Deep Background
| Website | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Deep Background |
| Owner/Maintainer: | Pellinor |
| Dates: | June 5, 1997 to at least 1999 |
| Type: | |
| Fandom: | The X-Files |
| URL: | astolat.demon.co.uk deepbackground.simplenet.com (via Wayback) |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Deep Background was an X-Files website created by Pellinor.
The focus was canon details, info on topics, information on all the major locations used in the X-Files, as well as links to city web-page, links to resources such as medical topics, professions, the FBI, episode summaries, and more.
Many fanwriters used it as a resource. [1]
A fan in 1998 wrote on alt.tv.x-files.creative that the site had "An awesome subset at http://www.astolat.demon.co.uk/experts.htm. She did a beautiful job sorting and categorizing and linking people with professions and areas of expertise. She took the thread we did a while back on "what's your specialty" and turned it into a completely usable web page, the perfect place for people to make contact with help for research for fanfics. [2]
There are 51 pages in the Guestbook comments, but only the most recent one is available by Wayback.
Ceased to Be Updated
"This site will continue to exist, for the benefit of people with links to the episode summaries and other pages, or if the new site is down. However, it will not be updated with season seven developments." [3]
Introduction
"What is this site all about?"
What is this site all about?
This site has been put together with the purpose of helping writers of X-Files fanfiction with their writing. It contains:
- Information about the X-Files itself I have assumed that everyone using this site already knows quite a lot about the X-Files, so I've made no attempt to explain the background of the characters and outline the course of events over the last 4 years. What you can find is: ◦Detailed episode summaries - and I mean detailed
- Index of Paranormal themes within the episodes
- Character dossiers - What is Mulder's address? How does Scully take her coffee? What is Mulder's opinion on dreams? What has Scully said about her religious beliefs? And, of course, much more....
- Timeline
- X-Files Places - Descriptions and plans of Mulder and Scully's apartments etc
- The Conspiracy An episode-by-episode guide to the "Arc", and some attempts to draw it together
Real-Life Research
- The FBI - How the real FBI works. Needless to say, this is very different from how we see it in the X-Files
- Forensic Science - How Mulder and Scully can collect and use evidence to solve a case. Fingerprints, DNA, autopsies etc
- Law Enforcement - Just a small section. See the FBI and Forensic sections for most of the case-related information
- Medicine - Injuries, ailments and drugs
- Places - Washington, Martha's Vineyard, Oxford University
- Paranormal - Links only
- Military
- Psychology - An episode by episode guide to psychological issues [4]
"Using the Information"
Using the Information
Obviously, use it however you like. However, I would like to make a few cautions:
- Don't feel you have to research every little aspect of your story, just because the information's there. Just by writing X-Files fiction we are divorced from reality in a way, in the sense that the X-Files division doesn't exist in real life and real FBI agents don't act anything like Mulder and Scully. Sometimes we have a direct conflict between X-Files accuracy and real-life accuracy
- Don't feel you can't ask questions publicly, such as on Fictalk. Although I have tried to make sure all facts are accurate, I have had to stay general. Asking the specific question you have in mind may well give you a much better answer.
Where possible, I have included the addresses of people who can be mailed with questions on a subject.
- If you are still doubtful about the accuracy of your research, it is a good idea to get the story beta read by someone who has the relevant knowledge. Contact the Beta Reading Circle for this. [5]
"Thanks To"
- Viv Wiley, Andrew, Suzanne Bickerstaffe (Ecksphile), Laura Capozzola, Cathryn, Randi Lynne Gross (QueeQuag1), Gabrielle Harbowy, Jad, Mary Ruth Keller, Denise Lacy, CiCi Lean, Michelle Lellouche, MaraKara, Mishka, Audrey Cooper, Thalia D'Muse, Diane Renaud, Rebecca Rusnak, Sari, Kristine Thomas, Gil Trevizo, Christian Webb, and "various people who have sent small corrections and additions since I announced this site." [6]
Fan Comments
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to Pellinor's Deep Background site for its library of X-Files information. Without it, there would've been no way to untangle the complicated timing knot that frustrated this episode. [7]
More work than I could ever imagine doing and just so helpful. [8]
Thanks. [9]
hey, great page but did u guys suddenly quit after Without? not that this still isn't one of the best X-files site, but is anyone posting new episodes? [10]
Love the synopses, but, if possible, get more up to date. [11]
References
- ^ "I visited Pellinor's wonderful Deep Background site for the basics on critical care" -- Fanfic Help: Medical Question, August 12, 1998
- ^ Jen at alt.tv.x-files.creativ, September 17, 1998
- ^ Deep Background
- ^ New Site
- ^ New Site
- ^ New Site
- ^ Author's Notes for Hide and Seek, Hide & Seek Part I (26/39), September 9, 1998
- ^ comment by Dahlak at atxc Appreciation Day, January 30, 1999
- ^ Guestbook comment, November 25, 2000
- ^ Guestbook comment, February 1, 2001
- ^ Guestbook comment, February 26, 2001