Modern AU

A Modern AU is a fanwork which moves characters from a historical (or pseudo-historical) fandom into a modern setting. 
==Trope Conventions==
It can also be applied to characters whose canon is in the distant future, giving them a current setting, often without the technology the original fiction possesses. 
In the case of canons with supernatural elements, or superheroes, a modern AU often places characters in a world where they don't have access to their magic or powers. Thus there is some overlap between Modern AUs, and Mundane AUs, also known as No Powers AUs. Depending on the age of characters in canon, is some fandoms Modern AUs are also High School AUs and College AUs.
==Popularity==
This trope is popular in heavy speculative fiction fandoms such as Star Wars.
===Modern AU Heavy Fandoms===
*Assassin's Creed canon spans thousands of years of from prehistory to modern day; fans often transplant the historical characters forward in time, often into coffeeshop AUs or school AUs, or just generic modern-day plots. AC modern AUs may star characters from one time period, or characters from multiple time periods (e.g. Desmond, Altaïr, and Ezio being siblings).
*Attack On Titan fandom has many modern AUs which also often place the main cast in high school or college. Despite the AOT canon not taking place in the past, modern reincarnation fics are somewhat common.
*Dishonored - While the canon is not set in any past historical period, but actually in a different world altogether, it is common for fans to use the term "Modern AU" in this fandom anyway.
*Game of Thrones is set in a fictional universe, with a historical setting. Modern AUs often relocate characters from Westeros to America, as well as placing them in a modern setting. A much smaller number of works are set in Modern Westeros. Modern AUs are very popular, and College AUs are common.
*The Magnificent Seven fandom probably has as many stories set in the present day as in the old west of its canon. Especially popular is the ATF shared universe in which the gunslingers are ATF agents. 
* In Merlin fandom modern AUs are incredibly popular, including High School AUs, College AUs, Reincarnation fics, Business Heir AUs, Modern Royal Family AUs, Modern Military AUs, and everything else that works as a setting for a modern day Merlin/Arthur romance.
* Modern AUs are quite popular in Phantom of the Opera fandom. They are often used as an opportunity to create a convincingly well-adjusted (due to the modern medicine and attitudes) Phantom and fluffier Phantom/Christine relationship.
* Pride and Prejudice fandom probably has more contemporary fanfiction than canon era, a trend only increased by recent contemporary rewritings such as Bridget Jones's Diary & The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
*Xena: Warrior Princess fandom has the Uber genre which mostly consists of Modern Xena/Gabrielle AUs.
*The 100 fandom modern AUs are incredibly popular, especially High School AUs and College AUs.
==Example Fanworks==
===Fanart===
*need a hair tie, a modern Geralt of Rivia digital portrait by calyxestra
*modern au of Geralt/Jaskier digital art by katesparkle
*Lord of the Rings modern au digital art by crazytom666: legolas gimli aragorn and hobbits
*Some elves marry dwarves by Kvelde (Legolas/Gimli digital art)
===Fanfiction and Podfic===
Attack on Titan
*Impractical Pranksters by genosispsychos, a EreMika story.
Les Miserables
*(Podfic) World Ain't Ready by fulldaysdrive, a 21-hour podfic of a High School AU by idiopathicsmile
MCU
*(podfic) Slide To Answer by klb, luvtheheaven and reena_jenkins 
*The Foodieverse by copperbadge and scifigrl147, a modern Chef AU
Merlin (TV series)
* A Binding Contract by eldee, a Merlin story that keeps the magic aspects of canon and translates them into a modern setting.
*The Student Prince
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015 film) 
*The Tartarus Affair by manic_intent, in which Napoleon is an imprisoned CIA agent and Illya is his cellmate. 
The Untamed
*The Simplest Way Forward series by harriet_vane: a modern WangXian kidfic, podfic by knight_tracer
The Witcher
*you're only brave in the moonlight (stay til sunrise) by SummerFrost, an AU where Geralt and Jaskier are roommates. 
*you follow? series by shortcrust, a Social Media AU, podfics by LenaReads, greedy_dancer, and multivoice podvid
Xena: Warrior Princess
* Tropical Storm 
* Accidental Love
* Lucifer Rising
* Gun Shy (they are cops)
* Redemption (Prison AU).
==Archives & Fannish Links==
* Alternate Universe - Modern Setting on AO3
==References==
Category:Glossary