The FFML Reviews List ===================== For the week of: September 11, 1998 Reviewers: Paul Arezina Helen Szeto Shunsuke Reviews Completed: 29 * * * * * [Boku no Marie] - - - - - Title: Music-Box Angel, Episode 1: A Mind Beside Itself Series: Boku No Marie Genre: Romantic Comedy/Drama Author: Matthew Johnston Email: matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu Homepage: None Yet Date Sent to FFML: 09/08/98 Size: 35K (approx. 5900 words) Summary: Marie plays in the park, Hiroshi becomes a disc jockey, Tanaka gets serenaded, and Mari gets a history lesson. All this, plus a new, non-self-insertion character! {Paul} You know, I haven't the faintest clue what the series is about. Just like SKJAM!'s latest. But that somehow doesn't matter; the author realized this and decided not to pull any in-jokes out of his hat. At least, I didn't catch any. I did notice, however, that a lot of this story was likely contingent on owning the CD that Hiroshi was playing, and some of it seemed to be little more than commentary on the music. It's a nice setup, I'll give it that, but the setting up itself seems a bit... awkward. Hope this gets better. 11 or 12 out of 20. - - - - - Title: Music-Box Angel, Episode 2: Mind Drive Series: Boku No Marie Genre: Romantic Comedy/Drama Author: Matthew Johnston Email: matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu Homepage: None Yet Date Sent to FFML: 9/11/98 Size: 34K (approx. 5300 words) Summary: Marie changes her mind, Hiroshi changes his clothes, Tanaka plays tennis, and Mari plays it cool. All this, plus breakfast in bed! {Paul} There are VOICES inside my HEAD! It seems odd that such a thing should plague an android, but there they are nonetheless. The Ghost in the Machine makes its most spectacular cameo ever... and in this case, it really does seem to be a ghost. Hiroshi and Tanaka seem a bit more like caricatures than characters, but then again this IS anime, so who am I to say they're not truly like that? Much improved over the first chapter, with the two plot threads weaving around each other very nicely. 14 or 15 out of 20. * * * * * [Bubblegum Crisis/The Crow] - - - - - Title: Gentle Rappings part 2 Series: Bubblegum Crisis/ The Crow Genre: Crossover, dark Author: Jusenkyo Guide Email: jusenkyoguice@mailcity.com Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/~jusenkyoguide/ Date Sent to FFML: Sunday, September 6, 1998 Size: 12k or there abouts Summary: Part two of my BGC/Crow crossover, Priss comes home and remembers. Sorry, no real blood and guts in this. {Helen} I can usually read through blood and gore without -much- flinching... although reading an 'oscar' fic makes me -want- to grab a blade and inflict damage... However, Gentle Rappings has the makings of a -really, really- good story. I think that I liked it even without knowing of the connection to the Crow but JG's writing has tightened up for this chapter and it shows. Its simple eloquence and the imagery that he draws upon... wonderful! More please! ^_^ * * * * * [Bubblegum Crisis/Highlander] - - - - - Title: Storm Warning - Chapters 4 and 5 Series: BGC/Highlander Genre: Xover Author: Truboturtle Email: Trboturtle@aol.com Homepage: http://members.aol.com/trboturtle/ Date Sent to FFML: 9/1/98 Summary: Jason escapes a team of boomers sent by the Hunters, Sylia finds herself with a house guest, Amanda and Duncan arrive in MegaTokyo, and the Hunters continue to be a threat..... {Shunsuke} Chapter 4 was previously reviewed the week of August 31. The story continues with the same tone accurate to both original series, but also has the same problems as before: incompleteness, rough edges and a lack of a spellcheck. The story and plot follow a sensible path, nothing rushed or overdone. With more effort this could go from good to great. - - - - - Title: Storm Warnings - Chapter 6 Series: BGC/Highlander Genre: Xover Author:Turboturtle Email: Trboturtle@aol.com Homepage: http://members.aol.com/trboturtle/ Date Sent to FFML: 9/12/98 Summary: Nene finds out that someone is out to elimanate any recond on Natalia Korsgaard from the MegaToyko computer systems. Natalia tell the other Knight Sabers her story, and the Hunters continue to plan.... {Shunsuke} More of the same as before, a natural progression that follows a rational line. This time though, you get the feeling there's a permanent change in the offing with two sides potentially learning who the Knight Sabers are. It seems the author has put a little more effort into this one, it reads much easier and cleaner. Either he is listening to me (yeah, right) or he's got more time to work on this story. Regardless, it's for the better. * * * * * [Bubblegum Crisis / World of Darkness] - - - - - Title: Night Sabers: Part 6c Series: Bubblegum Crisis/World of Darkness: Vampire the Masquerade Genre: Crossover/Fusion Author: Curtiss Nelson (aka Me) Email: curtiss@seattleu.edu Date Sent to FFML: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 12:52:50 -0700 (PDT) Size: 306K Summary: After the nights events in Part 6c, daylight breaks over MegaTokyo. While Priss and Nene attempt to deal with the events of the previous night in their own seperate ways, Sylia has strange dreams with odd portents. Plots begin to thicken in Genom, as disturbing facts become known and other shadowy manipulators around the world set their plans into motion. Sylia meets with the stranger who call himself "Resu". And Inspector McNichol is put in charge of the ADPolice investigation of the explosion at Kamazake Imports, with consequences that none of his supporters, the public or Genom or the USSD, could ever forsee... {Shunsuke} A very strange story with odd settings yet is well told. The writer certainly understands how to fill in a scene; even though thinks move slowly, they never stagnate or bore the reader. However, the dream sequence, even though it's necessary to the plot and serves a purpose, feels like it carries on too long. But for the most part, this is fascinating reading. (And it's quite easy to tell where the author got to on correcting himself and fixing things. ^_^) * * * * * [El Hazard] - - - - - Title: TGHW 1 (The Great Holy Wars) (repost) Series: El Hazard OAV Genre: a bit of drama, a dash of action, a pinch of darkness, a cup of adventure, a teaspoon of romance, sprinkled with humour. Mix in blender. Serve in room temperature. Author: Jenny 'Android18' chan Email: android18@hotmail.com Homepage: www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/jerningham/333/index.html Date Sent to FFML: September 12th, 1998 Size: 30-32 kb ish Summary: PLEASE READ NOTES AFTER STORY! E-MAIL ME FOR PROLOGUE! I've already reposted the prologue before, and I didn't want to repost it again. A black hole not unsimilar to the ones created by the eye of god, has opened up infront of a 16 year old priestess in training named Muldoon and her sisters, Shayla, Arlamond and Ifurita, dumping a dimension traveller into their laps. El-hazard is on the edge of a huge war, capable of destroying the entire planet. What is "Jene's" role in the sisters' destiny? {Shunsuke} I dunno, there's a real lack of flow to this. The first 10K reads like a travelogue, not an account of events, and the repetition of words and phrases interrupts things. There didn't seem to be a great purpose to this chapter beyond telling the differences from the standard EH world and introducing the new character. - - - - - Title: TGHW 2 (The Great Holy Wars) Series: El Hazard OAV Genre: a bit of drama, a dash of action, a pinch of darkness, a cup of adventure, a teaspoon of romance, sprinkled with humour. Mix in blender. Serve in room temperature. Author: Jenny 'Android18' chan Email: android18@hotmail.com Homepage: www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/jerningham/333/index.html Date Sent to FFML: September 12th, 1998 Size: 20 kb ish Summary: E-MAIL ME FOR PROLOGUE! I've already reposted the prologue before, and I didn't want to repost it again. CRP. Mich Fijis was part of the toughest company in the Korish Army, Company 666, Bringers Of Death, or BOD. When a supposed civilian woman comes and cleans his clock... he doesn't know what to think. Also, Jene learns more about Muldoon and her family. {Shunsuke} Hmmm...man gets beaten up, loses money and falls in love with a strange girl all at once...sounds like a Ranma 1/2 plot. O_o This part works much better than the first, feeling like passing events and real people reacting to them. The style is much the same as the first, so that could improve, but now that the idea is being fleshed out, it makes more sense. * * * * * [Evangelion] - - - - - Title: Apocrypha ep. 1: "Returning Prodigal" Series: Neon Genesis Evangelion Genre: Alternate timeline ("what if?") Author: Shachihoko Email: trmiller@bcpl.net Homepage: http://www.bcpl.net/~trmiller/ Date Sent to FFML: Sept. 11, 1998 Size: 22K (approximate) Summary: After the destruction of the 14th Angel, Evangelion Unit 04 mysteriously returned from oblivion and appeared in Tokyo-3, much to NERV's surprise. The story told by Eva-04's test pilot is a strange one, even though he leaves much unsaid about his experiences. What mysteries do Unit 04 and its pilot hold, and what effect will they have on the agendas of Ikari and SEELE ... ? {Shunsuke} What's here is good and works well, even though I'm always leery of new characters. What doesn't work is the "missing" scenes, holes that need filling in. The idea and excution are good but some things need to be explained and jumps in events covered. It is something worth continuing. - - - - - Title: Fallen Genesis Hunters 0:1 Series: Evangelion Genre: Action/ Alternate Universe Author: Sentinel Entertainment Email: Antookis@worldnet.att.net Homepage: http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/mothership/240 Date Sent to FFML: 9/5/98 11:21 PM Size: 56k Summary: A "spin-off" of the hit TV show, "Neon Genesis Evangelion", this in-progress series takes you beyond where the original series was intended to go. {Shunsuke} It figures that the boy is names Taru (taru -> tariru -> to serve). Is Ryosei "the man from Uncle"? Things here are just too much copies of NGE for this to be anything special; if there were major plot or event changes, I could see it, but this is nothing more than a change of names, relationships, and gender. The angel being described, though, sounds like an oversized Genocyber. ^_^ The storytelling isn't bad, but without anything new or different, this doesn't grab me. And considering the writing style, I would almost think this is Catbert25 writing under a different name. * * * * * [Kimagure Orange Road/Marmalade Boy] - - - - - Title: Orange Marmalade 13 Series: Kimagure Orange Road/Marmalade Boy Genre: Romance/Comedy/Drama Author: Scott Schimmel Email: schimmel@seas.upenn.edu Homepage: http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~schimmel/writing/writing.html Date Sent to FFML: Fri., Sept. 11 Size: ~25K Summary: (series) A fusion of KOR and MBoy, following the misadventures of young Esper Matsuura Yuu, his (somewhat extended) family, and friends. (episode) The Matsuuras and Koishikawas return to the city after their seaside vacation. Try as he might, Yuu just can't seem to get a chance to speak to Miki. A double date is set. Anju runs into a familiar face again... well, almost. Meiko isn't thrilled. {Shunsuke} Not too much, and not too little best describes the dialogue. The events are explained okay, but I'm not a script fan, so my personal taste may make me not be as positive. The story and plot themselves are still good and move along smartly, with no excessive hints at where they're going. This series gets better as it goes, though as I suggested before, I'd prefer a story format to screenplay style. * * * * * [Megacrossover] - - - - - Title: FFML Sentai Fiveman chapter 4 Series: Multiple Genre: Avatar Insert/X-Over Author: The Flashman Email: MXJK67C@Prodigy.com Homepage: MXJK67C@Prodigy.com Date Sent to FFML: 9/09/98 Size: small Summary: This chapter is mostly just to explain our hero's, Flashman, powers work. The REAL fun will begin in the next chapter. {Paul} *Pfft* Sentainium? SENTAINIUM?! GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *sniff* I'm sorry, but that one just hit me in all the right places. But the blurb is right; at times, it seems a lot more like a catalogue of powers than an actual story. I realize Homer devoted most of an entire book (of the Iliad, I believe) to listing ships and rosters, but this came off as a bit... dull. The demonstrations were nice, though... perhaps you could find a way to describe the whatever-it-is as it's being used, maybe during a practice session, rather than just TELLING the reader what it is and letting things flow from there. But I'll forgive you for it in some small part; after all, it's just been setup so far. 12 or 13 out of 20. * * * * * [Original] - - - - - Title: Mech slayers 12 Series: Mech slayers Genre: Original Author: Catbert25 Email: Catbert25@juno.com Date Sent to FFML: 09/08 Summary: The hero of the story gets a new traveling companion and student. He also gets a big problem he doesn't know about just yet. Lots of forshadowing and subplots revealed here, as well as some things that will effect the other group of travelers. {Shunsuke} A natural progression from what came before, the characterizations a little to "Star Wars"-ish, but not overdone. This still suffers from some of the same problems as the writer's other stuff. Spell checking is one thing, but correctness is another. - - - - - Title: The Ultimate Power Series: Original Genre: Satire Author: Luigi Mattera Email: mattera@tiac.net Homepage: http://www.tiac.net/users/mattera/anime/up Date Sent to FFML: September 11th, 1998 Size: 102 kilobytes Summary: Tired of reading all those damned cliches that pop up everywhere? Do you wish for once that the characters would actually take advantage of the damned things? Well, then. Read this fanfic.. and follow the so far over the top your nose will bleed antics of the cast. {Paul} This was FUNNY! Funny in the delightfully sarcastic, I'm a god and I know it and so do you, and gratuitous self-parody sense. Though the machina ex deus (that's deliberate wording, that is) at the end of the last chapter seemed more than a bit off, I'm eagerly looking for more. 14 or 15 out of 20. * * * * * [Ranma 1/2] - - - - - Title: A Different Viewpoint pt 35 Series: Ranma/SM Genre: Continuation/SI Author: Christopher Olsen Email: gamers@pacbell.net Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/ Date Sent to FFML: 9-4-98 Size: 32KB Summary: Plans are made and truths are revealed as the Senshi and Team Ranma prepare to stop the Youma invasion. The source of the Youma threat is revealed and the battle is joined. Will our heros survive? {Paul} First, a note to all you happy people out there submitting fics to be reviewed... make sure the author tag at least includes some mention of what your e-mail program identifies you as. With the archives being somewhat unreliable, I sort through my own collection and archives, and it helps enormously if I know what the "From" field says. That said... Yet another chapter in this seemingly endless SI-type fic. And yet another one that proves that a good SI can be written so long as the author is a PART of the plot... not moving it along, not standing by and making snide remarks, a PART of the plot. Which Dwire-sensei certainly seems to be. The two series are crossing over in a manner not ENTIRELY unlike Phoenix's "Lines of Destiny", but there are twists and turns which make it a bit more enjoyable than just a superpowered Ranma whipping Daimon behind. The whole crew has gone once more into the breach for the first time, and I can only hope their fate isn't so dire as the one which was predicted... all in all, a very engaging chapter in a fairly interesting story. One wonders what they'll do for an encore after they save the world. 14 or 15 out of 20... no offense intended, but it seemed like charaters were having words put in their mouths almost as often as they were speaking. - - - - - Title: "An Exercise in Manipulation" Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Serious fic Author: Matthew Campbell Email: mgcampb@clemson.edu Date Sent to FFML: Mon, 07 Sep 1998 17:43:23 -400 Size: 20K Summary: At some point in the future, Nabiki recounts the story of her greatest manipulation ever. But what was the cost to those around her? {Paul} Ooh. Very, very nice and sneaky on Nabsy's part. Never thought the little minx had it in her... suppose she didn't either. An "Ukyo gets Ranma" scenario that mirrors "The Bitter End" in all aspects except the spousal abuse and the bloody katana. Erm... you know what I mean, I think. Though Nabiki's change of mood seems a bit... sudden... at the end. As though she's recalling the story detachedly and then realizes anew what she did. Then again, perhaps that's what you wanted to happen. All in all, a solid piece of work with very few flaws I can manage to find. 16 or 17 out of 20. - - - - - Title: Growing up Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Introspection shortfic Author: Jiro Maeda Email: hiryu@tri-isys.com Date Sent to FFML: September 5 1998 Summary: Find out what Ranma thinks growing up means... {Paul} I've said it when Gubby flamed the fic and I'll say it again... in a literary sense, there's very little wrong with this fic. However, I find it pretty implausible that Ranma should abruptly decide to sit down and start thinking just because an arbitrary date which happens to be his birthday has passed. As a fragment of a larger work, I could definitely understand this as working. However, assuming the default context of the canon... it's just a bit too implausible for my taste. Add to that the fact that the characters' speeches and thoughts seem to be Cliffs Notes versions of actual dialogues, internal and external... it just doesn't work for me, I'm afraid. 8 or 9 out of 20. - - - - - Title: Misty -- Chapter 1 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Self-Insert (sort of) Author: Mike Allen Email: allenmk@gte.net Homepage: http://home1.gte.net/allenmk/ Date Sent to FFML: 9/10/1998 Size: 64K Summary: I make a really foolish statement that ends up becoming a wish. I end up as Kasumi Tendo, somewhere in the Ranmaverse. My mission: maintain the harmony of the Tendo home. {Paul} Now that Kasumi knows what's REALLY going on... hoo boy. She reminds me of no one so much as Masaki Katsuhito/Yosho in the almost effortless way she can defuse a conflict and bend the world to her own desires, without making it seem wrong in the least. This Kasumi has occasional flashes of seriousness which mirror Transpacific's Kasumi murder mystery, "Smoke and Mirrors"... but I LIKED that Kasumi. She seemed... real. Like this one seems real, and not just some parody of the ideal housewife. To be honest, I think you should segregate the introduction and Kasumi's first little foray into separate chapters, as one has almost nothing to do with the other, and the focus of the plot changes quite abruptly. But aside from that minor comment, this was a very nice story and a most interesting read. 18 and up out of 20. - - - - - Title: My Dying Wish, revised Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Sadfic Author: Ukyou Kuonji Email: ukyoukwnji@aol.com Homepage: http://members.aol.com/ukyoukwnji/index.htm http://members.aol.com/ukyoukwnji/dyngwish.htm (original story) Date Sent to FFML: 9/2/98 Size: 32K Summary: Ukyou copes with her impending demise, and with the help of Tsubasa, crafts what might be the only feasible way to win Ranma (if only on a temporary basis) A commemorative release a year after its first writing, this issue includes a few additional visitors. {Paul} Now this... this is an Ukyo gets Ranma fic that I'd never in a million years expect to see. Authorial perspective and all that... does absolute wonders for looking at the canon. Everything that goes on seems so... REAL... with the possible exception of Ukyo's reunion with her father. Death brings a need to reconcile all things, not to tear them apart. At least that's my own experience with it. But, that aside... it's a beautiful and touching and tragic take on the Ranmaverse as we know it... wonderful, descriptive prose that brings tears to your eyes. Whether they're of happiness, joy, or both is left as an exercise to the reader. 17 or 18 out of 20. {Shunsuke} I preferred the original version to the rewrite, and for two main reasons: the new characters, and the fact that it *is* a rewrite. The priest, who also appeared in the author's other Ukyou story "Stepping Stones", makes this feel like some alternate reality than a single complete fic; as well, the appearance of Ukyou's father and her unwillingness to reconcile with him seems a bit much and unnecessary. If the story is intended as WAFFy, then to enter a darker/unhappier element like this doesn't work, and if it's a realistic fic, then certainly there would be other things befalling Ukyou along the way. My second dislike of this is that it was rewritten at all; the original is much more...complete, whole, for lack of a better word, it seems like a final chapter in someone's life. On top of this, rewriting takes away from tracing a writer's progress. It's interesting to see how an author changes his or her writing style over time, and rewrites detract from that; as well, looking back on your own work and learning from your mistakes, rather than trying to correct them, will do more to improve your writing. This is still good stuff, I just liked it better as it was. - - - - - Title: Shampoo 1/2 Chapter 35 Part A: Those Who Would Dare Dream of Tomorrow II 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 Summary: It is a time of reflection for the members of the Ranma cast as they take a Hibiki-led path to China. Romantic entanglements are considered among the people affected by them. The effects of the Shogun of the Dark's plan begin to effect the weather as time starts to run out. {Paul} You know, I suppose it's a tribute to how well you've done this universe that little bits and pieces like this one make way too much sense for their own good. And here I added "you can be the bait" to Aki's invitation to go fishing... never thought she'd take it seriously, but then that's Aki. She reminds me of Ryoko. Speaking of Ryoko, it seems like just about everyone on the ship of fools got a hearty dose of Ryoko-class hormones. Not that that's a BAD thing... after all, you need something to keep the suspense until the climactic showdown, don't you? 18 and up out of 20. - - - - - Title: Sword and Sorcery, chapter 20 Series: Ranma 1/2 Genre: Fantasy Author: D.Fire Email: phongb9@idt.net Homepage: http://idt.net/~phongb9/ Date Sent to FFML: September 6, 1998 Size: 57kb Summary: In the last episode, Uerris had taken a deadly, crippling her ability to fight. Not all hope is lost, however, as a force on the outside intervenes to forestall her death. Meanwhile, a battle rages within the assassin's dark world. {Shunsuke} Well, this is the biggest battle yet. Into the belly of the beast, as they say. The way things turn out here, it feels like there's going to be a major change in events; maybe not, but that's how it reads. There's a place or two where descriptions get confusing or repeated, but the same style and flow as before carry the story. As good as before, if not better. - - - - - Title: Wheel of Fire #8: Doco in Hawaii, part 2 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: 9/8/98 Size: 70kb Summary: The gang's time vacationing in Maui for three days doesn't turn out quite as expected when an old friend shows up to stir up trouble. Meanwhile, Kuno and Ranma wage a strange bet, and Konatsu tries to be a hero. {Paul} Heh. Ranma Saotome IS Captain Ego IN Wheel of Fire! Finally, a fanfic which actually manages to capture that egotistical jerk side which seems to vanish once one leaves the manga. To say nothing of Tarou, the original Mad Bad Bishonen Lad (apologies to PK) showing up. Very interesting twists and turns which are more in line with the manga than one would originally expect. 15 or 16 out of 20. * * * * * [Sailor Moon] - - - - - Title: After School Prologue - The Decision to Marry Series: Sailor Moon Genre: Continuation Author: Ajax Email: breaker@technologist.com Date Sent to FFML: Sometime at the beginning of September Size: 14 kb Summary: This story ignores everything that happens after the defeat of Beryl except the senshi recovering their memories and shows the lives of the senshi growing up as normal people. {Shunsuke} Ah, a mundane SM story, no magic, so silly power-up calls, just an attempt to show them as normal people. Hey, is Usagi still a meatball head, or did she get a real hairstyle? ^_^ My only point to argue is that people do change, I somehow doubt everyone would be heading in the same direction they were years ago. (But that's probably just me.) It's nice to see them as people, not magical girl cut-outs. - - - - - Title: Cling: A Tale of Tuxedo Mask Series: Sailor Moon Genre: Unusual Setting Author: Lunari Email: Lunari@Sprynet.com Homepage: http://members.xoom.com/RyanMercury/anime.html (Coming Soon) Date Sent to FFML: 9/11/98 Summary: This story follows the final moments of Tuxedo Mask in Episode 46 from his POV as he regains his memory and makes the supreme sacrifice for his princess in the name of love.... {Paul} Now THIS could be an episode in its own right. And should be, considering the Usagi/Mamoru Silver Millennium relationship which I'm not sure is fan-made canon or the real thing. Though I'm gravitating toward fan-made. Very effective imagery and a nice use of pacing to portray a man seeking to break from old loyalties and forge new ones. 16 or 17 out of 20. {Helen} A short story that captures the emotions rarely displayed by Darien/Mamoru/Endymion (take your pick). It's short, succinct and worth reading. - - - - - Title: Torn: A Tale of Tuxedo Mask Series: Sailor Moon Genre: Darkfic/Unusual Setting Author: Lunari Email: Lunari@Sprynet.com Homepage: http://members.xoom.com/RyanMercury/anime.html (Coming Soon) Date Sent to FFML: 9/11/98 Summary: Darien is still trying to come to terms with his transformation into Tuxedo Mask and it's purpose when his princess calls for him. Along the way, he stumbles upon the victim of a shooting. Does he abandon his princess to save the victim or continue on his way and leave the victim to die? {Paul} This is the side you never see in the anime. And especially not in the dubs. Tuxedo Kamen is always there if and when he is needed, and one never thinks that his life is being ripped apart in the same way that those of the Senshi are. This proves different. Quite different. And raises a lot of questions which I don't think Takeuchi-sama meant to have asked or answered. But that is not a bad thing. 16 or 17 out of 20 for a very nice look inside the soul of the masked hero... {Helen} Torn between two purposes...running through many of the emotions from Cling, Lunari forges the bond between reader and character while we watch the struggle within Darien between his heart and his mind. * * * * * [Sailor Moon/Xena] - - - - - Title: Minako: Warrior, Princess, Sidekick (revised version) - Prologue Series: Sailor Moon, Xena Genre: Crossover Author: Nightman Email: nightman@provide.net Homepage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mredding/minkao/m-index.html Date Sent to FFML: 9/9/98 Size: 24 k Summary: Investigating planet Nemesis after the defeat of the Black Moon forces, Sailor Venus is ambushed by Chaos and blown back in time and space to ancient Earth. Rendered amnesiac in the process, she adopts a new identity and eventually hooks up with Xena. Though it's not apparent from the prologue, this fic actually examines the prehistory of the Moon Kingdom. {Helen} Although I had read the first release a while back... and then went back to re-read the series after an MST session, this story doesn't require an indepth knowledge of either series (especially Xena). I'm looking forward to seeing how the revisions improve the story... and the second series as well ^_^ * * * * * [Series not given] - - - - - Title: The Raven Series: Surprise Genre: Poem Author: Catbert25 Email: Catbert25@juno.com Date Sent to FFML: 09\08 Summary: Edgar Allen Poe's classic horror poem with an Anime twist. Just a little burst of inspiration that hit me late one night. {Paul} Though your inspiration quaver, still you surely must not waver From the beat which, like a slaver, pounds its rhythm as before. For a parody, when written, and which leaves the reader smitten, With rememb'rance, though unwitting, of a poem from days of yore, With the beat and cadence cast off, lying broken, on the floor... They shall read on... nevermore. Further still, with torture mental, though your muse be tempermental, You can scarce be very gentle, but instead, from every pore, Pound the words which tear asunder the maniacal Blue Thunder, And, so that you may not wonder, but a sample I've in store: "Shall my loves one day accept me and cast off the sorc'ror's lore?" Speaks the raven, "Nevermore." And this is but a small sample, but a singular example, Of the mistakes sadly ample which your poem suffuse and score, Taking words straight from the source, though 'tis an admirable recourse, but Yet the canon you divorce, for this was not in there before! Time and place have changed, the first ones lost to night's Plutonian shore, To return here nevermore. Still, it was with good intention that you wrote this sad invention, And my memory's retention of Kodachi in the door, Was it something I expected? In Poe's mirror dark reflected, Yet perceptions are corrected by the humor that's in store... Still, to get to that last punchline is a labor and a chore... Four of ten. And nothing more. * * * * * [Tenchi Muyou!] - - - - - Title: The Phoenix Project (Updated) Series: Tenchi Muyo Genre: War/Drama Author: Trakal Email:Trakal@map.com Date Sent to FFML:Sep 6?, 1998 Size: unsure Summary: In a war-ravaged galaxy, a maverick medical team revives an ancient warrior. {Shunsuke} Minor nitpick: if Tantei A doesn't understand the language, how are he and the doctor communicating? ^_^ That aside, this is a uninque idea and approach, and given the writer's other work, of the same high quality language and plot. - - - - - Title: Unfinished Business 0:3 - Prologue: MIA Series: Tenchi Muyo Genre: Space Opera/action?/drama/soap/whatever Author: Dennis Carr and Karmin St. Jean Email: DC: ke6isf@nerv.nu KSJ: trakal@map.com Homepage: Date Sent to FFML: 02Sep98 Size: 24k Summary: End of the prologues for UB. Moriyata is stranded on Earth, and presumed dead by his colleagues. {Shunsuke} Amusing, though you didn't mention the crossover element. O_- The use of Mihoshi and Trakal seems more like a device to familiarize personalize Hikaru than to serve any purpose, but the scene is well done and likable. The language and style are clean and easy on both eyes and mind, which makes for good reading. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * End of FFML Reviews List for the week of September 11, 1998