Aranel Took's Fanfiction

Day 6’s challenge is to share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life.

It’s hard to pick just one influence, being a Fancrone with forty-plus years of experience. But I think if I had to pick just one that had the biggest influence, it would be Douglas Adams.

I first read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (and its sequels) in high school, encouraged by my best friend (it was her copies of the books). I distinctly remember her giving me the first book in French class. I can barely read/speak French anymore, but Mr. Adams has stayed with me to this day.

I had never read anything like it before. It was so funny and brilliant. And from those stories, I was inspired to write down my very first fanfiction, a story about Marvin that I started in 9th grade in typing class. And I still have it! Half in type, half in pencil. Still unfinished. Nowhere near as witty and brilliant as Mr. Adams (it’s pretty terrible, actually), but there it is. My first fanfic!

Mr. Adams was also a champion for another fangirlish cause: a Mac user. He was our shining knight during those “beleaguered” days, with his biting criticisms of Windows 95. Sure, y’all may have had marketshare, but WE had Douglas Adams on our side! Nyah! 😛

I remember when I read about his death. It was on As The Apple Turns, an Apple news/gossip site (that sadly no longer exists). I’d never really been affected by a celebrity death before, but this one was hard because he was more than just a celebrity I liked. He had really changed my life with his stories and inspired me to write.