Firefly fiction Preferences

I have certain preferences to any fanfic I read. This ios not a guide for writers (a hint: write what you want to. Something you find fun), but more me trying to jot down points I like and dislike in fic.

What I like:

• I like the the characters to actually be in character. This is a hard requirement as it is subjective, but some writers seem to ignore character traits to make them fit better into their stories.
• Good interaction between characters, especially if it picks up on subtle interaction which is present in the series or the BDM.
• good insight into characters. I especially like exploration of the subtleties in Zoe's character, which most just see as stoic and nothing more.
• A Firefly 'Verse. In other words nothing too fantastical or 'substantial'. Firefly is about the little guys doing the little things in their little lives. Granted the BDM turned this on it's head slightly, but the BDH are not that big in the bigger picture.
• Taking popular convention and turning it on it's head in a way that fits the 'verse.

What I dislike:

This is a longer list.

• Pornfic There is a case or two below where a single chapter of a long story comes under this. I will leave a warning where necessary.
• I also tend to avoid non-canon pairings unless I have been rail roaded into a good story where the author never left a warning. However, as an exception top this rule, I am starting to find the Mal/Inara pairing irritating. Mostly because I do not buy the scenario's. I want the characters to be in character. If something different happens than what is usually expected, there well better be a darn good reason.
• Portraying Jayne as just plain stupid. He may not be a beacon of intelligence, but he is not stupid. He may have a twisted morality and it may take him longer to see things as other do, but that does not make him stupid.
• Going mathematically 'over accurate' to show how clever River is. Saying they will arrive arrive somewhere in 4 days 22 hours 10 minutes and 22.53 seconds is not showing intelligence as it is just wrong.

Considering it takes ten seconds to say that, where is the point of reference? and then there is the issue of complications such as changes in weather patterns, docking permissions, others crossing flight paths, Serenity falling apart again, and then you need to give definition to 'arrive'. Is it arriving in atmo? landing? being close enough to send a shuttle? getting to the job location? this is just one example, and similar things can be said about other types of mathematical 'overaccurracies'.

• River using the words "Captain Daddy".
• Anybody calling Mal "Captain Tightpants" over and over and over and overusing other terms of 'endearment'.
• Rewriting scenes from the series or the BDM to suit their purposes. Reinterpretation I can handle to some extent, but actually changing what happened? I dislike immensely.
• Reunion/futurefic. Even if they are well written, I inherently dislike setting a story say five or ten or more years after the BDM. It is worse if it is a reunion for the crew. They get back togethjer for some odd reason. Too clichéd. too disjointed. I have never liked this in other things apart from fanfic either. I feel this is normally a cop out to get to certain situations.
• Stories centred around romance. I want a good story not just emotional angst where people are just floundering around. A good story may have romance - but it will play second fiddle to the tale IMO.
• Stories centred around Simon and Kaylee. This is mostly under the romance category as well, but the additional problem is that both of these characters lack power. Their story is secondary to what is happening around them. Focussing on them can mean missing out on the meat of the matter.

A few things which are unforgivable in my eyes

• Rayne/Tamcest/Slash. All three come under pornfic (unless just hinted at, but to me it is still a forbidden topic and in my eyes still pornfic). Rayne is a River/Jayne romantic pairing, Tamcest being River and her brother Simon. Slash is homosexual pornfic. Both of the m/m and f/f type.

Any author that plans to do this should give warning at the start of the story and not just on the first appropriate chapter.

• Deathfic. Killing off any of the BDH is a definite no-no.

Once again, any author planning any of the above should leave a warning. both on the specific chapter, and at the start of the story. I do not want to read a long story, no matter how good it is if it ends in certain ways. There is no need to spoil the story, but a warning is a must. Not just on the chapter in which it occurs, but at the very start!

• Crossover. It is simply Firefly mixed with another series. It may be well written, it may have many fans and most importantly, the author may enjoy writing it, but I prefer my Firely with no added sugar. (Adding mutants (xmen stylee - even if they are different. readers are as far as I go) or aliens into the 'verse is also crossover in my eyes.)
• Mary Sue. For an explanation, ask Wikipedia.

Having said that I must also admit that I have read stories involving most of the above, (No CSI as well I refuse to read even a word of that if it can be helped, and Mary Sue just throws me right out) skipping over the relevant sections. I guess that makes me a man of no conviction.

It is probably good practice for new authors and old to have some basic info at the start of a story. Age rating, pairings, time-line and if it is a complete work, word count.

I am not telling authors what to write, as that is always their choice. Nor am I telling people what to think or do. But just what I will read, and what I may list on here.