(Bit late with this, but, bleegh).
North Castle was one of the first Zelda fansites, founded by Juliet “Lady Juliet” and Kirsty Singleton around July 1997; and arguably one of the most influential, boasting a fanfiction section and fanart gallery older than the likes of fanfiction.net and Deviantart. The site’s focus was mostly limited to the pre-Ocarina of Time Zeldas, as well as the cartoon and tie-in comics from the 1980s/early 90s, as sort of a introduction to newer fans of the series post-1998, and was also home to the Singleton Saga, itself a seminal series in the realm of Zelda fanfiction. The site also prided itself on its fandom, rather than news and gameplay, focus; a site “for the fans”, as Singleton once wrote.
The fansite itself was what got me into the fandom, back when I was a young 14-year old, and without it, I wouldn’t nearly be what I am today, reading, and later being inspired to do my own, fanfiction and fanart. Nor would I’ve read and brought the Zelda mangas without that site’s help on where to find them.
So this is my way of saying thanks, and Happy Anniversary, to one of the most influential sites on Zelda fandom!
Rice paper stock by Enchantedgal-Stock Northcastle.co.uk
