Gwennie's fanfiction

[SpuffyGlitz]

So, thanks to Priceless, I've discovered the author Gwennie and recently read her fic Basked - which I just loved.


I found four more of her fics on EF, and am opening this thread as an informal space to share thoughts on them.
(I dipped into Demons I Have Known and found myself really wanting to discuss it - there were parts I loved, and other parts that traumatised me a little) My favourite is still Basked, and least favourite are Demons I Have Known and Help You Do What? But she's an absolutely amazing writer. I'm also wondering if there are more fics by her.
eta: Since this isn't formal, I haven't placed it in the discussion board..(unless they're picked up for discussion.)


So if anyone has already read these, this is just a space to post thoughts on them (under spoilers).


1. Basked: https://dark-solace.org/elysian/view...t=ok&warning=5
(Summary: Complete! Buffy makes her best and worst decisions when backed firmly into a corner. Chosen rewrite.)

2. A New Dawn, A New Day: https://dark-solace.org/elysian/view...t=ok&warning=5
(Summary: Dawn dies in The Gift and the Powers That Be offer Buffy a singularly awkward way to get her back.)

3. Demons I Have Known: https://dark-solace.org/elysian/view...t=ok&warning=5
(Summary: Two weeks after the Sunnydale implosion, a spell goes wonky and the Scoobies become privy to every dirty, sweet, tragic, nitty-gritty detail of Buffy and Spike's history. Secrets are revealed, prejudices are challenged, Xanders are chagrined, Gileses are contrite.)

4. Help You Do What? https://dark-solace.org/elysian/viewstory.php?sid=5784
(Summary: Buffy's hurt. Spike helps. They chat a bit. Set between Lies My Parents Told Me and Dirty Girls.)

[GoSpuffy]

I've read all 4 of those stories and quite enjoyed them. Didn't we read demons I have known in our club? I swear I remember talking about that with someone. It was funny and traumatizing lol. I loved Dawn's reaction. Gwennie does a really good job with the voicing.

[Priceless]

I don't remember reading any of Gwennies stuff, even though Demons I Have Known is ticked on EF So I may go back and read that one.

After all this time on EF, I've just discovered that authors actually reply to your comments and you have a special section were you can see the replies Well I just feel like a fool for not knowing this before

[Stoney]

I enjoyed reading Help You Do What? but haven't read any others of gwennie's that I remember. I'm definitely going to add Basked and A New Dawn, A New Day to my 'it's-too-big-to-ever-exhaust' reading list. Demons I Have Known really doesn't appeal to me at all though, I definitely won't read that, there's too many things I fancy the sound of on the list to add ones that I don't.

[Stoney]

Completely agree - those are the same things I dislike encountering in fics. But Basked, and A New Dawn and the others don't do this at all - they're really beautiful and well written.

Oh they are staying on my to read list, and I really did enjoy Help You Do What?

My biggest issue with the kind of thing you're talking about with Demons is that this kind of treatment post S6 becomes about correcting canon. The 'real' relationship and disservice to Spike is seen, revealed and understood by the characters and the reader. It is designed to correct what was shown/understood in canon as fundamentally wrong, and I really dislike that approach to creating change. Plus, of course, I disagree that it is a better version, which doesn't help. As you say fanfic is subjective and it might satisfy some people to see that, I'm just definitely not one of them. And there is an awful lot of stories out there, so if something appears to be an angle I've disliked numerous times before I'll avoid it. I also agree that Spike wasn't a doormat to Buffy, the woobification of soulless Spike and villainising of Buffy just aren't things I enjoy. Enough so that I'll actively avoid if possible.

I'll come back when I've read the other two fics though and see if I liked those. But I'm really caught up in the rewatch at the moment, as always (), and I want to read the third Turn and Face the Strain if I can before next Friday. So it might be a while.

[Stoney]

Obviously I haven't read them, but I don't like the idea of Spike being angry at how he is treated in S7. Buffy forgives him and is supporting him in her belief he can become a better man, above and beyond what he feels about that himself in fact. I think Spike is truly appreciative of what she gives him and the genuine emotional connection they start to forge. The jealousy over Angel has related history and is very reactive/in the moment, I'll see how that comes over when I read Basked. Generally though I don't think Spike felt resentment about the romantic uncertainty, I don't think he actually expected anything that instantly and in fact felt (and sadly continues to feel) unworthy of Buffy. I totally believe that a lot of fans felt angry about the lack of confirmed romance and an easy road back to it though, and so it features in fanfics sometimes. Obviously exploring different directions is why a good deal of fanfics are read/written, there's certainly nothing 'wrong' in that. I've read stories where Spike regrets having his soul and actively loses it and they have been interesting reads, but not ones that I can see as good characterisation personally. So it depends what mood I'm in and if I want to read something that explores/expands on canon or goes off on a tangent. Most of the time with later stories I prefer the intent to explore/expand, whereas total tangents from earlier seasons I like more. It's just personal preference and isn't a hard/fast rule. Anyway, I'll stop talking hypothetically, as the thread was for discussing the stories from having read them.

[GoSpuffy]

It appears that gwennie deleted her account over night. All the stories are gone!

[TriBel]

It could be coincidental. I've always enjoyed her stories - I read Basked last night/this morning. As SpuffyGlitz says, she a very good writer - perhaps she's got a book contract and removing previous work is a condition of that? Perhaps (sadly) she's got a contract for a "serious novel" and doesn't want to be associated with a less "respected" genre? Perhaps she wants to develop the stories into something else and doesn't want a competing version? There could be a number of reasons.

[Priceless]

It appears that gwennie deleted her account over night. All the stories are gone!

I hope it isn't because of this thread.

Gwennie, if you come here to read this thread and it's affected you in any negative way, that was never our intention. We have enjoyed your work. I personally loved Basked and recommended it to the group.

[SpuffyGlitz]

Yes, I would never open a thread for an author I didn't admire! The only reason I opened the discussion thread was because I was excited to have found such great stories by an amazing writer! I absolutely love Basked, and love Gwennie's writing, which is why I opened this in the fanfiction section. I would close the thread if that is preferred, but don't know how.

[Double Dutchess]

It appears that gwennie deleted her account over night. All the stories are gone!

Well that's disappointing... I liked Basked a lot, and had been planning to read Gwennie's other stories too.

Basked was great for the fight between Spike and Buffy. I was very happy to see Spike refuse to be treated like a doormat. Even though their relationship at that point was undefined, it's totally understandable that he felt betrayed by the kiss. That kiss clearly was NOT just a "Hello", and personally, I really don't understand how it could be seen as such. Since when has Buffy been greeting people she was not in a romantic relationship with by kissing them on the lips? Since when has anyone, really? Anyway, I found it very satisfying that Spike didn't just accept it like that. The sex at the end did feel a bit forced into the story (like I think Priceless mentioned in the other thread) but I can't say I minded too much

[Priceless]

I loved the Spike/Buffy fight in Basked, it's one of the best verbal fights I've read. I love to see Spike standing up for himself. The kiss between Angel/Buffy didn't bother me, and the sex between Spike/Buffy didn't feel necessary to me, but that's got no bearing on how I feel about this fic. I think most readers put their personal feelings about what happens in a fic aside and can enjoy it even if they don't think that what happens in it would ever happen in the Buffyverse in their heads. Hope that makes sense?

I read a great Riley/Spike fic that was incredibly well written, and within the fic I totally bought that these two men would fall in in love and live happily ever after together. Now, in the Buffyverse that I know, that would/could never happen. Riley is not gay/bi, Spike and Riley despise each other. But that doesn't change the fact that the fic was well written, fast paced, and completely enjoyable.

I read so many fanfics, often about pairings that I just don't believe could possibly happen. So many fics that have Willow as an evil genius. Xander is a psychopath who hates everyone. Angel is bashed to within an inch of his life. Fics about Buffy being a porn star. I've even read Bangel fics! Fics that are just so ridiculous they have no bearing on the characters I know and the verse I love. But I still read them and a lot of times I absolutely love them. Every fic is it's own little world that the author creates, and that's what's so great - these are characters we love but perhaps with slightly different personalities and in situations that we've never imagined.

Just read Spike and Xander, wearing tux's, travelling on the Orient Express. The Spike and Xander in my head would never ever do that. But I still enjoyed reading about it

[Double Dutchess]

I loved the Spike/Buffy fight in Basked, it's one of the best verbal fights I've read. I love to see Spike standing up for himself. The kiss between Angel/Buffy didn't bother me, and the sex between Spike/Buffy didn't feel necessary to me, but that's got no bearing on how I feel about this fic. I think most readers put their personal feelings about what happens in a fic aside and can enjoy it even if they don't think that what happens in it would ever happen in the Buffyverse in their heads. Hope that makes sense?

I read a great Riley/Spike fic that was incredibly well written, and within the fic I totally bought that these two men would fall in in love and live happily ever after together. Now, in the Buffyverse that I know, that would/could never happen. Riley is not gay/bi, Spike and Riley despise each other. But that doesn't change the fact that the fic was well written, fast paced, and completely enjoyable.

I read so many fanfics, often about pairings that I just don't believe could possibly happen. So many fics that have Willow as an evil genius. Xander is a psychopath who hates everyone. Angel is bashed to within an inch of his life. Fics about Buffy being a porn star. I've even read Bangel fics! Fics that are just so ridiculous they have no bearing on the characters I know and the verse I love. But I still read them and a lot of times I absolutely love them. Every fic is it's own little world that the author creates, and that's what's so great - these are characters we love but perhaps with slightly different personalities and in situations that we've never imagined.

Just read Spike and Xander, wearing tux's, travelling on the Orient Express. The Spike and Xander in my head would never ever do that. But I still enjoyed reading about it

Well said, Priceless! As far as I'm concerned that's the great joy of fanfic. It takes us places the show wouldn't or couldn't go and as long as the characters remain recognisably themselves (even if they are penguins ), it's all fine with me.

[Stoney]

Of course what counts as recognisably themselves is subjective. But there's nothing wrong with writing whatever you want to explore, think works, it's just accepting that not everyone is going to agree with you.

[Double Dutchess]

Of course what counts as recognisably themselves is subjective.

Absolutely! And there's not much logic to it either. After I wrote that, I realised that while I don't like All Human AUs (give me my vampires, please!) I have no problem with All Animal AUs whatsoever -- it just doesn't make any sense