The FFML Reviews List ===================== For the week of: July 25-31, 1998 Synopses Reviewed: 27 Reviews given are done by the person listed in soft parentheses above the review. If you have any comments or criticisms, please direct them to that reviewer. Paul Helen Shunsuke * * * * * [Bubblegum Crisis/Black Widow] - - - - - Title: Sabre Black, Widow's Legacy Prologue: Spinning the Web Series: BGC, Black Widow Genre: x-over Author: Jiro Maeda Email: hiryu@tri-isys.com Homepage: none Date Sent to FFML: July 29 1998 Summary: Nene's Aunt Natasha is dying and she is being sent for... what could she, the one who is known as the Black Widow, want with the hacker known as Saber Pink? {Shunsuke} As a character examination, this works, but as a prologue, there's no hint of where it's leading. That's not a bad thing, just an observation. I am waiting to see where it's going next. On the downside, this looks like it wasn't given the once-over before it was submitted. There's a lot of work needed in terms of formatting, spell checking and synonyms; this reads like a rough draft, and not a final version. It's a good start and worth continuing with a little cleaning up. * * * * * [Bubblegum Crisis/Highlander] - - - - - Title: Storm Warnings - Chapter 3 Series: BGC/Highlander Genre: Xover Author: Trboturtle Email: trboturtle@aol.com Homepage: http://members.aol.com/trboturtle Date Sent to FFML: 7/28/98 Summary: Jason finds a new Immortal and an enemy, Priss rescues a girl under strange circumstances, and the Hunters move in to kill Jason.... {Shunsuke} Events here follow a logical and purposeful pattern, with a good fight scene to boot. Despite my personal non-preference for the Highlander-TV storyline, this works. One thing I didn't like is that this was clearly not pre-read or spell checked. Several times I had to check back to figure out just what the author was saying. Keep with the storyline, but please invest a little more time in the style and content of your language. * * * * * [Dragonball] - - - - - Title: Allegiance Series: Dragonball Genre: Alterniverse Author: Rhionae Email: rhionae@hotmail.com Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/3226/fanfics.htm Date Sent to FFML: 1/8/98 Size: Six parts: 12kb, 11kb, 13kb, 12kb, 11kb, 9kb Summary: This is the second story in my set of Dragonball alterniverses, following on from where What Friends Are For and its sidestories left off. Trunks and Goten have landed up in a universe where Freeza never existed. The Saiyajin race is still going strong - and they're about to conquer Earth. {Paul} First... the whole theory behind this is quite interesting. One assumes Trunks has exorcised his own little demon by now... makes it much easier. Although I kind of share the feelings of most of the characters... in that I have no idea what the heck is going on. The plot is driven by several improbable coincidences and builds to a climax which is less than impressive, despite the powers involved in it. This is fine for a serial-type of fic, but this work stands only very weakly on its own. The writing is good, as is much of the description, but the story itself seems rather flat. 12 or 13 out of 20. * * * * * [Dragonball/Ranma 1/2] - - - - - Title: Not Even You, 7: Goten in love; A princess spurned. Series: Dragonball / Ranma Genre: Action/Romantic Comedy Author: Ronny Hedin Email: thark@swipnet.se Homepage: http://nabiki.newberry.edu/thark/fanfic/index.html#notevenyou Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 21:16:40 +0200 Size: 20k Summary: Goten has gained Ranma-like fiancee troubles, and in this episode, Goten falls in love. Of course, not only does this cause several cases of jealousy; the object of his affection is not your average girl. {Paul} This is an odd but strangely natural-seeming fic. Odd that Son Goku and Saotome Genma should manage to land their sons in similar situations, ne? Watching the whole thing unfold is part of the fun. And now that everyone (or almost everyone) has been introduced, perhaps we'll see a few real hijinks begin. The writing is fairly true to what little I know of the characters involved, but there's very little which could conceivably be called earth-shaking. Then again, it takes more skill to pull off an amalgamation of little things than it does to pull off one big thing. 13 or 14 out of 20 for a servicable read. * * * * * [El Hazard] - - - - - Title: Nemurenai Series: El Hazard Genre: sad Author: Emily Siazon Email: emily9@erols.com Date Sent to FFML: August 2, 1998 Summary: Ifurita's thoughts late at night. {Paul} "I paced about 'till my motion ran down. Then I talked to myself until my speech ran down. Then I stood and thought until my thought ran down." --Tik Tok, transcribed by L. Frank Baum. This is what might pass for the memoirs of a clockwork doll, contrasting the total power Ifurita once had with her current state... and her total helplessness to do anything about it, and the unbelief which must cross the mind of the one she has waited for. 9 out of 10 on the short scale... this one pushes a goodly number of the right buttons. "This is the way the world ends/This is the way the world ends/This is the way the world ends/Not with a bang but a whimper..." --T. S. Eliot, "The Hollow Men" {Shunsuke} If the above synopsis didn't say who was the narrator, you wouldn't know it from the story. This one requires some knowledge of EH that I don't have, so I can't say much about OOC stuff. But I can say that this story has a good presentation of a sad end to a relationship. The wording, the pace, and the feeling are a nice melancholy that I liked. * * * * * [Evangelion/Ranma 1/2] - - - - - Title: Past/Future Chapter Ten Series: Evangelion/Ranma cross Genre: comedy/action/bit of romance Author: Long Ngo Email: Shortyes@aol.com Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/2881 Date Sent to FFML: 07/27/98 Size: 17.7 K Summary: Turning point in Ranma/Rei relationship. Battle with 15th Angel. {Shunsuke} The story is good from a relationship standpoint, but there's nothing that sets this apart from the regular series beyond Rei gaining some emotions. It doesn't have to be Ranma in there, it could be *any* character from anime put in there and the story would be the same. That's not a criticism of how the characters are portrayed, but this didn't fully use all aspects of Ranma's personality. I like how the action is described, it works as do the more mundane events (ie Ranma waking up in bed with Rei), but I would suggest better using him in upcoming chapters (as well as plain text versions of your story on your web site). * * * * * [Iczer/Teknoman] - - - - - Title: Operation: Lightsphere Series: Iczer/Teknoman Genre: Action/Drama (Mostly action this chapter Author: Andrew Dynon Email: adyn1@students.latrobe.edu.au Date Sent to FFML: 1st August 1998 Size: approx 25 Kb Summary: The final battle against Darkon. To quote Marvel Comics, "'nuff said". {Shunsuke} A convicing and believeable series of fight scenes, where one by one the heroes triumph and gradually meet up until they have won. Full of the usual shout-commands (for which I have been flamed by readers for pointing out) and last-minute found weapons, it still works despite the occasional predicibility. My only beef with this was how there was too much jumping between the fight scenes. It was a little diffucult at times to keep track of events; combining one or two scenes into one would help keep things in line. Aside from that, a good segueway to part 3. * * * * * [Ranma 1/2] - - - - - Title: Birthdays-Ukyou Series: Birthdays Genre: Shortfic Author: Michael C. Won Email: skeezy5@geocities.com Date Sent to FFML: July 28, 1998 Size: 10K Summary: The third piece to "Birthdays". My portrayal of a scene that has been written to death in the Ranma fanfic-verse. The two characters are Ranma and Ukyou. 'nuff said. {Paul} A lot of talk. By which I mean a WHOLE lot of talk. A heart can break with a hammer blow or under a constant, slow, pressure... and it has been much more painful the latter way, at least for Ukyo. The scene may not be new, but that which leads up to it.... Even when told from Ranma's viewpoint, this is a most unflattering portrayal of his character. The symbolism here is toned down a bit from the initial work, but is still present... little things signifying big changes. And this Ranma is, as ever, just bumbling along with Ukyo... who has put herself through hell in vain. A very nice portrayal, emphasizing the huge gulf between the two's opinions and the like... 9 of 10 on the short scale, perhaps even 10 of 10. - - - - - Title: Childhood of a Modern Dynasty - Chapter 3A&B: The Amazon Way Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Continuation Author: Jim Lazar Email: jimlazar@earthlink.net Homepage: http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime Size: 71K (posted in two pieces) Summary: Chapter 3 of a ongoing series documenting 60 years of Akane Tendo's life. Lost friends, lost loves, happy times and sad. What events shapped her life and made her the Matriarch of the Tendo family and all it's branches? Chapter 3 covers the aftermath of Shampoo's death. Ranma and Akane's fall after their fight with Shampoo also leaves scars that will take time to heal, but will Mousse ever be the same again? {Paul} You'll forgive my bluntness... but this just doesn't seem real to me. Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki start spouting cliches at each other in the hospital, Nabiki completely losing her self-control in the process... I know what you were trying to show, but it felt like it was being forced on us. And then she somehow manages to bounce back to her old self after a thorough reaming by Soun.... This whole story feels like it was bouncing back and forth between standard Ranma zaniness and the somberness implied by broken limbs and death itself. Striking a balance between comedy and tragedy does not mean giving turns to the extremes. 10 or 11 out of 20... the plot, I'll admit, is good, but the way it's treated left me more than a little bit confused. - - - - - Title: Complete Control, Part 3 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: lemon, serious verging on dark Author: Sean Gaffney Email: gaffney@iconn.net Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/6529 Date Sent to FFML: 7/30/98 Size: 100K Summary: While Ranma reunites with an old rival, Kasumi sets about trying to change herself - and is more successful than than she'd like. m/f, mc, nc, m/m sorta. {Shunsuke} A much darker tone and a far more malicious Ryouga, (though I won't go so far as to say OOC) this part is surprising in its events. The thought of Ryouga as a self-appointed avenging angel and a rational Kunou take some getting used to, but the explanations and events causing this make sense. What I don't like is the too convenient disappearance of the fathers (from part 1). It seems like the author couldn't figure out how to use them so he left them out; correct me if I'm wrong, but was this meant to serve the plot? I would like to have seen how things transpired with them in the house, and I'm *NOT* suggesting Ranma would end up doing...eww, I can't even say it. ^_^ I just wonder how Soun would have handled what happened with his daughters, or would Genma have fulfilled the promise to Nodoka, even without her pressure.... - - - - - Title: Happy Tears -- Chapter 2, The Thief Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Historical(?) Author: Mike Allen Email: allenmk@gte.net or m_k_allen@hotmail.com Homepage: http://home1.gte.net/allenmk Date Sent to FFML: July 27, 1998 Size: 36K Summary: Happosai is a young man learning who he is and how to be a martial artist. This chapter covers him from 17 through 26 years old. {Shunsuke} It makes a nice change to see someone put a human face on Happosai, and a believeable one at that. This is likeable and emotionally appealing, while still showing where our infamous lech got his habits and built upon them. One question, though: isn't Lukkosai Happi's actual blood relation in the series or manga? Other than this minor inconsistency (if it is one), this is interesting and makes the next ep worth waiting for. Certainly this is better written than the first part, but the style needs some cleaning up. - - - - - Title: Hearts and Minds Prelude 3 - Kuno Kodachi: The Contest [revised] Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Continuation Author: Gary Kleppe Email: kleppe@execpc.com Homepage: http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics.html Date Sent to FFML: 7/20 Size: 36 kb Summary: Seven years after the end of the Ranma 1/2 series, Kuno Tatewaki comes back to Nerima in search of fighters to help defend the Amazon village. He encounters his sister Kodachi, and despite his Amazon training, she beats him as if he were a novice. We flash back several years. Kodachi challenges Akane to a contest over the right to marry Ranma. Akane accepts, then finds out the challenge isn't to a combat. Is there any way she can win at THIS kind of contest? {Shunsuke} Of the first three parts, this one reads most like a regular fic, not a flashback/explanation of intervening events. And similarly, this is the first time that the central character hasn't had a change or revelation in her life, Kodachi still being portrayed as devious (I'd buy that) and deranged (I don't). Given the time difference between the flashback and series times, Akane's improved cooking is plausible, though I have to wonder if Kunou Sr. wouldn't help his daughter by revealing the judge to her, or that Kodachi couldn't find some way to find out who. Still, this is good enough to merit waiting for the next part. - - - - - Title: I Like Ucchan: Part 3 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Continuation Author: Donny Cheng Email: chengdo@shaw.wave.ca Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/4537 Date Sent to FFML: July 31, 1998 Size: 15k Summary: Ranma, Akane, and Ukyo contemplate their future. {Paul} I never thought I'd actually see a waffling continuation fic. And yet, here one is. Ranma finds himself unable to decide between fiancees, just as he always has... one wonders where this will go. I certainly do. The whole "talk about your future" bit seems to be just a tad contrived... and it's interesting to note how Ranma and Ukyo are so very vague about what they see ahead of them. Kindred spirits? Perhaps. This fic could do with a bit of proofreading, but nothing breaks up the flow of the story all that badly. 15 or 16 out of 20. {Shunsuke} An interesting exploration of how the three get along and how to resolve their love triangle, this story and series have a slow but surefooted pace that is believeable. However, the author takes the points of view that Ranma (a) is totally blind to girls' affections, and (b) considers Ukyou his "best friend". (Friend, yes, though best is debatable.) That's not a criticism, but unless you accept these POVs, the story may not work for you. I still don't see where the author is going, either leading Ukyou to acceptance and moving on to someone else, or that through friendship she can finally win Ranma. Either way, the writing is good enough to wait for more. - - - - - Title: Kunophilia Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Dark, Depressing, Messy, Erotic, Lemon Author: Uncle Fester Email: sandborn@microlink.net Homepage: (not on a dare) Date Sent to FFML: 7/23/98 Size: 36k Summary: Well, it's about the Kunos. You know, Tatewaki and Kodachi.... ya see, and they are sorta.... bored. Well, things haven't worked out very well for them since Ranma and Akane got married. Tatewaki keeps getting beat in kendo and Kodachi... well, Kodachi is still looking for the edge in life. She thinks she may have found it in her brother. And that's where the police come in. Afterwards, I mean. (I give up. I let that demented little dwarf Uncle Fester publish ONE story a year. Last year it was "Nekophilia". Now this. I detect a pattern here.) {Shunsuke} This story is not suitable for those under 18 years of age. This story is not suitable for those *over* 18 years of age. ^_^ As I personally said to the author: bleah. Yes, my good man, you *do* know hentai. Also, please wire me $5 for some new toothpaste and mouthwash. What I had was used up getting the taste out of my mouth. ^_^ - - - - - Title: The Leper Part 10: A Touch to Shatter the Heart Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: New Character, Self-Insertion Author: Nikholas "NomaD" F. Toledo Email: niftol@i-manila.com.ph Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/3145/theleper.html Date Sent to FFML: 2129H 29 Jul 98 (+0800H) Size: 28 KB Summary: The stage is set for the scales to fall, and favors are all that Kiiroi wants. Whose will be done? {Paul} "Perhaps you have even planned all this..." Nah. Couldn't be... could it? Everything just seems to be going so WRONG for Kiiroi, who is being buffeted about by fate and malice... the latter more than the former. Though I felt that the story dropped off rather suddenly after Ranma exploded - I would have liked a more prolonged time period, a sense that more had happened...perhaps Ranma muttering a curse and stalking away.... But that is neither here nor there. A good story, but the ending, even if this IS intended to be ongoing, left a few things to be desired. 14 or 15 out of 20. - - - - - Title: Memories Chapter 11: Sunsets and a cup of iced tea Series: Ranma 1/2 (with cameos from Macross, Sailor Moon, Star Wars, The Real Ghostbusters and Tom Swift) Genre: Crossover, Comedy, Drama Author: Nikholas "Mayhem" F. Toledo Email: niftol@i-manila.com.ph Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/3145/memories.html Date Sent to FFML: 0130H 01 Aug 98 (+0800H) Size: 62 KB Summary: Basking in the afterglow of the dying day and the newborn heroes, Monday's children are full of face, when face is all that they might give. To which do your allegiances lie? Is it in the written word? The fair kiss? The caring shoulder? The phone call? The sunset? The black book? Or, is that which makes you weak your greatest skill and favor? {Paul} I am utterly convinced that this story was an attempt to see how many times a plot could be turned on its head and still survive. Relationships shift from one extreme to another, with a splash of water or a spoken word, and no sooner do things seem as though they'll finally settle down than they fly apart at the seams. Again. This is one wild, almost surreal, ride, which is a stark contrast to the exquisite descriptions of thought and action and setting. 18 or 19 out of 20. - - - - - Title: Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 1 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Alternate history/original flavor Author: Jim Lazar Email: jimlazar@earthlink.net Homepage: http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime Size: 43K Summary: First of three parts. Follow up story to Ranama-ototo miniseries. The birth of Akane to Genma and Nodoka begins a series of events which will eventually lead Akane and Ranma to be swapped between families. Happy and sad moments as Akane and Ranma grow up and either bash each other around or end up playing doctor. {Paul} The transition between comedy and tragedy is a bit less pronouced in this story... it actually works pretty well. I can't really comment much on what takes place, as there are about ten years before characters develop sufficiently... but I can see that there's a lot of foreshadowing being set up, deliberately or no. 14 or 15 out of 20... not epic, but certainly worth the time to read. - - - - - Title: The Rose and the Worm [part 2] Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Alternate Universe Author: David Homerick Email: dhomeric@jps.net Date Sent to FFML: 7/28 Size: 10 KB Summary: Kodachi has just been released from an asylum and begins attending Furinkan High just before Ranma arrives. This time: At home with Tatewaki. Ranma arrives. {Paul} This proves yet again that even a less-than-insane person can misinterpret the normal goings-on at Furinkan. Wonder what'll happen when Kodachi realizes that her older brother isn't as sane as he seemed in the past. A very nice scene with Kodachi wondering who could ever care about her...perhaps foreshadowing for a "Roses of Shadow"-type resolution to the story, perhaps not. The whole story is very nicely written... humorously understated in some places. 18 or 19 out of 20. {Shunsuke} An interesting take on how different Kodachi would behave were she not the obsessive person she normally is, this story has good pacing and humour at just the right times. The quality of English here is certainly better than most writers, and the author knows how much to tell the reader without saying too much. From a personal point of view, being a Kodachi fan, I don't buy the insanity/drugs thing, though that's just me. But, there's also the issue of how Nabiki is used in this; she may be manipulative, but I don't recall ever seeing her as malicious outside of fanfics. This is another case of wait-and-see before deciding whether it's worth reading more parts. - - - - - Title: Shampoo 1/2 Chapter 32: The Insufferable Lightness of Mother 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 Date Sent: 7/31/98 Size: 110k Summary: Nodoka Saotome at long last discovers her son. Unfortunately she thinks Shampoo-kun is Ranma, and the others can't reveal the truth lest the real Ranma parts with his head. So Shampoo-kun and Akane get to play 'fiancees', much to each other's irritation. {Paul} Can we say "subplots"? Can we say "lots of subplots"? Can we say "seamless integration of subplot and main plot"? Can we say "cinematic description, plot twists, and engaging writing"? Can we say "19 or 20 out of 20"? Goooood... - - - - - Title: Vampire Hinako Series: Ranma/DHY, Ranma/Nuku Nuku Genre: Silly Author: Jason Liao Email: jasonl@hun.k12.nj.us Date Sent to FFML: July 28 Size: 6K Summary: Hinako-sensei has always been described as a chi-vampire in fanfics. What if she truly were a vampire? WARNING: Not quite as dark as other vampire-related fics. {Shunsuke} This is why we must ban spamfics. Silly, silly, silly. ^_^ The only thing dark here is the chocolate. - - - - - Title: A Warrior Arises prt.1# Scrap in Nerima Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: New Chars Author: Peter "Petes-kun" Detenbeck Email: peter@icom.ca Homepage: (main) http://www.angelfire.com/mo/scgcompound/index.html (fic) http://www.angelfire.com/mo/scgcompound/Awa1.txt Date Sent to FFML: Somewhere around July,20 Size: 18.7KB Summary: Long ago in the 1950s, a warrior known as Maverick Kouryou, died durring battle. Now he has come back and has been drawn to Nerima. After a botched attempt to steal a meal from the Cat Cafe, Cologne hires Maverick to aid her in the hopes of getting Ranma married to Shampoo. {Shunsuke} This has a *lot* of problems. Incomplete scenes, a poor writing style, and people doing things with no explanation make this feel rushed, like it was just slapped together and posted with the thought "get it done", not "get it right". From the story and plot standpoint, because of what's missing, it's hard to know what the author has in mind. Is this new character holding a secret, knowing or unknowing, or is this just the setup for some mass destruction later? I really can't tell. Sorry to say it, but without a lot more work on this, it's not worth it. - - - - - Title: Wasure Hibiki Ch. 2 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: character-driven Author: Phoenix 1138 Email: phoenix1138@hotmail.com Homepage: (none) Date Sent to FFML: Wed, Jul 29 1998 Size: 9k Summary: In the chapter of the series where Ryoga's brother is introduced, we discover Sazuke's evil intentions for the Saotome's pet while Wasure searches for Ryoga. {Paul} Hmm. A little bit of irony, a little bit of exasperation, a little bit of development... and a little bit of story. Good writing, but perhaps a bit short for my taste... too little happened, even if this is only one part of a story. 8 of 10 on the short scale. {Shunsuke} As a first-time effort, this isn't too bad, the English and the style are fairly good, even if there are some unnecessary line breaks throughout. One thing did bother me, though, and I have to wonder about it: what is the link between the scenes in the dojo and between Ryouga and Wasure on the street? Am I missing it, because I just don't see a connection. - - - - - Title: Wheel of Fire #4: Descending Spiral 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: July 31 Size: 50kb Summary: Mousse enters a new phase in his life. Ukyo makes a very important decision regarding her future. {Paul} Hmm. It all seems so... sudden. The crossover seems a bit contrived to me...or perhaps not. Mousse admitting his love... it makes what he says to Ukyo seem more than a bit empty. Everyone's undergone some serious changes because of the wedding and suchlike, and this is more than likely written to show just how much things have changed. The writing, while not epic, is more than enough to get the story across... I give it 16 or 17 out of 20. * * * * * [Sailor Moon] - - - - - Title: Avenging the Forgiven: Part 1 & 2 Series: SM Genre: Mindless Action Author: Bastion Email: bastion@ix.netcom.com Homepage: None Date Sent to FFML: July 30, 1998 Size: 32K Summary: Gratuitous bad language and needless violence prevail as an original character, Tracer, faces off with a Self Insert, Strike Fiss. {Paul} Hmm. Doesn't seem to be all that unbalanced... then again, it does take a team to even slow your own character, and a nice deus ex machina to actually stop him. This is not an anti-fic, I don't think... but what happens here has its place in the Author Avatar Association, for the most part. 12 or 13 out of 20... despite the interludes, this whole story was one big fight scene. Not that that's a BAD thing, but there was little or no reason for things to get as out of hand as they did. - - - - - Title: Warriors of Ether 7 Series: Sailor Moon Genre: Continuation Author: Rarstarr Email: djfarr@ihug.co.nz Homepage: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/ Date Sent to FFML: 30 July 1998 Size: 22 kb Summary: The scouts spend an average day in their lives. Amy encounters a strange fortuneteller. Katsuko suffers from a strange seizure. Disaster strikes. {Paul} Hmm... this is interesting. Are we to assume that the subbed and dubbed scouts are different personae? Ah well, it matters little. This has more than its fair share of foreshadowing, though what seems to be the main event of the story... the battle and resulting aftermath... is only seen through the eyes of a very distant observer, and then only briefly. Perhaps this is deliberate... a shift in power... but what do I know? Very nice character sketching and development... about 17 or 18 out of 20. * * * * * [Sailor Moon/Chrono Trigger] - - - - - Title: Sailor Trigger, pt. 1: a Wrong Turn Series: Sailor Moon/Chrono Trigger/Red Dragons Genre: Crossover Author: Koban Hiryuuno Email: kobanh@yahoo.com Homepage: none Date Sent to FFML: 7/28/98 Size: 25kb Summary: The Sailor Senshi arrive in the Chrono Trigger universe and decide to help destroy Lavos. Also contains characters from the upcoming story "Red Dragons." {Paul} Let's play "spot the original characters". No, that's cruel... but it is rather obvious that the ones you created are vastly different (perhaps superior) to the two other series which are crossing over. It's an interesting idea... but the merging of the Senshi with a videogame world is more than a bit obvious... and could probably have been pulled off just as well without your own storyline merging with the others. Since I have nothing to compare the new characters against, I can't say much about them... except that it's usually best to write them in their own continuity before crossing them over with other ones. 11 or 12 out of 20. * * * * * [Yuu Yuu Hakusho] - - - - - Title: Entwined Destinies Series: Yu Yu Hakusho Genre: Dark, Angst and Yaoi Author: W. Siew Lee Email: wsiewlee@tm.net.my Homepage: http://member.xoom.com/hiei/yyh.htm Date Sent to FFML: 27 of July, 1998 Size: 37 kbs Summary: What if Kurama dies? What will Hiei feel if he was to know that his best friend was dead? This is a story that involves the inner turmoils of Hiei when he actually experienced the death of a friend. {Shunsuke} This...is *quite* a love story. If you have no problem with yaoi fics, then there's nothing here that won't get to you. Wow. It would help to know something about the series, which I don't, so that made some aspects of the characters hard to follow, but the language and the style of writing are quite something. I wish more people would write like this, it makes doing these reviews easier and much more pleasant. It was a nice way to end this week's list. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * End of the Reviews List for the week of: July 25-31, 1998