On Thu, 13 May 1999, Krista Perry wrote:

I personally think it started in just the right place (obviously, since
that's the way I wrote it).  ;p  But that's only because I happen to
like the rather Jr.-High-School-English-Class theory that most (not all
-- there are always exceptions to the rule) good stories follow a
pattern of storytelling.  Namely:  Introduction, Rising Action, Climax,
Falling Action, and Denouement.  

	Another approach (can't remember where I read it; Gardner's Art of
Fiction, mabye) suggests that the starting point of just about any piece
of fiction is the 'but', 'until', or 'suddenly' of the story.  That is:
everything was normal, until... Ranma and Akane were getting along fine,
then suddenly...  The old town was happy, but then _he_ returned...
	It's quite consistant with most fiction.  Stories that start way
before the 'suddenly' have too long of an intro; stories that begin after
the introduction of the disturbing element are too abrupt.
	(Of course, no general rule is perfect, but I've found this one a
good starting place).
	Easy examples: Ender's Game: Starts off, quick quickly, when they
pop off Andrew's monitor.  The element of change that gets the whole
series going.  Dragonlance: starts when the gang returns to the village.
Fifth Business: begins when the pregnant woman gets bonked on the head by
a snowball and goes into labour.
	Of course, format changes the actual starting point of the story.
A flashback obviously begins after the initial disruption, but
nevertheless, the plot begins at that point.
	By that standard, anyway, I'd say HoI starts just fine.
	Chaos chronicles?  Can't say, haven't read it.

	-Mike Noakes
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"We are but of yesterday, and we know nothing		*
	for our days on earth are but a shadow.		*
Will they not teach you and tell you			*
	and utter words out of their understanding?"	*
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	Job 8.9-10 (NRSV)				*
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