Yeah, I liked Redshirts

Anyone read Redshirts by John Scalzi? by Lily Winterwood on 2013-12-15 03:02:00 UTC Reply

Because I did, after buying it for a friend (I had to read it before I gave it to her, shh), and... well. Spoilers below.

So in Redshirts, the main characters become aware that they're part of a sci-fi television show and that the stupid things they are doing is the result of the influence of something they call the narrative. They then decide to go back to a time when their show is being aired, and essentially stop the show so they don't get killed.

I'm wondering how applicable that is to, say, the world of the PPC. Say, in a twist like in Suedom, some OC is suddenly thrown under the influence of the Words and turned into a Mary Sue, and becomes aware that this is what is happening to them. In that case, if say two PPC Agents went after her, how would they attempt to rid the world of the Suefluence without killing what has suddenly become a self-aware Sue?

And who'd read a story like that?

Yeah, I liked Redshirts by the Irish Samurai on 2013-12-16 22:04:00 UTC Reply

I think that concept could work well. My only question is how would the Agents involved notice that the Sue had become self-aware?

While I'm sure a Sue could have that realisation, Assassins generally don't stop for a friendly chat with Sues. I'm just not sure how they'd notice they were dealing with anything other than a regular Sue.

As for how they would deal with the situation, assuming that they'd been made aware of it, I've got a couple of ideas. An exorcism would probably be worth trying, as would taking the Sue out of the continuum and seeing if she still suffered from bouts of 'Narrative Influence' or whatever.

It's certainly an interesting idea - I'd read a story like that.
I was thinking... by LightDarkPheonix on 2013-12-16 16:05:00 UTC Reply

Me and a friend of mine, as soon as we get permission, will be writing a mission for Life of Cristancia. That is possibly bad parody, and having Cristancia become aware of the fact that she's stupid, and basically an instrument for either a fantasy or a dumb attempt to emulate My Immortal, and she could team up with the agents before purposely imploding herself to bring the universe back to normal?
Fascinating... by Kittythekatty on 2013-12-15 22:02:00 UTC Reply

I would definitely read a story like that. What kind of fandom would the OC turned Sue be part of? It's an interesting idea and it reminded me that I need to work on my plug about a Sue gaining self-awareness and some self-loathing.
But I would totally read this.
Who'd read a story like that by cloudedguardian on 2013-12-15 03:17:00 UTC Reply

Well, I would for one. I love self-aware characters and narrators- They're fascinating!
I have a couple of friends that also read PPC that would be rather interested in it too.
I can't speak for the others on the forum though, as I haven't met anyone yet, I'm really really new.
Out of curiosity, which universe would you be writing this story in?

Star Trek, since it's my current fandom. :'D (nm) by Lily Winterwood on 2013-12-15 03:34:00 UTC Reply

Nice by Cloudedguardian on 2013-12-15 03:48:00 UTC Reply

Add my Dad to that list too, then.
He won't admit it, but he's a total trekkie. A very sane, reasonable one, but still.
I think my favorite 'Sue parody comic was a Star Trek one.

Star Trek invented the Sue, tbh. by Lily Winterwood on 2013-12-15 03:53:00 UTC Reply

Or at least our modern understanding of her.

Is that, by any chance, Ensign Sue Must Die? Because I adore that comic. I'm thinking of titling this piece, if I get around to it, "The Brief Life of Ensign Sue".

More like a Star Trek fic was the first to satirise it. by Ekyl on 2013-12-15 16:36:00 UTC Reply

And that doesn't even count the old-timey sporkings of Sueish characters in older literature.
That's the one! by Cloudedguardian on 2013-12-15 04:05:00 UTC Reply

In that case, I very much look forward to seeing it.