Periapsis

[Abalidoth]

Just put up the first chapter of a fic I've been working on for quite a while. It's called Periapsis, and it can be found on my Tumblr or on my Ao3.

 

It's a Stormlight Archive AU fic set in a military space opera setting -- think Honor Harrington or Mass Effect -- and it centers on Shallan and Jasnah's (eventually romantic) relationship. I'm pretty proud of what I've got in store here, so if that sounds like your cup of tea, I invite you to give it a shot.

[FeatherWriter]

Great fic! It's got my recommendation, definitely! I love the characterization of Yalb here!

[bartbug]

Cool. Do you have more chapters done? Around when can we see those? Cus' this looks pretty cool.

[Abalidoth]

Great fic! It's got my recommendation, definitely! I love the characterization of Yalb here!

hehehehe, thanks! Yalb was very, very fun to write here. He actually has a whole (slightly ridiculous) character arc.

 

Cool. Do you have more chapters done? Around when can we see those? Cus' this looks pretty cool.

I've been longhanding the story in a notebook. I've got chapters 2 and part of 3 written out, but not typed yet.

 

However, I do have a full outline of the story -- what happens in each chapter, and a definite ending.

 

I'll make sure to post in this thread when I update.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Abalidoth

[Joe ST]

Do you have plans for Highstorms? for Parshendi and for things that happen in WoR? I was just curious as to how you would do highstorms in space, maybe a powerful solar flare if its set in a single solar system? Are they going to fight vacuum-inhabiting, interplanetary greatshells? XD

[WeiryWriter]

Pretty nice!  I can't say I'm exactly a fan of Shasnah (mentor/mentee romantic relationships really aren't my jam, too close to parent/child for me) but from the looks things so far in this fic their relationship is different enough that it is not bothering me.  I'm not totally sold as of yet, but I think I'm open the possibilities in this fic.

 

The setting seems really fun, I like sci-fi but I don't read very much of it (seriously whenever I read sci-fi I berate myself for not reading more) so I really like the sci-fi setting but with familiar names.  I am curious about how you are going to adapt other stormlighty things like what Joe mentions.

 

Oh, and please tell me you have a most horrible death in store for Kabsal?

[Quiver]

First things first; I have no idea what a periapsis is.

Second, you managed to post this right when I'm starting to get interested in fan fiction again. I'd have read it anyway, but still; kudos.

Onto actual story comments...

Well, I like it. I've mentioned elsewhere that, with Brandon, I tend to think the best way to write fan fiction is either to use original characters in his setting, or to just go the AU route, and a space opera SA fits the second. As Weiry and Joe said, the brief glimpse we get here makes the setting sound fascinating; presumably this story is going to be Shasnah-focused, but I think I'd be interested in seeing you expand this setting into the rest of the Archives. For some reason I picture Parshmen/Stormform as semi-Borgish...

And on the topic of setting, I liked how you turned important things, like the Kharbarenth citadel or Pattern into things that fit with the space opera setting.

Characters are the most interesting part if an AU, and something I'll comment on more later, since I don't think there's enough here to judge Shallan or Jasnah. I'm not completely sold on Yalb, but that's partly because I couldn't remember who he was; he's the kid who escorted Shallan, correct? The way you set him up, I'm guessing he's going to have more screen time and be more active than he was in the book.

Periapsis!Yalb is actually kind of fun. I don't know if it's intentional or not, but the roboarm made me think of the Winter Soldier, so that's who he is fancast as. My only reservation with him is that he seems very diverged from his canon counterpart, further than I would have expected.

As for the writing itself, I liked it. Sic-if isn't really my thing, but the description of the spinning gravity...things, and the sheer size gave it a huge epic feel. I also loved the description of Kabsals name tag as being 'florid'; another personal preference, but it just kind of seems like an awkward or glaring word to me, which makes him stand out more as an awkward and unpleasant person.

And now we shall watch as Periapsis!Kabsal is both heroic and noble.

[Abalidoth]

Do you have plans for Highstorms? for Parshendi and for things that happen in WoR? I was just curious as to how you would do highstorms in space, maybe a powerful solar flare if its set in a single solar system? Are they going to fight vacuum-inhabiting, interplanetary greatshells? XD

Highstorms, I didn't manage to fit in, unfortunately. The Parshendi, on the other hand, are a major part of the plot of the story.

Greatshells... well, I have an idea of what the Shattered Plains looks like in this AU, but we're not actually going to visit there. Maybe in a sequel once this story is done.

 

I do have a lot of plans for translated SA concepts, though, so if you like that sort of thing you're in for a treat.

 

Pretty nice!  I can't say I'm exactly a fan of Shasnah (mentor/mentee romantic relationships really aren't my jam, too close to parent/child for me) but from the looks things so far in this fic their relationship is different enough that it is not bothering me.  I'm not totally sold as of yet, but I think I'm open the possibilities in this fic.

 

The setting seems really fun, I like sci-fi but I don't read very much of it (seriously whenever I read sci-fi I berate myself for not reading more) so I really like the sci-fi setting but with familiar names.  I am curious about how you are going to adapt other stormlighty things like what Joe mentions.

 

Oh, and please tell me you have a most horrible death in store for Kabsal?

Keep in mind Shallan and Jasnah aren't going to start making out right away or anything. There's some character development in store here. And even though the story is told through Shallan's eyes, a big focus is going to be on Jasnah's emotions, which might help? (It's something we didn't get much of in WoK, and seeing the change in how Jasnah views Shallan might help with some of the mentor/student thing? idk)

 

And yes, I have... plans for Kabsal. *evil grin*

 

First things first; I have no idea what a periapsis is.

Second, you managed to post this right when I'm starting to get interested in fan fiction again. I'd have read it anyway, but still; kudos.

Onto actual story comments...

Well, I like it. I've mentioned elsewhere that, with Brandon, I tend to think the best way to write fan fiction is either to use original characters in his setting, or to just go the AU route, and a space opera SA fits the second. As Weiry and Joe said, the brief glimpse we get here makes the setting sound fascinating; presumably this story is going to be Shasnah-focused, but I think I'd be interested in seeing you expand this setting into the rest of the Archives. For some reason I picture Parshmen/Stormform as semi-Borgish...

And on the topic of setting, I liked how you turned important things, like the Kharbarenth citadel or Pattern into things that fit with the space opera setting.

Characters are the most interesting part if an AU, and something I'll comment on more later, since I don't think there's enough here to judge Shallan or Jasnah. I'm not completely sold on Yalb, but that's partly because I couldn't remember who he was; he's the kid who escorted Shallan, correct? The way you set him up, I'm guessing he's going to have more screen time and be more active than he was in the book.

Periapsis!Yalb is actually kind of fun. I don't know if it's intentional or not, but the roboarm made me think of the Winter Soldier, so that's who he is fancast as. My only reservation with him is that he seems very diverged from his canon counterpart, further than I would have expected.

As for the writing itself, I liked it. Sic-if isn't really my thing, but the description of the spinning gravity...things, and the sheer size gave it a huge epic feel. I also loved the description of Kabsals name tag as being 'florid'; another personal preference, but it just kind of seems like an awkward or glaring word to me, which makes him stand out more as an awkward and unpleasant person.

And now we shall watch as Periapsis!Kabsal is both heroic and noble.

Periapsis means "the closest approach between two orbiting bodies". All of the chapter titles are astrophysics puns, so...

 

The Parshendi and their history are kind of modified here to fit the setting. Regardless, the mystery of their nature is something that drives the plot a lot.

 

I've got some more Kharbranth goodies in store, and Pattern becomes increasingly important as well.

 

I actually came up with Yalb and wrote this chapter waaaay before I saw Winter Soldier, but after I saw the movie I kinda solidified that I wanted Yalb's arm to look like Bucky's. Personally, I don't think Periapsis!Yalb is all that different from his canon counterpart -- he's a young, rough-spoken sailor (well, spacer) with a love of playing cards and pretty people. The fact that the pretty people happen to be guys doesn't seem like very significant of a character alteration, really...

[bartbug]

Are most of the people in the AU homo (or bi) sexual, or just the ones we've seen so far? Is it a conscious decision, or is there a particular reason for it? Just curious.

[Abalidoth]

Are most of the people in the AU homo (or bi) sexual, or just the ones we've seen so far? Is it a conscious decision, or is there a particular reason for it? Just curious.

I considered including a straight character, but their sexuality just wasn't important to the plot, you know?

 

In all seriousness... notice that this kind of question doesn't get asked of the thousands of movies and books and TV shows that come out every year that have no queer characters at all. No, for the most part, those aren't questioned. It's only swinging the pendulum back in the other direction that gets weird looks.

 

Was it a conscious decision? Well... as a genderqueer person, sexuality and gender politics are deeply personal to me, and will continue to be until the day I can walk out my front door presenting how I want to present without fear of violence. And my particular chosen way of changing the world is to write about these issues, have people think about them, and see if I can get some discussions going.

 

Periapsis is just a story, sure. I wanted to write about some of my favorite characters in a fun setting, and tell the kind of story I want to write. It's not a political tract, or a manifesto, or anything of the sort.

 

But every writer faces a thousand little choices within every page of every story they write -- how they view the world affects those choices and colors their story. And with my little choices, I'm trying to make the world a better place for myself and people like me.

 

In short, the question you should be asking is not "Why did Abalidoth put so many queer people in hir story?" but "why do other stories have so few?"

[theravenchilde]

I already have a thing for operas, and space, and Shasnah, and also conspiracies and plotting and just omg this fic is basically everything I love ever I have bookmarked this on Ao3 and I want to make everyone read it because they should. Chapter 2 was great! A bit short, but it definitely covered all the ground it needed to, giving us more solid info on the various shenanigans going, some Shasnah... conversation? Not banter, but not introspection. It was a good setup for their future emotional confusion and constipation. And a great lead in for the more villainous aspects of the plot as well.

[Abalidoth]

I already have a thing for operas, and space, and Shasnah, and also conspiracies and plotting and just omg this fic is basically everything I love ever I have bookmarked this on Ao3 and I want to make everyone read it because they should. Chapter 2 was great! A bit short, but it definitely covered all the ground it needed to, giving us more solid info on the various shenanigans going, some Shasnah... conversation? Not banter, but not introspection. It was a good setup for their future emotional confusion and constipation. And a great lead in for the more villainous aspects of the plot as well.

Ahhhhh thank you! *blush* It's been a little while since I updated here, so yeah, I should toss a link to Chapter 2 out here.

 

I think you'll enjoy what's coming.  

[Lady Radiant]

I just stumbled upon this fic recently and I have to say I was very much pleasantly surprised at the direction you were heading with this particular plot line. I am a bit concerned about the length of time since your last update and equally am a bit worried that you may have dropped this story. If that is the case, then it would be a massive shame, as this genuine sort of storyline is what I very much like to enjoy.

[Young Bard]

I have to admit, the title drew me (Kerbal Space Program - whoever said video games didn't give you an education). While I generally don't read/write romantic fanfics, it is quite a high quality work with a good writing style and interesting directions. Good work!

[Curious Anamaximder]

Good job!