ÜberFic / ÜberIndex Categories

[Mini Mia]

WHAT IS THIS...ÜBER?

Indexing the Über

ÜberIndex Categories:

PROTO-ÜBER:

Proto-Über is for the most part Janice and Melinda stories such as those pioneered by Bat Morda. Many of these cross-over into CANON ÜBER and CLASSIC ÜBER moments, but rarely at the same time.

CLASSIC ÜBER:

Classic Über is inspired by the implications offered by the episodes DREAMWORKER, REMEMBER NOTHING, and THE XENA SCROLLS and developed by XENA fan fiction authors independent of XWP canon (i.e., anything appearing in the TV show). Della Street's "Towards the Sunset" is a classic example of Classic Über.

CANON ÜBER:

Canon Über is inspired by the aftermath of THE XENA SCROLLS, BETWEEN THE LINES, and DEJA VU ALLOVER AGAIN . Some of these stories cross-over into PROTO-ÜBER.

FAUX ÜBER:

Also known as NEAR ÜBER (just think near beer), Faux Über stories are Überlike (explore similar ideas) but do so by having the actual Xena and/or Gabrielle character in a different time and/or place. Many of these stories have Xena or Gabrielle as immortals, body possessors, or time-travellers. The future body possession has canon recognition through the episodes THE XENA SCROLLS and BETWEEN THE LINES. Some could argue, as well, that BETWEEN THE LINES was just a time traveling body possession and is a Faux Über and not a real Über at all, and that Canon Über only exists in Proto-Über and in DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN. However, that is a very conservative position and definitely a minority one as well.

MISSING LINK ÜBER:

In the case of Bongo Bear's "The Hitch Hiker", the modern day ÜberXena (Alex) and ÜberGabrielle (Gwen) share possession of their bodies with the spirits of the original Xena and Gabrielle. This plot device follows the Proto-Über canon set in THE XENA SCROLLS and BETWEEN THE LINES and places it dangerously close to Faux Über. Yet Alex and Gwen have reasons of their own to be attracted to each other, thus following the soul mate concept inherent to Classic Über. This example of Classic Über with Faux Über aspects which also relate to Proto-Über ideas and by definition touch usually upon Canon Über concepts as well, Bongo Bear's "The Hitch Hiker", presents a transition from pure Proto/Canon Überness to Classic Überness best described as a MISSING LINK ÜBER. Also striking about "The Hitch Hiker" was not only did it create the missing link between Janice and Mel Proto-Übers to Classical Über, but it also was the first contemporary setting for a completed Über.

POST-ÜBER:

These are stories which were originally Übers, but have been sanitized in order to exploit the archetypes in the work, thus allowing the stories to be reborn as non-derivative works. Examples of this are Missy Good's "Tropical Storm" and B.L. Miller's "Accidental Love".

ÜBERESQUE:

These are stories which originate outside XENA fandom but have some archetypal resonance with the concept of ÜberXena. Examples are the films "Aliens: Resurrection", "Thelma and Louise", "Batman and Robin".

[Mini Mia]

I have reworked the ÜberFic Index Categories to include all Fandoms, and not just the XenaVerse. I'd love some feedback on how accurate you think I am. Muchly appreciated.

ÜberIndex Categories:

Canon:

These FanFics take the traits and consciousness/personality of the original source material’s characters and puts them into newly created characters, in a new place, time, reality, and/or genre. These new characters do not necessarily mirror their counterparts in appearance, but generally do so in attitude, skill, moral code, agenda, actions/reactions, family dynamics, emotional/spiritual/mental growth and/or outlook, etc. These FanFics can cross over into the Proto- category.

Classic:

These FanFics show the newly created characters sharing a strong and unusual bond that transcends time and space. They are linked in a way that goes against, or beyond, the laws of nature. They will always be in each other’s lives, no matter their incarnations, or the dimensions they exist on. Their lives are not complete/whole until they have met at a crossroad and have embarked on the same path.

Proto:

These FanFics contain the descendants of the original source material’s characters. These descendants share a strong and unusual bond, and find each other against all odds. These FanFics can cross over into Canon and Classic categories, but rarely at the same time.

Faux/Near:

These FanFics take characters from the original source material and relocate them into different times, places, worlds, etc., either as immortals, body possessors, or time-travelers.

Missing Links:

These FanFics have the soul/spirit/mind of an original source material’s character inhabiting the body/mind of a newly created character. The possession can be a mutual sharing of the body/mind by both parties involved, or not.

Post:

These FanFics have been edited for publication. They still have the essence of the original source material from which they have sprung, but they have been stripped of all that belongs to the original copyright holder/s and replaced with all new material. In some cases very little need be cut, or modified, as they sprung from their source wholly original.

Uberesque:

These books, shows, movies, and plays have an identical story structure and character dynamics to that of another original source material, but have no connection other than their similarities. They were created without any influence from that particular outside source. (That is known of.)