On Sat, 23 Nov 1996, Todd Hill wrote:

       I personally do not know but I think the general preference of
readers lean in the direction of "serious" fics, rather than "original"
flavor MAINLY, IMHO, because absolutely nobody can equal Takahashi-sama at
her wackiness and intelligent story lines and all that.  

I agree on this point.  I don't even attempt to write like her because I
know that I can't do it.  Period.

Jeff wrote :

Am I the only one who thinks Ranma fanfics can be vastly superior to the
manga?  I don't see Takahashi coming up with an "Autumn."  Instead we get
flooded with martial arts tournaments, silly enough to be funny if we
hadn't seen them 300 times before (martial arts eating?  Why?), lots of
Happosai, and under-developed storylines.  #38 ended Ranma worse than
"Holy Grail."  She did a *great* job introducing the characters, but after
that...bleh.

        Yes, I think you're probably the only one.  Ranma FF can be superior
when you compare one aspect of that fic to the series as a whole.

        "Autumn" is probably all drama (I've never read it) and comparing
that to RT's Ranma 1/2 is like taking a grapefruit and comparing its taste
to a peach.  Seriousness abounds in "Autumn" while wackiness abounds in
Ranma 1/2.  

        You haven't seen Takahashi come up with an "Autumn"?  You know of
her other works right?  If you do, then case closed.  If not, then I
strongly suggest you read them.

        Anyways, that is the point of Ranma 1/2 - to be silly and funny with
parts of seriousness thrown in.  In the beginning, she was going in a
serious direction but then I think that the wackiness is much better than
the direction it was originally going in.  

        #38 ended worse than Holy Grail??  Wherever did you get that idea?
It left the readers hanging for more, to actually see Ranma and Akane get
wed but of course that is never shown.  I like the ending.

        And enlighten me on this point.  If Ranma 1/2 is so .... 'bleh',
then why is it one of the best selling manga series?  Why is RT a
multi-millionaire?  Why are there so many fans worldwide of R1/2?  

        Think, and you will know.