Subject: Re: [FFML] [R1/2] Hearts of Ice 18 (draft)
From: "J. Austin Wilde and Bridget Ellen Engman" <wildeman@flash.net>
Date: 11/16/1997, 3:17 PM
To: David Johnston
CC: fanfic@fanfic.com
Reply-to:
wildeman@flash.net

I have CC'd the Mailing List, because I think this brings up an
important part of fanfic writing.

David Johnston wrote:

J. Austin Wilde and Bridget Ellen Engman wrote:

2. Not a nitpick, but a little friendly advice on "Dirty" Nabsy: A .357
Magnum shot from close range would probably shatter Cologne's shoulder
blade. She will not be able to use her right arm, and the bone

I don't think so.  While it's true that a 357 magnum is not a suitable
weapon with which to shoot to wound, let's not forget that Cologne is
far beyond human limitations.
Heck, Ranma's far beyond human limitations and Cologne is beyond him.
A human being would have his skull shattered when driven head first into
a concrete wall, would break his legs jumping down four stories, would
die if frozen into a pillar of ice, would starve to death if trapped
in a cave with no food for ten years,  would be seriously injured if
assaulted with a 20 kilogram hammer, et cetera and so forth.

It is my belief that the introduction of firearms into the world of
Ranma 1/2 immediately dispells what Greg Sandborn aka Uncle Fester so
aptly described as the 'Theatre of the Absurd' style of violent comedy
for which Rumiko Takahashi is so well known. 

Because firearms are not a part of Takahashi's Ranma 1/2, any fanfiction
effort that employs them immediately becomes subject to some 'realism'
(at least as far as firearms are concerned) out of justification for the
act. Akane dropping a 20 kilo mallet on Ranma's head is one thing, as we
the reader of the manga and the viewer of the anime are used to such
sights and know that poor Ranma will be fine in a moment. We laugh and
shake our heads at Ranma, and wonder whimsically if he'll ever learn his
lesson. Akane whipping out a revolver and pumping a few slugs into Ranma
for his transgressions suddenly isn't funny anymore.

Because Krista's wonderful story is very realistically violent in parts
(and graphically so in some instances), she has set the standard for the
readers that terrible things happen to people/demons/gods when someone
lays into them with a sword or a gun. It would be a disservice to her
readers for her to take firearms any less seriously than say a katana,
and that means a realistic look at the effects of gunshot wounds.

J. Austin Wilde
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