If you want something really, really bad...

Hm, if a plot development in a story makes you go "yes, hallelujah, that is so cool, this has so much potential" when it is clear the narrative wants you to root against it, but later on, when that same plot development is reversed, makes you then go "yes, hallelujah, fucking finally, I couldn`t take more of this", is that a sign of good writing or bad? Did the writer who initially failed to get you on the same page simply rectify their mistake? Or just screw up the potential awesomeness so badly you fell on that same page in defeat?

This is the random stuff my mind likes to get lost in sometimes. :D

Not being into Twilight, I only got the whole Fifty Shades of Grey sheananigans on the side. So, it started out as an - obviously AU - Twilight fanfic which the author later slightly rewrote (as in the names) and published. From the summary I got, it could have been (and probably was for some) an AU for any other het fandom.

Yesterday, I stumbled over an excerpt of it. And oh boy. Thing is, I have been in fandom for a while now and as such I have read bdsm in various forms as well. There are certain kinks I like but usually submission in specific forms is not it. And from what I saw, I have read this story as well. Not this particular one of course but enough fics that were close. In the end, it's not so different than several Buffy/Angelus fics I read once upon a time (and they were better written, too) or a certain SPN vampire "epic" with bad porn dialogue. Not particularly well-written, clichéd and the stuff that is okay for sex fantasies but would need a better effort to put it into the story (narrative, characters etc). By fic standards of "brave", I'd consider it outdated.

I find it fascinating, though, that FSOG rose to bestsellers lists like that. What is the appeal? I have read lots of bodice rippers in my youth. Granted, nothing truly BDSM. And before I got into online fandom and fanfic, I could probably be described as more "sheltered" as to certain themes. :) But this couldn`t have been the first lightly S/M sex book ever written, could it? Does it truly count as daring and fresh to non-fanfic readers? Is fanfic twenty years forward of its time? I feel so avant-garde now. Hee.

Also, they are making the novel into a movie? I was too lazy to research further but, like a TV movie? Or one to be realesed in movie theaters? Because how on Earth can this be anything but PG18? Besides, a cinematic movie about BDSM sex? HBO, sure, but mainstream? Unless they sanitize it and then it will have even less of a point. Eh, I`d probably watch it, too, as long as they actually put a hot guy in the supposed "most alluring dude ever" main role. Because let me tell you, that was a major stumbling block for me on Twilight.

Question here, people. If Arthur ever was placed in the stocks, do you think the townsfolk would throw fruit at him? I mean, he IS their prince. On the other hand, IF he was put there, Uther would basically give permission, wouldn't he?

Yes, I probably have a) too much time on my hands, b) watched episode 7 too many times or c) both. :-p