You guys don't have to explain the basics of the thread (or DLP) to me.

What I can't understand is the double standard that is promptly employed. Most generic OC/SI storys, are terribly bad, as most of you seem to freely admit. What I can't understand is that those fics then are called 'good'.

Especially from DLP pov, we should not call bad writing good, only because of the general state of the fandom. I mean really guys, you could apply this to any fandom. "Well, I know this fic is shit, but compared to all the other shit, it's pure gold! 5/5!"

I am NOT saying you guys shouldn't post all the stuff you find, this is what the thread is for afterfall. Just be honest, critical reviewers, as usual - not starved animals.

 

I for one feel like I'm a picky starved animal. A lot of DLP is taste, and consensus. We put up what we think is actually good for review, or read for review stories and give our opinion.

I just consume an obscene amount of words a day. Sometimes you just need a fix.

 

After checking the last five pages, I don't see the double standard. Almost every story post is along these lines: Here's a story that's readable. It's has these suck parts, but if you don't mind those then enjoy.

Most of the posts are about what people didn't like about said stories, with the very occasional "It's great or I look forward to etc." which can be attributed to subjective taste. So... I see honesty, I see critique, and since this isn't a review board reviews aren't required. There is no "Pure gold 5/5!"

Maybe you're reading more into this than is there?

 

Evidently they do. This isn’t the Library. Library worthy recs belong in the Review Board, and if you want Library quality fics check the Library. Decent but not great stuff that scratches an itch or make good time wasters go here.

 

Any asoiaf fanfics that actually use Daenerys name instead of 'Dany' are in the 99 percentile.

 

I've been super bored lately. Somehow I'm 30 chapters into "Lady Stark." I'm not sure how, since it's pretty bad. On first glance, it's almost intriguing. The idea is simple, Robert Baratheon takes Catelyn Tully as queen, and Eddard Stark marries Cersei Lannister. Alright, could be interesting.

Then, you get to the story. It's the most inconsistent and badly paced story I've ever come across. The author works themselves into knots constantly, trying to keep the characters in order. And half the shit doesn't even make sense. Like, you have Cersei miscarrying a bunch, unable to provide Ned heirs, to the point where they pull a bait and switch and proclaim Jon Snow as his trueborn. The timeline on that doesn't make any sense at all, but worse is that like not long after that Cersei has a son anyways (and a bunch more besides). Perhaps the most egregious part is that all the characters are still born the same, even if their name is changed. Somehow, the same Arya stark is born, same Robb, etc. It's mindboggling. Oh, and of course the author managed to make it a Gendry/Arya story despite the timeline not even being anywhere close to working. Years are added and taken away in the narrative on a whim and then you have timeskips measuring in years without even blinking. And on top of all that, you have characters spouting lines from the tv show despite different locations, characters and timing.

It's a trainwreck.

 

I was reading it in time with the updates for the last 25ish chapters and it doesn't really get much better, but thankfully the chapters where short so I didn't really have to struggle through them. Having said that I think that the ending may have been half decent and the author did ensure that there are some lasting consequences.

 

I'm at chapter 60 in it, and I hate the story so much. But, I think I'm at the point of no return. Too much time is invested, and all I want at this point it so see how far the author will twist themselves into a not to get to the Jon/Daenerys pairing. Hell, the author essentially has two Sansa's in this story and that has somehow made it worse than the San/San pairing. I honestly can't think of a single redeeming point in this story other than it has short chapters and is marked complete.

 

Any Ned Stark fic?
With him as main character, with him showing is more ruthless, or realistic than canon.

 

Lol ok, you just want Tywin!Ned.

 

No,
If I wanted Tywin Ned, I will ask for it.
Not to mention Tywin is quite medicore, his luck was, that the opposition was worse and plot armor.

I'm asking for a Ned, with more realistic approach.
Just someone who spent the last decade and half ruling the largest kingdom in Westeros, knows a little bit about power and politics than canon Ned.
That in KL he had no power, (he didn't have the muscles to claim it)
After all Jaime tried to teach him a lesson and it didn't stuck.

 

So, Dragons of Ice and Fire just updated with the final chapter of Book 1 (which is about 850k words). I have to say, despite its issues (mainly the depressing setbacks Jon Snow has to overcome again and again throughout the story), this is by far the best ASOIAF fanfic I have ever read. Really looking forward to Book 2.

 

You poor devils, forced to read 60 chapters of wet shit. I'm sorry.

 

That’s what kills me, it isn’t 60 chapters of wet shit. Right up until Jon takes his dragon to the Twins I honestly think it had the potential to be of the best ASOIAF fics written. There are glimpses of awesome everywhere before that, the battle of Hardholme was easily one of my favorite battle scenes in any fic. After that though I have no idea what happened but the author started writing like Kit Harrington stole something from him. No matter how ridiculous or improbable every conceivable bad thing ever started happening to Jon Snow. I saw a post from the author saying he didn’t want the characters to have an easy ride which is perfectly fine but he carried it well past that and straight into “Someone is whacking it thinking about Kit crying” territory.

 

Has anybody read "The Coming of Snow" by EddTheDolorous ? It is quite the monster, with a 108 chapters and 400k words. But a search of the thread did not give any result. Has it slipped under the radar - or is it that terrible?

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12488751/1/The-Coming-of-Snow

 

I know the Author and the crap he churns out: https://archiveofourown.org/users/DolorousEdditor/pseuds/DolorousEdditor We have discussed his 'works' before (those on Ao3) and I am willing to bet actual money that this fic is 'that terrible'.

At one point, in one of his shitty Jonaeryswank fics, I actually thought he had killed of whiny-Jon. In my mind, it was actually getting good! Dany especially sucked in 'Our Choices Seal Our Fate', after Jon 'died', my hope was the author would fix his crap fic by having Dany burn just everything he created. /never forgive!

 

I thought for a minute that this was a 400k word epic with Dolorous Edd as the MC. Was disappointed it was not.

Anyhow, read the first chapter to give it a shot. Pretty shit. All tell, no show. A wikipedia entry followed by a 'blink and you miss it' fight scene, and a bleh ending. Also, absolutely horrible paragraphing. I hope at some point in those hundred chapters somebody told the author paragraphs can have multiple sentences. Second chapter is also bad. I know GRRM's already done this scene in a preview chapter, and obviously it wasn't trash. Also, Theon's back to being Theon in TWOW. Psychologically scarred, but he's remembered his name. George changed the chapter name back and everything. Not sure why the author chose to ignore that here. Cutting my losses halfway through this chapter and requesting a refund for time wasted.

 

Climbing the Ladder.

https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/climbing-the-ladder-a-got-isot.357745/

Waking up as Petyr Baelish after his 'fight' with Brandon Stark, the SI is somewhat of a mix between the Littlefinger we know and love and the author's own OC, in the beginning anyway. He decides to get more involved during Roberts Rebellion instead of hiding away in the Vale and brings about changes that should heavily effect cannon.

Not the best writing but definitely a lot better than most and it does improve throughout, same with the chapter length. As with most semi-decent SI stories the author doesn't magically start introducing the printing press or advanced agriculture, or at least not yet anyway. One thing I do like is how the SI keeps some of his mannerisms like hand gestures and phrases which the people of Westeros don't understand, the newest chapter having one of the funnier instances.

Spoiler

“I see. I guess your brother doesn’t believe in using three men when one will do?”

“No. I prefer to use as many men as it takes to get a job done though.” Oberyn said and gave Petyr another smile.

“Touché.” Petyr responded, and Oberyn’s expression became slightly more intense then as he looked at him.

“Perhaps later."

Not really one to read SI's but this isn't half bad.


For a somewhat harsher/Northern Ned, check out https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11959399/1/A-Sword-Cuts-A-Swordsman, it's a series of one shots but it's decent.

 

I’m immediately leery as 90% of what falls out of there are steaming piles, but there has been the occasional gem, so I’ll give it a read.

That quoted section doesn’t give me confidence, though.

Intensify.

 

The best description for traffic is: Your average terrible so fic.

Nothing interesting or noteworthy happens in the first bunch of chapters, since it turns into a canon rehash despite the SI being your bog standard clairvoyant superbeing who with but a single word can dominate the minds of everyone around him and force them to act in his chosen manner.

That fic would serve as ample evidence if GRRM ever chose to make a detailed argument for why all fanfiction is bad.