I was thinking: Fanfiction is really surprisingly insular considering how prevalent it is. I know next to nothing about cricket, or NASCAR, but I do have a sense of how popular they are and what they're generally about. But when I got into fanfiction, I was pretty blown away at the sheer scope of the thing.

So, what would someone who knew nothing about Harry Potter fanfiction think if he or she just decided to delve in? That person might simply go to FF.net and just look at the stories with the most favorites, no other filters. Seems logical as a first step.

Do you think those stories are fair ambassadors of HP fanfiction?

Whatwolf do you think those stories say, if anything, about the HP fanfiction community as a whole?

How many of these have you, personally, read?

I don't have any particular axe to grind here, I'm just curious what people think about this in general. Obviously, raw favorites numbers aren't a great way to measure a story's quality. But, do they measure anything besides how many people clicked "favorite"?

Here's page 1, the top 25, the list that someone would see if they searched purely by favorites:

1 - 15,615
Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past by S'TarKan The war is over. Too bad no one is left to celebrate. Harry makes a desperate plan to go back in time, even though it means returning Voldemort to life. Now an 11 year old Harry with 30 year old memories is starting Hogwarts. Can he get it right?

Even though I came into the fandom from TVTropes, this was the first thing I read basically because of the favorites. I have no idea if I'd like this if I read it again; I thoroughly enjoyed it the time, but who knows?


2 - 15,001
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Less Wrong Petunia married a biochemist, and Harry grew up reading science and science fiction. Then came the Hogwarts letter, and a world of intriguing new possibilities to exploit. And new friends, like Hermione Granger, and Professor McGonagall, and Professor Quirrell... Ch. 102, Caring.

I'm just going to leave this one alone, as it inspires rather... passionate... debate. I've read it; I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It's kind of a curiosity. It doesn't feel at all like HP, but as Wastelands of Time showed, that's not always a bad thing.

3 - 14,189
Poison Pen by GenkaiFan Harry has had enough of seeing his reputation shredded in the Daily Prophet and decides to do something about it. Only he decides to embrace his Slytherin side to rectify matters.

Read it, liked it. Premise well-executed.

4 - 12,139
To Shape and Change by Blueowl AU. Time Travel. Snape goes back in time, holding the knowledge of what is to come if he fails. No longer holding a grudge, he seeks to shape Harry into the greatest wizard of all time, starting on the day Hagrid took Harry to Diagon Alley. No Horcruxes.

Never read it.

5 - 11,970
Oh God Not Again! by Sarah1281 So maybe everything didn't work out perfectly for Harry. Still, most of his friends survived, he'd gotten married, and was about to become a father. If only he'd have stayed away from the Veil, he wouldn't have had to go back and do everything AGAIN.

Read it multiple times. Comfort food.

6 - 11,922
Make A Wish by Rorschach's Blot Harry has learned the prophesy and he does not believe that a schoolboy can defeat Voldemort, so he decides that if he is going to die then he is first going to live.

I know a lot of people love this one, and I didn't hate it or anything, but I could never quite get into it. The joke of "Harry is accidentally and unknowingly awesome" was funny the first time, but for me, it got kind of old. Seems to be generally well-recieved and pretty fun, though.

7 - 11,833
Harry Crow by robst What will happen when a goblin-raised Harry arrives at Hogwarts. A Harry who has received training, already knows the prophecy and has no scar. With the backing of the goblin nation and Hogwarts herself. Complete.

This is the one for me. I'm pretty fair-minded, I usually see both sides of issues, I gravitate towards middle-ground positions (mostly because the internet tends to polarize people and I'm a contrarian at heart), but this fic is bullshit. Eleven thousand, eight hundred and thirty-three people are morons.

8 - 11,661
Isolation by Bex-chan He can't leave the room. Her room. And it's all the Order's fault. Confined to a small space with only the Mudblood for company, something's going to give. Maybe his sanity. Maybe not. "There," she spat. "Now your Blood's filthy too!" DM/HG. PostHBP.

Never read it.

9 - 9,961
Realizations by Wishweaver Harry returns to Privet Drive after 4th year and finds it...empty! What do you do when you can't go to your friends for help? Additional Story Notes FYI: a. AU Summer before Fifth Year Fic, b. Not particularly fast paced.

This one is kind of surprising. I liked this, but it seems kind of niche to me. Slice of life fics that prominently feature OCs seem like they're a bit outside the main. The structure is a bit odd, and I remember really not liking one particular plot point (it's been a while), but in general I think it pulled off what it was trying to do pretty well.

10 - 9,725
His Own Man by Crunchysunrises In the station between Life and Death Harry makes a different choice. Now he's eleven again, no one is turning out the same way, the Sorting Hat won't Sort him, the Malfoys are looking at him strangely, and - it's time for another visit.

Never read it.

11 - 9,415
An Aunt's Love by Emma Lipardi Harry comes home from school and Petunia is upset at the change in her nephew. Petunia decides to do what she should have been doing all along. Dumbledore had better stay away. Petunia Dursley is upset. Warnings on profile.

Never read it. The profile makes it sound like something I wouldn't like, but I've been wrong before.

12 - 9,349
RuneMaster by Tigerman In third year, Harry decided to quit Divination, following Hermione. Having to take a substitute course, he end up choosing Ancient Runes and find himself to be quite gifted. Smart Harry. Slightly manipulative. Rated M for later subjects and language.

Never read it. It sounds like something I might get into, but I've read enough people whose tastes I trust hate on it that I keep passing it over (the name doesn't help. It keeps reminding me of ThighMaster). I'll probably give it a shot at some point.

13 - 9,196
A Black Comedy by nonjon COMPLETE. Two years after defeating Voldemort, Harry falls into an alternate dimension with his godfather. Together, they embark on a new life filled with drunken debauchery, thievery, and generally antagonizing all their old family, friends, and enemies.

One of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, fics in the fandom. You could call it purely a crackfic but I think it has some surprisingly interesting/touching non-crack elements, too. Writing good humor is hard, way harder than drama, and this manages to have like 3 or 4 laugh-out-loud moments per chapter.

14 - 8,877
Harry Potter: Junior Inquisitor by sprinter1988 Before the start of fifth year Dumbledore changes the plans. Unfortunately he didn't bother to inform Harry. At his trial, Harry realises that it is down to him to save his own skin. To do so his Slytherin side must come out to play, and once it's out it sticks around turning life at Hogwarts on its head. Warnings: EvilDumbles, SheepOrder/Staff, GoodGuysDontGetEverythingTheirWay

Never read it. Based on the summary, I raise a polite but skeptical eyebrow in its general direction.

15 - 8,330
Simply Irresistible by bookworm1993 Draco gave a cocky grin. "I am going to give you a makeover." "I'm sorry what?" "You heard me Granger, I'm going to give you a makeover that will make every man want you,and make Weasley die of regret. You will be simply irresistible."

Never read it, and based on the summary, I never will.

16 - 8,063
Delenda Est by Lord Silvere Harry is a prisoner, and Bellatrix has fallen from grace. The accidental activation of Bella's treasured heirloom results in another chance for Harry. It also gives him the opportunity to make the acquaintance of the young and enigmatic Bellatrix Black as they change the course of history.

I think this was the first time I read a fanfic that was in-progress and currently updating. I liked it a lot, and I remember being a bit let down by the ending. I re-read the whole thing a few months ago, and I'm less impressed with it now.

17 - 7,889
C'est La Vie by cywscross A year after the war ends, Fate takes the opportunity to toss her favourite hero into a different dimension to repay her debt. A new life in exchange for having fulfilled her prophecy. Harry just wants to know why he has no say in the matter. And why Fate thinks that his hero complex won't eventually kick in. Then again, that might be exactly why Fate dumped him there.

I'm also pretty surprised this is on the list. I love this fic, but I wouldn't have thought it would appeal to a large audience. It's pretty tame, plot-wise. For me, the big factor here is writing: cywscross is a writer. The prose itself has a quality to it: it's crisp while still being descriptive, unassuming while still being elegant.

18 - 7,872
Dear Order by SilverWolf7007 "I'm still alive, as you may surmise from this note. Of course, I could be dead and someone is faking the letter to fool you…" Harry is NOT happy about being left at Privet Drive all summer with no one to talk to.

Skimmed it. The humor isn't my taste; it's the "wackiness / whimsical sarcasm = funny by itself" style, and that's not my jam.

19 - 7,859
Pet Project by Caeria Hermione overhears something she shouldn't concerning Professor Snape and decides that maybe the House-elves aren't the only ones in need of protection.

Never read it.

20 - 7,850
Lord of Caer Azkaban by Rorschach's Blot A letter causes Harry to learn some surprising things about his lineage, a different twist on the usual Harry in Azkaban story line.

Never read it.

21 - 7,691
The Marriage Stone by Josephine Darcy SSHP. To avoid the machinations of the Ministry, Harry must marry a reluctant Severus Snape. But marriage to Snape is only the beginning of Harry's problems. Voldemort has returned, and before too long Harry's marriage may determine the world's fate.

NOPE.

22 - 7,681
The Lie I've Lived by jbern Not all of James died that night. Not all of Harry lived. The Triwizard Tournament as it should have been and a hero discovering who he really wants to be.

There are plenty of valid quibbles you can level at TLIL, but I don't think I've ever had more pure, unadulterated fun reading a fic.

23 - 7,664
The World Without Me by Eternal Cosmos Harry won the war against Voldemort but at a terrible price.Fawkes gives him another chance in a new world where he died as an infant and where Voldemort still lurks in the shadows...but not for long, because when one exists the other cannot survive. AU

Never read it.

24 - 7,572
Harry Potter and Future's Past by DriftWood1965 Starts out the day after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione meet the Goddess of Love, and she offers to let them go back in time. Strictly Harry and Hermione. Minor - well maybe major Ginny, Ron and Dumbledore Bashing. Soul Bond - Time Travel

Started it, didn't finish it. I wrote The Lesser Sadness partially as a middle finger to fics like this, so, yeah, I'm not a fan.

25 - 7,528
Partially Kissed Hero by Perfect Lionheart Summer before third year Harry has a life changing experience, and a close encounter with a dementor ends with him absorbing the horcrux within him. Features Harry with a backbone.

Never read it.

 

Maybe DLP should make a list of 25 Fics You Should Read If You're Just Getting Into Fanfiction.

Some of the stuff on that list is truly terrible, but I'm glad to see that ABC and TLIL are among the most popular, deservedly so. The most obvious entries I think should be up there are Circular Reasoning, Wastelands, Renegade Cause, BWL by the Santi, Sesc's Unatoned...

 

I might actually be thinking of a different fic. (Opens Poison Pen)

Yeah, I actually was. Somehow I got this confused with How Xenophilius Lovegood Saved Britain

I think the conflation had something to do with the fact that they're both heavily letter-based.

Also, not 10 minutes after I posted the original list, I got this PM on FF.net. Either that was wildly coincidental timing or someone on DLP is trolling me:

Very smooth trolljob, but I'm on to you...

 

Lets see..

Read and liked a lot:

Poison Pen - Thought it was hilarious.

A Black Comedy - Thought it was hilarious.

Lord of Caer Azkaban - Thought it was hilarious.


Read and liked it far more than I should have:

Harry Potter: Junior Inquisitor - Despite being a bit cliched I liked it a lot.

Partially Kissed Hero - Was good, last few chapters are going off the wall though and I couldn't bring myself to read the latest chapter.


Read all of (or most of) and didn't like:

Harry Potter and Future's Past - One of the first fics I read, cliched.

Dear Order - Wasn't very funny after the first few chapters.

Harry Crow - Was one of the first fics I read and at the time when I was new to fanfiction I thought it was great, then I realized how unoriginal and cliched it was, and stopped reading about 2/3rds of the way in.


Read some and couldn't get in to:

Harry Potter and the Nightmares of Futures Past - Not sure what happened with it but I got bored of it a few chapters in.

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality - I shouldn't need to explain what is wrong with this.

Oh God Not Again! - Been a while since I read this, not sure what put me off.

RuneMaster - Incredibly cliched now.

Delenda Est - Got about 10 chapters in and never picked the story up again.

The World Without Me - Been a long time since I read it so I'm not sure why.

Make A Wish - Bored out of my mind.


Haven't read:

Realizations - Something about the description meant I never clicked on it and your description there ('slice of life') has put me off further.

C'est La Vie - Foreign language name was off putting.


Haven't read and probably never will:

The Lie I've Lived - Not fond of the merging of consciousness concept.


The description is nauseating and I won't read it:

To Shape and Change - I can just tell from the description that Snape will be fluffy in this.

Isolation - Hermione/Malfoy is fucking dumb. All I can say.

His Own Man - 'The Malfoys are looking at him strangely' screams some sort of Malfoy relationship there which puts me off very quickly.

An Aunt's Love - Can't get into the idea that his Aunt would do a 180 over the school year.

Simply Irresistible - Ew. Either way this goes (HG/DM or HG/RW) I won't like this.

Pet Project - Hermione/Snape can only be described as disgusting.

The Marriage Stone - Vomit inducing and retarded concept.

 

This is hilarious.

So I got into fan fiction like, 2 years ago or something. I remember that the first fic i read was Broken Chains, not really the best of fics but I was blown away by the possibilities and wanted more. So I started going through the things that were most favourite'd because hell, good things are usually appreciated on other sites that I visit... well, I think I really loved two of the fics on your list(TLIL and A Black Comedy) so it wasn't exactly a huge success. I did enjoy some of the others but I have no desire to read them again. I'm still baffled to this day that people can like Harry Crow, An Aunt's Love or Runemaster.

 

Robst. Bleh. Didn't think people liked his work that much.

 

How are you surprised at the H/HR wankfest writer being popular? I mean who doesn't want to read about a Harry who wears a cravat, is raised by goblins and loves Jane Austen.

 

Obviously anyone just starting to read HP fanfiction should dive headfirst into the Blackman Trilogy.

I've read 5/25, and loved those five. I'm mostly amazed stories like Path of Decision, The Denarian Lord and Browncoat, Green Eyes aren't up there as well.

I think this goes without saying for nearly all of DLP. There's a reason most of us gravitated towards this board.

 

I can understand why this is number 1. It is by no means the best story in the fandom, but a redo was one of the first things I sought out when I started fanfiction. I know a lot of people sought out HG stories when they first started fanfiction (I was one of them), so that probably helped matters. I think Backwards with a Purpose is a better HG redo, but this one came first and its popularity is well deserved.

I liked this story well enough. I can understand why many people didn't, but I can also understand why the concept of mixing up science and magic appealed to many people. I personally feel that a big part of the reason why the story is disliked is because the author is a cunt to anyone offering constructive criticism. I am kinda surprised it isn't #1, I thought it would win out by a mile.

Kill it with fire. There is nothing redeeming whatsoever about this story.

The only story on the list which I truly loved was TLIL. Everything else is either barely decent or plain terrible.

 

Junior Inquisitor is good for laughs. It's quite funny if you don't try to take it seriously.

 

Fate's Debt.

 

I've read everything on the list except for numbers 4, 8, 15, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25. Obviously, the summaries are enough to deter most people on those - I have no interest on any story that involves Draco or Snape to a significant degree. Also, having said that I've "read" the rest doesn't mean I've read the whole thing, but I at least gave some of them a try. Like, I wanted to see why everyone hated MoR so I gave the first few chapters a go and agreed with what people were saying. Same sort of thing with PHK.

Mostly, I agree with Sesc. I got into the fandom for a very specific reason, and I suspect most are the same. For me, it was a lack of closure on the series, and I wanted to know what happened after year 7, and before the epilogue, so I read a lot of Harry/Ginny fics, at least until they all started to feel exactly the same. If people are coming into the fandom blind, and just reading through the the lop 25 list of most reviewed, then I have little hope for them actually developing a taste of what good fiction is. I mean, off that list, there's only one story I would actually recommend to a new reader to the fandom, and that is A Black Comedy. The only other story I would even consider good on the list is Make A Wish. I liked Delenda Est when it first came out, but it has long since taken a nose dive, and I can't even remember the last time I tried to read a new chapter of it. And yes, for the record, I don't think TLIL is a good story (though it took me trying to reread it a year after the first time to realize it). A couple of the others are decent time wasters, but nothing I'd want to be in a showcase of pinnacles of fanfiction.

 

A lot of the fics that I think are the best of the HP fandom aren't exactly fics you immediately show a person just getting into the fandom. It'd be like giving someone who's never had bourbon before a Pappy Van Winkle; they have no context for whether it's good or not.

I think Circular Reason, Wastelands, and a few of the other DLP mainstays are acquired tastes. I'd probably start them out with Santi's BWL and ABC.

 

Partially Hissed Kero?

 

I can't ever bring myself to get that mad at HPMOR because it's what brought me to DLP. I'd found it because some guy at uni was talking about an AI researcher who also wrote an alternative Harry Potter story (which was the first I'd ever heard of fanfiction). Yudkowsky used Wastelands as an example of good writing, so I gave it a shot. Needless to say I quickly gave up on HPMOR, and devoured Wastelands in a few hours. The last time I'd read something in that kind of obsessive way was Goblet of Fire on release night; Joe really relit a flame after I'd somewhat given up on reading for pleasure at university.

Edited to actually include an on-topic comment:

People would probably not be put off by all the crap on FF.net, they know how the Internet works, youtube isn't pointless just because it's 95% cats. My top five introductory stories in no order would be:

On the way to greatness (favourite close to canon story, one shift and butterflies from there)
Alexandra potter (my favourite example of the depth of thought people have put into the fandom)
The prince that was promised & Browncoat green eyes (very different tone but loved both, and exemplify the point that fanfiction is a playpen of ideas, and can introduce you to canon works you might never have come across)
Wastelands (because i fucking have to)

 

The best introduction to HP fanfiction is probably Forging the Sword.

 

Agreed. Basically a canon continuation after COS only done in more depth than JKR and a trio trying to improve themselves, this would be something a newby would want and even to veterans it´s a absolute quality story. Just wish there would be more updates

 

Not to derail my own thread, but I started reading Forging the Sword yesterday during the day and powered through the whole thing before bed. Oh my god. That story is amazeballs. I was already feeling a slight urge to update my Top 20 HP fanfic list, now I pretty much have to.

 

Because Harry Potter was a children's story, and the people who like things like Harry Crow don't have enough reading experience to see the difference between a good piece of writing and a horribly cliched, poorly executed one.