Falling Into College

Falling Into College is an on-going series of stories by Richard Lobinske that started in July, 2004.

Summary
The series is primarily about Daria during her college years, the continued lives of Helen & Jake back home, Quinn at Pepperhill, plus the Lane family, including Trent's relationship with Lindy, Quinn's friend from Governor's Park. The series assumes Daria and Jane graduated from Lawndale High in spring 1999.

Besides Jane, who attends Boston Fine Arts College (and is currently dating Michael "Mack" MacKenzie), the people in Daria's life include Michael Fulton, her fiancee and her freshman dorm roommate, Karen Myerson, who has joined Daria and Jane in sharing an upstairs apartment in a pre-Civil War house in South Boston. Along with college, Daria has worked as a transcriptionist for a history professor and as a part-time copy editor/proofreader at the Raft University Press. Currently in the storyline, she is unemployed. Jane works as an arts and craft teacher at Boston Children's Hospital. Karen works for the Franklin Park Zoo and Michael for the National Park Service at the Freedom Trail as a liaison to a Bromwell archeology professor.

The series has several long-term story arcs and current plans are for a total of 72 stories through Daria's college graduation.

Falling Into College is a direct continuation of the Last Summer stories and also draws upon First Summer as a prequel series. Mr Orange is currently translating the series into French at PPMB

Inspirations, Motivations and Analysis
The author has stated the his college experience and relationship with his wife has provided much of the inspiration for the stories, though specifically not autobiographical.

The series optimistic tone was conceived as a balance to the number of angst-based stories commonly written when the series was started. At the same time, the few post-canon fanfiction stories tended to either use a simple stereotype for Daria's collage roommate (such as loud party girl) or would use a contrivance to avoid Daria having to deal with a roommate. Karen was developed as a counter to that trend, a rounded character that would become a close friend.

While some readers have commented that the low-key, real life approach is one of appealing aspects of the series, other readers have suggested that there should be more drama or hardship inserted. The Angst Lords are not the only ones in the latter category; Kara Wild, a proponent of the "realism" approach that favors only limited angst, has stated that the characters seem to get beyond misfortune too easily. (However, Brother Grimace has stated on several occasions that the series is one of his personal favorites, and enjoys the low-key approach that the series follows.) To this point, the author has resisted increasing the angst dosage, which gives more impact to the times when things do go badly (e.g., in "A Matter of Priorities").

Characters
Original

Primary:
 * Adler, Derek
 * Bump
 * Czernicki, Cecelia "CC"
 * Fulton, Michael
 * Gilstad, Quinn
 * Lawrence, Fran
 * Myerson, Karen

Secondary:
 * Anderson, Wendy (Raft student and theater major)
 * Baker, Todd (Michael's sophomore year roommate)
 * Barksdale, Simon (Helen's father)
 * Berkhart, Lewis (Michael's current roommate)
 * Campbell,Ariel (Nick's daughter)
 * Campbell, Sara (Nick's ex-wife)
 * Cavendish, Jenn (Raft student)
 * Cawthon-Schellski, Debbie
 * Clarice (Raft student)
 * Crause, Shelly (Daria's coworker at the University Press)
 * Daniels, Prof. (Bromwell faculty and Michael's co-supervisor)
 * Davis, Bea (Olivia's mother)
 * Davis, Olivia (patient at children's hospital that Daria helps find glasses)
 * Devers, Sandy (Raft student and theater major)
 * Ernst, Len (Raft student, theater major and womanizer)
 * Findlay, Dr. (Director of Raft University Press)
 * Fulton, Gina (Michael's sister)
 * Fulton, Ron (Michael's father)
 * Fulton,Samantha (Michael's mother)
 * Girard, Nell (BFAC student and Jane's friend)
 * Grace (Quinn's suitemate)
 * Hollister, Robin (Raft student)
 * Isabelle (Raft student and theater costumer)
 * Jack (Raft student)
 * Jakobs, Al (once dated Jane and CC)
 * Jenkins, Rhiannon (Prom Queen and Honor Society member with Quinn)
 * Kelsey, Mary (BFAC student)
 * Ken (Michael's freshman year roommate)
 * Killarny, Dr. Roland (Dean of Arts & Sciences and former Director of University Press)
 * Levon (Jodie’s boyfriend at Crestmore)
 * Lyndon, Mrs. (Daria's landlady)
 * MacKenzie, Colin (Mack's father)
 * MacKenzie, Leesha (Mack's mother)
 * Mandy (Len Ernst's jealous girlfriend)
 * Marie (Michael's coworker)
 * Marquez, Isabel 'Bel' (Jane's boss at the children's hospital)
 * Marvin, Fr. (Priest that officiated Lindy and Trent’s wedding)
 * Miller, Dr. Harrison F. (Raft history professor)
 * Morgendorffer, Bruce (Jake's older brother)
 * Morrison, Samuel (Michael's boss)
 * Murphey, Carol (Well known feminist attorney and Honor Society sponsor)
 * Myerson, Geoff (Karen's father)
 * Myerson, Jill (Karen's sister-in-law
 * Myerson, Maddie (Karen's mother)
 * Myerson, Terry (Karen's brother)
 * Myerson, Wayne (Karen’s nephew)
 * Natalie (Gina's best friend)
 * Needham, Benjamin (Honor society member with Quinn)
 * Nguyen (Michael's coworker)
 * Paine, Prof. (Raft theater professor)
 * Poole, Carolyn (Daria's therapist)
 * Sean (Raft student)
 * Stamford, Beth (Fran's aunt)
 * Stamford, David (Fran's uncle)
 * Stan (patient at children's hospital that Jane saves)
 * Stanton, Carly (Raft student)
 * Stevens, Anna (Raft student)
 * Sullivan, Kathy (Honor society member with Quinn)
 * Sullivan, Kyle (Lawndale County Asst. District Attorney)
 * Tammy (Quinn's suitemate)
 * Tolen, Janice (Raft student)
 * Toni (Raft student and theater makeup)
 * Weaver, Elaine (Lindy’s mother)
 * Wilson, Dr. (Raft biology professor)

Alternate Canon
 * Tess Barksdale
 * Theresa Blaine
 * Nathan W. Morgendorffer "Mad Dog"
 * Lindy Weaver-Lane

Stories in Series
Main article: List of Falling Into College stories

Trivia

 * Raft University is roughly based on Tufts University, Boston Fine Arts College is based upon the Massachusetts College of Art and Pepperhill University is based upon Pepperdine University. Berlioz College is based upon Oberlin College and its Conservatory.


 * The author used his wife's name, Louise, as Daria's middle name.


 * Many featured Sick, Sad World promos are twisted versions of real entomological facts or studies.


 * In Home for Thanksgiving, it is revealed that Karen's grandather was a B-17 crewman with the 918th Bombardment Group. This was the fictional unit presented in the movie, Twelve O'Clock High.


 * The graffiti on the flats in the artwork for Boston Baked Band are the titles of plays the author worked, including the one where he met his wife.


 * The t-shirt worn by Quinn Gilstad when he was introduced is based upon the real shirt prepared for the Entomological Society of America annual meeting in San Diego, held in December, 2001.

Music List
Songs fully or partially used within stories (including canon Mystik Spiral material)
 * In Thee by A. Lanier
 * Cold Iron by Rudyard Kipling (arranged by Leslie Fish)
 * Little Sister from Pierce Me by Neena Beber
 * Every Dog Has His Day from Groped By An Angel by Jonathan Greenberg.
 * Mr. Normal from Jane’s Addition by Glenn Eichler.
 * Freakin’ Friends from Is It Fall Yet? by Glenn Eichler and Peggy Nicoll.
 * O Fortuna 14th century monastic arranged by Carl Orff in Carmina Burana
 * The Eve Of War by Jeff Wayne from Jeff Wayne’s Musical War of the Worlds
 * The Spirit of Man by Gary Osborne and Jeff Wayne from War of the Worlds.
 * Everlong by the Foo Fighters
 * Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Freddie Mercury
 * When I'm 64 by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
 * I Loathe You from Café Disaffecto by Glenn Eichler
 * Overkill by Jimmy Buffett
 * Holiday by Jimmy Buffett

Background Timeline

 * September 1929: Nathan Morgendorffer born.
 * 1945: Vincent Lane born.
 * June 1947: Nathan and Ruth Morgendorffer married.
 * September 1947: Nathan drafted into USMC.
 * 1948: Amanda Lane (Lodzyck) born.
 * May 1948: Bruce born.
 * January 8, 1950: Jake born.
 * July 14, 1950: Helen born.
 * July 1950: Nathan ships out to Korea.
 * September 1950: Nathan at Inchon.
 * November-December 1950: Nathan at Chosin.
 * February 1951: Nathan returns to US.
 * May 1951: Nathan medically discharged.
 * Spring 1952: Rita born.
 * October 1956: Ron Fulton born
 * May 1958: Samantha Fulton (Waldron) born.
 * 1959: Amy Barksdale born.
 * Summer 1966: Bruce Morgendorffer enlists in army.
 * July 1966 Vincent and Amanda Lane meet
 * August 22 1967: Summer Love Lane born.  Amanda and Vincent married.
 * 1967: Fran’s Uncle David and Aunt Beth born.
 * September 1968: Wind Lane born.
 * June 1968: Jake and Helen graduate high school.
 * August 1969: Helen and Jake split up, Jake heads for CA, arrested for vagrancy in Boulder, CO.
 * August 1969: Helen, Willow and Coyote spent night in jail in Boulder, CO.
 * November 1969: Penny Lane born.
 * December 1969: Jake attends concert at Altamonte CA.
 * June 1972: Jake and Helen graduate college.
 * June 1972: Jake and Helen leave group house, last time they see Willow and Coyote until 1997.
 * April 1973: Vincent and Amanda buy the Free Lawndale house.
 * June 1974. Ron Fulton graduated high school
 * January 1975: Rita’s first marriage.
 * 1975 Trent born.
 * Spring 1975: Erin born.
 * June 26, 1975: Jake and Helen married.
 * September 1975: Jake starts MBA program.
 * 1976: Nathan dies.
 * June 1976: Samantha Fulton (Waldron) graduates high school.
 * 1977: Simon Barksdale dies.
 * February 1977. Lindy Weaver born.
 * June 1977: Amy graduates high school.
 * June 1978: Jake completes MBA.
 * June 1978: Ron Fulton graduates college
 * May 1979: Quinn Gilstad born
 * September 1978: Helen begins law school.
 * October 1979: Ron and Samantha Fulton meet
 * June 1980. Samantha Fulton (Waldron) graduates college.
 * July 1980. Ron and Samantha Fulton married.
 * November 19 1980: Daria born.
 * March 20 1981: Jane born.
 * June 1981: Amy graduates with her BA
 * August 11, 1981: Michael Fulton born.
 * February 4, 1982: Frances Lawrence born
 * April 15 1982: Quinn born.
 * June 1982: Helen completes law school.
 * June 1984: Amy graduates with her MA.
 * July 1984: Morgendorffers move to Highland, TX.
 * September 1984. Gina Fulton born.
 * 1985: Yeagers begin selling hand-knotted hammocks.
 * 1986: Summer Lane’s first child born.
 * September 1986: Daria and Jane start kindergarten.
 * Spring 1987: Helen and Jake’s fight over Daria (Boxing Daria).
 * Summer 1987: Trent and Jesse start playing guitars
 * September 1987: Quinn starts kindergarten.
 * June 1988: Amy PhD.
 * September 1988: Amy begins adjuncting.
 * Fall 1989: Trent and Jesse start high school
 * 1990: Fran’s Uncle David and Aunt Beth married
 * Spring 1991: Max joins the band and it takes on the name Mystik Spiral.
 * September 1991: Amy begins tenure track position.
 * June 1992: Fran’s parents and sister killed in auto accident.
 * June 1993: Trent graduates high school
 * Summer 1993: Daria and Quinn at Camp Grizzly.
 * Summer 1994: Nicholas Campbell married
 * Spring 1995: Ariel Campbell born.
 * Fall 1995: Daria and Jane start high school.
 * Spring 1996 Nick joins Mystik Spiral and divorces that summer.
 * August 1996: Amy granted tenure.
 * Fall 1996: Season 1.
 * Spring 1997: Season 2.
 * Spring 1997: Erin’s wedding.
 * Summer 1997: First Summer series
 * Fall 1997: Season 3.
 * Spring 1998: Season 4.
 * Summer 1998: IIFY?
 * Fall 1998 – Spring 1999: Season 5
 * Spring 1999: IICY?
 * June 1999: Daria and Jane Graduation.
 * Summer 1999: Last Summer series
 * August 1999: Daria starts at Raft

Links
Falling Into College can be found: Note: Websites are updated at owner's convenience; some of these sites might not contain the latest installments of the series
 * here at Outpost Daria
 * artwork here at Outpost Daria
 * here at The Contrarian's Corner
 * here at Glitter Berries
 * here at The Sh33p's Fluff
 * here at Sick, Sad World
 * Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 at FanFiction.net
 * French translation by Mr. Orange at PPMB
 * here at Lawndale Sun Herald

An interview with Richard Lobinske about the series, consisting of fan-submitted questions and conducted by E. A. Smith, can be found:
 * here at The Contrarian's Corner
 * here at Glitter Berries