R. Lawson's Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction, Part 2
by Taleswapper

This is the second of two posts about the Ranma � fan fiction 
of Richard Lawson.  I wrote the first post essentially to help 
publicize the works of this author at a time when 
rec.arts.anime.creative was not distributing his stories to the 
wide audience they deserve. Now that r.a.a.c. is back up and 
running, everyone who would bother to read this post has 
probably seen Lawson's stories in the newsgroup.  Anyone who 
would like a copy of my first essay - or any other Ranma fanfic 
commentary essays - may e-mail me.  SPOILERS ahead.

*Thy Inward Love* (and Related Stories)

In "Thy Inward Love" (TIL) and its side stories, Lawson 
combines two of the most prominent motivations behind Ranma 
fanfic plotting: the desire to resolve the conflicts that 
Takahashi created (and has left open) and the mature fan's 
longing for serious exploration of the characters and issues in 
the Ranma universe.  One by one, Lawson addresses the obstacles 
and complications that have prevented the romance of Ranma and 
Akane from fully blooming.  In the course of implementing these 
settlements, the author composes character studies of unique 
depth and adds rich new dimensions to the Ranma mythos.

Of course, the focus of any such story must be the resolution 
of the Ranma/Akane relationship.  Lawson has them reach their 
accommodation rather quickly, after some very compelling 
emotional catharsis.  Particularly stirring are the moments 
leading up to the couple's first kiss: Ranma's palpable misery, 
Akane's powerful and wise response.  The descriptions of 
Akane's instant deliberations are excessively verbose and her 
soothing speech to Ranma sounds too well organized, like a 
debater's rebuttal.  But her deeds and words shine with truths 
about love and compassion that should resonate with everyone.  
The development of their open romance is understated (and 
therefore most realistic): Ranma and Akane do not spend the 
balance of TIL saying I love you, but by showing it in ways 
dramatic and subtle.  Especially compelling are Akane's last 
thoughts before "dying" and the buildup to her decision on the 
beach.  Also effective are the couple's silent exchanges in 
"The Ways of the Amazons," as well as the spirits' revelation, 
in the same story, of why Akane is a most appropriate bride for 
Ranma.

Despite the centrality of Ranma and Akane, the author's best 
characterization is saved for the supporting cast.  Perhaps 
most valuable is Lawson's work on Shampoo, the most neglected 
of major Ranma characters in fanfic.  While Ukyou and Ryouga 
(and in the past year, Nabiki) have been examined by fanfic 
authors down to the microscopic level, Shampoo has been left 
more or less as she was in the manga/anime: a one-dimensional, 
single-minded complication.  Sometimes humorous and sometimes 
dangerous, Shampoo is typically doomed in fanfics to play 
bitchy Veronica to Akane's (and sometime Ukyou's) wholesome 
Betty.  In TIL and "The Ways of the Amazons," however, Lawson 
builds a much more sophisticated Shampoo that features a 
religious dedication to the mores of her tribe, a deep and true 
love for Ranma, and the potential for greatness.  As events of 
the two stories buffet her violently, Shampoo responds with a 
rich range of emotions: the fury of a warrior, the fear of a 
lost child, the proud bearing of an heir-apparent.  

This richness of character, set against a backdrop of political 
intrigue and well-thought-out details of Amazon culture, makes 
"Ways of the Amazons" perhaps my favorite Lawson work.  From the 
insights of the Ancestor Stone scenes to the elegant speech of 
the Joketsuzoku villagers, the story has much for the 
sophisticated reader to savor.  At the end emerges a Shampoo 
who is confident yet not arrogant, strong but not threatening: 
a wonder woman to admire.  I hope that Lawson's attempts to add 
substance to Shampoo's character inspire other fanfic authors.

Though less sophisticated than the characterization of Shampoo, 
Lawson's handling of Kodachi is perhaps more compelling.  The 
tragic childhood that explains her madness, however cliched, 
elicits an emotional response from the reader, thanks in part 
to the well staged confrontation between the Kunous (and some 
prompting from Nabiki on how we should respond to the horrible 
revelations).  In "The Dying of the Rose," Lawson presents a 
Kodachi who is rehabilitated, yet realistically conflicted.  
The tale of her redemption, particularly Nouma's role in 
helping Kodachi win his father's grace is touching, perhaps 
even inspiring.

Paradoxically, the treatment of Ukyou in TIL is both enriching 
and unsatisfying.  Lawson's characterization of Ukyou is 
somewhat novel, and that is an accomplishment given the amount 
of attention this character has gotten from fanfic writers.  
Perhaps inevitably, his Ukyou includes the tragic girl-left-out 
characterization that dominates most of the attempts to portray 
her in a serious light.  Lawson's version features effective 
use of darkness/light imagery symbolizing ignorance and 
liberating insight.  The author departs from fanfic "canon," 
however, by adding (or withholding) certain touches, making his 
Ukyou more like the original.  For example, this Ukyou does not 
hesitate to threaten Akane with violence.  This Ukyou is not an 
apparent "close second" to Akane in the Ranma sweepstakes.  In 
fact, the scene where Ranma "educates" Ukyou about his complete 
lack of romantic feelings for her is one of the highlights of 
TIL.  So much potential has Lawson's Ukyou that it is 
disappointing that she fades into the background after her 
chapter is complete, with no obvious impetus for a side story.

Though Ryouga seems a forgotten character until the end of TIL, 
his contribution to the story's resolution.  Moreover, he 
embodies one of the great attractions of TIL: the use of 
Jusenkyo curses as drivers of serious plot elements and story 
themes.  Typically, serious treatment of the curses is confined 
to simple anxiety and self-pity, e.g., "Why am I doomed to turn 
into a girl, pig, etc.?"  While there is plenty of that kind of 
whining in TIL, particularly from Ranma, Lawson explores the 
serious potential of the curses much more deeply.  In Ryouga's 
case, the curse is his link to the two women he loves and can't 
decide between; for him, to be cured is to decide, and so his 
curse torments him even as the Nannichuan water is in his 
grasp.  Genma's curse, as Nodoka points out, is a furry 
manifestation of his greatest personality flaws: cowardice and 
denial in the face of difficulty.

Especially appealing and intriguing is the notion that Ranma's 
curse has some definite, if inscrutable, purpose.  While other 
fanfics have toyed with this idea, Lawson develops it most 
fully (and perhaps excessively: see next paragraph).  The tale 
of Ranma's first attempt at Nannichuan is a splendid 
illustration of this interpretation of the curse.  Ingenious is 
Lawson's integration of this new dimension of Ranma's curse 
into the many anime/manga episodes concerning "failed cures," 
including the manga's concluding fiasco.

I was displeased by Ranma's full and specific explanation of 
his curse's purpose to Kodachi in "Dying of the Rose."  The 
great detail seems excessive, ruining the engaging new ambience 
of mystery that Lawson created for the curse in TIL.  Moreover, 
the future history of how the curse has directed Ranma's life 
is disappointingly mundane and unimaginative.  The story of 
Ranma as a mystically steered troubleshooter does not live up 
to Mousse's grand prediction of a great future for Ranma, and 
it reminds me very much of the plot of the TV series "Quantum 
Leap."

The stories of other couples in TIL and its side stories show a 
wide range of relationships from the sentimental romance of 
Kasumi and Tofu to the Saotome's shaky marriage.  Nabiki and 
Kunou, whose romantic relationship was established by Lawson in 
earlier stories, hold prominent supporting roles.  Yet only 
Kunou's characterization is expanded significantly as more 
details are revealed about his family's tragic history.  
Nabiki, despite starring in two side stories, remains rather 
static.  Despite the dramas she is caught up in, TIL, "Needs 
and Desires" and "Brother" all star pretty much the same Nabiki 
Lawson developed in "The Right Side of the Ledger."

Lawson's Genma is perhaps the sole instance of an admirable Mr. 
Saotome in any Ranma universe.  His behavior is refreshingly 
honorable throughout TIL, ostensibly because of his wife's 
upbraiding near the beginning of the story.  The cool, 
evaluating Nodoka is fascinating and makes for an enjoyable 
subplot as Genma tries to win his way back into her good 
graces.  The insecure jealousy driving her desire to rush 
Ranma's wedding seems a bit much; I have no doubt this a 
realistic portrayal of many mothers' feelings, but it seems too 
petty and immature for this incarnation of Ranma's mother, who, 
like Kasumi and Kunou, has been granted heightened intelligence 
and awareness by Lawson.

Lawson's use of violence is measured and very well integrated 
into TIL's storyline and themes.  In this serious Ranma 
universe, the violence is realistic, with realistic 
consequences. Akane's brush with death and Ranma's enraged 
attack on Shampoo are chilling because of their authenticity.  
The unity and consistency of the story are highlighted in the 
fight scenes: battling Shampoo, Akane gains the upper hand 
after remembering a lesson from her recent sparring with Ranma; 
Ranma's tactical brilliance in the final showdown with Cologne 
fuels Mousse's conjecture that Ranma is destined for something 
greater than running a dojo.

In reading TIL and the related stories, I sensed an important 
running theme that Lawson has given only incidental attention.  
Forgiveness and redemption are central to several of the 
plotlines in Lawson's stories, yet the author does not take 
advantage of the many opportunities to emphasize their 
importance as virtues, inspirations, spiritual awakenings, or 
what-have-you. Redemption shows up most starkly in the "The 
Right Side of the Ledger," where Nabiki is made to see the evil 
of her ways after a nightmarish vision.  She feels a necessity 
to change, and yet articulates no explanation for that 
necessity.  In TIL, Akane and Ranma forgive multiple acts of 
violence and violation against them; this superhuman grace 
ought to have been explored and celebrated.

More satisfying is Kodachi's contrition in "The Dying of the 
Rose," which is supplemented by the moving story of the child 
who helps to prove the validity of her rehabilitation.  In this 
story at least, there are some indications of the importance to 
Kodachi of redemption, of gaining the forgiveness of Nouma's 
parents and reaching an understanding with her brother.  
Perhaps I've read too many deeply moving works in which 
forgiveness and redemption were core themes.  Or perhaps my 
religious beliefs are intruding into my commentary.  But it 
seems that Lawson has not made the most of these themes despite 
clear opportunities to do so.


In my opinion.

Taleswapper