Because I know it would be too much of a challenge to type "Yamiolkoski" every single time, from this point on, I'll simply refer to him as "Yam", like I always do.
In a relatively short span of time, that is, in relation to the ending of the show itself (which was unfortunate), Yam has quickly established himself as a well-liked 'Daria' fanfiction author, having come late on the scene. He also has perhaps the ultimate 'Daria' character website, called the Daria Character Database, which has just about every single character who's ever appeared on the show, and pertinent information about that character. Yam also has a 'Daria' Fanfiction Character Database on the same site, by which various authors have submitted both personal information, and in some cases, fanart on their perspective characters. I strongly recommend if you ever want information about any 'Daria' character for your fic, that you visit his site. (Pauses) When it works, that is...
Yam, as noted earlier, is a well-liked 'Daria' fanfiction author. One reason was perhaps that at one time he seemed to churn out his very good 'Daria' fanfiction like it was going out of style. In my opinion, and I certainly could be wrong, he was the busiest writing author I had read until one Roger Moore came out of nowhere, and made Yam look like he was going in slow motion.
Anyway, let's take a quick gander at Yam's fics. Please keep in mind that I don't want to get into too much detail, in case you haven't read them.
"Outage" was Yam's first fic, and it's a good one. The quick lowdown is that Kevin's usual stupidity indirectly forges a "getting to know you" meeting between two characters whom we 'Daria' fans generally don't think about ever being in the same space, much less in the same reality: Jane and Sandi. Yam actually is able to make a bonafide story out of the two's chance meeting. We find out some interesting things coming out between the "Weird Art Chick" and the "Queen of Mean" that perhaps never occurred to us. You might even get a sympathetic feeling for Sandi. (Hey, miracles can happen, you know) Canon fic.
"Community Disservice" is another canon fic that happens just before the fifth season episode "Fizz Ed", or in October, as Yam writes. Think of a more meatier version of "The Old and the Beautiful". Ms. Li's at it again on her volunteerism kick, and she for--er, "volunteers" Lawndale High's student faithful for more service to the community. Daria meets Link (from "Is It Fall Yet?"), Jane gets devious (no surprise there), Quinn actually has a heart (yes, it's true, but we sorta know that), Jake's even nuttier than he usually is (thanks indirectly to Quinn), and Sandi looks yet sympathetic once again, this time from Stacy's POV.
Hm. Yam seems to have developed a soft spot for Sandi. Ronin should love him! (Pauses) Don't ask. Inside joke.
"Guardian" is something of an extension of the fourth season episode "Groped By An Angel", going into a bit more detail. You don't believe in guardian angels, eh? You might after reading this...
"Is Summer Over Already?" is basically an extension of "Is It Fall Yet?", a canon fic. Jane's trying to get over "The Triangle" thing once and for all, and she's under the belief that Daria "owes" her for it. You won't believe what Jane's asking for--and that Daria actually goes along with it! I liked this fic straight through the first time I read it, but after, er, some discussion about "The Triangle" thing on the boards, I've come up with one question that I should've asked Yam in the beginning: What did Tom go through, as opposed to Daria and Jane?
"Quinnderella" is a play on the famous tale "Cinderella", with, you guessed it, Quinn as the main character, only it's done in the "classic" storytelling style of Daria and Jane to the Gupty kids. Basically canon. Be afraid. Be very afraid...
"The Next Step" occurs after "Is It College Yet?", this time a post-canon(tm) fic. What will happen to our beloved characters afterwards? Has Tom gone nuts? Has Jane, but justifiably so in her case? You decide. (Also, Yam revisits the Jane-Sandi meeting from "Outage". I believe you should read "Outage" first. In fact, I think Yam has set several of his canon fics in a certain order to read. I could be mistaken.)
"Outside The Box" is an extension of the episode "Boxing Daria". It's more meat to the story of a younger Daria, and of her family, and what they all went through that night of the argument. I hope I haven't given away too much already.
I pause for an instant, deep in thought.
I wonder--like "Guardian", to me, "OTB" extends, or explains an episode more deeply. Does anyone believe that there's a sense of repitition in these fics, (not that there's anything really wrong in that) but that "We may have gone down this road before, so we don't really have to anymore"? It's just a little something I put out there to ignite discussion...
Then, there are two fics Yam wrote when he clearly wasn't himself. I loosely speculate that he was either drunk, high, had gone through a brief bout of insanity, or perhaps all three...
The first one was "The Blues Others". See, it's like this: The movie "The Blues Brothers", with Daria and Jane as the title characters. Prepare to roll on the floor, and laugh...
The next one was "D Is For Daria". I won't get too much into this one, either, but here's a few clues: Big Bird. The Cookie Monster. Daria. Elmo. Bert. Jane. Numbers. Hamburgers. Pure lunacy. Enough written. Read yourself.
Maybe I should've put "Quinnderella" down here, too. (Pauses, shrugs) Ah, forget it...
In closing, Yam's a popular 'Daria' fanfiction author whose work spans the canon and fantasy (or lunacy categories). What do you (or the author) think?