On 11/17/97 1:10 AM, Matthew Lewis at maybeso@ican.net wrote:

	I'm using a new e-mail program, so I apologise if it
doesn't come out properly (hmmm, that excuse oughta work
should things screw up.... er, I didn't just write that
thought out, did I?)

	As always, comments are appreciated, and I can be
reached at maybeso@ican.net.

So far, I like how it looks. There's one big pitfall (actually, a pair of
pitfalls) I would worry about, though. When you set up a character as
potentially powerful as this one is, you've got to tread carefully or
else you're going to upset the balance of the established world and
characters -- and that's especially true when you try to bring him into
the universe shortly before or during the events covered in the actual
series. For example, if he's given a vision of the future's important
events, why didn't he see Galus's motives in getting the Eye unsealed...
or if he did see them, why didn't he alert the Princesses? That sort of
thing. It's the kind of line you'll have to tread carefully (IMHO) if the
story's going to succeed.

(Note: After reading ahead in the ML, I see Andrew's addressed some of
the same points from a different perspective. I still think you have to
tread carefully with trying to weave a character like that into the
already-shown plotline; there's a lot of places where one could trip up.)

This is true.  One way to resolve the issue is to limit the control of his
ability.
If the visions are, and remain, dreams that are spontaineous glimpses of
the future and cannot
be brought forth on command, there is little risk of the power seriously
endangering the plotline.

Alternatively, you could limit the usefulness of the power.  So far, the Oracle
has not had any visions that are directly beneficial to anyone other than
himself.
If this continues, he would not gain anything that would benefit Lune Venus or
any of the other characters unless he stood to profit as well.  This may
seem selfish,
but if it's an unconsciously controlled ability, he can't do much about it.
He wouldn't know about the Phantom Tribe or the Bugrom until they were a threat
to -him-, so the plotline is still relatively safe.

You have an interesting notion with this fic.  I think you should continue
with it.