Driven Wild Universe

The Driven Wild Universe is a series of Daria stories in quasi-script form by Kara Wild, forming a detailed alternate universe. The series contains twenty-two "episodes."

Background

The Driven Wild Universe (or DWU) is meant to play out several "What ifs" regarding the Daria series if just one thing were changed. In the case of the DWU, this change involved Quinn getting glasses in the first episode, "Rose-Colored Lenses." While the early episodes of the Driven Wild Universe could have taken place within the series proper, once Quinn chooses to wear her glasses permanently (from "Cheered Down" onward) the fanfiction series breaks from Daria and runs along a parallel path. Kara Wild has stated the the true break occurs after Daria Episode 307, "Daria! the Musical"; from that point onward, while certain series developments remain (such as the introduction of Tom Sloane as Jane's boyfriend), others never occur because they have already played out in the Driven Wild Universe, such as "Psycho Therapy."

An intriguing AU series, the Driven Wild Universe's main focus is on Quinn's evolution from popular person allergic to school to a glasses-wearing math prodigy who sees a new world opening up before her. (The series proper would later provide its own perspective in Is It Fall Yet? and "Lucky Strike." At the same time, Wild felt compelled to tweak other dynamics that she felt were stagnant in the series, such as Helen's relationship with Jake. In time, she would give nearly equal coverage to Helen and her sister, Amy Barksdale. Some critics would charge that Wild did so at the expense of Daria, who, as the title characer, should have been the star. Wild pointed out that she was already being well explored on the series proper; however, during the final episodes of the series, Wild would beef up Daria's role, having her come face to face with the dark side of Quinn's success in math. Jane makes fewer appearances in the DWU than in the series proper, mainly providing much-needed common sense and support.

Plotlines

Warning: The following may contain plot or ending details.

Installments

• Rose-Colored Lenses
• The Tie That Chokes
• That Thing You Say
• 'Shipped Out
• Andrea Speaks
• Cheered Down
• None in the Family (Parts One and Two)
• Outvoted
• Of Absolute Value
• Breaking the Mold
• Surreal World
• Erin the Head
• Primarily Color
• The Age of Cynicism (incomplete)
• Charge of the Math Brigade
• An Uneasy Marriage
• In Her Own Words
• All But Forgotten
• Memory Road
• Into the Fire
• Tomorrow Never Knows

Original Characters

• Alfred Phelps
• Barry Bukowski
• Charles Howard Barksdale, Jr
• Damien Crawley
• Evelyn Barksdale
• Greg Valmont
• Joel Silverman
• Marshall Winsett
• Vince Rogers

External links

• The Driven Wild Universe (all stories)
• The Driven Wild Universe Primer (a good first reference)
• Driven Wild Universe Fan Art
• Driven Wild Universe "Apocrypha"
• Driven Wild Universe interview Kara Wild was interviewed in PPMB in February 2005 by E. A. Smith; many questions were submitted by fans.
• "Mother's Milk" A short story set in the DWU, after the series has ended.
• "They Came from Planet Xulfanex" A "B movie" science-fiction tale set in the DWU, but not an official part of that epic.
• "Illusions" Fanfic by CharlieGirl, The Angst Guy, and Angelinhel, in which a universe-crossing Daria meets her DWU counterpart—and her sister, the math genius Quinn ("Illusions," Chapter Three).
• "The Thong Remains the Same" A sex-farce fanfic by The Angst Guy that parodies the characters and events in the DWU.