Well, due to the extraordinary amount of traffic this topic 
has generated, I'm going to have to discontinue it.

No, only joking.  This topic has developed no traffic at all,
so naturally I'm going to continue along.  Beedah.

Next on my list:


Winter; Spring; Summer; Autumn
all by Joseph Palmer


A lot of people argue over which is the best Ranma fanfic; 
which is the funniest, and which is the most romantic.  But
there can be no argument about which series is the *mellowest*
in Ranma fanfiction.  The so-low-key-it's-comatose romantic
stories in  Joseph Palmer's seasons tetralogy.

These stories appear to take place in an alternate universe
where Ranma and Akane have been to their therapists. :-)
Seriously, these fanfics are an excuse to have Ranma and Akane
become involved in serious discussions about the world and
their place in it.

And, in that respect, they succeed completely.  Never have
Ranma and Akane been sweeter than in these fanfics.  In Winter,
we see them taking a bath together in the dark (!) watching
the snow drift down.  In Spring, it's a rooftop scene, looking
at the sunset.  Summer has a sake sequence at the Tendo beach
house, and Autumn has the emotional wrap-up, and Ranma and
Akane's first *real* kiss.

Autumn in particular is typical of its season, as Akane and
Ranma talk about their families, and Akane remembers how hard
it was when her mother died.  Scenes such as these make it 
easy to see why this was voted the best of 95.

No, there's no martial arts wackiness, no fiancees put in an
appearance, and there's only one kawaiikune in the whole 
series.  But if you can put up with a freaky Akane who doesn't
overreact to every little thing, and a totally weird Ranma
who actually cares about her feelings, then this is the best
possible choice for you.  Ah, romance!


Next:  Just a Dream  by Lewis Burden

--Sean Gaffney
--"You git!  I thought you were dead!  Git git git!" - Benny, No Future