Fonts of Wisdom

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Archive
Name: Fonts of Wisdom - Pryde & Wisdom/Excalibur (and more) Fan-Fiction
Date(s): July 5, 1997 - December 17, 2009
Archivist: Luba Kmetyk
Founder: Luba Kmetyk
Type: Fanfic, Fanart
Fandom: X-Men, Vertigo, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Subreality Cafe, The Common People
URL: http://lubakmetyk.infinology.net/index.htm (archived version)
http://home.att.net/~lubakmetyk/index.htm
http://whatsnew.the-crypt.net/
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Fonts of Wisdom was Luba Kmetyk's invitation-only archive. It was a large multi-creator fanworks archive, hosting an extensive array of fanfiction and fanart. The main focus was on Kitty Pryde and Pete Wisdom, of Marvel Comics' Excalibur title. The archive was first updated on July 15, 1997, according to the What's New section of the site, and was a repository for Luba's own fanworks, as well as works she appreciated and wanted to save. In Luba's own words:

This is not intended to be a complete archive of all Pryde&Wisdom stories available, or all Excalibur stories available. These are stories I like to read. These may include stories where Pete and/or Kitty only make brief appearances, and stories about other Excalibur members and characters that have some contact with Pete and/or Kitty (such as Doug, Illyana, Betsy). I also have New Mutants and Hellions stories on one subpage, and on another subpage DC/Vertigo stories and even Image stories. My only rule is, I want to include them (and the authors graciously let me). If you send me a story, I will read it and consider it, but I reserve the right to decline it for my own reasons.

Fonts of Wisdom Main Page

The last update of the site was in 2008, following Luba's hospital stay and nursing care[1]. At that time there were 3945 stories by 722 authors and art by 213 artists.

Idylls of the Cat

Luba's own ongoing Pete and Kitty stories, including her own version of continuity following the "Pete v Pete" scene of Excalibur #92 where Piotr assaults Pete Wisdom after he sees him with Kitty. In Luba's words:

Note: I started this series soon after Excalibur #92 (Pete vs Pete), and have made no effort to keep this within more recent Marvel continuity. In particular, I am ignoring the whole Onslaught/Dark Xavier mess, and Dark Beast, also. Xavier in this story may be dark, but it's his own fault; I don't accept Onslaught as an excuse for Xavier to act like a jerk. I'm treating Logan as basically normal, I just don't feel up to writing feral Wolverine. I'm also ignoring Betsy and the Crimson Whatever. And I've also ignored a lot of little things Ellis has done with Pryde and Wisdom since then, not because I don't accept them (I revere Ellis as gospel), but because it would involve too much minor revision.

Fonts of Wisdom: Idylls of the Cat

The stories included R-rated erotica and the Dark Idylls series, which took a much bleaker look at Kitty's relationships, both with Pete Wisdom and with Piotr Rasputin.

X-Books

There were a number of sections for other writers' stories about Kitty and Pete, sorted into five different sections:

There was also other sections for:

Vertigo/DC/et al

Luba's site was one of the few in the 1990s and early 2002s that had an interest in non-Marvel fanfiction. She collected Vertigo, DC, and a number of crossover stories, including comics crossed over with Babylon 5, X-Files, Farscape and Twin Peaks.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel the Series

The Crypt was where Luba saved Spike-centric fanfic, having, in her own words:

I have a thing for bad Brits! <g> Therefore, most of these stories feature Spike, although I admit to a soft spot for Giles and Wesley, too. (Angel welcome if he plays nice with Spike and/or kills Riley)

Fonts of Wisdom: The Crypt

Fanart

Speculum Mundi was the fanart section, with an extensive collection of fanart from across comics fanfic. Some OCs were included. There was also an adult section, unusual for a lot of fanart archives where the domains often restricted such materials.

Links

Wishlist

Luba's site was also unusual for her "wishlist" section, where she posted ideas she would like to see for fanfic and art. As of the last Wayback capture on Feb 18/09, the list comprised of:

  • a crossover with the Hellfire Club (Sebastian/Emma version) and Spike and/or Angel
  • a spy story featuring Pete Wisdom working with Clive Reston (with Kitty, Alistaire, Leiko and/or Shang Chi optional)
  • more Cross-Time Capers
  • an explanation of Sat-yr-9's interest in Kitty
  • the X-Men (but *especially* Pete Wisdom) meet Miles Vorkosigan (yes, I *know* it's ridiculous!)
  • Kitty Pryde meets Bad Kitty <g> -- thanks, Amy and Jim!
  • Kitty Pryde as Black Queen of the Hellfire Club and Pete Wisdom as her Black King -- thanks, Gina!
  • Romany Wisdom stories!
  • Pete Wisdom during his time in Black Air -- thanks, Jim!
  • Brigid Shane stories
  • 'classic' early Excalibur -- Dai Thomas, WHO, Gatecrasher and the Technet, Sat-Yr-9, Otherworld, etc
  • the London Hellfire Club (Ellis version) vs the 'classic' New York Hellfire Club (Sebastian, Emma, etc)
  • Pryde&Wisdom teaming with Jon Sable and Maggie the Cat
  • Pryde&Wisdom teaming with Luke and Laura to rescue Robert and Anna Scorpio (from Faison and/or the Cassadines, of course!)
  • Pryde&Wisdom teaming with Robert and Anna Scorpio to rescue Luke and Laura (from Faison and/or the Cassadines, of course!)
  • Pete Wisdom and Jack Knight and John Constantine and the Shade
  • Emma Frost and the Hellions vs Ivana Bauil and DV8 (the Ellis version, obviously)
  • Domino and Zealot working together
  • Gambit in New Orleans with the Alan Moore version of Voodoo
  • Colossus finds out about Peter-son-of-Nereel
  • the Mutant-X Kitty Pryde, now Black Queen of their Hellfire Club, meets the Mutant-X version of Pete Wisdom
  • Kitty/Kurt/Colossus Challenge
    • More specifically, remember Excalibur #103 with all the alternate Kittys and Kurts and Colossuses (Colossi?), and remember the page with a three-panel spread of three different alternates --
      1. Kitty was a dominatrix and Kurt and Piotr were her slaves -- thanks, Michelle and Tina!
      2. Kitty, Kurt and Piotr were all alcoholics sleeping in an alley -- thanks, Lyssie!
      3. Piotr was Rasputin the monk, Kurt was a priest and Kitty a nun (albeit a nun holding a Jewish Star-of-David!)

The challenge is to write stories for those scenarios (or any of the other alternate Kittys, Kurts and Piotrs shown in Exc#103, like the trio as depicted on the cover)

  • and, of course, more Pryde&Wisdom/Excalibur/New Mutants stories of any kind...

Reviews and Recommendations

Her site, 'The Fonts of Wisdom' was initially created to showcase good Wisdom/Pryde fanfic, but has since made a stunning growth. In fact, based on her regular updating, excellent taste and smooth design, the Fonts has become one of the premier fanfiction sites on the net. It holds a stunningly high level of top quality fics, rejecting the dross must sites are padded with. For many writers, an archive request from Luba is a sign of 'making it' within the community.

 [2]

This initially grew out of Luba Kmetyk's obsession with Pryde and Wisdom pairing, and expanded exponentially into one of the best 'for grown-ups' X-Men archives (and Spike archives) out there. Her selections tend to be a bit much on the sturm und drang side for me, but it's pretty much uniformly beautifully written. Luba split the archive into lots of categories, so look for the good authors on every page. I can barely put my foot in the door here -- there's too much. Look for Tag Team, DuAnn (the awesome Just Lucky, I Guess), Susan Crites, Phil Foster, Connie H (the classic Kid Dynamo), Luba Kmetyk herself (warning: although Luba is excellent, unflinching, and gives great smut, she has a nasty habit of not finishing stories), Mel, Melissa, and Amanda Sichter (Remember, When Falling).

 [3]

References

  1. ^ Fonts of Wisdom - What's New
  2. ^ IMHO #14 - a Luba Kmetyk Restrospective by Dex Farkin
  3. ^ Seanachais Fanfic Recs - X-Men
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