So...Mr. McAvoy, who is annoyed by new characters who have too many skills
and talents, new characters who are smartasses to the extreme, new
characters who seem to be able to solve any problem that comes along, and
fanfics which are basically rehashes of the entire series using new
characters who seem to exist only to be the ones to kick all the ass and
take all the names...

..recommends NXE as a great example of how to retell a series?

Forgive me, but this is the most hilarious thing I have heard all month.

I think a fact that is often overlooked (or sometimes completely denied)
is that *any* fic can be good if it's written well.  The rules Mike
outined are excellent, but in some cases the best way to soar above all
the rest is to break said rules.  Not usually, mind you, but sometimes. 
It just takes a *lot* of skill.

Bart Kelsey
(Who doesn't have enough skill to break the rules :)