“Pembroke’s version involves a new romance for Harry with an exchange student from America whose physical description is remarkably close to the picture on her website.”

Subtle enough if you don’t know the term “Mary Sue”. But a tip-off if you do.

Joss … heaven forfend, no. On the other hand, ask some devoted fans who hated Seasons 5 and 6 about Marti Noxon, and the walls may well blister …

Meanwhile: Duh. But the story’s so plausible–one of Watley’s hallmarks.

I also just noticed, with some amusement, that the offended fan in question is named Mary Sue Pembroke. While I’m not a fan fiction read or writer myself, so many of my friends read and write it that I have picked up some of the lingo – and “Mary Sue” usually refers to the author inserting herself into the story as a sort of perfect character. (There’s actually a Wikipedia entry on Mary Sues!!)

I probably shouldn’t have even included the parallel. Whedon’s pretty much done with the mythos; I’m guessing he’s not opposed to others extending and expanding it. (Just a guess…) Just as George Lucas actually welcomes fan flicks, to some extent–and probably more so now that he’s said that Episodes 7-9 weren’t ever *really* on the planning board (at least I think that’s what he said).

[Although I've avoided fandom since my teenage years, when I was very briefly involved with the Elves, Gnomes, Leprechauns and Little People's Chowder and Marching Society in Berkeley---an SFan group, despite the name--that's a matter of time/interest, not disdain. Even in pro SF/fantasy, I'm certainly aware of shared universes, extended universes, all that stuff. Some purists believe it's contributing to the Death of True SF. I'm not much of a purist, even though I do try to distinguish between science fiction and Sci-Fi.]

Oops.