Ah, okay - I'm an outside observer on Merlin; I enjoy the show but haven't been much interested in fic or fandom. My flist was buzzing about Merlin for months but only exploded since Astolat started posting, and as everyone was reccing her fics first it felt like she was a major force. So maybe in certain quadrants she was an influence, if not the majority.
I don't think BNFs can completely create fandoms (as you say, Astolat couldn't make Idol big, though I think she did increase it?) but they do help draw attention to those series with the ideal factors for a major fandom. If that distinction makes sense? They don't plant the seed, but they water it...
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winterfish
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Date: 2009-02-27 03:02 am (UTC)I don't think BNFs can completely create fandoms (as you say, Astolat couldn't make Idol big, though I think she did increase it?) but they do help draw attention to those series with the ideal factors for a major fandom. If that distinction makes sense? They don't plant the seed, but they water it...