Alternate Universe

Alternate Universe (often abbreviated as "AU") is a descriptor used to characterize fanworks which change one or more elements of the source work's canon. Broadly, an AU may transplant a given source work's characters to a radically different setting, shift the genre in which their adventures occur, and/or alter one or more of their professions, goals, or backstories.
AU fanworks cover a great deal of creative territory, and much discussion has gone into how exactly to classify the term and its subtropes. The openness of AUs allows fans to stretch themselves creatively.
The term AU covers a wide range of divergence from the original canon, from universes where only a tiny tweak has occurred to diverge it from the canon to AUs that are so different as to border on origfic - sometimes called "radical AUs". Some fans question the merits of calling these works fanfiction, arguing that they are so unrecognisable as to be effectively original. Another argument is that all fanworks are by their nature AUs, as they will inevitably differ from the canon in some way, shape or form.
==Overview==
The term most often refers to fanfic, but fanart can also invoke AU tropes – for example, steampunk versions of universes.
AU-type stories are common in Japanese doujinshi as well, often featuring characters recast as high school students or animals. Some animanga canons include AUs as well. Constructed reality, a term used in Vidding, is essentially the visual counterpart to AUs in written fanfic.
AU fanworks cover a great deal of broadly defined creative territory with many subtropes. Under the broad umbrella of "alternate universe", one can find both fanworks that only diverge from their source canons in a single, specific way (for example, a Star Wars AU in which the first Death Star is not destroyed) and fanworks that have changed things so significantly the characters are almost unrecognizable without their names (which is sometimes when an author will file off the serial numbers).
Fans use AUs to stretch themselves creatively and to engage in flights of fancy. They may also serve to promote fandoms with small canons, to present the writer's views regarding canon-related controversies, and/or to provide social commentary related either to the source canon or to some aspect of the AU being presented.
It's generally agreed that the most effective AUs are those in which—even in the most radically changed circumstances—the transplanted characters are clearly recognizable in relation to their canonical counterparts. However, there is much controversy in fandom as to what makes such characters recognizable and precisely when an AU deviates so far from canon that it effectively becomes original fiction—at which point it may no longer be considered "proper" fanfic, and may no longer appeal to fan audiences.
== Definitions and Categorizations ==
Fortunately for purposes of classification, a large proportion of AU fanworks fall into recognizable and somewhat popular subgroups.
===Canon AU===
"Canon AU" has two common definitions:
# an AU that originates within the commercial source work itself. 
# a fanwork AU that diverges relatively narrowly from that of its source work. 
Fanworks based on source-canon AUs may be labeled in various ways as well, sometimes using source-canon episode titles, and sometimes coining new terms. In Stargate Atlantis fandom, Mensaverse or Mensa AU denotes works spun off from the episode "McKay and Mrs. Miller", while in Xena fandom, Conqueror tags stories set in the world of the Hercules episode "Armageddon Now".
===Fusion===
Fusions—works in which two (or more) fictional universes are condensed into one—are sometimes considered a special case of AU; more often, they're considered a subtype of their own, standing between AUs and crossovers.
===Mirror Universe===
A mirror universe is a type of alternate universe in which familiar characters are given reversed characteristics. Heroes might be evil, or at least far more ruthless and aggressive. This is often indicated visually by more sexually revealing clothes, longer hair and/or facial hair, or quasi-fascist imagery.
The term originates from Star Trek, which has several episodes portraying a canonical alternate universe in which the peaceful Federation never existed, replaced by the brutal, conquering Terran Empire. The first "Mirror Universe" episode was the TOS episode Mirror, Mirror. 
In general when a fanwork is stated to be set in a 'mirror universe,' it means the story will be darkfic. The canonical "moral inversion" of the Mirror Universe setting gives the fanwork creator the opportunity to depict dark subjects that would not be part of canon. Characters from the regular universe and the Mirror Universe may also interact, giving the writer an opportunity to explore doppelganger or Evil Twin scenarios.
===Reboot===
While the Hollywood-coined term "reboot"—popularized in connection with Star Trek XI (2009), which went to great lengths to characterize itself as existing in a parallel timeline to that of Star Trek: The Original Series—often arguably describes an AU version of a previous source work, fandom has not generally adopted the term either as a descriptor for fanworks or of the fandoms arising from commercial reboots.
===Shared Universe===
In some cases, an AU fanwork can become popular enough that its readers are inspired to create additional works in the same setting. This can result in a "shared universe" consisting of anywhere from a handful of stories to hundreds. (This usage of the phrase differs somewhat from that of professional writers working in "shared world" settings such as the Wild Cards, 1632 or Thieves' World books.)
===Uber===
Uber is a popular fanfic genre in the Xenaverse. The trend was prompted by a Canon AU in the episode "The Xena Scrolls."
An Uber-Xena story takes the essence of the characters and places them in an AU., but the uber characters do not have the same names and appearances of the canon characters. Sometimes they are descendants or reincarnations. Usually they resemble the originals physically, and they share the same type of bond.
===Universe Alteration===
UAs are very similar to AUs, but instead mean "Universe Alterations". Unlike canon divergence, UAs are set in the canon universe, but with "alterations", as the name suggests. For example, a character is born younger, certain things exist in an otherwise-unchanged universe, etc. This type of AU can sometimes be considered synonymous with canon AU or canon divergent AU.
== Other Classifications ==
Categorizing AUs is complicated by the fact that over time, different naming conventions have been used by different fandoms and fan groups. For example, some fans use alternate reality to describe stories that diverge from source canon at a specific point, while others use the same phrase to describe stories that drop characters from their source canons into an entirely different milieu. Likewise, the 1990s saw an effort made to adopt "extended universe" to describe narrowly divergent stories and to limit "AU" to describing more radically divergent works. (Not surprisingly, it didn't take.)
One taxonomy of AUs popularized by yourlibrarian the post What's In An AU? in 2010 includes:
* AC - alternate characterization
* AL - alternate life
* AS - alternate setting
* AT - alternate timeline
Another taxonomywhich I'm having trouble finding again, will continue to hunt discussed differences between types of fanworks characterized as AUs or ARs especially pertaining to canons that themselves already include alternate realities and alternate timelines, such as Stargate and Star Trek, distinguishing between fanworks set in:
* AR - alternate reality, such as ones shown in various episodes of Stargate, Star Trek, and other shows (e.g. Mirrorverse, Mensaverse, Supernatural's The French Mistake verse). (Closely related to the canon reality and canonically crossing over with the canon reality.)
* AT - alternate timeline, such as ones shown in the SG-1 episode Moebius and in the reboot Star Trek film. (Canonic offshoots created by manipulating the timeline of the prime canon reality.)
* AU - alternate universe. (Not referenced in canon, purely transformative works that widely diverge from canon with alternate settings for the canon characters.)
==Canonical Use==
The concept of AUs is not restricted to fanworks. Time Travel in fiction often involves travel through or the creation of alternate universes (sometimes called "alternate timelines"), although many canons have a canonical alternate universes without the any time travel. An early example — and a common trope — is the movie It's a Wonderful Life (1949) and the short story it was based on, The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern (written in 1939), in which an angel shows the main character what life would be like for his loved ones if he had never been born.
Star Trek: The Original Series brought the concept of alternate universes to much of the American public, most notably with the episode Mirror, Mirror: the Mirror Universe, a type of alternate universe in which familiar characters are given reversed characteristics, has featured heavily in extended canon materials and recently has become very important in Star Trek: Discovery. Other notable TV Western TV shows with alternate universes include Xena: Warrior Princess (1995),Xena: Warrior Princess has the "Uber" genre, prompted by the Canon AU of Mel and Janice in the episode "The Xena Scrolls". Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997),Buffy had Wishverse, an alternative reality in which Buffy Summers never came to Sunnydale, and also "the universe without shrimp". Red Dwarf (1988), In Red Dwarf they visit a parallel universe, where the characters encountered female versions of themselves. Lister discovers that mpreg is also canon in that universe, when he becomes pregnant by his female counterpart. See the Wikipedia page with plot synopsis and Supernatural (2005).Supernatural has episodes in which supernatural creatures put Dean and Sam in various alternate universes, including one where they're swapped with actors Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki). Western comics publishers are also known for alternate universes: DC has ElseworldsAlso, The Flash and other DC Comics characters who possess super speed and a strong enough access to the speed force have the ability to travel through time or to alternate universes. Flashpoint is a DC comics crossover story arc about an altered DC Universe in which only Barry Allen seems to be aware of significant differences between the regular timeline and the altered one, revealed to have been caused by the history-shattering effect of Barry's attempts to change history. The Flash (2014) has multiple storylines involving travel to alternate universes. and Marvel as What If...?).
Alternate universes are also popular in Eastern media. The One Piece anime has several specials which portray the cast as superheroes and supervillains, or denizens of a Tokugawa-era Japanese town. Kazuya Minekura wrote Executive Committee, a silly high school AU of her manga Wild Adapter. Puella Magi Madoka Magica involves magical girls repeating increasingly dark iterations of the same timeline. Other notable examples include Dragonball Z (1989),In Dragonball Z, Trunks' time travel in the Cell Saga involves creating alternate universes via creating alternate timelines, although that's not the only canonical example of alternate universes in DBZ. the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime,The 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime differs wildly from the manga and the later anime, Fullmetal Alchemist:Brotherhood. In the 2003 version, everyone has an alternate self that lives in our universe. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Parallel Works (2008), and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle (2003).The characters in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle cross many universes together and are not all from the same universe. The main characters Syaoran and Sakura are alternate universe characters of two characters with the same names from Card Captor Sakura, an earlier CLAMP work.
==Examples of AU Subtypes==
While AUs exist in nearly infinite variety, a high proportion can be grouped into recognizable subtypes, with examples that can be found in a variety of fandoms. 
Among these are:
Character-Type AUs
* All Human AU
* Animal Transformation (or Anthropomorfic)
* Dance AU
* Dragon AU
* Elf AU
* Genderswap AU
* Hookerfic
* Hurtcomfortverse
* Magic AU
* Mermaid AU
* Noir Detective AU
* Pirate AU
* Pornstar AU
* Royalty AU
* Role Reversal
* Reverse Age AU
*Runaway AU
* Same Age AU
* Serial Killer AU
* Sorting AU (Harry Potter specific)
* Superheroes AU
* Teachers AU
* Unrelated AU
* Vampire AU (or Werewolf AU)
Period-Based AUs
* Edwardian AU
* Historical AU
* Medieval AU
* Modern AU
* Regency AU
* Western AU
* Victorian AU 
Setting-Specific AUs
*Apocalypse AU
* Band AU
* BDSM AU
* Coffee Shop AU
* Dystopian AU
* Fairy Tale AU
* Fandom AU
* Harlequin AU
* High school or College AUs
* Mundane AU
* Mythology AU
* Prison AU
* Punk AU
* Reality TV AU
* Roommates AU
* Sedoretu
* Soulmate AU
* Space AU
* Triad Verse
* Landscaping Company and Crematorium AU
Fusions
* Buzzfeed Unsolved AU
* Daemon AU
* Harry Potter AU
* Hunger Games AU
* Pacific Rim AU
* Sentinel AU
* Game of Thrones AU
* Spider-Man AU
==Comments by Fans==
===1993===
===1994===
 
===2000===
===2005===
===2010===
===2016===
===2018===
===2021===
==Meta==
* Alternate Universes In Fan Fiction (essay) by Lynn C. (1994)
 
* Alternative Ain't Necessarily Good by Lena W. Jones (2000)
* AU's, and You! When is an alternate universe not an alternate universe by LJC (2001)
* How to Construct Alternate Universes that Work as Fanfic by Rat Creature (2001)
* The AUness of It All by James Walkswithwind (2003)
* by jessicaqueen (2005)
* (July 2005)
* by zebra363 (2005)
* AU and You by penknife (2007)
* Alternatives: Why What Didn't Happen Is So Much Fun (mid-2000s)
* Happy 2009! post by cofax, includes "And now, it's time for some rambling meta about AUs." section, more material in comments. (2009)
* What's In An AU? by yourlibrarian, more meta in comments. (2010)
* by Jane Elliot (2010)
* How much AU fic is out there, and are there patterns in which fandoms produce the most? by toastystats (2013)
* A look at Canon Divergence and Fix-it fics by toastystats (2014)
* What are the most common AUs? by toastystats (2014)
==Examples==
===Challenges===
* Alternate Universe Big Bang
* Alternate Universe Exchange
* au_challenge
===Fanfiction===
* iss_enterprise
* Leave No Soul Behind, example of a not-really-AU story set in an alternate reality of the canonical alternate timeline of the reboot Star Trek universe.
* See :Category:Merlin AU for a list of AU stories and art in Merlin fandom
* Marian Through the Looking Glass An epic Robin Hood (BBC 2006) fic in which two alternate realities are explored.
* Marvoloverse, a Harry Potter story taking place at Hogwarts in the 1850s.
* Motion Practice, a popular Marvel Alternate Universe series in which various Marvel characters work together in the District Attorney's office in Suffolk County.
* The Zaibatsu Project, an ongoing Rurouni Kenshin cyberpunk AU.
===Fanart===
* Alters #6: Supernatural by vito-excalibur, Sam and Dean are black
* Doctor Who/Peanuts fusion by jigglykat
* The Horcruxers, by Glockgal, an Harry Potter/The Avengers fusion
* Kittyhawk by Pentapus, a Wright brothers SGA/SG-1 AU
* Noir by Odella, film noir AU with the Order of the Phoenix is a private investigation agency
* We Are Floating in Space by steammmpunk, Merlin/Arthur Space Cowboys AU
* The Winchester sisters by ileliberte, SPN genderswap
* The Palace of Eternity by nix_this, illustrations for an AU Star Trek story loosely based on Milton's Paradise Lost
===Vids===
* Who Dat? by verizonhorizon
* Parachute by Lorny Tunes
===Recs===
* Alternate Universe at Fancake
* Complete AU at Fancake
* Fork In The Road AU at Fancake
* Canon Alternate Realities at Fancake
* Alternative Professions at Fancake
* Parallel Universes & Dimension Travel at Fancake
* Wrong Universe at Fancake
* Multiverse People at Fancake
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Glossary
Category:Fiction Writing
Category:Social Media Feature-Terminology Thursday