Asking the Important Questions

[meddow]

I finally gave into userpic temptation and got myself a paid account.

I’ve been re-reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell because it’s my favourite book and found myself asking why on earth isn’t there a huge Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell fandom? The Harry Potter fandom practically owns the Internet, but Jonathan Strange doesn’t even have its own section at FF.net. What’s it got that Harry Potter hasn’t got (other than a movie)? There’s magic a prophecy, but more importantly it's full of interesting characters. I'm love the Harry Potter books enough to be involved in the fandom because I love the characters and I think that is pretty much the same reason a lot of people are involved in the HP fandom. Really, though, there are a lot of characters that are very similar between the books.

Take Childermass for example. He’s tall. He has long greasy black hair, pale skin, dark eyes and a big noise and happens to wear a lot of black. He’s cunning and snarky and is one step ahead of most of the other characters and there is far more to him than is first revealed. Remind you of anyone that the Harry Potter fandom happens to love? Except whereas Snape is a bully, Childermass is not and therefore Childermass is made of far more awesome than Snape. Why haven’t the Slytherfen discovered this book and latched onto this guy?

I really need to get my hands on a copy of The Ladies of Grace Adieu.

Comments

[trude.livejournal.com]

why on earth isn’t there a huge Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell fandom?

Because it is perfect as it is. (I had to stop reading when I had 200 pages left and read some other books before finishing, because I knew it would take ages before I found anything I liked that much again.)

Seriously, I think that one reason is Clarke's writing style, which is more noticeable and a more integral part of the novel than Rowling's is. A potential fan-author has to chose between trying to imitate it, do it badly and possibly lose readers, or skip it an possibly lose readers.

With a lot of characters dead or disappeared at the end of the novel, it can be hard for a fan-author to know which way to take the story. (Unless one writes "missing moments" etcetera.)

A movie version might help. Or "help". It certainly did for Tolkien.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Ah, but Clarke’s writing style isn’t that different from Austen’s and Pride and Prejudice has a fandom. Though I personally would never give writing Jonathan Strange fanfiction a try because they style does make it far to intimidating.

But a fandom is more than just fanfiction - there’s meta, fanart and general fangirlish squealing and there doesn’t tend to be much of that either.

I do agree that it’s perfect as is and I wouldn’t change a thing.

[themolesmother.livejournal.com]

There is a discussion community stonesofyork and there have been a couple of pieces posted there. I tend to agree that the style probably puts people off trying fic. That's possibly a blessing when you think how much truly awful LOTR fanfic there is out there :-).

Here via a comment you made on my journal. I've friended you. Hope that's OK.

MM

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can imagine a lot of Jonathan Strange fanfiction being something of a train wreck. I just wish there was more love for it out there.

Friending me's perfectly okay, I always like new friends. I’m about to friend you back.

[fishity.livejournal.com]

Oh, is the book that good? I haven't read it yet but my man has and said I'd probably like it. I hesitated because I actually don't enjoy anything fantasy-ish except for HP...but I'll put it on my reading list!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

It's my favourite book in the whole world, it's that good. It's Austen meets JKR. I don't like fantasy much either, but like HP it's grounded enough in the real world for that not to be an issue with me.

[fishity.livejournal.com]

It's Austen meets JKR.
That would be a meeting of two of my favourite storytellers! *bounces* Now that you mention it, someone really should write a "Austen meets JKR" story...

but like HP it's grounded enough in the real world for that not to be an issue with me.
That's exactly what I needed to hear :) I'm convinced now. It's also such a deliciously LONG story...I read very fast and can't help but be disappointed if a book provides me with only three hours of fun.