Hello to all, If you have any comments, questions or criticisms of the weeks reviews, *please* address them to the person who wrote the review, the name given in soft parentheses. {} Thanks in advance. Collectively, Paul Helen Shunsuke PS: Since it didn't show up the first time I tried, I'm sending this again. If it shows up twice, apologies in advance - Shunsuke. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The FFML Reviews List ===================== For the week of: August 14, 1998 Synopses Submitted: 29 * * * * * [Dragonball/Ranma 1/2] - - - - - Title: Dragon Ball R1/2 Series: Ranma 1/2, Dragon Ball Z Genre: Crossover Author: Donny Cheng Email: chengdo@shaw.wave.ca Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/4537 Date Sent to FFML: August 16, 1998 Summary: Mr. Satan has a new student... or not. {Paul} Now this... this is one of the few plausible crossovers out there... if one can ignore the slight technological gap between the two crossed universes. One wonders what will happen when Ranma and the line of Son Goku cross paths... The story is good, and the fight scene is rather nicely done, especially in light of the fact that most of the Dragonball warriors can carve up planets with a stray blast. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the "flavored" ki of the Ranmaverse touches with the raw power Goku and his gang of fools seem to command. Quite a bit of foreshadowing, some less obvious than the rest... but the occasional awkward sentence, particularly as the plot starts racing along, is hardly welcome. Hopefully, this will be corrected as suggested... but until it is, I can give it only 13 or 14 out of 20. * * * * * [Dragonball/Yuu Yuu Hakusho] - - - - - Title: Kaleidoscope - Parts 1 and 2 Series: Yu Yu Hakusho/ Dragonball Genre: crossover Author: Rhionae Email: rhionae@hotmail.com Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/3226/fanfics.htm Date Sent to FFML: 10/8 Size: 11kb, 11kb Summary: Goten and Trunks have landed up in the YYH world - which leads to trouble as there's a powerful youkai on the loose... Sequel to Allegiance. Warning: contains yaoi themes, so if you don't like - don't read! {Shunsuke} I haven't read Allegiance, so I could be at a loss here, but it didn't feel like it. The story reads quickly, it's sharp, and has a lot with little wasted words. Then again, a little more ambience and descriptions would give it more flavor. I know very little about Dragonball, but IIRC Goten wasn't gay in that series, so the kiss was a surprise - in a good way. ^_^ * * * * * [Evangelion] - - - - - Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Other Paths - Prologue Series: Neon Genesis Evangelion Genre: Action/Drama Author: James Grabowski Email: sephirius@japan.crosswinds.net Homepage: http://www.crosswinds.net/japan/~sephirius Date Sent to FFML: August 13, 1998 Size: 34K Summary: The day of the Unit Zero reactivation experiment is at hand. Everyone has their own concerns, expectations, and agendas about the experiment. However, total failure was not expected. With the end result being a severe injury to the Sub-Commander of NERV, and a near fatal experience for the pilot of Unit Zero, it becomes imperative that a new pilot be found to activate the dormant Unit One, the Third Child. The reason unknown to the child, he is summoned to Tokyo-3 by his father. He chooses to obey, never imagining this kind of fate awaiting him. {Shunsuke} In his notes the author describes this as a character exploration, and upon first reading it does a lot to fill in the holes of who does what and why. The attempt to stick with the original EVA storyline is consistent, and though some details are created by the author, they still fit. I do have one comment for the author, though: since character development is what you intend, you will likely be dealing with sudden changes in the people, because as you yourself note, events take place quickly, at least half the series within the span of only three weeks. Any changes are likely not to be gradual. * * * * * [Evangelion/MST3k] Title: Neon Genesis Evanjellydonut - Fanfic/MST Part II: Chapter 1 Series: Neon Genesis Evangelion Genre: Fanfic/MST/C&C (combination) / Humour Author: James Grabowski Email: sephirius@japan.crosswinds.net Homepage: http://www.crosswinds.net/japan/~sephirius Date Sent to FFML: August 8, 1998 Size: 69K Summary: Different from the normal MST genre, this series takes on its own internal plot. Features the C&C of the chacarters OWN personal feelings, rather than those of the author. Featuring Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Shinji Ikari (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Children respectively), Hikari Horaki, Touji Suzuhara, and Kensuke Aida with their own outtakes on Neon Genesis Evanjellydonut Chapter 1. Covers the ENTIRE chapter. Continued from "Part I: Chapter 3.5". {Shunsuke} The commentary the author puts into the character's mouths is funny for the most part, making it seem like every other comment is "he says I said WHAT?". I really couldn't see where this was going (if anywhere), and the hentai bits were too screwball to be hentai. This is better than most MSTs I've seen, but given that I don't read them normally, I can't be entirely accurate. Another big problem is that I never read the original, so this is hard for me to follow at times. - - - - - Title: Neon Genesis Evanjellydonut - Fanfic/MST Part III: Chapter 2 Series: Neon Genesis Evangelion Genre: Fanfic/MST/C&C (combination) / Humour Author: James Grabowski Email: sephirius@japan.crosswinds.net Homepage: http://www.crosswinds.net/japan/~sephirius Date Sent to FFML: August 9, 1998 Size: 86K Summary: Different from the normal MST genre, this series takes on its own internal plot. Features the C&C of the chacarters OWN personal feelings, rather than those of the author. Featuring Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Shinji Ikari (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Children respectively), Hikari Horaki, Touji Suzuhara, and Kensuke Aida with their own outtakes on Neon Genesis Evanjellydonut Chapter 2. Covers the ENTIRE chapter. Continued from "Part II: Chapter 1". {Shunsuke} [See Part II: chapter 1 above for review.] - - - - - Title: Neon Genesis Evanjellydonut - Fanfic/MST Part IV: Chapter 3 Series: Neon Genesis Evangelion Genre: Fanfic/MST/C&C (combination) / Humour Author: James Grabowski Email: sephirius@japan.crosswinds.net Homepage: http://www.crosswinds.net/japan/~sephirius Date Sent to FFML: August 13, 1998 Size: 87K Summary: Different from the normal MST genre, this series takes on its own internal plot. Features the C&C of the chacarters OWN personal feelings, rather than those of the author. Featuring Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Shinji Ikari (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Children respectively), Hikari Horaki, Touji Suzuhara, and Kensuke Aida with their own outtakes on Neon Genesis Evanjellydonut Chapter 3. Covers the ENTIRE chapter. Continued from "Part III: Chapter 2". {Shunsuke} [See Part II: chapter 1 above for review.] * * * * * [La Blue Girl] - - - - - Title: Wandering Boy Bob, Luckless Shikima Episode 2: The Mister Happy Machine Series: La Blue Girl (with lots of cameos and guest appearances) Genre: Lemon, Crossover, Parody, New Characters, Unusual Events Authors: Nikholas "SwitchRain" F. Toledo Email: niftol@i-manila.com.ph Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/3145/boybob.html Date Sent to FFML: 1317H 09 Aug 98 (+0800H) Size: 55 KB Summary: Bob travels the long and lonely road, desperate to prove himself amongst his peers as he stumbles on - what else? Hiroe is distraught, while Fubuki is frantically searching. Plus, how to make your own ecchi movie, part one, a partial who's who and the episode's courtesy fight sequence! {Shunsuke} You know, I was dreading having to do this one, I found LBG so loathsome, yet this was very funny. Cameos done way too many times, bad jokes, and somehow even a love story thrown in. Go figure. As a silly romp, this works without degenerating into the kind of rapentertainment of the original. I just pray that Oh My Goddess doesn't get crossed into in a future part.... * * * * * [Original] - - - - - Title: The Black Magic Project Series: Original Genre: Anime-based Science Fiction Author: J. Austin Wilde Email: wildeman@psn.net Homepage: http://www.psn.net/~wildeman/ Date Sent to FFML: 14 August 1998 Size: 67K Summary: The first part of a sci-fi novel I started writing seven years ago, now polished a bit and awaiting some good C&C so's I can get a manuscript together for publication. An eccentric team of mercenaries ends up in the middle of an intricate web of lies and subterfuge that has been in motion for the last 800 years. {Paul} I can't fault the writing. As always, I'm seldom casting about trying to fasten on to a mental picture of characters, setting, or plot. I realize this is only the first few parts of the series... but, as it is, it seems like so many other novels I've read, in which a motley crew is assembled and goes forth to do whatever. Not that that's a BAD thing, mind you... and this certainly differs in setting from most of the other such stories I've read, but as it is... To put it succinctly, what is so different about this? I'm hoping to get an answer a couple chapters down the road. 17 or 18 out of 20, because this is quite a good story... I just feel like I've heard it before. - - - - - Title: Macho Caballo Chapter 27 - Something Grunty This Way Comes Series: Macho Caballo Genre: Humor/Drama/Original Author: James Eades (James and the Bluejay) Email: jeeades@ix.netcom.com Homepage: http://www2.netcom.com/~jeeades/macho.htm Date Sent to FFML: Aug 11 1998 Size: 46K Summary: Yucca tries to eliminate a rival, as part of Espuma's assault on the Apache encampment. Espuma tries to eliminate an obstacle. Lucha wants out of camp because of the ruckus caused by her engagement, and Machita finds an answer to her dilemma - sort of. {Paul} Again, the description here is absolutely wonderful... I'm beginning to see latent Tatewaki, Kodachi, and Gosunkugi personalities developing... of course, such labels are more or less meaningless in original fiction, but one must look to the inspiration, ne? Though I must admit, I never thought anyone would prove themselves denser than Kuno. Everyone got a bit of development here... except for Lonesome. Hopefully, the next chapter will overlap with this one, continuity-wise, and we can see exactly what Lonesome's reaction is to having a wife... and if he hauls off and decks the mare after all she's put him through. But, all in all, a very well-thought out and well-written story. 18 or 19 out of 20. * * * * * [Ranma 1/2] Title: Alternatives -- Chapter 7 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Author: Mike Allen Email: allenmk@gte.net Homepage: http://home1.gte.net/allenmk Date Sent to FFML: 08/13/98 Size: 34K Summary: Ranma jumps into the Spring of Drowned Twins. He finds that it is a painful event. Some of the same day aftermath is presented. {Paul} Just when you thought it would turn out like "5 of a Kind"... PLOT TWIST! Though one wonders why Happy didn't wince a bit when he got a few drops from the spring splashed on him. The writing, technically, is fine... and the story is certainly original and has been told well so far... as far as I can tell. However... It feels a little... well... blunt. The fic fluctuates between third-person and third-person omniscient, giving a few characters flashes they shouldn't be having. It seems like this is an outline for a fic, rather than an actual fic... everything just sort of happens and shifts - quite nicely, might I add - but there's very little of anything else going on. Too much is happening at once... it's almost as if the author has a list to work from and is ticking off items as he goes. As such... 11 or 12 out of 20. It's an interesting plotline, but it's being presented with all the grace of an elephant. {Shunsuke} I reread part one again before reading this part, and I can say that there is a marked improvement. This is much easier to read and far more cohesive, plus the characterizations are well done. (I like that the offhand comments are long gone. ^_^) In an earlier review I made comment that the author would have problems accounting with new Ranmas feelings, that alternate males wouldn't love Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi, while the female wouldn't handle being so. I take some of it back, that things are well done and he has handled it well, but from my point of view I would have seen things a little more emotional when onna-Ranma met Akane for the first time. But that's just me. ^_^ - - - - - Title: Birthdays - Itoshii Series: Birthdays Genre: Short - Bittersweet Author: Michael Won Email: skeezy5@geocities.com Date Sent to FFML: August 13, 1998 Size: 10k Summary: A monologue by Tendo Soun, speaking to his wife. {Paul} Who gave Soun Prozac? Then again, the entire series thus far has been written with the characters a lot less insane than they're traditionally portrayed. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. This fic is like all your others in that it casts a thread of narrative into the mists, safely outside where canon would roam, and fills in a bit here and a bit there... not that that's a bad thing, mind you. Soun rambles a bit and swings from narration to narration as is his wont, making for a somewhat disjoint piece... but he always comes back to rest on what he and his wife had expected together. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. An interesting study into the mind of Tendo Soun. 9 of 10 on the short scale. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. {Shunsuke} This one's a little WAFFier than the others (that was possible?), and at times seemed a little too much. The background on the Tendo's marriage while made up was certainly likeable and touching. It just didn't do it for me like the others (esp. Ryouga), and I just can't say why. <*shrug*> This isn't bad, it's just me.... - - - - - Title: In My Life - A Whisper, A Hope (Episode 5) Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Alternative Author: Florencio B. de la Merced, Jr. Email: fmerced@pworld.net.ph Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/3641/index.html Date Sent to FFML: August 10, 1998 Size: 40 Kb Summary: Akane and Shampoo talks about so many trivial things...While Nabiki invites her new friends over at the Furinkan's Blue Flames' office for some interviews for the school paper. Mousse and Shinnosuke arrives at the campus looking for Kasumi Tendo. {Paul} One wonders how a fic with nothing happening can convey the impression that so much is happening... or, rather, that so much has the potential to happen. It's odd, but I have this feeling that something will happen, soon... something big, at least if the minds of those it's happening to. This is a very interesting series, even though this chapter only felt like so much marking time. 14 or 15 out of 20. - - - - - Title: The Insanity Continues Vol 4 Chap 1 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Continuation, Original Flavor Author: Lord Archive Email: archive@mich.com Homepage: www.mich.com/~archive/anime Date Sent to FFML: Size: 19 K Summary: It an atypical Monday. Normally that means not much happens. But not this Monday. {Paul} Well, finally. Insanity indeed... this is actually turning out to be a bit saner than one might expect. Principal Kuno actually seems to be playing somewhat of a role in this particular series, which I find quite surprising as he is often ignored. Mostly, this deals with a bit more resolution from the week prior... it'll be interesting to see where the story goes from here. 15 or 16 out of 20. - - - - - Title: "May I Have This Dance?" Genre: Short - Cute Author: Michael C. Won Email: skeezy5@geocities.com Date Sent to FFML: August 11, 1998 Size: 18k Summary: A small idea that evolved from a conversation on the Ranma ML. Ranma, Tofu, Kasumi, and Akane as the groom, bride, best man, and maid of honor, but not neccessarily in that order. (Now there's an idea for a fic...) {Paul} I somehow knew this wouldn't be a Ranma-Akane wedding... either I'm subconsciously denying that can happen or I've come to expect seperate but equal plotlines from you. I hope it's the latter. The first three scenes' somewhat vague nature sort of clued me in to the building dramatic irony, but it was nice to be SURE. Very, very interesting scene at the reception. Very interesting... and, come to think of it, a perfect excuse for Ranma's usual gang of admirers not to be around. After all, it's only Tofu and Kasumi... Again, a very well-written fic, like the other ones I've come to expect from you. Are you sure you and Lawson-sempai haven't met before? The styles are rather similar, I'll grant... and this particular opus merits about 17 or 18 out of 20. {Shunsuke} You can keep the audience guessing only so long before they figure it out. The question is, when they do is it before you intended them to? In this case, the answer is yes. I liked the WAFFiness, but I didn't really buy the idea of Ranma being so dense about Akane wanting to dance. Or maybe it's just me. ^_^ At least the author didn't overdo it (like Lawson in TIL) by using that damned Anne Murray song. <*shudder*> - - - - - Title: Moment Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: WAFFy fic Author: Jiro Maeda Email: hiryu@tri-isys.com Homepage: none Summary: My take on how Ranma and Akane finally express their real feelings, no fights no fiancees ,no saving from bad guys...just a peaceful moment of reflection {Shunsuke} The WAFFiness wasn't a problem here, but the jumping from one POV to another was distracting. There really isn't much to this fic, and it probably would have worked better as a storyline in a songfic. Nice ideas, mediocre execution. - - - - - Title: Monkey Head Butting Part 7 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Comedy/Original Flavor Author: M A Davis / Miko Email: nausicaa@sprynet.com Homepage: http://listen.to/bell/ Date Sent to FFML: Thursday, August 13, 1998 8:39 PM Size: 51kb Summary: It's the big fight between Mousse and Ranma! Only Ranma's in Kasumi's body, and Kasumi is... well, she _was_ in Ranma's body, but now she and Akane have also switched. Yes, it's very confusing. Can Akane, as Ranma, defeat Mousse? Does s/he even want to fight? Does s/he have a choice? Will Nabiki strike it rich, or suffer the greatest monetary loss of her life? Can she figure out what's causing the switches, or will Cologne beat her to it? And what about that cooking challenge between Happosai and Ranma, anyway? Can the author possibly get through this without thoroughly confusing himself, let alone the reader? ^_^ {Paul} Well, perhaps you should have introduced a way of coping with the name problems in part 1. A bit late for that now, isn't it? Hmm... let's see here... I've seen the idea done a few times, even if it HAS taken you six chapters to end up with Ranma and Akane in each others' bodies. The "switch at will" power Nabiki possesses has a heck of a lot of potential... and the fight scene approached PERFECTION, as did the comments from the outside. This is actually one of the few fanfics out there which could be translated into manga with little loss of tone from the original... and it doesn't hurt any that the story is both concise and developing subplots at a rapid rate. 18 or 19 of 20... this thing is GOOD. - - - - - Title: A New Life Series: Ranma Genre: Dark Author: Ryan Erik Email: ryanerik59@hotmail.com Homepage: Date Sent to FFML: August 9th, 1998 Size: 140k Summary: In the sequel to "Vengeance," Ranma wakes up from a coma after nearly two decades. Surrounded by strangers and very far away from home, she has to learn to deal with her current situation, but the conditions of her stay don't help things much. The emotional trauma that accompanied her survival of the near fatal accident are much worse than any physical injury that could have been done to her. Will she pull through and create herself a new life? {Shunsuke} Parts of this work well and other parts need a big injection of help. The concept, the gradual course of events and their description all work together to build the story. But at times the execution just didn't do it; the gaps in time with no explanation, the regular-as-clockwork grammatical errors, and the wording can be too much to take at times. With a rewrite and a good prereader, this could work. - - - - - Title: No Need For Fiancee's (Part 1) Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: "What if?" Author: Carly aka Akane-chan Email: carly-san@geocities.com Homepage: http://carly-san.animecity.ml.org/ Date Sent to FFML: August 13 1998 Summary: One of those "what-if" stories. What if Ranma got rid of Genma while on the way to the Tendou's for the first time. Honor still bound him to show up at the Tendou's house, just not with his father. Ranma really needs a friend rather than a fiancee so decided to stay in his girl form (much to his disgust) so he can be friends with Akane, and find out what the rest fo Tendou's are like, to see if he wants to marry any of them. {Paul} Now this... is interesting. Opossum-ken at work. And what seems to be a slightly more intelligent Ranma as well, but that's to be expected. One wonders when the other shoe will drop, but this is a very nice set up. Let's hope it doesn't peter out halfway. 8 of 10 on the short scale. - - - - - Title: Shampoo 1/2 Chapter 33: You Are Cordially Invited to the Wedding of Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Alternate Universe Author: D.B. Sommer Email: sommer@nb.net Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/~azatlan/Special-Series/shampoo.html Size: 125k Summary: It's the wedding day of Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo, but there are several people that might want to put a stop to that. Also the Hunt Pack finally arrives in Japan as Shampoo is about to run out of time. {Paul} It never rains but it pours. Neriman weather, being what it is, has changed this to "It never rains but it floods". Everything... happens... at ONCE. In the temporal and not ideological sense... see above. The events themselves were rather crammed, but their pacing in the story was excellent. Ranma overloads, Akane finds herself destitute, Tarou finds out that Ranma doesn't have half the perception he was credited for, Shampoo finally actually SAYS something and is finally tracked down... can we say cliffhanger? Goood. This is definitely one of the premier alternate worlds... 18 or 19 out of 20 for this particular installment. - - - - - Title: Shattered, part 1? Series: Ranma Genre: Alternaverse Author: Brian ?_? Email: brian_kun@hotmail.com Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Shrine/6648 Date Sent to FFML: August 14 Size: 11k or so Summary: Kodachi and Tatewaki's parents both die in a tragic accident seven years before the start of the series. They are taken in by the Tendos. {Paul} Now this... was interesting. Kodachi and Tatewaki, minus insanity in some portion, added to the household... This is very well dealt with. Not as extreme a change as "Loveletters from the Edge", but a change nonetheless...in personality, at least. A nice teaser, handily worth 8 or 9 of 10 on the short scale. - - - - - Title: Someday Never Comes -- untitled chapter Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Next Generatin Author: David Homerick Email: dhomeric@jps.net Date Sent to FFML: Mon Aug 10 Size: 8 KB Summary: A short (but necessary) chapter featuring Kenshiro Tendo and Ryoshi and Shimi Hibiki. Primarily here to give the reader a feel for who these people are. This will probably become chapter 5 in the storyline, with "Dock of the Bay" becoming 6. Yes, I know it's more setup. {Paul} Hmm. Nice setup, seemed unnecessary, but then I don't know where you're going with this. An interesting scene, a bit more introspection and conversation to define the characters... 8 of 10 on the short scale. - - - - - Title: Ukyo and Konatsu Write a Fanfic Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Spamfic/Parody Author: Razorclaw X Email: spiceoflife@hotmail.com Homepage: http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html Date Sent to FFML: 8/7/98 Size: 1kb Summary: Ukyo and Konatsu get involved in the latest FFML craze. {Paul} *piku* Oh god. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! To be honest, this might make a nice .sig. 10 out of 10, simply for humor. {Shunsuke} It sounds like the author is telling those of us who wrote these spamfics (myself included) to shut up. Point taken. ^_^ - - - - - Title: What Was Never Meant To Be Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Altiverse Author: Wesley Bridges Email: dragdawn@geocities.com Homepage: Currently Unavailable Date Sent to FFML: circa 8/14/98 Size: 5.76K Summary: Nodoka recieves a letter that states that she and the late Mrs. Tendo are sisters and that makes Ranma and Akane cousins. Ranma and Akane cope as the families scurry to find new fiancees for them. {Paul} Niiiiiice. Very well played-out, not expressly contradicted... and Genma and Soun are oblivious enough to realize that they didn't marry sisters. Or perhaps they just willfully ignored that fact and hoped it would never come up. But this stops RIGHT WHERE THEY FIND OUT! I understand perfectly the value of a good cliffhanger... but you'd better have the next part SOON. 7 or 8 of 10 on the short scale. - - - - - Title: Wheel of Fire #6: The Law of Amazons Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Continuation Author: Razorclaw X Email: spiceoflife@hotmail.com Homepage: http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html Date Sent to FFML: 8/12/98 Size: 70kb Summary: Shampoo kidnaps Ranma and takes him back to China to be properly-wed, with Akane and the others close behind. After all, three-thousand years of Chinese Amazon tradition is at stake! And, Kuno finally reveals his new, ultimate power... Ranma, look out! {Paul} Hmm. This would actually work a bit better in script form, if you ask me. There are a few problems with tense and wording scattered throughout... and the fight scene and a few of the other scenes in the story seem as through the characters are working from badly dubbed and overly dramatic scripts. The story itself is turning out to be rather interesting, but the presentation is almost painfully trite in places. 12 or 13 out of 20. * * * * * [Ranma 1/2 / Dune] - - - - - Title: God Emperor 1/2 - Parts 1-4 Series: God Emperor 1/2 Genre: X-Over, Ranma and Dune Author: Michael C. Won Email: skeezy5@geocities.com Date Sent to FFML: August 12, 1998 Size: 25k, 24k, 22k, 14k Summary: A X-Over using the world of Dune and the characters of Ranma. Ranma as the God Emperor and Ryouga as Duncan Idaho. Not much more to say, I suppose. Helps to have read God Emperor of Dune, but it seems some people are enjoying it w/o knowledge of GE. {Shunsuke} Knowing any Dune stories would definitely help, and I always found Frank Herbert pompous and boring. This story was definitely hard to take from that point of view; unless you're already a fan, it's rough going. Having said that, the ability and style of the writer are up to his usual standards; if there's a Rookie of the Year vote for fanfic writers, Skeezy gets mine. If the topic matter was anything else, I would have enjoyed this. * * * * * [Ranma 1/2 / Journey to the Centre of the Earth] - - - - - Title: The Journey - 1 Series: Ranma / Jules Verne Genre: Bizarre Author: Angus MacSpon Email: macspon@ihug.co.nz Homepage: http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/fanfic/index.html Date Sent to FFML: 9 August 1998 Size: 12K Summary: The Nerima gang discover a mysterious parchment and embark on a Journey to the Centre of the Earth. {Paul} This is... shall we say... INSANE? Delightfully batty... humor and running gags tied together by a semblance of a plot. Hey, if it works for Animaniacs... 7 or 8 of 10 on the humor scale. - - - - - Title: The Journey - 2 Series: Ranma / Jules Verne / Others Genre: Bizarre Author: Angus MacSpon Email: macspon@ihug.co.nz Homepage: http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/fanfic/index.html Date Sent to FFML: 10 August 1998 Size: 15K Summary: The gang reach a strangely-familiar jumping-off point for their journey, but end up getting a little side-tracked. All right, a LOT side-tracked. {Paul} [See part 1 above for the review.] * * * * * [Sailor Moon/Chrono Trigger] - - - - - Title: Sailor Trigger, pt.2: the Day of Dread Series: Sailor Moon/Chrono Trigger Genre: Crossover Author: Koban Hiryuuno Email: kobanh@yahoo.com Date Sent to FFML: 8/4/98 Size: 15kb Summary: The second part in the Sailor Trigger series continues the story of the Sailor Senshi teaming up with the Time Travelers from Chrono Trigger to defeat Lavos. Along the way, Serena's Cutie Moon Rod is destroyed, and Spekkio grants her Moon magic. Also contains characters from the upcoming original series, "Red Dragons." {Paul} Hmm... I'm detecting a little bit of Sailor-bashing here. Perhaps if Serena manages to toast Yakra however-manyth with the Scepter and gets a tad overconfident... but, as it is, the portrayal is completely without redeeming qualities. And the characters are getting along just a bit too well after their intial encounter... which I STILL wonder at. I'd like to see a lot more interaction between the characters... and perhaps a little less nigh-omnipotence on the part of the newcomers. And if Lavos is coming to destroy the world, whyingodsname aren't these people PRACTICING? There is just far too much that doesn't make sense here... 9 or 10 out of 20. The prose was clean, the plot I desperately want to get into... but I couldn't overcome the above hurdles. * * * * * [Tenchi Muyou!] - - - - - Title: Legacy of Tears Update (includes parts 2 & 3) Series: Tenchi Muyo-Based Genre:Drama/Romance Author: Trakal Email: Trakal@map.com Homepage: Date Sent to FFML: Aug 12, 1998 Summary: Shiasta tries to enjoy a quiet day at home while her mom & siblings go shopping. {Shunsuke} This author's writing at times reads like "John Steinbeck writes sci-fi". There's a nice 'timepiece' feel to the words and pacing, an attempt to suck every bit of emotion out onto the page. Okay, Trakal only writes TM! stuff; I'd rather read good TM! than poorly done stories about other series. Just make these things longer, will ya? ^_^ * * * * * [Yuu Yuu Hakusho] - - - - - Title: Ani-chan in Futureland Series: Yuu Yuu Hakusho Genre: Parody, kinda dark Author: Blade Email: ayiekie@hotmail.com Homepage: www.wizard.net/~deva/fanfics.htm Date Sent to FFML: July 27th Summary: Toguro Ani escapes from the plant that's been containing him for about a hundred years. He promptly goes off to kill all of the remaining YYH cast, and fails miserably, since his fighting skills have gotten a tad rusty with disuse. Lots of dark, sick humour abounds. ;p {Shunsuke} This is the work of a sick mind. As I read, I couldn't help but think this was "Terminator 2 meets _Blazing Saddles_". Ani was a perfect mix of Hedley Lamarr and the T-1000, what with the maniacal laugh, mindless killing, and endless plotting. The jokes were ludicrous, the violence absolutely pointless and excessive...I like it. The semi-script style was a little unusual and hard to get used to. It reads easily enough, but it's not something you normally see. The plot is rather simplistic, "kill, maim, and kill some more with no fathomable reason other than revenge", and the ending is very reminiscent of the the fight scene at the end of _BS_; if you know the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about. I'm left halfway between saying "More!" and "Don't you dare!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * End of the FFML Reviews List for the week of: August 14, 1998