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I am so behind on booklogging I don't even know where to begin, but today we'll go with the most recent because it is relevant to current discussions in this LJ, which is to say: after the EXPERIENCE that was LOVE NEVER DIES, I decided it was high time to reread the original Phantom of the Opera!


Phantom of the Opera: Original Flavor is really two things: a.) Gaston Leroux's giant fan letter to the Paris Opera House (omg it's so COOL! and SHINY! and full of TRAPDOORS and SECRET LAKES and dude, this building is AWESOME! Which, honestly, it is, and Gaston Leroux's research and shiny-eyed enthusiasm about it is one of the best reasons to read the book) and b.) the tragic tale of an unfortunate woman stuck between two stalkers. I mean, let's look at our options here:

( Spoiler: THERE ARE NO GOOD OPTIONS )

- and hahahaha okay, on a sidenote, going to Amazon and typing in "Phantom of the Opera" IS DANGEROUS. I have just discovered about THIRTY published retellings/sequels/ship manifestos that I never even knew existed. Chanson de l'Ange! Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of the Phantom of the Opera! Letters to Erik: The Ghost's Love Story! Phantom, Out of the Shadows! Which is apparently different from Out of the Darkness: The Phantom's Journey AHHH THIS ONE SHIPS ERIK/MEG, IT'S A WHOLE SERIES! "Out of the Darkness continues the story of Sadie Montgomery's dark hero, his beloved Meg, and their stalwart friends Raoul and Christine." In later books the Phantom and Meg are apparently married with kids and FIGHT CRIME! AHHH AHHHH HEEEEEEEEELP. Save me from myself, tell me not to read these, IT IS A VORTEX FROM WHICH I MAY NEVER ESCAPE.

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Okay, I swear after this I will get Phantom of the Opera OUT OF MY MIND and not post about it again for a while. But while I'm on the topic of Phantom fanfiction, I kind of want to compile a list of stories that are just Phantom of the Opera: IN SPACE.

I mean, I don't know if there are any that are actually in space. But here, some other examples:

V for Vendetta: Phantom of the Opera WITH REVOLUTION
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: as I have discussed before, Phantom of the Opera IN A SUBMARINE
Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark: Phantom of the Opera WITH TOO MANY LEGS

I know there are more that I can't think of right now. Brainstorm with me, flist!

(And yes, all right, Phantom of the Opera is just basically Beauty and the Beast: IN THE OPERA, JUST DECONSTRUCTED ENOUGH SO THAT THE STALKER MONSTER DOESN'T GET THE GIRL, BUT NOT DECONSTRUCTED ENOUGH THAT THE FANDOM DOESN'T STILL ROOT FOR HIM. So I guess my criteria for something being Phantom of the Opera IN SPACE or whatever is:

a. there is some kidnapping/Stockholm Syndrome action
b. the monstrous love interest/kidnapper/etc. and the ingenue have some kind of SHARED INTEREST. For example, ocean science! Or being arachnids!
c. the monstrous love interest ends up sad and alone and probably dead

But I am willing to hear arguments for things that lack some of these criteria!)