Novel References

[dhrachth.livejournal.com]

I read the three official QAF novels that give the Brian & Mikey back story last week. Although far from perfect, they weren't bad. I was wondering if there are any fics where characters from the novels make a reappearance. If you haven't read the books, some names that might come up are:

Book 1: Gary Palmer, the gym teacher.
Book 2: Jason Lauren, Brian's college pal.
Book 3: Evan Steele, Brian's boss at his first advertising job.

Found two. See comments. Thank you!

Comments

[gaedhal.livejournal.com]

The "novels" (and I use that term loosely) are not canon.
From what I've heard CowLip disavows them and the actors
hate them (they have refused to autograph them in the past).
I also have never read a single fic that referenced anything
in any of the books, which tells me more than anything that
they aren't really "QAF" -- unless there are B/M-shippers
somewhere who are incorporating them into fics -- B&J writers
certainly are not, since almost everything in the books is
contradicted by material in the shows.

[dhrachth.livejournal.com]

The first two books are actually pretty much canon. There's a little snafu where Michael gave Brian the cowry shell bracelet, but they're otherwise not factually contradictory. I thought Brian's college years were actually very well done in the second book.

The third book I found a bit questionable. There was an almost relationship between Brian and his boss that just didn't seem in character and misc other things that didn't quite fit with the canon.

None of them are B/M books. Michael has his crush, but Brian is clearly not interested. It's not B/J, because Justin is a toddler, but it isn't anti-B/J.

Cowlip and the actors probably have some definite ideas about the backstory that never came up in the show which the novelist contradicted--undoubtedly much better stuff than what was in the novels. They may also feel that the QAF story is stronger when the background is a bit mysterious.

But the books aren't bad. Just based on what was on screen the first two books are perfectly plausible and although the third is a bit iffy it's not directly contradictory. If someone wants backstory, in the absense of anything better, I'd recommend the first two.

[gaedhal.livejournal.com]

Just about any decent fanfic is better, IMO.

Justin "meeting" Brian as a little boy while he
"clutches" his teddy bear, Gus? The "prom" rewritten
as a B/M moment? Gag.