Oh boy.  This is going to be... intense.

Zen's first reaction to seeing the header in his mailbox was "Oh Goody!
Another Richard Lawson fic!"

Now, part of the *problem* is that it's a Lawson fic, and is so very damn
well written.  It really is an exceptional piece of work, Richard.  First
rate.  Please don't do it again.  (at least, not with this plot, eh?  You
owe Zen a happy fic now.  Get busy.)


Zen really has no comments to make on the text of the fic itself.  It
stands as perhaps one of the most... the most... deeply disturbing and
personally intense Ranma fics that Zen has ever read.

For one thing, it just brings back too many of Zen's own memories...

AUTHOR'S AFTERWORD

There were two sources of inspiration for this story, one negative, one
positive.

The negative inspiration was "Ranma 2096, Part One".  I'm not saying I
hate this
story; it's actually pretty good.  What I hated (*WARNING:  MAJOR SPOILERS
AHEAD*) was Akane's suicide.  Ranma was killed, so Akane jumped to her death.
I hated that, I really did.  What most people don't realize is that suicide is
actually a plea for help.  Most people who try to kill themselves don't really
want to succeed.

Zen knows about suicide - and for the most part, Richard is correct -
though some times it is not so much a matter of not wanting to succeed as
it is finding good and sufficient reason not to.  The difference is subtle,
but significant.

While the strength to live has to come from inside, caring and guidance
from outside can be very necessary - the depiction of Akane here is really
very well done, and in Zen's opinion is very true to her character.

It seemed particularly bad since my vision of the Tendo
family was one of a father and three sisters who loved each other and looked
out for one another.  If Akane was feeling suicidal, surely someone would have
intervened long before she succeeded since, as I stated before, Akane really
wouldn't have truly wanted to kill herself, she just wanted someone to help
her.

Needed someone to help her.  Needed.  Not necessarily wanted.  Not yet.
That comes with time.

The story's suicide was just a bit of a cheap parlor trick, a quick and
easy way to create a dark atmoshphere in an otherwise good series of stories.

This is perhaps a bit unfair... Certainly the tone of Ranma 2096 is not as
serious as this piece is (thank the ghoddess) but Akane's character is
still involved - ironically enough, she still has the best position to be
Ranma's fiancee.  Perhaps it is just that it is still a little mre divorced
from reality than the more somber pieces, and the more intense relationship
studies.

It disturbed me profoundly, since suicide is very serious, and not at all
consistent with my vision of Akane's strength of character.

But Akane is also rash and reaction oriented - hurt her badly enough and
she will act without thinking - whether that be good or bad.  Zen can
easily see a suicidal Akane after Ranma's death - particularly considering
the intensity of her feelings - Akane is not one who does anything by
halves.

Mind you, the scene disturbed Zen as well, though not nearly as much as
this fic did.  This fic was not so disturbing because of Akane's attitude
as it was because with fics written this well, it is harder by far to wrap
it up in a layer of indifference, since the characters are so real, and it
becomes a lot mre difficult to just dismiss it as harmless fantasy.

This got me to thinking.  I finally decided that I had to write a fanfic for
myself to explore this topic, one that killed Ranma and had Akane try to kill
herself.  It would find a logical reason for the suicide attempt, but would
also deal with how Akane was able to pull herself back together - with help.

Well, Zen would say that you Succeeded.  Yup.  Zen would say that.

The positive inspiration was one of my favorite movies, "Ordinary People".  If
you've ever seen it (and if you haven't, rent it *NOW*, cuddle up with a loved
one, and bring lots of tissues)

Zen has not seen this movie, and now *will* not.  There are areas of his
psyche where Zen still does not feel safe in going, and this sounds like a
gate into the middle of them.

I think I have; I'd like your thoughts as well.

Zen thinks you should write a happy fic.  about Ukyou maybe (or maybe not).
NOW.

So there you have it.  You might consider this to be a reactionary piece of
fan fiction.  That's certainly what motivated me to write it.  I think it
stands on its own merits, but I would *very* much like to know your thoughts
on it.  Email me at sterman@sprynet.com

-Richard D. Lawson
7/1/96

Zen's reaction.... <<eeep>> wow.
Zen is going to go find some chocolate now.  LOTS of chocolate.

Zen-


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[[                  James Bateman (Otaku@nashville.com)                  ]]
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