Subject: Re: [FANFICTION POLL 6.7]
From: raphael@asu.edu
Date: 10/21/1996, 2:06 AM
To: fcasper
CC: Fan FictionML <fanfic@fanfic.com>

On Sat, 19 Oct 1996, fcasper wrote:

No voting on your own fanfiction ideas.  
    Heh...no problem there. <wry grin>
No voting for the same fic twice!  
    Aw, man... :P Does this count for different categories, too?
No voting for Spam or Revengefics since nobody cares about them anyway.
    Darned straight...although, for the record, Lawson's and SKJAM's are 
very well done for the genre...

WARNING! STRONG OPINIONS FOLLOW THIS SENTENCE. IF YOU ARE EASILY IRKED OR 
SLIGHTED, PROCEED NO FURTHER.

Note: I will only vote for *complete* fanfics. Sorry about that, guys. :(

1. Best Ranma 1/2 fanfic of 1996 
    Hemm, haw... my vote would be for Lawson's TIL series. (that *was* 
written after January, wasn't it?) TIL is what I consider *the* 
continuation of Ranma's life after manga number 38, with all 
characterizations, resolutions, and scenarios done in a very nice 
serious/light-hearted style completely consistent with Takahashi, even 
more so than (what I consider slightly overrated) DnR. 
    If that one doesn't qualify, I'll have to go for...Shizuku by Bridget 
Ellen Bergman. Short, light, sweet, and just enough "lemonade" to keep the 
tension at a nice sweaty-palm level. 
    This category is *tough,* since I've read so many great Ranma fiction 
lately courtesy of this list (some finished, some not...). Hearts of Ice, 
Variyah Cycle, and Tales of Nabiki and Ranma, Flambe!, A Lesson in Love, 
Red, Careful Destiny, Ranko 1/2, The More Things Change, and Deep 
Reflections are also worth hard looks. There are even more than these 
listed here I feel deserve recognition, but these are the ones that 
currently stand out in my mind. 

2. Best Non-Ranma 1/2 fanfic of 1996  
    Hum. Again, I'd go for "Facets of Love" by Lawson, based off All 
Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku-Nuku. Very nicely done. I feel so...warm 
and fuzzy when I read it. Even though I have never seen the anime, I can 
envision and love every character portrayed by Lawson. This is a serious 
testament to fanfiction, when I can enjoy the work just as much as someone 
who has seen the source.

3. Best Ranma 1/2 fanfic of all time. 
    Heh. As much as I want to vote for Lawson again, nothing in the whole 
wide world could replace the special spot "Passion Spice? Big Trouble!" 
and "Timeslip 1/2: The Actor in the Mirror" have in my heart. Both are 
written by Christian Gaerkan, and both are equally "best" in my opinion. 
Relatively short, endearing, hilarious, and Takahashi-toned stories that 
both delight and reveal serious insight of the feelings of Ranma and 
Akane. These are the ones that I believe set the precedent for 
alternative-universe/passion spice stories to come.

4. Best Non-Ranma 1/2 fanfic of all time. (See poll #2)
    Well...I usually don't read much non-Ranma, so put me down for 
"Facets of Love" again. If you won't let me vote for that one twice, then 
the first APCCNN Lawson wrote is also very good. 

5. Best Overall Anime fanfic of all time.  
    The two by Gaerkan. Definitely. Pick one or the other; they're 
equally excellent. 
    

6. Best Lemon Anime fanfic of all time.
    Heh. Does "Shizuku" count? I didn't think so. In that case, chalk me 
down for "Ranma .05" by Darren Demaine. It's the one with seven 
chapters written, on White Wolf's fanfic page (which will probably never 
get updated). Situations that fit right in the manga (well...they would 
if Ranma 1/2 was *that* kind of manga), laughs, and the well-placed 
serious moment make this lemon stand out from the others. Actually, this 
story would be just as good even as a non-lemon story; it's that good. 
This is the one exception I will make to my "completion" rule, since no 
other lemon in my mind does as much as what "Ranma .05" accomplishes. 

I feel so bad...there are so many great authors out there who I haven't 
even mentioned because their stuff was written last year. Oh well...

What about a "Best Crossover" category? I'd vote for Benares's "Ranma 
Trek: The Next Generation." Hilarious, simply hilarious. 


Go ahead...flame me for all I care! That's what I think is good, so if 
you don't agree, cast your own vote, darn it!

---
Raphael See