Project Paranormal

Project News

scribesds — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 00:19:57 GMT

It's been a while! If anybody is still there (Hello!) you might be interested in the news that Project Paranormal has had a bit of a spring clean. If you've visited in the last few months you know that PP was suffering from a few glitches, followed by loss of stories. Again. Well, Mike's worked his magic in the background and not only are the stories back up, but they're looking nicer and -hopefully - fixed that issue completely, so that's great news!

Entering the site now takes you to Season 1, which will make it easier for any newcomers to the series to figure out what's going on.

Also, would anyone be interested in some odds and ends of Project history I found while poking round the old files?

Oh, and apologies for this community looking so plain. Its lost all of its graphics and colours. Sorry... Or are you seeing some? Some folks say its white, others say it looks normal. Its white to me!

Anyone there?

perpetual — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 20:21:02 GMT

Hi folks,

You probably weren't expecting to see me here again right now, but I just came back from my trip to the United Kingdom and naturally I saw a few things that reminded me of Project Paranormal, particularly the story Wreckers. I remember googling for the image of that Jamaica Inn sign, knowing nothing about it but what I'd read in the story, and now I've seen it in person! I also spent a relaxing day at Lizard Point and met someone who claimed to be descended from the wreckers.

Anyway, I thought I'd holler into the hole and see if anyone wanted to revive some chitchat here. When I left off making posts I was hoping a few readers would keep going and meet us at the end for a general discussion, but that doesn't seem to have happened and maybe it's worth noting it, just as a gentle reminder to anyone who really did intend to finish the full series with us.

Does anyone else have new or old memories of becoming acquainted with PP settings in real life? Are there any other mentions of Cornwall that you remember that I've forgotten about? I must say I was completely smitten with the parts of the country that I saw, and I loved having this series in the back of my mind during the experience.

Also, as ever, it would be great to talk to all of you some more!

Season 4 Part 15: Ought But Death

perpetual — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:22:43 GMT

Well, here we are. I've seen some old threads picking up in the last few days thanks to the return of Jo, which is fabulous - let's keep embracing the whole series, not just the part in front of us. However, today's story, Ought But Death, is by that selfsame Jo, so let's embrace that too.

It's hard to ignore that this is the end of Project Paranormal, but for the purposes of this post, we'll start by looking at just our story of the day, as is our usual way. I'll make another post or two to wrap up and talk about the series as a whole and our time together re-reading it, possibly in the next week. Of course, the floor will be open for other PP authors and readers to make posts of their own!

1. Could it be?! Ella's back! When she first appeared to Angel, did you think it was the 'real' Ella? Did you imagine at that point that she could be back in our world by the end of the story? Tell us a little, if you like, about how you think her journey went after the first season, and how her encounter with Angel off-plane could have happened. Giles has had a few brushes with romance since she exited his life - what does it mean for him that she's now back in it?

2. And it could also be... Angel remarks that he and Buffy might be joined by three other couples. Which one surprised you the most? What do you think of Lisa and Nick's arrangement? Do Alice and Ian have a good shot at happiness? And how long do you think the author/s have been planning these pairings?

3. We all join in. Just like the last episode, this one brings in mentions of even more supporting characters that we may (or may not, don't be ashamed!) remember from earlier in the series. It also does us the service of describing the whereabouts and ultimate fates of some canon characters. Which ones shocked, pleased, or frustrated you? Anyone that you feel was left out? And does anyone here feel up to making up a quick list of characters who had their encore in this story and the one before it?

4. Go team! In their respective shows, Buffy and Angel both built up a team of trusted friends with varied skills and strengths to help them in their world-saving pursuits. Did this happen again for them and Giles with the characters who have developed over the course of Project Paranormal? The title of this final tale, when we see it referenced in the text, is in one way as sad as it sounds, but in another, greatly uplifting - are the bonds among these characters comparable to the ones we saw among the Scoobies and the Fang Gang? How would they manifest in the future if we saw more of it?

5. Through the portal. There's quite a lot here that's left in doubt. We don't know what happens to our heroes, either on their quest or after it. Do you like stories that end that way, or would you rather have closure for everything? Martha makes a rather meta comment; "...their story isn't finished." What do you think that means, in terms of the series and how the writers viewed it? Is there anything else hidden in those final sections?

6. Dear Dad. Speculate away!

Well, for the first time ever, I'm not ending this by telling you what's on deck. Don't be sad - as long as we feel like talking, we'll have something to talk about here! For now, just give us whatever you've got about this story. There's so much to delve into here, we simply can't neglect it in favor of proclaiming our collective woe that it's the last one. We'll meet again, readers!

Season 4 Part 14: End of Days

perpetual — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:30:28 GMT

Raise your hand if you forgot that a story by Jo can take more than a week to read properly (and doubly so, coming up on the titular end, as we are). *sheepishly raises hand* Which is to say, today we're reading End of Days.

1. Last things first. Let's start with the obvious - lots of change, destruction, and uncertainty here. With just one episode left, how much hope can we have for a relatively peaceful resolution?

2. A moment of silence. On that note, there's no hope left for some; this chapter has a lot of death. If you want to share a favorite memory of John or offer up your wishes for Giles' health, now's a good time for it.

3. Time twister. The team faces a weapon we've never seen before, and it's a doozy. Aside from what we saw here, what could be done with a spell that makes people and things get older? Does Angel stand a chance?

4. All together now. Maybe for the first time and definitely for the last time, we see the team gather with all of the recurring PP-exclusive characters. Or at least most of them - can you think of any who were left out? Is there a sense of conclusion with everyone making an appearance, or is there a deeper purpose to look for in this scene?

5. Peshcalo. Amidst all the other action, Alice goes through a great personal change. What, if anything, does her renewal have to do with our heroes' conflicts? Can you see the theme of renewal repeated at all here?

That's all I got for now. Our final story, Ought but Death, is on deck for next week. Get ready, because I think it's safe to say you won't want to miss this one.

Season 4 Part 13: Songs of Sadness

perpetual — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:18:13 GMT

Hi readers! One more skipped week - it's been snow, snow, and craziness in my part of the world, one distraction after another. When I saw it was already Friday again, I knew I had to get the post up!

Today we're closing up the Ares marathon and reading a story, Songs of Sadness, by a new author, Kara.

1. How lame a cripple this world. This story deals with various kinds of emotional anguish, from the death of a loved one to a hard breakup. Sophia said that she was called by pain, and she didn't seem to care what caused it. What feature 'qualified' someone like Tabitha as a victim? Is there a certain level of grief that she came to despite the temporary nature of her tragedy?

2. This is a job for... Eleanor has a very good reason for wanting this case solved. Did she act rationally when faced with potential accusation? What would have happened here if Eleanor had never heard of Project Paranormal, or refused to believe that something supernatural was afoot?

3. It's a Donne deal. Here's a fun one - assuming you didn't already know all the details of the real-world Bolsover Castle, did you assume that Sophia's story and the writing on the walls were real, or could you tell they were artistic license? If the latter, what gave it away? Have you ever been to an ancient place where the graffiti has become part of it?

4. Where I was at the time. Angel is quite the poetry fan. He explains to Buffy why he likes the material written before his time - it puts him at the same place as every other reader. None of us here are as old as Angel or have a comparable history, but is there any way that you can relate to this? Have you ever been distracted from something you're reading or viewing by thinking about its context or history?

5. Life in a new rhythm. The appropriate answer to Sophia's 'solution' to grief ends up being expressed through another poem, one that points out that the benefits of life are worth the suffering. How many ways have you seen this in the canon Buffyverse? How about in other works of fiction or philosophy - or even your own life, if you've had a particular experience you'd like to relate?

Thanks for sticking with us one more time. Hopefully we'll have you again twice more, and hopefully the next one really will come next week. One way or another, the story on deck is End of Days; don't miss it!

Season 4 Part 12: Raven

perpetual — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:12:22 GMT

Late again - another busy week and weekend for me - but not so very late. Glad to see some conversation rolling on last week's installment! Today we're reading Raven, which follows from "Snare" and is written by the same sterling author, Ares.

1. All's well that ends Wells. Now that we have the background on what happened to Andrew, how do you feel about him and his demise? Was Buffy wrong to trust him with Dawn - or should she not have bothered leaving her sister a protector at all? Were his motivations consistent with what we saw of him in canon?

2. New faces! We had some impressive villains introduced here, but also a couple of allies. Did Laroche or Jacques surprise you in any way? There aren't many opportunities left for them to reappear, but do you think they'll be part of the team's future after they leave Paris?

3. The saint of my town. Korbinian has a grudge against the Church, and it actually began under circumstances we can find some sympathy for. Now that he's evil, do you think he's still seeking vengeance for his wife? Or is it just a matter of habit for him to keep hating those connected to the institution that he believes was responsible for her death?

4. But why are they blonde? We've made some progress on the case of the kidnapped blondes, but the conclusion is yet to come. I think it's a gimme that the next chapter will continue the pursuit of Oska, but do you think it will go beyond that? Will this season have a Big Bad? And are there any other loose threads you think will see some expansion in the last few chapters?

5. Angelus's skills. At the end of the story, Angel is showing his dark side and not really seeming to care. Do you think he still has the potential to be dangerous to anyone (who doesn't deserve it)? If he gets like this, could he be a danger to himself?

That's all I've got for now. Hope you're enjoying this arc! Join us next week (I do hope); Songs of Sadness is on deck.

Season 4 Part 11: Snare

perpetual — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:02:43 GMT

Well, here we are (and it's Friday by my clock, so nyah). I'm glad we're back together to talk stories again, but now I can't stop thinking about how little we have left - let's make the most of it! Starting with today: open your books to Snare, graciously offered to us by Ares.

1. It's Andrew Wells. In a couple of our discussions here, one or two of us might have expressed a special dislike for Andrew. We might even crack a smile when he dies in a fanfic. Don't be ashamed to tell us - were you at all happy to see the end of him here? From a narrative perspective, is he "expendable", or was there some other reason that he needed to be killed for this plot to work?

2. Besnared! Oh, I do love title games. This is one of those stories that has all three characters on their own and encountering different adventures and dangers. How many ways do you think 'snare' applies to their various troubles?

3. What on earth? As Giles discovers pretty quickly, there was more to Andrew's death than meets the eye. Any guesses? The weapons, the opulence? Was he purely a victim of the circumstances, or will we find out that he shares in the blame for whatever happened to him, is happening now, and might happen to Buffy and Angel when they go to investigate?

4. Arcane blonde ritual. That's not the only mystery served up in this chapter - Buffy makes use of her leadership skills along with her Slayer powers to get herself and her new companions out of quite a desperate situation, but that means we don't find out what their captors ultimately had in mind for them. Will we find out more? Want to hazard a guess of your own?

5. Fighting for his life. Angel's adventure is in some ways the most straightforward, but his opponent is an interesting one. Given his history, is Angel more or less vulnerable than most to the effect of despair that the demon cultivates? Did its sudden suggestion of a ceasefire make you feel that it was any different than other supernatural enemies the team has faced?

6. Missed me? There's just barely a reunion at the end - Buffy and Angel touch base, but only over the phone. Clearly they've got more to discuss, but most of that will probably happen off-screen. When the team gets back together, what's their first order of business? What will carry over from this story?

That's it for now. Make sure you're back next week, now that we're back to our regular pace and all! On deck we've got Raven waiting for us. Can't wait to start seeing your comments again!

Check-in

perpetual — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:50:53 GMT

Sorry about the unscheduled break - barring the possibility of freak tornadoes, sudden blindness, or acts of God, we'll be back on Friday.

Quick survey, who's currently active and ready to read? If you're not, no fear, we don't have a deadline. Just curious!

Season 4 Part 10: Thomas

perpetual — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 03:31:14 GMT

Coming in a little late this week, but since comments have been so slow lately I don't think anyone will mind...we've wrapped up over at iwry_marathon, so if you've been kept busy reading and commenting over there, I hope you're soon to return to us and dispense your lovely thoughts at Project Paranormal once again.

Today we're reading Thomas by the lady at the bottom of everything, Dark Star.

1. When we grow up we just call them 'characters'. Did any of you have an imaginary friend as a child? Do you remember anything about him/her? Do you think the habit of making up imaginary friends says anything about the kind of person the child will become?

2. He carries a stuff. Before the secret was revealed, did you find anything ominous about Thomas? Were you looking for significance in the details of his description? Or did you figure out beforehand that he really was just an imaginary character?

3. Looks like you have a case of brainsight. This isn't the first time we've seen telepathy in the Buffyverse. Aside from the one mentioned in the story, what occurrences can you remember? Is there any kind of pattern established by the way the shows treat this particular ability? Does Ruth's case fall in line with it?

4. Who's howling at the door? So, anyone else floored by this sudden canon character appearance? Oz is one of my favorites, so I was delighted, personally. What do you think he's been up to? How long will he stick around?

5. Apocalypse? It's about time. We've only got five stories to go, and since it's my first time reading, I don't know how the end will wrap up, but it looks like there's a hint about season finale material in here. Do you think the characters will actually have to face an apocalypse before it ends? Is it a false alarm? Will it stay in their unwritten future?

That's it for now. Come on over and get commenting; we miss you! And tune in next week; Snare is on deck.

Season 4 Part 9: A Knight in Shining Armour

perpetual — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 05:09:59 GMT

Hey, it's Project Paranormal! Friday went whizzing by me really fast but I'm running to catch up to it now. I'm guessing our current crowd is busy with more fanfiction than you can shake a stick at, but no matter! We'll be here when you're ready!

Today's story is also by Ares! She must be plotting a career as an executive producer. Let's see what she does with A Knight in Shining Armour.

1. Save a helpless puppy. The introductory paragraph asks us a few questions before we have any idea what they're about. After having read the story, did you remember that part? Does it make sense now? Care to answer any of those questions?

2. Redecorating. Buffy and Angel have a cute, affectionate scene together. Let's analyze the hell out of it. Why is decorating their new home important to her? Why is it bothering him? Do they both get attached to possessions and places in the same way? If not, how does that reflect their personalities? Which one has given up more to be where they are now?

3. No Minotaur, but... Giles gets lost in a maze. Now that's a classic for you! What stories or legends can you think of that involve a maze or labyrinth? Is there any unifying theme to them, or a particular way that they're used?

4. In its pocketses. Sometimes when you're reading something you come across a riddle. Might I hazard a guess that there are two kinds of people - those who stop and try to guess, and those who read on for the answer? Which are you? And just for the heck of it, share a riddle you know in the comments!

5. A man that is lost. As Giles notes, it's interesting that the riddle he must answer seems to relate to his own life. Of course, he himself is not a vampire - does this have something hidden to do with Angel, or is the connection simply that Giles spent years in the paranormal fight? Or is the question coincidence?

Over to you, readers. Read, enjoy, comment! And join us next week; on deck we have Thomas.

Season 4 Part 8: Footsteps

perpetual — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:01:39 GMT

Hi friends, sorry for the unannounced skip - hey, won't you miss hearing me say that every couple weeks? After this installment, we're past the halfway mark of Season 4, so our time together is limited. Oh, that's not true. Remember the other thing I always say: old threads never die! We can talk about Project Paranormal forever if we want.

Today we've got a story by the magnanimous Ares. Take a look at Footsteps.

1. Hard to follow. Buffy - or the narrator - ruminates at the beginning about tracking a vampire, which makes the title rather interesting: how does one follow the trail of something that leaves no prints? In the end, did Buffy and Giles catch up to Angel due exclusively to their deductive reasoning, or did Buffy's status as a Slayer (or as Angel's love) make a difference?

2. Watts in your closet? I'm hoping that nobody here has been through the unfortunate experience of discovering human bones in your home. But have you ever found something unexpected after a deep clean or a move? Something funny, valuable, or scary, which you forgot about until you saw it again? Tell us about it!

3. Maybe the skull just wanted attention. Ever heard any legends of bones making noise? If we perhaps would accept the existence of ghosts - does it make sense that a dead person would object in that manner to being moved from the proper resting place?

4. Duty calls. That pesky Angel, everything's going according to plan and then he just takes off after a demon. Turns out pretty badly for him, but the demon gets dead - did Angel do the right thing? Was there something he should have thought about first, some way that he could have saved himself a lot of pain and Buffy a lot of worry?

5. No rigor mortis, poor bugger. Angel has to play possum for quite a while, and nobody can do it like him. How difficult do you think it would be to remain perfectly still for hours on end if you didn't need to breathe? Does it seem plausible that vampires would be naturally good at it? How about keeping his eyes from reacting to light?

Season 4 Part 7: Magia Posthuma

perpetual — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:37:24 GMT

Greetings, honorable team of Project Paranormal readers! I hope it pleases you to find that we will continue as usual throughout the month of November, so while you're devouring loads of new B/A stories for the IWRY marathon, don't forget to come back here for your weekly dose of PP.

Today we're reading Magia Posthuma. It's by landrews, score!

1. Why does this entry have a picture of a car? Cars aren't something we usually talk about here, but this is a great time to start! Does the kind of car a person drives say anything about them? Is anyone familiar with the Peugeot? What stereotypes are associated with it, if any?

2. That title is illegitimate. Aaron doesn't want to be called a bastard, not because he sees it as an insult but because he sees it as untrue - and he's gratified to find out that he was right. Modern culture doesn't care so much about these things anymore, but is it natural that it would make a difference to a kid like Aaron? Have you ever made a distinction between being born to married or unmarried parents?

3. Banshee's cry. We hear a bit about the legend of the banshee, throughout the story, but no such creature appears. Was it a red herring, or does it still have some relevance? Bonus question, are you familiar with any of the music that Aaron and Derek were listening to?

4. Good job, Ripper. Giles and Buffy have some static during the questioning of Joy. She feels he's being insensitive - is she right? Is he justified? Is this kind of behavior typical for Giles - that is, can you remember him doing it in canon?

5. If it wasn't for you darn kids. This is a lengthy, well-crafted story that truly sets up a mystery for the reader to follow. When we have stories of this kind, do you make guesses as you read? Do you ever come up with the right answer before you get to the end? How about this time?

That's it for this week, but join us again next time: Footsteps is on deck.

Season 4 Part 6: A Day in the Life Of...

perpetual — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 04:36:53 GMT

Well hey there, gang! Sure, its now Sunday for most of you, but I did warn about lateness! The important thing is that the site is back and so are we. Let's just get right to it, shall we? Today we're reading A Day in the Life Of... by our ringleader Dark Star.

1. Life of Martha, it's Martha. Here's an original character who has been present since the beginning of our series, but by the nature of her role, tends to fade into the background. What do you think of her as a character and as a person? Anything notable involving her that you remember from any point in the series?

2. Life of John! If there's one presence even more invisible than Martha, it's her gardening husband. Same question as the previous one, plus this: how do you see their marriage? Is all well within their love for each other? How does it compare to Buffy and Angel's relationship, or how does Martha compare it?

3. Just another day. Through the POV character's eyes, we get a look at what everyone else is doing too, and it's with a fresh perspective that might reveal things that the team no longer notices about themselves. How are Angel, Buffy, and Giles doing with their professional and personal lives right now?

4. Unless she was hiding something. Why did Buffy zip up her jacket as she was coming out of the car? Just curious.

5. That other kind of guest. Can't blame Martha for not being thrilled about welcoming these particular demons in, but can you pinpoint exactly what she didn't like about them? Their culture, their habits, or just the fact that they were inhuman and scary? Was she unfair about it at all?

6. WHO WANTS ONE? Fortunately we also get them balanced by seventeen adorable little demons. They're not described in much detail, so here's your chance - tell us what they looked like in your head!

That's all for this week! Join us again on Friday (yes, Friday!); Magia Posthuma is on deck.

Where'd we go!?

perpetual — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:04:02 GMT

If anyone is incessantly refreshing your flist in hopes of seeing an update with the Friday PP post, stop it, but fear not. The site's having some technical difficulties that prevents us from reading (and linking and discussing!) the story. It will be back soon and so will we.

In the meantime, why not revisit some of the older posts and make sure you've said all you want on them?

Season 4 Part 5: Dreams From the Ivory Gate

perpetual — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 20:09:39 GMT

Crossed to the other side of Friday again - my apologies, folks. (My daily schedule has changed since I started doing this.) But be of good cheer, for I bring you Dreams From the Ivory Gate, a rousing tale from the one and only Jo.

1. Bad memories, bad dreams. Buffy starts us out with a terrifying image of climbing out of her own grave. This has happened to her, as we know from Season 5 - did you assume she was having a flashback? At what point did you put it together?

2. Bad life, bad dreams. Angel's gift from the ivory gate is even worse, and takes much longer to come clear. Did you have any thoughts on why he might have called Buffy "kiddo"? Did any of our readers think, either before or after reading this chapter, that the team might have properly dealt with the Angel of the other dimension by letting him stay in ours and sending our Angel to do his job instead?

3. And the bottle makes three! Drunk Angel is not something we get to see too often! Any particular reason he chose to indulge himself this time? Does he relate to Kezar? Hey, does poor little Kezar have any hope for his own dream?

4. Looks like a job for... Buffy and Giles both have thoughts suggesting that they'd prefer to trade the adventures they end up with. How would it have ended up if they did?

5. No monster like a human monster. In one of the most chilling scenes that could even occur in a series like Project Paranormal, Giles discovers that Miss Jepson's neighbor is not what he appears to be. Meanwhile, Buffy offers Lina a rescue from a more paranormal danger. Do these cases have anything in common? Can we compare the motivations of the culprits at all?

Hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did (in spite of the lateness!). Go ahead and catch up first if you wish to, but we'll be back next week; A Day in the Life Of... is on deck.

Season 4 Part 4: The Inner Battle

perpetual — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:42:37 GMT

Happy Friday, or at the least, Happy Project Paranormal Day. It's Friday where I am!

Today we have a story by a newcomer (I'd say guest writer, but there are so many writers involved in the project, how do you know which ones are guests?). Check out The Inner Battle, written by Lee.

1. Unexplained fear. The story begins with a new character, Hume, witnessing something he doesn't expect and can't understand. Have you ever had a similar experience and found yourself unable to tell (even momentarily) if it was supernatural? How did it feel?

2. Once and future. King Arthur is essentially the legend of England, but we haven't seen much of him in Project Paranormal yet. Correct me if you can - we've come a long way and my memory isn't flawless! Are you a Round Table fan? Can you think of any particular reason the legends we've seen have just barely touched on Arthur?

3. Sleeping knights. However, we do get another kind of legend, and it's a doozy. What would you do with the potential for an instant army? Did anyone choose to investigate this one further, or already know anything about it?

4. Satan's promise. Real Satanic cults exist, although they generally bear little resemblance to the way the media portrays them. How does the Gvorniakian cult compare? Is Giles' comparison to Satanism off the mark?

5. Do we not bleed? Buffy has a real problem with killing something that even resembles a human, and everyone knows it. Are her fears justified? Do you think it's harder for her to kill a vampire when they're not in game face?

A bit on the brief side today - I've got a busy day ahead. Get talking whenever you're ready, and join us next week; Dreams from the Ivory Gate is on deck.

Season 4 Part 3: Fortitude

perpetual — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:46:18 GMT

Pardon the delay; this was not part of the plan! The plan, incidentally, is to continue right through to the end of the season/series, one story a week, from this point on. You'll be informed of course if anything changes, but I'd prefer to not interrupt our pace anymore.

Anyway, today is Friday! I mean, Saturday! Either way, it's time to read Fortitude, by our most celebrated Ares.

1. Pretend this is a class assignment. Re-read the summary at the beginning and consider the title. Name three examples of characters in this episode finding emotional strength and facing adversity courageously. Is there enough of it to justify the word 'fortitude' as a theme?

2. Not-so-evil twin. We get a few flashbacks to Buffy's and Angel's interviews with the newly-ensouled Angel of another dimensions. Now he's on his own - have they helped him enough to get him through the difficulties ahead? In what ways has his presence affected them?

3. Definitely evil brethren. It's been a while since we've seen Angel interact with other vampires to this extent. Were you worried about him? Did you notice any specific way in which he understood them, or any clear difference in the way they lived versus his own habits? Why do you think he introduced himself as Angelus?

4. Gnome is where the heart is. Buffy and Giles have an unusual adventure of their own. Anyone have a garden gnome? Know any lore about gnomes in mythology? Have you ever considered a correlation between the two?

5. A little help from my friends. Stewart's back, and Nick's romantic life even makes it into the spotlight a bit. Given that this is the last season, do you expect to see the stories of other side characters to come up again as a farewell? Are there any that you particularly hope to see resolved in some way?

That's all I got. Thanks for your patience and thanks for joining us. Please do so again next week; The Inner Battle is on deck.

Season 4 Part 2: Becoming (Part 3)

perpetual — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:57:43 GMT

My apologies for the blip in the schedule - last week was a rather difficult one for me and I haven't felt up to participating in fandom until now. Fortunately, I'm just in time for Friday, thereby keeping us on our usual day of the week! Today we'll read Becoming (part 3), another installment by the talented Adjovi. Are you ready?

1. What's in a soul? Buffy says clearly that Angel is not Angelus; to Angel, the matter is a little more complicated than that. We also see Giles' thoughts on it, and to some extent, the author's. What are yours? Of course, this is an old favorite topic among fans of the shows and the character, but try to tackle it for us using this one yes-or-no question: is Angel Angelus? (Bonus: is Angelus Angel?)

2. Oh no, more ethics. Saddling the alternate universe's Angelus with a soul seems like a pretty good idea, until Angel explains what's bothering him about it: it's cruel to create an alternate Angel, who will then have to live with having killed Buffy. On the other hand, that's not far off from what was done to Angel in the first place. Assuming there's an alternative, is it wrong to give a vampire a soul? What would you do, if the choice was yours?

3. More Ovaltine, please! So guess what Kairos's favorite Christmas movie is? I laughed pretty hard at Angelus's ruse making use of the decoder ring scene - did anyone else get what was going on without needing Buffy's explanation? Have any memories of A Christmas Story - or even Ovaltine - you'd like to share? I'd also love to hear what you thought if you weren't familiar with the movie.

4. And speaking of that ruse. What did you think of Angelus's plan? Was it anything like what you had guessed when I asked you last time? What would have happened if Buffy and the team had been a little slower to decipher the code?

5. Silence speaks volumes. We'll certainly be hearing more about some part of this, but which? Will alternate Angel save his world? Why does Drusilla need the Crystal Skull? What's next for our team now that they don't have an Angelus on their hands?

Well, thanks for reading, and thanks for being patient with me. This was an exciting story and I hope it was worth the wait. Fortitude is on deck; join us next week!

Season 4 Part 1: Purpose

perpetual — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:16:20 GMT

Aaand, coming in at the edge of Friday, Project Paranormal is back! Today is the day that we begin the fourth and final season, with Purpose by the stalwart Ares.

1. Did you catch up during the break? No, really, did you? Because it's not too late; just because we're getting a weekly post again doesn't mean you can't jump in wherever you want.

2. Look who it is. This is the first time that Buffy (or Giles or anyone else) has had to deal with Angel and Angelus existing at the same time, in two bodies. Do you think it's harder for her this way? What kind of added complications are there, and in what ways is it simpler than Angel losing his soul?

3. Aliens and Masks. You know how I love literary quotations or references in a PP story. Is anyone a fan of Yeats or H.G. Wells? Any special insight as to why they're appropriate for this context?

4. Anarchy, Acathla, and Angelus. Gradually we learn where the history of Angelus's dimension split from ours - did you work it out yourself? Why was alternate Angelus able to kill Buffy when she defeated him in canon? What changes might this have made to the other reality that we haven't yet heard about?

5. And perhaps most importantly... What happens next? Angelus is still alive and on the loose. Do our heroes have any choice but to make an alliance? If they killed him now, could something go terribly wrong? Let's hear some theories!

Remember, this season is shorter than the others, so the re-read might be over before you know it - no time like the present to leave your comments! Applause goes out to those of you who did use the past month to catch up. Join us next week; Becoming (Part 3) is on deck.

Season 3 Part 22: Double Vision

perpetual — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:17:51 GMT

Well, here it is, the end of Season 3: Double Vision. Are you excited? A little nervous? You should be.

1. Last things first. ANGELUS! Where did he come from? What does he need Buffy's help for? Where's Angel?

2. Women of Summerdown. Buffy and Martha seem to have become closer. What's Buffy seem like from her perspective? For that matter, how does Martha feel about Project Paranormal?

3. Finally, the drawing. So, now we know what Angel sketched when he peeked into the mysterious box...sort of. We don't get much of a visual description of it; how do you picture it?

4. Judith Appleton. Here's an ordinary woman with some supernatural connections who ended up guardian to a magical artifact. How common do you think that is? Does the Council tend to marry within the community to preserve their secrets?

5. One really good question. "How many Council projects and safety measures had been interrupted? How much jeopardy was the world in because of that?"

6. Darkness deep in you. We've got some song lyrics, but no author's notes. Anyone recognize them - or any other references you might have found in the text? Want to dig them up for us?

7. Dimensional breaches. Over the course of this season I've asked you a lot about the occasional mentions of walls between dimensions thinning. Is this story the culmination of those incidents, or is it related in a less direct way - or not at all?

8. Eyes. No wonder the team has such trouble researching "The Eyes of Something". Eyes are everywhere in genre fiction, in some form or another. What kind of symbolism is at work here?

9. Cliffhanger! Based on how this story ended, what's in store for the next season? Go ahead and be wild with your guesses. Also, how long do you think will pass, in-story, before the next season opens?

Season finale means extra questions, but I hadn't the faintest idea of what kind of image to use for this one! If anyone has an idea, point me there and I'll edit the entry. :)

Since nobody expressed a preference in the last post, we're going to take a one-month break as a simulated summer. Hopefully you'll be able to use that time to catch up, if you're behind - leave comments as you like, or just read and get ready to join us once again when Season 4 begins. Hope you enjoyed Season 3! We'll see you in mid-September.

Season 3 Part 21: These Ol' Bones

perpetual — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:49:23 GMT

Jumping in under the wire (it's still Friday in my timezone!) to bring you your weekly dose of Project Paranormal. Today's catch is These Ol' Bones by Smiling_n_Michigan, yay!

1. Where wolves? The creature we've got here is indeed different than anything wolf-like that we've seen in the Buffyverse. What about the legend attached to them? Are they related to werewolves? Where do they come from, if their bite isn't contagious?

2. I don't know what that means. There are a lot of cultural references in here - what did you catch? Why does Buffy like watching Bones, anyway?

3. There's this box... Have any of your questions from previous episodes been answered? Or, to put it another way, what exactly is that 'artifact'?

4. Bad dog. Angel runs into some unusual difficulties when dealing with a certain not-so-fearsome beast. Is this in keeping with his character, or did you think he'd be a little better with dogs? Is there anything else he could have done to get Sherry in the car?

5. Consequences. The next story is the last of the season. Is there anything in this one that might be consequential for the finale? Is Buffy's wound really okay? What new danger might be brewing?

That's it for this week, but don't miss the next one - Double Vision is on deck, and we'll be wrapping up Season 3! After that, we'll take a 'summer' break, of a length yet to be determined. If you'd like to provide any input on how we should proceed, now is the time.

Season 3 Part 20: Nemesis

perpetual — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:12:00 GMT

Good morning readers! Time for your Friday dose of Project Paranormal, never doubt it's so. Today we're reading Nemesis, the kind of big meaty tale we've come to expect from Jo. Give yourself a good space of time, a comfy chair, and perhaps some canapes for this one!

1. And now for something somewhat different. Although the team spends most of their time investigating paranormal cases, we don't usually see stories that are written as murder mysteries. Are you a fan of the mystery genre? Did you sense the usage of it in this episode, or did you not notice much difference from the way fanfiction is generally written?

2. The nature of friendship. Giles spends some time trying to plan a future for himself, and for Buffy and Angel. Did it surprise you to hear that he was still hoping to have children of his own someday? Was he right in his assessment of his relationship to Buffy and Angel, and what he owed to it?

3. Art and Antiquities. There's more than one character who gets a helping hand from the team this time around. What did you make of Giles hypothesizing about Alice and her Silarri heritage? Is this linked to the rest of the story through theme? Does it tie into the mystery? Why is he so intent on finding answers for her?

4. Nemesis. The Gabriel case is complicated in many ways, including the feelings that led him to hire three occult specialists for a murder that doesn't seem to have anything of the occult about it. Angel believes it's a father-son thing. Is he right? What does the word 'nemesis' mean to you?

5. Here Be Dragons. How many stories have we had now with dragons in them? How many have been in this season?

6. Thirteen at the table. Angel has an interesting thought at the end of the story - he feels that he's invisible to the physical world, as evidenced by the way the superstition of thirteen came into play despite his presence at the table that night, and that it's all because he's not done atoning. Could you elaborate on this? What makes him so certain?

What a story. Can't wait to hear what you think! Read, enjoy, and comment, and join us next week; These Ol' Bones is on deck.

Season 3 Part 19: The Seven Dwarfs

perpetual — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:25:55 GMT

Boy, am I glad it's Friday. Welcome back to Project Paranormal once again! Today we're reading The Seven Dwarfs, another wonderful contribution from Ares.

1. Tolkien vs. Disney. In my mind, the plural of dwarf is always 'dwarves'. I had to look up the Disney movie to believe 'dwarfs' was used in its title. Ares knew better. Do you think there's any difference between the two spellings, or is it just a matter of preference?

2. Mary Quick. We seem to have a continuity nod here. Do you remember which story it was when we saw her last? Any details to share?

3. A cat named Wesley. It's always intriguing to see a canon character mentioned within this series. What did you make of Mary's cat? Is his name a coincidence? Angel seems pretty interested - does he believe something that he's not telling us, or is he just lost in thought about his old friend?

4. A boy named Elliot. It's not typical for fantasy stories to include characters with any mental retardation, especially when there was no supernatural cause behind the affliction. Do you feel like it was accurately portrayed in Elliot's case? What do you think it was that attracted him to the life of the Knackers?

5. Dark as the dungeon. Mines can be scary places, even in theory. We get a couple signs of claustrophobia from our characters - how would you feel in their place? Would you take the tour?

That's all I got for today. Hoping some will go back and catch up on some previous stories; they could use some more attention! And on deck we've got Nemesis, so join us again next week.

Season 3 Part 18: Mustelidae

perpetual — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 15:38:59 GMT

Hey everyone, sorry about the tardiness. (Did anyone notice?) This week got a bit scrambled for me and poor ol' PP fell by the wayside.

By way of apology I'm bringing you an extra awesome story (or maybe it was just conveniently the story up next): Mustelidae by the famed Jo. And you know what that means: WEASELS.

1. Playing the field. In the last few installments we've talked about Giles and his love life - in this one, Buffy and Angel are talking about the same thing. Is their conclusion correct? If so, is this a good way for Giles to be dealing with the traumatic experiences from his past, or should he choose one woman now and concentrate exclusively on her?

2. Secrets revealed. Some of the OCs in this story are ones that the team and the readers have gotten to know quite well by now, but until now, they've been missing some vital information about their friends. How did you feel about the way that Lisa, Nick, and Collins reacted to learning the truth? Was it believable? Understandable? How will it affect their relationships to Buffy, Giles, and Angel in the future, and their involvement with Project Paranormal?

3. And speaking of which. I noticed a couple things about the aforementioned characters that were news to me. Did you? Could I coax you into naming them?

4. That 'v' thing. As fans of the shows and readers of fanfiction, not to mention inhabitants of a world saturated by horror media, we may have become a bit desensitized to the spectacle of a vampire drinking the blood of a human. If you try to put that aside and see it from the point of view of a character within the 'verse, how would you really feel about seeing Angel's face morph and bite into Morag's neck? Jo describes the emotional side of it in some detail - is she onto something, or do you take a different view of the vampire legend?

5. Weasels! Another unconventional perspective that the author takes is the perspective of a couple local critters. Both the ewe and the stoat are mothers, concerned primarily with their survival instincts and their families. What purpose do you think these interludes had in the story? Were there any parallels to the lives of the humans affected by the incidents? Does Angel really speak stoat?

6. Windows! How 'bout that dimensional rift? We're getting close to the end of the season - do you have any hunch about what the finale will entail?

7. I don't know what you're saying, but please keep saying it. Check the author's notes for Scots translations (and a lot more, for that matter). How did you like seeing that dialect in the text? Is it too confusing, or does it take you deeper into the story?

Thanks for reading, my fine weasels! I mean, friends. Come again; next week we'll be discussing The Seven Dwarfs.

Season 3 Part 17: Basilisk

perpetual — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:49:15 GMT

Hello again. We're still at it here at Project Paranormal, and today we're reading Basilisk by the one and only Ares. C'mon, read with us!

1. Critter catalog! Not much I like better than mythical animals. The characters tell us some of the legends regarding basilisks. Anything you'd like to add? Or is this the first time you've heard of the creature?

2. All my friends and lovers. We haven't seen Lisa for a while - did you still remember her pretty well? Any other original characters you're wondering about? How is Giles' love life? And hey, how 'bout that Neve - will we see her again?

3. Don't pick the bluebells. Ares says she did some independent research on flora. Huh, now that she mentions that, there was a lot of plant life in this story. How many kinds can you name off the top of your head? Would there be more if you went through and listed each one as it was mentioned? Did each serve a purpose to the story?

4. That can't be good. We finally get another mention of the thinning of the dimensional barriers, which came up early in the season a few times. Do we get any new information, or a hint of some kind on how this will ultimately affect the team and the story?

5. Critter nursery! Another theme that seems to be emerging this season is that of wild 'monsters' being, in reality, protective parents. Might this mean anything, or is it coincidence? How do you think Buffy and Angel feel about seeing examples of parenthood in the (super)natural world - or do they not think about it that way?

That's it for now. Hope to see you all soon, and hear all your thoughts on basilisks, Project Paranormal, and whatever else strikes your fancy! Join us next week; Mustelidae is on deck.