On Wed, 17 Nov 1999, Rebeka Thomas wrote:
Okay. Those of you still with me, I need ALL of your help. the more,
the better. I am going to Fuse Ranma with the Asimovian
Megacontinuum, in other words, the universe where the series
"Robots," "Spacers," "Empire," and "Foundation" take place. This
universe is the same one in such books as "Pebble in the Sky," "I,
Robot," and "Forward the Foundation."
I'm inclined to think Ranma is not the ideal series for this, as Ranma 1/2
and the whole Asimovian Sci-Fi universe are close to diametrical
opposites, but working with the concept...
I'm trying to make the fusion as widely spread as possible, so first
off I need a list of possible roles for major, supporting, minor,
and even one-time-appearance characters.
First off, the roles I already have.
Ranma is filling the same role as R. Daneel, who appears in some
foundation books as Eto Demerzel. He [Ranma, not Daneel] was a
special robot, designed to harness the magic of a set of cursed
springs on the world where Joketsuzoku relocated. However, the
roboticist who programmed him rejected the three laws of Susan
Calvin and instead programmed him with the code of honor once used
by the ancient Japanese samurai. That roboticist was named... Shan
Pu.
Why Ranma? I'd think a more active role would be more apt for him, such
as Elijah Bailey, Senator Trevise, or heck...even the Mule. If he had his
curse, he could easily play the Mule's role by changing sex to then
infiltrate his enemies and use his powers to disrupt them the way the Mule
posed as his own jester. I'd suggest using someone else here, although
I'm not sure who.
> Ryouga is filling the role of Elijah Bailey. He is mostly featured
in the Spacers books, although he is so interwoven into the history
of that universe you can hardly read one book without seeing him
mentioned. I'm not all clear on the role he has, as he has only
actually appeared in one short story I read.
Ryouga is too much of a dimwit to be Elijah Bailey. Bailey is a brilliant
detective, and instrumental to the beginning of the second wave of
colonization, the one which leads eventually to the Galactic Empire. In
the Caves of Steel, he is the only one who can solve the murder of a
Spacer on Earth and thus prevents a major crisis. In the Naked Sun, he
becomes the first Earthling to visit the Spacer worlds and solves another
seemingly impossible crime. And in The Robots of Dawn, he visits Aurora
and solves a third crime, helping to ensure humanity has the chance to
colonize other worlds. He is also involved in the events that lead to the
formulation of the so-called Zeroeth Law, which is crucial to all of
Daneel's actions in the years to come. Ryouga, simply put, lacks the
brainpower to pull all this off, nor does he seem the type to live in the
cramped Caves of Steel (the enclosed cities of Earth in the age of Earth
and hte Spacer Colonies).
On the other hand, The Akari/Ryouga/Akane situation has some parallel in
the Gladia Delmarre/Elijah/Jessie (his wife) situation, and Akari would
make an interesting Gladia Delmarre (Raising Sumo Pigs in isolation on
Solaria could make someone act like Akari...:))
You'd have to make Ryouga achieve all his accomplishments largely through
pure luck if you choose Ryouga to play Elijah's role. Depends a lot on
how serious you intend this to be.
> Ryouga will also somewhat fill the role of Dors Vernabili, who
was > in the foundation series built by Daneel later on. as can be
rationalized by the grief that Ranma will feel over the loss of his
human friend, the robot was built in his image. [just from
appearance similarity, I was going to cast Ukyou in this role, but
decided against it for an obvious reason: next paragraph]
I would strongly suggest not casting Ryouga in two unrelated roles. Maybe
Kunou for this role? No...no, Kunou as Cleon II. Never mind. See
comment below.
Akane will be in the role of Hari Seldon, a Psychohistorian who
invented the science of psychohistory. This is the study of human
reactions as applies to a large group, and can predict the future to
an extent and influence it to an extent. He [or she, as the case
will be in this fusion] foresaw the fall of the galactic empire and
planned to shorten the anarchic period in between that and the
formation of a new one.
Personality is all wrong, although them being martial artists does match.
I'd be inclined to place Tofu here myself, and let Akane be Wanda Seldon,
or possibly...oh blast, can't think of his name...Seldon's adopted son,
the kid from the very rough sector....aargh. Akane just isn't the
scholarly type. On the other hand, Ranma 1/2 lacks scholarly types.
Part of me inclines to placing Cologne in this role. She has the fighting
skill and the intellect.
Using Akane for this would let you place Kunou as Cleon and have him
appoint Akane as First Minister because he thinks she's cute :)
Maybe cast Kurumi or Natsumi [or both maybe] as Arcadia [Second F.]
Happosai/Mule [F. and Empire, Second F.] (oh, what WOULDNT i pay to
read that he's sterile)
Miss Hinako as Arcady Darrel.
I noted above my argument for making Ranma the Mule. I could also see
possibly the Prince from the second Ranma movie (with his illusion powers)
as the Mule (imagine him as strong enough to create illusions of entire
fleets, or overriding message transmissions to create illusionary messages
of disaster and doom).
Other chars:
I'd suggest Ranma as Golan Trevise; he has the intuition, I think, to play
that role, and Trevise is a fairly active character, not so much the
intellectual as many Asimov heroes. You could then have Genma as Janov
Pelorat, and Nodoka as Bliss :)
Although Happy as a warped Janov could be fun too.
You could also have Kodachi as Mayor Branno, and Gosunkugi as the Second
foundation guy whose name escapes me...
> Maybe fuse some eva characters?
First Speaker/Lorenz Keel [Different people in original series; 2ndF
and F.Edge]
The First Speakers are generally decent sorts, although he would be good
for the one from Foundations' edge.
[forgot first name] Compor/Gendo Ikari [F.Edge]
Mayor Branno/Asuka [F.Edge]
Branno isn't quite cranky enough.
Shinji as: Either Preem Palver [F.and.E, 2ndF.] or Stor Gendibal [F.
Edge]
Shinji is too spineless to be either. He might make a good...whoever the
emperor was who had Bel Riose recalled when he was too successful. Or
maybe as the...aargh, can't think of his name...the academic who figures
out where the Second Foundation is and gets killed before he can blurt it
out with the Mule listening.
Possibly cast Asuka as Arcadia instead
Good match. Very good match, I think.
ANY ideas for Pelorat or Trevize? [F.Edge, F.AndEarth]
See suggestion above.
Bringing in other series gave me an epiphany thought. Ifurita as Daneel
and Makoto as Elijah Bailey. I can see her spending the thousands of
years trying to guide and protect humanity as Daneel did, in memory of the
human who gave her a soul.
John Biles
Emperor of all He Surveys
http://www.tass.org/~rhea/falcon.html
"He who breaks a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of
wisdom."
-Gandalf