The future is cancelled but at least we have slash

Multifandomhyperfixationadhdyouknowsit Shetland, HP, The Terror, OFMD, Red Dwarf, British comedy, crack etc

[aurorlaura]

Real talk now. What will fandom look like when society breaks down? I think we’ll still want to experience our enthusiasms amidst the chaos and maybe even have the capacity to do so. How will we find each other? Have you been stockpiling canon, fic and art in a format you’ll be able to access when the internet/electricity is gone/only occasionally accessible? Has anyone already resigned to the loss of almost all shared mass culture within their lifetime?

[hjellacott]

About Paapa Essiedu's Snape

Those of you who interact with me regularly already know this, but for the newbies: I work regularly in the film and TV industry in Britain. I've done it all. I've been a camera woman, a film editor, an AD, I've worked closely with the Director of Photography, I've carried out auditions, I've acted and auditioned for roles, I've done special effects... It's hard to find a TV or film role I haven't held at some point of my life. Moreover, given my own relationship to the industry, I've plenty of friends and colleagues in the Harry Potter series and even I was around set at a couple points. And I've admired Paapa's work for years. Therefore I want to speak about this as someone who actually knows the hell she's talking about because I'm seeing a lot of racism in one hand, and a lot of plain ignorance in the other.

The task of finding someone half as incredible and memorable as Alan Rickman was near impossible. He was one of the best most emblematic actors of Britain and his talent was undeniable. But so is Paapa's. Granted, you know less about black actors' talent because let's face it, unless you're black, most of you are fairly unlikely to ever watch something filled with black talent, but Paapa's been around for a long time and everyone in the industry knows he's bound to become a legend. In fact, I first saw him as a brilliant Snape years before we even knew there was going to be a Harry Potter TV Series, in an entirely different TV series.

For those of you who simply are racist: This series was envisaged as a project where ethnicity, race and general background was largely not going to be considered, unless it was hundred per cent relevant for the role (e.g. Ron had to be a redhead, and those are, as far as I know, always white, and Dumbledore had to be old, etc.). Therefore, and this is what many of you aren't grasping, Paapa wasn't chosen because they said "let's look for a black Snape". This never happened. There was no specific decision to race swap anybody, among other reasons because when the books don't mention race, you can't swap it. As far as the books are concerned many of the characters could be any race, and the movies don't count because this isn't a movie remake but a book adaptation. So they simply looked for the best person for the job, did not clarify ethnicity or race in the audition calls, so anybody could show up, and Paapa was someone they specifically sought for his incredible talent.

For those of you who have legitimate concerns about race turning this into a white vs black storyline: Calm down and take a million deep breaths because there's just no freaking way that's happening. Colour is never ever mentioned as an issue in the entirety of the Potter books, so in the series, they're going to make sure people understand their version of racism is magical beings vs non magical vs creatures vs animals. Besides, let's not pretend this is a brand new thing. Everybody knows Harry Potter. Everybody knows it's got nothing to do with race. And before you come at me with the goblins crap, I'm sorry, but as a descendant of Jews I have never in my life looked at a goblin and seen Jews. In fact, I was unaware this comparison was ever made, until I came to live in Britain, and an anti-semite said goblins reflect Jews. So unless you're anti-semite, you really do tell the difference between both. Similarly, there won't be black vs white. Also Snape is kind of in the good side of things? So he's in Harry's side. And there are plenty of black and white actors in both the goodies and the baddies. So really, you'd have to twist this a hell of a lot to get the story to be like that.

And I've no doubt some cretins out there will twist things as far as they can, and manipulate, lie, gaslight people until they see racism, xenophobia, cultural appropriation and all sorts of crap where there's nothing to see, purely because these people have nothing in their lives to hold on to but irrational hatred and fear of a writer. So please have some brains and don't fall into that trap.

[aurorlaura]

HBO HP, race and racist reactions

Much of this is in line with my views. So many Americans want to give a hot take about race & casting and it's grim to see toxic US racism brought into this. Here's something that Americans need to learn:

WE'VE HAD COLOURBLIND CASTING IN THE UK FOR DECADES. Onstage, in TV, on radio, on films, it's been normal for DECADES that performers are cast based on their performance, NOT because a character is meant to be a particular ethnicity. We also happen to have awesome actors of every ethnicity, so someone whose parents are from Pakistan, or Nigeria, or Wales or whatever might get cast to play a working class Londoner or Edinburgh solicitor and if they can carry off the accent, body language etc of that type of person then there's no problem.

JKR didn't help matters when years ago she said that from Hermione's description in the books she could be black. That's not the point. A black actor playing her onstage isn't untrue to the character, doesn't change the plot, and it's a bonus that she gives much-needed diversity to the cast.

As for Paapa Essiedu, I also agree with the OP that he's obviously been a rising star for years. He was Hamlet for the RSC in the West End at age 26! I saw that production and though the play usually bores me I couldn't take my eyes off him. He's got charisma in every form of media and he's obviously going to be captivating as Snape. I hate to say this but some folks need it spelling out: the programme makers weren't ticking a box giving a role to a black performer, they found an exceptional actor who will give the life and depth needed for a vital character in the story.

I'm also seeing some discourse that only white actors should play characters that aren't unambiguously good. Actors like to play complex, ambiguous characters and British actors are trained to find a way into sympathy for and self-understanding of even reprehensible characters. In 2026 we've grown up enough as audiences and members of multicultural society that we know that nonwhite doesn't equal evil. At least in the UK we have.

Having said that, things happened in the original films that need to be avoided this time. It's too late for the Irish character to not have a name that seems to signal Sinn Féin, but hopefully the programme makers won't make him an explosives expert. It's likely that this time around there will be a concerted effort to avoid anyone associating goblins with Jews beyond the obvious trope of banking.

[aurorlaura]

Free Zines on Star Trek and Disability!

Star Trek and Disability - Vol 1

Infinite diversity in infinite combinations was not just an in-universe philosophy but it was something that Star Trek shows themselves stri

Star Trek and Disability 2

More examples, building on part 1

[almoststardust]

The Westbury Horse, 1939 by Eric Ravilious

Train Landscape, 1940 by Eric Ravilious

[by-gray]

my rimster mind cannot unsee the physical distractions lister’s giving himself in gunmen of the apocalypse from the fact he can touch rimmer now.

legion gives rimmer a body and so lister’s strapping himself up to a computer game where he can have an excessive amount of sex with digitalised women, which rimmer literally calls him out for.

also not how lister says that his type is ‘moral garbage on legs’. if that isn’t rimmer, then i don’t know what is.

[iggyfingers]

Yeah okay so Craig Charles hiding his face while he laughs is the most adorable thing in the universe

[thatdoodlebug]

i love that shot between them <3 <3

[swimmingfoxsticks]

BI BI BABY by swimmingfox on Ao3

Well here's something new that I'm trying! I've written a British romcom novel originally inspired by some of my Roy/Jamie and Roy/Jamie/Keeley (Ted Lasso) fanfic but very much its own thing. It's a whole novel, written already, and I'm going to put up one chapter a week I think, so if you subscribe, I can guarantee updates til the end and won't leave you hanging! For my old GoT Potential readers, I feel it's got quite a feel of that, too, and credit that on all you readers encouraging me.

If you like it, do subscribe and do tell your friends! I'd absolutely love this to be read, to try and build up readers far and wide, and would massively value people's thoughts and comments as we go.

***

SYNOPSIS:

Bi Bi Baby is my modern revamp of Cyrano de Bergerac with a bisexual, polyamorous twist!

Jack Drake is in a rut. He's just been dumped by Molly, his fellow teacher at South London's John Ruskin School, for being too stuck in his ways. Rafi, the hot new substitute PE teacher with major labrador energy and maddeningly good hair, wants help from Jack in helping him win clever, art-loving Molly. Jack realises that if he agrees, he can secretly get Rafi to help him be more spontaneous and win Molly back.

What Jack doesn't predict is that somewhere down the line, he'll grow increasingly attracted to Rafi himself, and that things will get very complicated indeed. Can Jack work out who he is and what he wants? And will Rafi or Molly play any part in his future? A sweet, upbeat romcom that celebrates difference, art, and discovering who you are a little later in life.

Read the first two chapters of Bi Bi Baby HERE!

With thanks to @armadillo1976 for the beyond-the-call beta.

Tagging some fandom friends/acquaintances just this once in case they feel like sharing this post:

@codswalloping @gettingbyi @greenapricot @liesmyth @solarmane @lgbtqreads @oldfashionedmorphine @walnutmistjamie @carpe-mamilia @destinationtoast @just-barrow @bobparkhurst @almost-a-class-act @aurorlaura @littlehen @buttonhouseparty @themisanthropiclycanthrope @aschen-kiln @theimmaculatebastard @junojelli @sassyeggs74 @sharkaria @whiskeyteacup25 @asbestosmouth @jillypups @jedusaur @elfin-essy @mellowmanatee @missy-1978 @scoatneyhall @scintillatingshortone @soofyahn @buriedsecrets @hardlyfatal @zoesongs @anniew1921 @thedarkestgreys @mllekaren

[kaity--did]

[arnoldlister]

— A Red Dwarf masterpost of all the download links, websites and resources for Dwarfers I could find! Not an exhaustive list I'm sure, but pretty smegging close. All that good stuff under the cut. Enjoy!

Contents:

Episodes

Novels

Cast Books

Clips, Scripts, Commentary, Docs, Smeg-Ups and Other Extras

Red Dwarf Radio Shows

Smegazine

Web Comics

Other Sites and Resources

1. Episodes:

Series 1 - 12 + The Promised Land (Torrent, cloudtorrents)

Series 1 - 12 (Torrent, 1337x)

Series 1 - 8 (Internet Archive)

Series 1 - 8 Bodysnatcher Collection* (Internet Archive)

The Promised Land (Torrent, 1337x)

*Unseen episode 'Bodysnatcher', the lost episode of Red Dwarf I, storyboard episode performed by Chris Barrie, Red Dwarf's opening episode before the reshoots, commentaries by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor.

2. Novels:

Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers (#1)

Internet Archive

Ocean of PDF

Audiobook (YouTube)

Better Than Life (#2)

Internet Archive

Ocean of PDF

Audiobook (YouTube)

Last Human (#3)

Internet Archive

Ocean of PDF

Audiobook (YouTube)

Backwards (#4)

Internet Archive

Ocean of PDF

Audiobook (YouTube)

Red Dwarf Omnibus

Internet Archive

3. Cast Books:

The Log: A Dwarfer’s Guide to Everything (Craig Charles)

Internet Archive

Audiobook (YouTube)

The Man in the Rubber Mask: The Inside Smegging Story of Red Dwarf (Robert Llewellyn)

Internet Archive

Ocean of PDF

Audiobook (YouTube)

4. Clips, Scripts, Commentary, Docs, Smeg-Ups and Other Extras:

Red Dwarf Extras on the Internet Archive

YouTube channels with lots of Red Dwarf extras and clips:

Ace Rimmer (Holly Hop Drive 7)

Duane Dibbley (duke of dork)

Talkie Toaster

Flibbles Lair (+ extra videos on their site)

Scripts:

Primordial Soup - The Least Worst Scripts (book) by Grant Naylor on the Internet Archive

Series 1 - 8 on ladyofthecake.com

Series 1 - 12 on springfieldspringfield

Red Dwarf Programme Guide (book) by Chris Howarth on the Internet Archive

5. Red Dwarf Radio Shows

Episodic format of the first 2 audiobooks (Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, Better Than Life). Read by Chris Barrie and features sound effects and music. Available on YouTube, courtesy of Ace Rimmer (Holly Hop Drive 7).

6. Red Dwarf Magazine / Smegazine

Available on Internet Archive and ReadComicManga. G&T also have a catalogue on their website. The Red Dwarf Magazine - the magazine part of the title changed to 'Smegazine' from issue three - was launched in 1992 by Fleetway Editions. It comprised of a mix of news, reviews, interviews, comic strips and competitions. The comic strips featured episode adaptations and original material, including further stories of popular characters like the Polymorph and Ace Rimmer.

7. Web Comics

Official: Prelude to Nanarchy (reddwarf.info, PDF), also available on the Internet Archive.

Fan comics by Kris Carter: Scoop Of The Century and Songs In The Key Of Files (DeviantArt)

8. Other Sites and Resources:

Tongue Tied - The Red Dwarf Wiki

The Fandom Wiki for Red Dwarf.

The Smegadrive

Frame-by-frame episodes of the entire show with the ability to search by dialogue or episode, make gifs, and edit captions. Run by Ganymede & Titan.

Ganymede & Titan

Fansite launched in 1999 — for news, features, reviews, and forum. Purchase a copy of their book The Garbage Pod, a collection of fan writing from 2003 - 2011.

TORDFC

The home of The Official Red Dwarf Fan Club, established in 1990 and organisers of the Dimension Jump conventions.

stasis-leak

A collection of scanned and archived magazine articles.

reddwarf.info

A fan maintained archive of reddwarf.co.uk - The Official Red Dwarf Website. The archive has been recreated from the Wayback Machine and anything that is still accessible from reddwarf.co.uk, but some images or whole sections are still missing.

Spaces Corps Database

Your complete guide to the characters, ships, gadgets and, erm, diseases in Red Dwarf.

Red Dwarf Props

A long-time fan's private collection of Red Dwarf props.

Red Dwarf Soundboard

A collection of fun sound bytes from the show.

Smeg and the Femmes Podcast

A longtime fan of "Red Dwarf" chats to other female and LGBT+ fans about the appeal of the show as she reviews it episode by episode. Created and hosted by @janamelie.

Podash

YouTube

Spotify

Red Dwarf crochet patterns by Jazmo Crochet

Starbug pattern

Mr Flibble pattern

[alili-lunamoon]

Found this while browsing some Red Dwarf magazines and sorry what 😭

[aurorlaura]

CHRIS

[aurorlaura]

Comedy partners in bed

Laurel and Hardy - the OGs

Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers - sweetness itself

Morecambe and Wise - the marrieds

Lee and Herring - years after they split up, The Guardian asked them to do this. Stew had ironic fun with it, Rich is showing what he's really thinking

The Mighty Boosh - one of the least gay things Julian & Noel did was the short film Sweet. Look at that pride flag duvet.

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith - Inside No 9: Simon Says

Shot:

Chaser lol:

[pomodoriyum]

i think im funny or something.

anyway why were des voeux and hickey eating him like that

[leagueofno9]

It’s been a while since my last text posts 💕

[kitmarlowe]

STEVE PEMBERTON & REECE SHEARSMITH ↳ INSIDE NO. 9

[hawkesque]

mash [handshake] the terror: tv shows based on books that greatly outpace both the messaging and content of the original material, basing their stories on real-life military-driven colonial events where most everyone hates it there and is desperate to go home. and also there are several white people with the same name for some reason.

[eltonjohndenver]

always thinking about how hickey thought he was going on a gay cruise to the bahamas.... id burn it all down too girl