AU

'AU' stands for Alternate Universe. Generally this refers to the concept that for any decision made, or possible outcome, there exists a universe, or setting for a story, where the alternate outcomes are explored.

See also Crack for AU-ish stories.

Defining the AU

All Fanfiction as 'AU'

Almost all fanfiction can be technically classified as an 'AU' (with the possible exception of fiction design to fill 'missing moments' of canon, or character insight for canon moments - but probably not even then), as it takes the canon up to a certain point, and then gives a story, or alternate take on what may happen from there - but these are not usually referred to as 'AU'. This includes pretty much all Wincest.

The Point Of Divergence (POD) is usually sometime midseason around when the fic was written, or the episode it is listed as a spoiler for, or the author may state something along the lines of "set/canon based on mid-season 2". As any major events that occur within the fanfiction, especially in longer, multi-part stories will probably not occur within the canon, the fanfiction subsequently becomes 'AU', even if it wasn't when it was written.

Another standard form by which fanfic is "AU'd" is to have written a fic based on certain assumptions, that are then disproven by later canon - also known as being Jossed.

Episode AU

The likelyhood of any given fic being referred to as AU generally depends on a) the amount of time & canon having passed since the 'POD', and b) it's a noticeable enough change, that events occuring since that point will not have occured, or will have occured differently.

AU's on an episode will generally list what episode they are AU'ing from, such as Pilot-AU, Dead Man's Blood-AU. Pilot AU's are some of the most common, as the Pilot establishes a lot of the setting for the rest of the series, so having something different occur there, changes the history for all the episodes occuring after that. E.g. Sam not going with Dean when Dean asks him, Jessica not dying in the fire, or Sam dying in the fire instead.

Pre-series AU

This does not refer to 'missing time' pre-series fanfiction, where characters could plausibly become the canon characters on the show, or fiction that was originally intended to be such, before being [[Jossed], but fiction where pre-series history has diverged from canon at a certain point, such as: John having a different occupation - John as a priest, and/or Sam & Dean following in his footsteps. Sam or Dean being born a girl, rather than a boy. The boys being seperated or adopted out. Dean leaving home, or Sam not leaving home.

Despite the different settings, events may unfold to mirror or parallel canon history. The term Alternate History is sometimes applied to the last two categories, although it usually refers to alternate World History.

Recognisable Characters in a different setting

This includes the Historical AU, where recognisable characters exist but in a different time or environment (this is also known as [Uberfic] in some fandoms), or where canon history has never technically existed, but characters have similarities anyway - such as Sam and Dean not actually being related. Another form is the Crossover AU, where characters exist in within the setting of another fandom, rather than in a standard Crossover, where they just interact with them (e.g. Sam or Dean are CIA agents in Alias, or Robins in Batmanverse). Again, events may mirror canon history.

The 'Original Fiction' AU

A further divergence from the prior category, in this debated form of 'AU' the characters may share the same appearance and possibly name as a canon character, but may otherwise be completely unrecognisable, having a completely different setting, environment and especially, personality. This is more common in RPS.

In some fandoms, only these last two categories are regarded as 'Alternate Universe', and the other forms are known as 'Alternate Reality'.

Fanfiction

WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMER:

The stories linked here may contain sexually explicit material. Stories will provide specific warnings, ratings and disclaimers in their header, please take the responsibility of paying attention to those.

General AU

2005-12-19 / rituale romanum I, rituale romanum II, the cure of souls, vespers, vade retro satana by traveller (Priest AU)

2006-06-06 / Noir by Sanyin (Detective Noir AU, Gen, WIP)

2006-11-25 / The Crackling Sea by sevenfists (AU in Spaaace)

5 Things That Never Happened To...

2005-10-17 / 5 Things that never happened to Dean Winchester by cccarioca

2005-12-20 / Five Things That Never Happened To Dean Winchester by lyra-wing

2006-03-12 / Game of Life by monkeycrackmary (Jess-centric, gen)

2006-04-21 / Fistful of Rain by marinarusalka (Dean-centric, gen)

2006-04-30 / Footprints Swept Away In The Wind (Five S/D first times) by halfshellvenus

2006-06-05 / Interesting Times by TrollPrincess (Dean-centric, gen)

Crossover AU

2006-01-04 / Rule of Threes by glockgal (Gen, Batmanverse comment fic)

2006-02-18 / Soldiers by monkeycrackmary (Batmanverse AU)

2006-06-02 / Heat - Water - A Handful of Dust by Sanyin (The Mummy AU, WIP, also Historical Egypt)

2006-07-30 / Long Road Home by Sanyin (Alias AU)

Historical AU

2006-06-02 / Heat - Water - A Handful of Dust by Sanyin (also The Mummy AU, WIP)

Pilot AU

An AU on the pilot - eg Jess survives, Sam/Dean doesn't, etc.

'Switch' AU

Sam and Dean switch roles e.g. Dean leaves home, Sam stays.

'Girl' AU

Sam or Dean were born a girl. This is sometimes termed "Winsister" fic.

2006-05-17 / These Are Words That Go Together Well by sanyin (girl!Dean)
2007-02-28 / Beggars Would Ride by musesfool (girl!Sam)

Separated sometime-after-birth!

Sam and/or Dean were adopted or fostered or kidnapped while kiddies. Because they had such a safe childhood and all.
And *coughs*, there's that whole GSA thing.

2005-12-03 / They Say It's Wonderful by TrollPrincess (gen)

2006-04-21 / Fistful of Rain - Story 1 by marinarusalka (gen)

2006-05-24 / Places You Never Leave by xchamber-musicx (la folle allure & lyssiebaby) (WIP, S/D, also Rent Boy)

2006-06-20 / Untitled Series - Knight of St. John, Into the Woods, Masks, False Idol by Olivia V. (S/D UST, WIP?)

2006-07-18 / Old Ghosts by Gillian Middleton (S/D)

2006-09-18 / My Brother's Keeper by phantisma

2006-11-04 / Abernathy's Law by jp_ja

2006-11-10 / The Sunless Land by Lyra Wing

2006-12-11 / I Didn't Know Me Until I Met You by eboniorchid

Links and Resources

The Big Damn SPN RPS AU LIST by Janissa11