Fic Clique

95: “The Connections are Connecting”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Wittenberg Days," by norah (Hamlet) @14:08, "bend and sway," by tciddaemina (Legend of Zelda) @41:33, and "Empress of Sand and Water," by Sheeana (Dune) @1:09:17.

Ficlets, we heard your delight at our previous Dune June episode and your clamors for more, and we are here to deliver! This time around we tried to pick fics a little more connected to our source material, with overlapping themes of destiny, power, and the role of fate.

94: “We Understand Media in a Way You Never Could”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "And Harder Still to Make Noise," by sophiahelix (The Office) @18:13, "Death Insurance," by Nimori (Discworld) @47:45, and "a romantic fool," by spqr (Challengers Movie) @1:11:09.

The sun is out, summer is here, and Fic Clique pod is bringing you three hot and fresh fic discussions to enjoy. The relationships in these stories encompass a wide array of dynamics; from quiet loneliness, to mutually beneficial gain, to something both sexy and a little messed up.

93: There Was Only One Fandom: The Untamed

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "most times a wish," by impossibletruths (The Untamed) @17:41, "the red dark shifting," by typefortydeductions (The Untamed) @45:38, and "蓝色生死恋; a blue love (to live and to die for)," by yiqie (The Untamed) @1:14:01.

We are once again introducing a new series to the pod, and as you may have realized it involves bringing three fics for the same fandom! We're starting this series with a focus on The Untamed. In these works we found common throughlines of grief, the things you can no longer hide from one another, and the infallible truth that Wangxian invented love.

Alternate titles include: "Whoops! All Wangxian," "Repression and Undying Devotion," and "Rolling in the Mud For 1,000 Years"

92: “That Man is a Killer! ... UwU”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "take the hidden paths that run (towards the moon or to the sun)," by erroneous_hedgehog (Wayward Children Series, Chronicles of Narnia) @ 8:43, "we could jump the state lines (we only get the one life)," by notcaycepollard (Captain America) @ 35:14, and "home is an anchor," by Marks (Sk8 the Infinity) @ 1:08:09.

Travel with us along the many varied paths of fanfiction, as we voyage through discussions of the things you lose in childhood, avenues for characterization from fragmented canon, and setting as a means to reframe interpersonal dynamics. 

91: “I Grew Up in the Trenches”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "The Malteser Falcon," by Toft (Great British Bake Off) @15:22, "Threat as Greeting," by FlipSpring (Murderbot Diaries) @43:08, and "you and her loathing this cruel world," by thememoriesfire (Glee) @1:09:00.

On your marks... get set... go! Right into this episode, where we cover the stylings of noir as a genre, how fic formats can be in service of character work, and one host's unfortunate first blorb.

90: “Poised to Absorb Homoerotic Media”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Everything About It Is a Love Song," by pocky_slash (X-Men First Class) @10:56, "i am here like there is sky and there is air," by Lauren (Welcome to Nightvale) @37:28, and "The End of All Things," by Telanu (Devil Wears Prada) @1:04:29.

While we don't quite tell the youths to get off our lawn in this episode, we have put a spotlight on older characters! These authors explored characters later in life; and we explored what one is willing to give up to be happy, the vastness of the universe, and an excellent example of tension and dread woven through a fic.

89: “Reverse U-Hauling”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "on that dizzy edge," by littledata (Warrior Nun) @17:14, "Applied Heresy," by Kaesa (His Dark Materials) @44:27, and "A Country Mile," by bropunzeling (England Series - K.J. Charles) @1:12:38. 

This unintentionally themed episode is all about WOMEN!! It's also about what makes a friends to lovers arc satisfying, morally flawed yet still compelling protagonists, and how to play off reader expectations within a genre. 

88: FYC: Rubicon

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Rubicon," by merionettes (FE3H).

Ficlets, have you readied your hearts and minds to consider the epics highs and lows of professional ice dancing? If you haven't, now's the time to get on board with our latest addition to the For Your Consideration series! This hearty sports AU builds its rich world with questions about identity and self worth, deep and varied friendships, and a too-real stan twitter presence.

Alternate titles include: "Harnessing His Natural Ennui," "I Have Some Conception of What a Twizzle Is," and "Slam Dunked Me into the Court"

87: “I Need a Biased Librarian”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "A Needle, A Thread," by jibrailis (Queen's Thief) @14:24, "r/severed," by curtaincall (Severance) @40:05, and "Ten Degrees Below Zero," by kianspo (Star Trek: AoS) @1:06:08. 

This episode promises gourd-shredding conversations about extraordinary moments in ordinary lives, stories built around the things you can't talk about, and the satisfaction of a well-plotted mystery. 

86: “Man's Best Friend Is Car”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Victory Lane," by astolat (Fast & Furious) @16:03, "all to play for," by linearity (F1 RPF) @44:22, and "Millstone: Director's Cut," by jolach (RTAH RPF) @1:17:34.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day and with love on our mind, your hosts came together with one unifying theme: fast cars. Yes there's also discussion about trope executions alongside romance in plot-heavy fics, but mostly we're here for the cars.