blee@freenet.vcu.edu wrote:
Your entire premise is based on a very big error. Akane really
didn't kill herself because Ranma was killed although that had
a big impact on the various decisions she made, she basically
killed herself because she had just killed Happosai. (Go back
and reread the R2096 story dealing with Akane's suicide, in the
story she slit Happosai's throat.)
I shouldn't have to read a side story to understand the motivation for
something as serious as suicide. If it's integral to the story (and it
is, in Ranma 2096), then the *main* story should explore the suicide in
greater detail, rather than casually mentioning it. Perhaps that's what
upset me the most. Three lines about Akane killing herself - so little
space devoted to such a serious event. I admit I was too harsh to call
it "a cheap parlor trick", but I do think the main story suffers from
treating the suicide so casually.
Remember, this girl comes from a Japanese background, not a
American one. Given the pressures she must felt about upholding
the family honor and other such things, killing herself after
she had just murdered someone in cold blood makes perfect sense
after she realizes what she's just done and in the process had
become.
So you're saying that Japanese have an easier time killing themselves
than Americans? I don't believe that. In either event, suicide is a
*VERY RARE EVENT*. Less than 1% of the deaths in the US are due to
suicide. It's like getting in a plane wreck - it may happen, but some
extraordinary things have to occur.
I grant that this if fiction, where the improbable becomes likely; I
accept that. But again, the casual use of suicide to enable a plot
point - that bothered me. It's like saying "Kasumi won the lottery and
bought an island where everyone could go live." That might happen, but
it's terribly unlikely, and is just an easy way to get everyone together
on an island. Even then, winning the lottery is a happy event.
Committing suicide is not.
As I see it, your problem with the story stems from the fact
that you wanted a happy-happy,joy-joy ending. Sorry. The real
world doesn't work like that. People do try and kill themselves,
and it isn't always a cry for help when they try either. There
are some instances where one's life simply isn't worth the living > anymore.
I hope I've already disproved the above statement. I happen to actually
like darkfics (go figure; I hate lemons, too). I'm all for angst. And
I'm not above one of the character committing suicide - if it's handled
properly. I think the main story for Ranma 2096 did *not* handle it
properly, that's the whole point. That's why I wrote "Storm's End"; to
have a realistic suicide attempt by Akane.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a supporter of suicide, but you
took Akane's sucide out of it's proper context.
Again, I think the story itself took the suicide out of context. One
should not have to read a side story to understand such a major event in
the main story. I will admit, now that I know of the existence of the
side story, I'll go read it to see if I can accept Akane's suicide more
readily.
Well, all this aside, I *like* Ranma 2096. In fact, I'm major bummed
because part 4 of the series is zipped incorrectly on Chris Wilmore's
home page, and he's gone for several weeks.
And please understand, the above is just my opinion, and not meant as an
attack in any way on you or the authors of the Ranma 2096 stories. I've
always said that I'm willing to hear constructive criticism on my fics,
and hope that other authors are willing to accept mine. That's what the
ML is for, isn't it? :)