:conversational feedback:
Yeah, see, okay.
I�m not going to make a rash statement by saying that the writers are Asuka
fans because she�s described as the dreamy, neo-realistic angel, since they
describe Ayanami Rei beautifully and with a cosmic (and sometimes comic)
grace, but GOD DAMMIT YER� MAKIN� IT FRIGGIN� HARD TA LIKE HER! No, wait, I
like her more, even, sometimes, this way, but YER� TURNING HER INTO THE
DEMONESS OF HELL! No, actually, she�s got this kind of innocence to her
that�s � okay, I�ve got it: YER� SCRARIN� THE STOMACHS OUT OF REI-HEADS! �
� � AND WHY THE HELL AM I SPEAKIN� IN TOUJI-SPEAK? In other words, I love
this fic. � � � AND GODDAMN THOSE FRIGGIN� MIB�S!
:subjective/objective feedback:
And again we have it, a chapter of the glorious Children of an Elder God.
When I saw this sitting in my "inbox" folder, I recall tearing up.
It's been a month were six hours of sleep is a blessing, and I'm beginning
to lose it. My temper has withered to the point where anyone asking for
anything more from me will result in my total rage being released upon them.
I hate school. I've been listening to "Komm, Susser Todd" these days; I
hate life.
This e-mail has brightened my day, my week, and God -- his name not used in
vain; far from it -- know what else.
Reading this during a study break at 11:15 p.m., I did not pay special
attention to grammar or spelling, and thus found no errors.
The plot thickens. We're finally getting somewhere, although I can't help
but feel as if some truths were unleashed in this chapter rather than handed
down. That is, there seemed to be a bit too much information on too many
subjects at once. My guess is that since these truths all come together
into on great melting pot, one great scheme, the speed of
information-handling is justified.
Poor, poor, Rei. Let me say this: my thought about Rei, at least to the
English-speaking community, is that she has to be a tragedy to be even
slightly appreciated. I've heard of people loving to read about her dying,
and in my mind, I say "fine, maybe I'll kill her, since there's a greater
chance in someone appreciating something, in-depth or superficial, in her
destruction rather than her evolution. It's sad, Rei is, and somehow, that
draws me closer to her. In other words, Rei is cursed to be a tragic hero
in fanfiction. That is not the case with this fic. Rei is more of a
boogie-man than a tragedy, and I'm not sure what to say about that. I thus
look on the bright side and say "at least this isn't Rei-bashing," or "it's
a crossover with H.P. Lovecraft; someone's got to do/be it." That is, while
everyone has a connection to something spooky, Rei seems to be the center of
it. It's an honor that is twisted but ultimately appreciable to readers.
And I'm going to stop rambling and move on.
The interaction between Touji and almost any other character in this fic is
pure entertainment and fun. This is one of the best things I have to say
about this fic -- that Touji not only plays a major role in the story, but
he doesn't seem to have a horrible accident coming on (I see bad things for
Anna in the future). Touji's quickly becoming an even more favorable
character in my eyes.
Asuka, well, she got lucky in this fic. To complement her most obvious
flaws in the series, Asuka's past, life, and being have been warped to the
point where she sounds awfully like a goddess with a temperament. her
interaction with anyone else in this fic is always a pleasure, as well.
Shinji. Is it me, or is he a pimp now? It's a bit fun, since sometimes he
seems to have a little fun with the other characters, while at other times
he falls into coward mode. We get this mix that is ultimately always a
pleasure and a mystery to see what happens next with this guy. The writers
have done a spectacular job with Shinji, and he's not got a bit of
characters like Tenchi (Tenchi Muyo!), makoto (El Hazard), and even
characters like Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) in him. A treat, as the
fic itself is a treat.
This chapter successfully retains its light feeling throughout the entire
body. That is, no matter how dire or horrible something is, there's always
a feeling of optimism (somehow embedded into any pessimism that arises) that
overshadows, or should I say shines upon, the events of the story.
Sigh, back to reality for me. These days, fanfiction -- reading and writing
it -- is my only escape from the cynical and pessimistic view of life I've
reacquired, and somehow, I think that helps my writing. It's like a beacon
of light that one must appreciate to the fullest. I wonder, since the
authors of Children of an Elder God are in college (at least, Mr. Biles is),
do they ever have this same type of inspiration?
Keep writing, and may light shine your way in return for the light you've
shone upon mine. Thank you.
With regrets, worries, and hope,
- Jon
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