A Companion's Duty
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | A Companion's Duty |
| Author(s): | M. Alexis Pakulak |
| Date(s): | 2004 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | it's complicated |
| Fandom: | Sime~Gen |
| External Links: | A Companion's Duty, Archived version |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
A Companion's Duty is a Sime~Gen fic by M. Alexis Pakulak.
Introduction to the Online Version
You are about to read one of the finest bits of writing we have been honored to publish among the Sime~Gen fan fiction offerings. But you should be aware of three things about this story before you decide to read it.
a) It lacks the broad-based introduction to the Sime~Gen background found in the professionally published novels and in several of the novels posted for free reading, notably Aldrea Alton's Icy Nager, "Belling the Cat," "Partners" and Kerry Lindemann-Schaefer's The Only Good Sime. So this piece does not make a good one to read as your very first Sime~Gen novel.
b) It is an alternate-universe novel which splits off from the professionally published background in the year circa -409 (about 100 years after Rimon Farris) which you can see in the official chronology. This marks the year when a new and distinctively different mutation appeared among the Farrises. It can be assumed that other sub-mutations in this alternate universe are likewise slightly different.
c) This novel contains tasteful but explicit gay sex scenes that are not pornographic, but integral to the plot.[1]
Discussions Regarding Genre
This story, as well as the zine (it was published in A Companion in Zeor), were 2005 Honorable Mentions at the FanQ Awards. This was something that caused quite a bit of discussion and some controversy in the fandom.
Discussion below from Sime~Gen - SGHistory - MediaWest*Con Report - 2005, Archived version:
[Kaíres Tévesu]:(I guess the awards people decided it was a slash zine because it had a slash story in it.)
The lady who runs the awards said she got more nominations for DaBinett's "A Matter of Necessity" than any other one item. (This is surprising--and exciting--because the 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.' fandom is highly organized and HUGE.)
So, we've made a name for ourselves. If the questions I got--and the flyers I gave out--are any indication, we've (re)acquired several fans.
[Karen MacLeod]: I NEVER thought CZ's first awards would be for "slash" of all things!
[Leigh]:I guess the awards people decided it was a slash zine because it had a slash story in it.
I kind of figured that would happen. It caused considerable confusion. There is some disagreement on this in fandom, but in general, one slash story does make the whole zine slash. (The "contagion" theory of categorization. Kinda like those southern states that considered people black if they had even 1% African- American ancestry.)
I just got back from MediaWest. (Via Ohio. Finally got to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton!) Several people commented on how quiet the con seemed this year. The membership numbers went up to the 700s, but it seemed quieter than the years when there were only 500 members. Not sure if people are buying memberships and not showing up, or what. Dealers seemed happy with their sales, and we certainly did well, so it's not the economy to blame. Maybe it's the "graying of fandom." We're reaching the point where the average fan is eligible for an AARP discount. :-)
At least two people asked me about "that pro Sime/Gen slash book."
[Karen MacLeod]:I kind of figured that would happen. It caused considerable confusion. There is some disagreement on this in fandom, but in general, one slash story does make the whole zine slash.
KAREN I think CZ will survive the controversy. We used to be considered "white bread" as we avoided sexual content for the most part. I'm pleased we received recognition, though we've been "publishing" since 1978 -- June, in fact -- I wonder if the timing had something to do with karma, etc.
CZ has grown up...and its about time! I want to shout that we won all over the zine's website, on each piece that received an award.... If I can edit books that end up as finalists in contests, why not the zine? I learned to edit BECAUSE of the zine, I have always been proud of the zine.
[Jean Lorrah]: "At least two people asked me about "that pro Sime/Gen slash book." I hope they don't think it's the next book out, as actually the gay S~G novel is the last in the contract. It's not slash, although it is intimate adventure--no established characters suddenly discover that they are gay. Of the main characters in SPECIAL DISPENSATION, one is contentedly gay when the novel opens, while the other thinks he has no sex drive until he finally starts getting decent transfers. The main characters are a renSime and a renGen--no apparently straight characters from other novels get slashed. So it's a gay novel, not slash.
See more discussion at 'Slash' Fiction - In Search of a Definition.