Comments on Recent Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction
by Taleswapper
This is my second post of favorite Ranma 1/2 fan fiction
stories of FFY (fanfic fiscal year) 1996. The first post
covered stories posted to rec.arts.anime.stories in the year's
first quarter, from October to December 1995. My favorites
were:
"Regarding Ranma" by Jason Ashton
"Furinkan Summer Episode 3: Prom Madness! Will you dance with
me?" by John Walter Biles
"Ranma .05 Vol. 2 Part 5: My Love Shall Never Waver" by Darren
Demaine
"Magical Interludes: December's End" (parts 1-6) by J.K. Hayashi
"Lies" by Jeffrey Hosmer
"The More Things Change" by Rod M.
"Autumn" by Joseph Palmer
"Tales of Ranma & Nabiki" (Parts 1-4) by Jeff Rutsch
My principal criterion for picking favorites is
"re-readability." A story has to be sufficiently well crafted
or interesting that I would not only enjoy it a first time, but
also be drawn to read it again. The things that tend to bring
me back are expertly styled prose, natural dialogue, deep
characterization, and original plot elements. I also
appreciate brevity, although there are certainly long fanfics
among my favorites.
There are stories which have some or all of those good points,
yet are unable to elicit a re-read from me. Naturally, all my
judgements are subjective and some are inexplicable or
arbitrary. Stories that I enjoyed but did not feel motivated
to read again include "The Kiss" by John Biles, "Normal" by Roy
Rim, and "Ranma Goes to War" by J. Austin Wilde. Probably, my
own flaws were decisive rather than the stories'.
I have very much enjoyed sharing thoughts on Ranma fanfic with
authors and readers responding to my posts. I invite
commentary on the remarks that follow. E-mail me at
talswapr@aol.com; note that I am not on the Fanfic Mailing
List, so I'll not see any replies posted there.
Before I get into the most recent quarter there were two
stories that should have been mentioned among my favorites for
the last months of 1995. One story I simply missed when it was
posted and one I read and liked, but forgot to mention.
"Daruma 1/2" by Bridget Ellen Engman
A rare blend of psychological drama and romantic comedy, this
story is like one of those rare "happy" episodes of "The
Twilight Zone." Engman's prose is crisp and original, well
suited to portray the stormy femininity of Akane's personality
and thoughts. The dream sequences are vivid, yet not so full
of detail as to ruin the mood of confusion and mystery.
This story is worth reading if only for the "seduction"
scenes. Engman's description of Akane's vigorous pursuit of
Ranma's affection, with all the charming little touches, is
delightful fun. I've re-read that section repeatedly and
marveled at Akane's transformation into a young lady that is
attractive without being loose, poised without being
uncharacteristically confident. It's just too adorable.
Dialogue is scarce in "Daruma 1/2," but spoken lines are
genuine-sounding, without most of the forced links to
characterization that make dialogue in other fanfics difficult
to enjoy. Although the humor usually takes the form of
slapstick violence, it is subtle and clever.
"Nightshadow" by Shannon M. Richmeyer
Like another great vampire story, last year's "Akane por
Siempre," "Nightshadow" shines with romance while smoldering
with eroticism. The basic plot is very simple, but Richmeyer's
execution of the story line - with deep explorations of the
main characters, riveting images, a well-though-out logic
behind the vampires, and tense action scenes - gives
"Nightshadow" great depth. The evolution in Ryouga's feelings
toward Ranma is a nice little bonus in this story.
Great effort in word choice is evident in Richmeyer's prose.
Her writing style is rich, sometimes lyrical, but never
overcomplex. In some parts, the imagery is memorably vivid.
The nightclub scene is a good example; the author has crafted
an appropriate mix of music, smoky atmosphere, and the
sensuality of night life.
Characterization is another of the author's strengths. Through
individually tailored dialogue and depictions of characters'
thoughts that aptly capture their varied moods, Richmeyer
delves deeply into the people she writes about. The
explorations of Akane and Ryouga are especially revealing. Dr.
Tofu gets some rare time in the spotlight. In the David
character, Richmeyer has struck a balance of menace and
attractiveness; he is both irresistible and disturbing, as a
vampire should be. The undertones of homosexuality in his
enthrallment of Ranma add to the eerie, unsettling ambience of
the story. Morgan, though not as interesting as the rest of
the cast, is nevertheless given multiple dimensions: diligent,
witty, loving, courageous.
I don't read any horror, so I'm unaware of the amount, if any,
of material Richmeyer has borrowed from other vampire
literature. To me, the pseudoscientific rationale provided in
"Nightshadow" for vampirism seems ingenious and well
developed. The descriptions of Akane testing her vampire
nature are vibrant and compelling.
And now, comments on my favorite Ranma 1/2 fan fiction posted to
rec.arts.anime.stories/creative in January - March 1996
"Dropping Anchor" by Mark Crewson
The author's notes attached to this story reveal that it was
inspired by a 1989 comic book story. I haven't yet sought out
that source to see how much, if any, of Crewson's work is taken
from the comic. No matter; "Dropping Anchor" is a great
read. Of course, it's not a _pleasant_ read, and it wouldn't
take an oversensitive reader to find the story offensive or
deeply disturbing. But the craftsmanship in the writing is
much better than the average for Ranma fanfics. Ranma's
first-person narrative very quickly and effectively conveys to
us the soul of this character, who has not grown up as we'd
have hoped. The dialogue, however terse and vulgar, rings
true; especially the ironic lines that end many of the scenes.
The bleak future portrayed is realistic, with little details
that make you think you're reading about an actual life.
Crewson does a nice job of building a credible future history
for Ranma & Co. without overwhelming readers with a lot of
unnecessary backstory. Frugality with words and with
background information are the author's strengths. Indeed,
given the way that "Dropping Anchor" ends, a longer work would
have detracted from the story's emotional impact.
Whether the reader regards Ranma as hateful, pitiable, or
merely disappointing, the author has developed a very original
take on this character; indeed, Crewson's Ranma is more a new
character than a reworking of Takahashi's creation. The milieu
is also unfamiliar, the author having gone so far as to burn
down the dojo. We are reminded that the families of Ranma and
Akane are of limited means, and their future happiness may only
be assured if the couple dreams small dreams. That "Dropping
Anchor" elicits such contemplation is the story's principal
appeal.
"The Least One Can Do" by Jeffrey Wong
Here's a nice little tale, one of the better fanfics done in
straight script format. Wong relies almost wholly on dialogue
to move the story along. The spoken lines are authentic and
appropriately unadorned. Such simplicity is a welcome change
from the current trend among fanfic authors trying to ape the
Quentin Tarentino style of making characters surprisingly
conversant in Big Ideas.
The Shori character, who has appeared in some of Wong's other
well written works, seems a very realistic portrayal of an
average teenage girl. The parenthetical notes that Shori is
beautiful seem in retrospect to be extraneous; what we see of
her personality is powerfully charming. It is no surprise that
she is the catalyst for Ranma's one-day maturation from Akane's
antagonist to a chivalrous and sensitive young gentleman.
Balance is provided by Ranko's gift to Shori of newfound
confidence. Though nothing momentous happens in "The Least One
Can Do," two characters are developed appreciably.
"Honor Lost" by Paul Meaney
A riveting plot and some emotionally genuine moments make this
story one of my recent favorites. Most of the mechanics of
Meaney's writing - characterization, dialogue, prose - are
competent but not superior. But everything, especially some
simple but well developed plot elements, works together to make
"Honor Lost" a noteworthy and enjoyable fanfic.
Like a suspense movie, the story moves quickly, beginning _in
medias res_ and using flashbacks to establish the particulars
of Meaney's future history. A complex criminal plot, with a
healthy dose of misdirection, maintains the dramatic tension.
In all, "Honor Lost" is a very creditable whodunit. One flaw:
though the idea of the evil plan at the heart of the story is
ingenious, the crime itself strains credibility a little. I
cannot help comparing the crime to the one in Jeffrey Hosmer's
"The Lie," and "Honor Lost" suffers a little in comparison.
That such evil could be in the guilty party's heart has never
been a possibility, and Meaney did not provide sufficient
explanation for the debasement of a previously noble soul.
The notion of Ranma and Nabiki as a potential couple is an
ascendant idea in fanfic these days, and Meaney's version of it
is skillfully played. From the first awkward moments of their
proto-romance to its heart-wrenching closure (was anyone else
reminded of Eponine is _Les Miserables_?), the author weaves an
endearingly melancholy subplot.
"If Only . . ." by Sam Marco
This story replaces Christian Gadekan's "Ranma's Timeslip" as
my all-time favorite fanfic. It has much of what I think would
be in the perfect Ranma story: sophisticated structure,
lovingly crafted prose (a most impressive accomplishment in
script format), natural-sounding dialogue, careful and original
examination of the characters, an entertaining plotline, and
plenty of emotional catharsis. The story is very long, but
since there's a treat on every page, it's a quick, easy read
(and re-read).
The mix of script-style and first-person narratives in this
lengthy story is masterful. I used to think that fanfic
authors are forced to limit themselves when they write in the
script style because of the difficulty of creating vivid
imagery within the limits of that format. Marco has proven me
wrong. With powerfully descriptive language and imaginative
"stage directions," his scenes are unmistakably cinematic in
their "look and feel," ranging from intimate closeups - such as
the extended "focus-on" description of Akane's face as Ranma
tells her of his choice - to majestic panoramas, such as the
sunrise over Nerima as Ranma departs with his wife. That final
scene also serves as an example of another cinematic technique
skillfully employed by Marco: the "voices from the past" that
provide emotional vibrancy to moments that depict a character
in silent contemplation. The remembered voices of friends
departed and left behind, in juxtaposition with Ranma's
squinting (tearful?) last survey of Nerima, create an touching
atmosphere of wistful nostalgia.
While such "cinematic" literary devices necessitate use of some
dry technical language, Marco has obviously put a lot of work
into the passages describing scenery, action, gestures, facial
expressions, background noises and music, etc., so that they
read almost like normal fictional prose. Also helping
stylistically is the stellar dialogue. There are many
memorable lines and they are often very entertaining, although
sometimes it seems that the characters - especially Ranma and
Shampoo - are far too clever. It was wise for the author to
eschew the use of "thought balloons," relying instead on visual
cues and other devices to communicate unspoken thoughts. For
example, Marco portrays the evolution of Nabiki's affections
toward Ranma without having her voice those feelings even
once. Rather, her love is made clear to readers through subtle
looks and reactions, undercurrents in her conversations, and
the observations of other characters.
By occasionally departing from the script format with scenes
written as first-person narratives, Marco stretches
artistically. In addition to spicing up the prose style with
variety, this device enables the author to offer readers deep
explorations of some of the characters. This benefit is
especially important because the cast is so large; without
these moments in the "spotlight," some characters might have
been inadequately portrayed and developed.
The best first-person narratives are the ones Marco pairs with
descriptive images in creative formats. Most appealing is
Ryouga's gentle narration of the wedding, which is accompanied
by a series of "photographs" described in sequence. Ryouga's
soft, poetic speech evidences an innately sensitive soul, as he
relates the beauty of the wedding hall, anguishes in his
powerlessness to help stop Shampoo's rampage, and bemoans the
grisly memory of her final defeat. Almost as engrossing is
Kodachi's madly fanciful narration of her night with Ranma, the
manic account serving as voice-over for a gritty "home video"
recording of the assault.
The plot's relative simplicity is masked by Marco's use of
sophisticated writing gimmicks and by the many surprises. When
you think about it, Part 1 is about a fight between Ranma and
Happosai, and Part 2 is about Ranma getting chased by multiple
girls. Such stories have been done to death. These basic
plots are supplemented by a running theme concerning Ranma's
accelerating maturation as a man and as a martial artist. But
again, that's nothing new. But when you mix in the romance,
the pathos, the sex, and the death, there's something
startlingly novel about "If Only."
The "Fighting Spirit Combination" technique serves as a
diverting plot device that enables Marco to bring back
Happosai-related guest characters and to provide nice little
character studies of Soun and Genma, as well as the boys under
Ranma's tutelage. I wish the author had found an alternative
to the tired "dark side of the force" explanation for
Happosai's descent into evil. Part 1's climactic fight scene
is a little disappointing given the magnitude of the battle.
The way in which the FSC technique is visually manifested seems
silly; with Ranma and Happosai growing and morphing so much,
the scene would be funny if people weren't dying all over the
place.
The death scenes are, for the most part, nicely done. Genma's
end is nicely understated (though not undramatic) and his words
echo/foreshadow the plot of the framing story for Part 1.
Cologne's suicide attack and the resulting defeat of Hinako are
spectacular, and it was a nice touch to give Cologne back her
youth before she fell. Mousse's demise was intriguingly
beautiful: though sacrificing himself for Shampoo seems
cliched, their parting words were a refreshing departure from
the expected.
The Part 2 plot could have descended into yet another girls'
battle royale for Ranma, had Marco not developed such probing
character studies of the six young women. Shampoo's
transformation from sex kitten to grim warrior is fascinating
and disturbing, as is Nabiki's newfound devotion to martial
arts. Akane's desperate attempts to win Ranma and Ukyou's
noble willingness to defer to her are touching. Although the
characterization for Yuka is sparse after her introduction in
Part 1, Marco uses her well to advance the Ukyou and Nabiki
subplots. Kodachi's rehabilitation is convincing and she
is transformed into a sympathetic character, making her crime
even more shocking. Although less story is devoted to
Ryouga and Kunou, their evolution into Ranma's close friends is
gratifying.
Although Marco's notes indicate a reluctance to write a sequel
to "If Only," he has certainly left plenty of foundation for
more story, such as Kodachi's child, Nabiki love for Ranma, and
the nascent Akane-Ryouga-Kasumi triangle. Unresolved elements
give the ending integrity and realism, but they are, naturally,
unsatisfying.
"Sunrise" by Nightelf
Beautifully written and quite moving, "Sunrise" takes its place
among the best Ranma fanfics. The story is an epic with all the
connotations of that word, except - happily - length. All
authors should take note of the devices used by Nightelf to
tell a story of such impressive scope - an eight-year quest for
vengeance, an historic battle capped by a clash of titans, and
a fine romance - in such a brief form.
The plot is admirably original, though rooted firmly in the
manga inspiration (even with Nightelf's changes to the Herb
story). The progress toward the climactic battle and the
romantic conclusion is well-paced and exciting. The prose has
elegance and life; descriptive passages resonate with emotional
impact. The dialogue is of mixed quality: Ranma's formal
speeches are graceful and his confrontation with Ukyou is
soulful. On the other hand, some of the less elegant speech
only serves to diminish the grandeur of some scenes; this is
especially true of characters' thoughts expressed as quotes.
In some instances, the prose describing a character, her
actions, and her emotions is so vivid that the addition of
quoted thoughts-out-loud is intrusive.
The Ranma and Nabiki characters created by Nightelf are
fascinating in their severity and devotion to the cause.
Though changed much less for the story, Ukyou is also
interesting as a bright counterbalance to the mostly-grim Ranma
and Nabiki.
The ending, though a little manipulative, is genuinely
touching. I appreciated the mention of Ranma's kanji signature, a
subtle way of making clear his decision without stating it
outright.
"Tales of Ranma and Nabiki" (Part 5 and 6) by Jeff Rutsch
The most recent installments of "Ranma and Nabiki" were loaded
with what I find most satisfying in Rutsch's story: the
directness of the characters in dealing with the romantic
issues. In Part 5, Nabiki's jealous confrontations with Ranma
and (especially) Akane, Akane's open weeping, and Akane's
surprise confession contribute to a very enjoyable and exciting
atmosphere of anticipation for upcoming surprises. Nabiki's
and Akane's verbal jousting in Part 6 build the tension to
heights unmatched by other treatments of the multiple-iinazuke
theme. It is such a refreshing change from the standard
anime/manga fare, which often has characters waiting till the
end of the series to express their true feelings.
Rutsch's writing style has become more distinctive and
entertaining as this story has progressed. In earlier chapters,
I appreciated his skillful third-person portrayal of
characters' pondering. In Part 5, he employs more subtle
devices to communicate the characters' thoughts, such as the
brief but telling description of Nabiki's ambivalent reaction
to Ranma's clumsy embrace. I also enjoy Rutsch's gift for
ending scenes with lines - charged with humor, emotion or
tension - that echo well into the next scene.
"Ranma and Nabiki" continues to borrow from the original Ranma
continuity in interesting ways. Though Kodachi ends up as
nothing more than action-based comic relief (as she is in the
anime/manga), her introduction does serve to inject much
additional dramatic tension in the love triangle story.
Without the gymnastics match, we might not have had the
well-crafted training scene and its genuine and touching
conclusion. Although Part 6 ended too abruptly for us to know
what direction her story will take, Ukyou also seems to be
poised to serve as catalyst for new developments in Ranma's
dilemma. I am intrigued by Rutsch's novel approach to dealing
with Ukyou. By taking her out of the (immediate) competition
for Ranma, he establishes the opportunity to totally redefine
her relationships with the other characters.
One flaw that I see in Part 6 is that Nabiki's passive
hostility seems a reversal from the development of her
character and of her relationship with Ranma. She's too much
like the girl who threw water on Ranma early in the story. It
would be much more consistent if Nabiki had a more effective
response to Akane's "challenge" at the end of Part 5.
I've never watched more than one episode of any soap opera, but
"Ranma and Nabiki" has demonstrated clearly to me how addictive
such fare can be.
In my opinion.
Taleswapper
April 1, 1996