Thank you for your recommendations.

Your analysis of what makes the stories recommended reading was just what I
was looking for.  Hopefully I will be able to analyze what made their
stories succeed and see if I can do likewise.

Most people seem to recommend "The Bitter End".  It has gotten the most
mentions so far.  As for "giving away the story", I would expect a story
entitled "The Bitter End" to end poorly, unless the title is a pun of some
sort.  To hear people describe it, however, makes me believe that it ends
in a "Romeo and Juliet"-type tragedy.  I will hazard a guess and say that
Ranma and Akane both die, either just before or shortly after their
marriage.

Always your,
   Nabiki Tendo

----------

From: Elizabeth Thomas <libbythomas@hotmail.com>
To: nabiki@ibm.net
Cc: fanfic@fanfic.com
Subject: Re: [FFML] Recommended Reading
Date: Friday, June 13, 1997 3:36 AM

I am attempting to write a story. I would like to know what is 

considered

high quality around here.  Which stories are considered the best anime
fanfics?

IMHO, I think required reading is:

--Tales of Shampoo, by Rob Barba (Ashita)--A good exercise in how to 
move the cast to a new locale without losing the touch of Nerima.  
Characterizations, though matured a bit, are essentially very 
Takahashiesque (for those characters who are no longer what they were in 
Japan, he has simply created new characters with the original 
personalities).  A bit long-winded (over 200 text pages at my count), 
but a very enjoyable read, nonetheless.

--All the Nuku Nuku tales by Richard Lawson.  A very solid series that  
has expanded the horizons of the anime way beyond its comedic origins, 
and the new bittersweet tone is very touching.  The changes that the 
cast goes through is simply marvelous, and the way he interrelates 
Shakespeare and science into it is simply magical.

--The Bitter End, by Zen.  A very dark, bittersweet tale of love and 
rage.  I can't say more without giving away the story, but I recommend 
it.

--Something Old, Something New (can't remember the writer's name).  It's 
okay; I'm a Tenchi fan, so that's why I put it.

There are more, but those are the ones that stand out in my mind the 
most.



--Libby T.
Grand Dame of the Knights of Tenchi,
Devout follower of the Goddess of Supreme
Bliss, Mihoshi.
"I'm beautiful, I'm blonde, I'm braindead."  ^_^



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