a comment on other non-native reader as much as it is about my own listening position as ESL). on the whole her reading is a tad slower and with that more solemn than I prefer, but I think that may be a DS style (I've noticed it in other fic and she and I have had long conversations about that :) The story is a fun and quirky university AU (and for Ray and Fraser being profs is sufficiently AU in a way that it isn't for Rodney, for example, so thua I included it...plus DS!!!)

Aquarium worker and vet SGA (Rodney McKay/John Sheppard) - Setissma - Wide Open Ocean (read by Winkingstar): [m4b, 30.1 MB, 1:02:51] I loved this story when it was first posted, and Winkingstar's quiet, confident reading perfectly does it justice. John is undersocialized in a way we're used to, though for very different reasons than in canon. He escapes into the world of the sea and its mammals rather than the air, and the story as well as the reading mirror his disconnectedness. Rodney's loud and obnoxious and the only real character voice in the reading, which otherwise keeps John's even point of view sound. The sound quality is excellent with great editing that leaves the reader the focus on the story.

Anti-globalization protesters SGA (Rodney McKay/John Sheppard) - Sapote3 - The One Where They're Anti Globalisation Protesters (read by Izzady) [m4b, 24.1 MB, 48:19] This is an odd little story in that even at its length it feels almost vignette-like, i.e., it picks up and almost almost in media res. At the same time, we still know and learn all we need to: our team are all involved to varying degrees in anti-establishment, pro-environment, anti-globalization protests. I know very little about that particular subculture, but I assume the author does, which makes the SGA version an intriguing mix between our fannish familiar characters and these RL situations. Izzady's reading is slightly self-amused, which is perfect for this story. The sound quality is OK (there's a slight background hum that doesn't distract though) and her reading very engaging.

CEO and barista!activist Merlin (Merlin/Arthur Pendragon) - Ras Elased - Two Weeks Notice (read by Jenna Corinth) [m4b, 124 MB, 4:17:36] This fits borderline into my category, given that Merlin's barista job is not quite central, but it was hard to find Merlin AUs that don't replicate their canon dynamic professionally, and it's a fun story all around. The reading is good, though there are some background noises, mostly because the recording's clean otherwise. The characters don't have distinct voices but it's clear nontheless at any point who's speaking and the reading's consistent. The Merlin/Arthur storyline's lovely and much of their canon engagement translates into the present and their different situation. The magic prohibition is updated into arguments over environmental concerns, and side characters (Morgana, Gwen, Lance) are likewise updated.

Baker and artist Bandom (My Chemical Romance: Frank Iero/Gerard Way) jjtaylor - Buy handmade (read by falter): [m4b, 53.2 MB, 1:49:02] I don't really listen to bandom and I adore this story. It's strange and quirky, and I can't really say how canonical this AU is, but I love this Frank who decides that he rather bake bread than work as a tech nerd and this Gerard who's a creator of quite odd artifacts. Their courtship is quirky and sweet, mostly conducted via their creations and their mutual understanding of how much these things mean. The reading is calm and evenly paced with no errors or noises and is perfect for this story and its quiet passion. The other guys feature centrally as well and are likewise well drawn. The whole story feels much shorter, which probably means I didn't realize that I was listening for nearly two hours!

Doctor and architect J2 (Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki) - Audrarose - So close to my heart (read by Juice817): [m4b, 41.5 MB, 1:28:33] I could easily create a list of favorite J2AUs read by juice817 and fill an entire rec list. Even having to restrict myself, I had to pick this one, even though it has kids (well, one :) in it. I'm not a big kid!fic fan, but I like the way Jensen, the single dad, and Jared, the doctor who treats his child and loves him desperately, interact with the kid and one another. Juice817's reading is engaging as always and she makes this story a joy to listen to.

Author and bookstore owner J2 (Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki) - cjmarlowe - Let Us Compare Mythologies (read by weimar27): [m4b, 43 MB, 1:32:54] I adored this story when I first read it and weimar27 definitely delivered in her excellent reading. Jensen and Jared see one another across the street, one a novelist starting to write again, the other a bookstore owner attracted to that mystery man in the coffee shop. The sound quality is a bit lower than most of the other recommended stories but it only takes a few minutes to get used to the slightly dulled sound. It's definitely worth a listen.

Biologist and life guard J2 (Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki) - gretazreta - A Bright and Golden Streak of Land (read by chemm80): [m4b, 50 MB, 1:42:31] I tried to not double any authors or readers but Chemm80 is not only an amazing (and amazingly consistent) reader but is also scarily prolific--and loves AUs. I fell in love with this quiet story of Jensen, the life guard, who rescues Jared and they weirdly and quietly begin a friend- and relationship. Gretazreta's prose is fitting for this quiet and hesitant and ultimately traumatized Jensen as is Chemm80s reading. A real treat that felt much shorter while never feeling rushed.

Comments

[frogspace.livejournal.com]

but it was hard to find Merlin AUs that don't replicate their canon dynamic professionally

That might be because their profession is a huge part of who these characters are in relation to each other. Taking that away tends to make them OOC in AUs so you won't find many (good) AUs that don't replicate that dynamic *and* don't use a popular AU trope that compensates for the lack of canon dynamic. Other than that, Merlin fandom right now is probably 70% AU and 30% canon era fic.

Thanks for the recs!

[podcath]

Yes, exactly. I've been trying for years to come up with a formula as to which fandom create real AUs (vs ARs), and still haven't quite come up with one. I mean, Sentinel shouldn't, right? You need the sentinel ability and you kinda need the cop and yet...amazing IC AUs... Whereas HP or Merlin? Much harder...

And then it's even harder, of course, to get a good cross-section in podfic (i.e., even if the fic exists, maybe it isn't podficced)

[anie_chan]

Thank you for this rec!

[podcath]

You're totally welcome! Hope you find some new favorites :)

[klb]

Wow, okay, I was so excited for the first amplirecathon post today—I've been basically leaning on refresh all day—and when it arrived, it came with an extra wonderful surprise! All These Things is my favorite of the AI podfics I made, and it's also one of my favorite AI fics for the exact reason you talk about on your list. The characterizations are so different from who Kris and Adam are in canon, and yet so completely recognizably them.

This is a really cool theme for a rec list. And thank you for making each rec so thorough. From this list, I'd only listened to Buy Handmade and A Matter of Inconvenience, and now your descriptions give me plenty of information to decide which of the other ones I want to try first. I am leaning towards A Bright and Golden Streak of Land and Fireball to start, but I will probably come back for more!

[podcath]

\o/ Your response was exactly what I hoped for (well, nor our mutual love fest for you as a reader and All These Things, though I agree that your reading and that story are just perfect :): trusting a reccer is a pretty big thing, so rec posts where I know nothing make me uncertain if we have any shared interests/tastes, whereas rec posts where I pretty much already know every piece are effectively fun but won't get me new fic! So i'm glad I could provide that great mix :)

I adore AUs, and one of the reasons I do is that I actually love them as entries into new fandoms. I know many people feel differently and i know that i miss layers that do engage intertextually with the source text, but an AU has to create its own world, so that it is comprehensible even in the absence of knowing the source and yet gives clear ideas who these characters and their dynamic are...

Lemme know how you like them. And I can't wait to see all the rec posts either :)

[luzula]

Several of these look interesting and I will check them out! And thanks for the rec. I really do feel that my reading style has changed (to become faster, among other things) since I recorded "Academic Punk", though--in fact, I don't like many of my earlier recordings any longer. Ah well.

[podcath]

I know we've had that conversation, and you know i prefer the slightly faster reading, but I, otoh, just listened to one of my first ones and it way too fast! So i'm going the other way oddly enough :) Academic Punk is still a great read, and on the too fast or too slow, I actually prefer erring on the side of too slow...at least it remains comprehensible, whereas my first was almost impossible to listen to!

I hope you'll enjoy some of them. Esp. the RPF ones (bandom, AI, and J2) all work pretty well without knowing the characters and are just really great stories and readings.

[jennacorinth]

What an amazing list! I feel unbelievably honoured that I am among your recs. Two Weeks Notice was my first podfic so I'm really pleased you enjoyed it.

I adore AUs beyond belief, so I've listened to a few here (Hawks and Hands, Wide Open Ocean, A Bright and Golden Streak of Land) but I'm going to definitely be downloading and listening to the rest of these. The time and effort you've put into compiling this extensive list really shows and your well thought out comments on each really give a feel for each story.

Fantastic rec post. Thank you :)

[podcath]

Thank you for commenting and for appreciating it! I was out of town for the last few days and actually would listen to a story and then get up in the middle of the night to write down my thoughts. I had little internet access, so i was glad I'd made my pick before :)

Two week Notice is a great reading, and I wasn't even aware it was your first, which makes it even more impressive! I like each one of these stories a lot! In fact, had I but world enough and time, I could have probably doubled this list (and including school and rentboy the sky would have been the almost limit :)

i'm glad if it gives you some new stories to listen to. Somehow for me it's easier to listen to a fandom I'm not really invested in than to read. So here's to a great recathon with lots of new stories for every one of us :)

[crinklysolution]

Happily snagging Topspin, Wide Open Ocean, and Let Us Compare Mythologies - haven't heard any of these, and now looking forward to some new podfic...

[podcath]

I think you'll like all of them. I especially adore Wide Open Ocean to pieces...it's one of my going to sleep podfic :)

[applegeuse.livejournal.com]

AHHH I am so pleased that this rec list has many J2 AUs, only one of which I've actually listened to (Someone You Might Have Been). I think I've only listened to a few J2 AUs so far (the one I mentioned being my first) and I realized today, in the middle of listening to one, that I absolutely and utterly adore them.

Sometimes reading them just doesn't do it for me the same way listening to them does. I've noticed that I can get bored reading them sometimes, but listening to them... Well, if they're really humorous, I get all wrapped up in the reader's enthusiasm and probably end up laughing a lot more than I would've if I'd read it. And listening sort of lets me imagine the new world in a better way. I can't quite put my finger on it.

Anyway. Thanks so much for compiling this rec list, and for coming up with such thoughtful commentary on the readings!

[podcath]

I hope someone does a pure J2 rec post. There are so many more recs i could have included that fit into this theme and then a bunch more if i included rentboys and actor AUs and music star AUs and school AUs. And that's just the amazing AUs :)

You're gonna love discovering all that J2 has to offer :) And thanks for your comment on my commentary. It's hard, but I love every one of these, and I hope that came through :)

Thanks for commenting. and I totally agree. Listening is a very different experience than reading. There are stories I love to read but don't like in podfic form and vice versa....

[lunate8]

I'm so glad you included Izzady's podfic! It was one of audiofics I listened to for the Critical Feedback exchange last year, and her love for the story really comes through.

[podcath]

It's such a strange little story and I love Izzady's take on it, because it's loving but almost with a tiny touch of irony--or maybe just self awareness--just the way the story is. I have listened to it a bunch of times and really enjoy it :)

[starrylizard]

The only fandom I ever felt lent itself really well to such AUs was SGA. I think that says something about the forceful nature of the wonderful characters in the show perhaps, but AUs generally don't work for me in other fandoms so much.

Grabbed the SGA ones here and I may be sucked in to trying some of the others too. Since you say they work. :D

Thanks

[podcath]

Oh, nothing beats RPF in terms of AUs, I think. Popslash used to be amazing and bandom and J2 both have tons of brilliant AUs. So I hope you give some of them a try if you're into AUs. And the SGA are definitely wonderful. Because I agree that SGA spawned some gorgeous AUs!

[starrylizard]

I don't usually read RPF, but the few I have read have been really really AU, which is the only reason I could comfortably read them. So I know what you mean. Thanks!

May I ask what Bandom encompasses? Is it any RPF with band members in it? I've never quite figured out the term.

[podcath]

Oh no, bandom is a specific set of bands, most specifically My Chemical Romance, Fallou Boy, and Panic at the Disco. See here for a primer with images (http://pantstomatch.net/primer/index.html).

Usually RPF is named after its source text (like SGARPF) but some of the huger RP fandoms have their own names. The early ones, lotrips and popslash, and recently J2 (which really often includes all kinds of WB shows RPF, or at least different SPNRPF)

Yes, more than you wanted to know :D

[winkingstar]

Way belatedly, thank you for the rec! Wide Open Ocean is one of my recordings that I'm most proud of. And I deeply appreciate you taking note of the sound quality! Editing is so tedious and headachy, it's so wonderful to have someone notice the result. :)

Will definitely check out some of your other recs too!

[podcath]

Oh, very belatedly thank you!!! It's a beautiful story and your reading is just amazingly perfect for it. I think John's loneliness is very much there in the written version but in your reading it becomes truly haunting. And I spend a lot of effort on having clean recordings and cutting out all background noises and clicks and hisses (mostly :), so yes, that's something I think is definitely worth noting. It's work that isn't immediately noticeable a lot of times but for me it separates the tolerable from the really good (other things all being equal). I can't list how often I've listened to Wide Open Ocean--when i was in SGA probably a dozen or two...and several times since. And twice since I started planning this rec post :)

[podcath]

Also, in case you didn't see it. Check out this rec: http://community.livejournal.com/amplificathon/889989.html!!!

[lunchee]

I know its been ages, but THANK YOU for the shout out!

I love AUs with a burning passion, so this rec list is like, A GOLD MINE. Thank you for so many awesome recs!! I really appreciate that you went into some detail about why you liked each pod :) I love it when people do that!