[Originally a post to Rec.Arts.Anime.Creative, R.A.A.Fandom, and the Fanfic Mailing List in October 1996.]
The following are essays of appreciation on my favorite Ranma 1/2 fan fiction posted to rec.arts.anime.creative in the fourth quarter of my Fanfic Year (FY) 1996. FY 96 ended on September 30. My favorite fanfics are distinguished by some combination of artful writing style, insightful and original plotting and characterization, depth of characters, crispness and realism of dialogue, or other charming qualities. (See the essay attached to my July 96 post for some hints on what I'm not looking for in Ranma fanfic.) Separating the best from the merely good or enjoyable is my judgement on whether a story is worth reading multiple times. Naturally, the selection process is completely subjective and somewhat arbitrary.
Shortly, I will post my selections for the overall best Ranma 1/2 fanfics for FY 96. The nominees are all of the stories written up in this post and in my posts for the three previous quarters.
The best part of this exercise, apart from satisfying an urge to write, has been the quality of correspondence that has resulted from my posts. I have had very enjoyable and often enlightening exchanges with fanfic authors and fellow readers. I invite anyone e-mail me at Talswapr@aol.com with responses to my posts.
The return to life of rec.arts.anime.creative made the "competition" for
my attention among Ranma fanfics more rigorous than ever. The great volume
of Ranma stories posted on r.a.a.c. since mid-August has meant that it is
less likely that any single fanfic will be memorable enough for me to count
among my favorites. The following works, therefore, are all the more praiseworthy
...
Ranma and Akane are almost hopelessly inept at love and at loving, and yet we all of us know that theirs is a romance for the ages. How can that be? This heartwrenchingly beautiful story provides one possible answer. Gonzales spins a romantic tale so elegant in its simplicity and succinctness as to amplify the reader's emotional response to its story of eternal love, even though we have heard it in many different forms before.
The author's style is instantly endearing, with its poetic descriptions of the spring evening at a timeless dojo. The magic which unfolds that night is not wondrous and awe-inspiring, but familiar and warm, comfortable. Like a soft background melody, the uncomplicated but deeply compelling love story unfolds and draws us in. The words of the two lovers make real the dreams of everyone who ever wanted one last chance to say goodbye. The mentions of Takuma are a good example of those little details ever sought by quality authors to give their fiction depth and realism.
The ending sequence, however necessary to the story, is a little bit clumsy compared to the balance of the fanfic. Less here would have been more. The link to one of the later manga stories is a nice and intriguing touch. Gonzales' subtly vivid and moving writing style can also be enjoyed in the Ranma fanfic Hanami, not included here because I did not find the plotline particularly original or interesting.
Read more of my thoughts about Remind My Heart in the 1996 Taleswapper Awards.
Click
here to download Remind My Heart from the anime fanfic
archive.
This fanfic's strongest feature is its structure. Lawson intersperses present-day and flashback scenes to create a cinematic ambience, accomplished, notably, without the clumsy transitional gimmicks that other authors rely too much on. How much more effective is the unheralded (though not abrupt) change of temporal setting than are hackneyed devices which link present and remembered scenes. Rather than forcing links between past and present through use of obvious links such as objects or quotes, the author credits his readers with sufficient intelligence to realize the thematic links between recollection and current activity.
The development of Kasumi's character in Heart is the most advanced take to date on the much-favored notion in fanfic that the eldest Tendo daughter is more canny than she lets on. Lawson's extrapolation of this theme rests on vignettes - including well-staged flashback scenes extrapolated from existing moments from the anime - that highlight Kasumi's compassion and sensitivity, which give her acumen that is unmatched by other characters' insight. This variation on the Kasumi's-sharper-than-you-think theme is considerably more effective than the attempts in other fan fiction to reshape her into a closet genius; too many authors have made a mountain from a molehill by inferring a deep intellectual life or a destined medical career from such trivia as Kasumi's having once borrowed a book from Tofu.
It is delightful to observe Lawson's Kasumi in "Heart" and its sequels as she subtly advises and affects the people around her, gently nudging them toward wisdom and happiness. Particularly sweet is the scene, extrapolated from the story of Akane's haircut, where Kasumi draws on special insight into her youngest sister's motivations to help Akane find some happiness in her arranged betrothal. The reader stands in awe of Kasumi's (i.e., the author's) ability to surreptitiously analyze and solve her family's problems.
I am less receptive to another new characterization slant that has emerged in Lawson's work and in other Ranma fanfic (e.g., The Kiss by John Biles): that Nabiki's apparent avarice is explained by her purported role as the Tendo family's principal financial support. For now, it is most relevant to appreciate the excellent and surprisingly moving flashback story showing the origins of Nabiki's monetary interests, featuring a Kasumi just beginning to get a handle on the household responsibilities and a precocious Nabiki that begins to learn her own duties to the family. That flashback ties in nicely to the flashback scene from the "Mother's Recipes" OAV. Another delightfully original story element is Kasumi's insight into why Kunou buys Nabiki's photographs, thus opening up another character for total redefinition.
Read more of my thoughts about Heart of the Home in a special posting on Lawson's works.
Click
here to go to Richard Lawson's fanfic page.
TIL sets a new standard for serious exploration of the characters and issues in the Ranma universe. In the course of resolving most of the conflicts left open at the conclusion of the Ranma 1/2 manga, Lawson composes character studies of unique depth and expands the Ranma mythos in remarkably original ways. The author's rich prose style imbues this extended fanfic with maturity and gravitas.
Lawson's treatment of the long-awaited moment of truth for Ranma and Akane is emotionally draining, particularly the buildup and afterglow of the couple's first kiss: Ranma's palpable misery, Akane's powerful and wise response. The passages describing Akane's instant deliberations are excessively verbose and her soothing speech to Ranma sounds too well organized. But her deeds and words shine with truths about love and compassion that should resonate with everyone. The development of their open romance is understated (and therefore most realistic): Ranma and Akane do not spend the balance of TIL saying I love you, but by showing it in ways dramatic and subtle. Especially compelling are Akane's last thoughts before "dying" and the buildup to her decision on the beach.
Lawson gives all due attention (perhaps even too much) to most of the supporting cast. The expansion of Shampoo's character (see next review) is most satisfying. Kuno and Kodachi are given back stories that elicit sympathy and understanding. New dimensions of characterization are created for Nodoka and, especially, Genma. Lawson's version of Ukyou is more sophisticated than the tragic second-choice-iinazuke featured in too many fanfics. Effective use of darkness/light imagery symbolizing ignorance and liberating insight make Ukyou more conflicted and therefore more interesting. The scene where Ranma astutely educates Ukyou about his complete lack of romantic feelings for her is one of story's highlights.
Though Ryouga seems a forgotten character until the end of TIL, his contribution to the story's resolution is ample. Moreover, he embodies one of the great attractions of the fanfic: the use of Jusenkyo curses as drivers of serious plot elements and story themes. Typically, sober treatment of the curses is confined to simple anxiety and self-pity on the part of Ranma and other cursed characters. Lawson supplements this standard fare by exploring the serious potential of the curses much more deeply. In Ryouga's case, the curse is his link to the two women he loves and can't decide between; for him, to be cured is to decide, and so his curse torments him even as the Nannichuan water is in his grasp. Genma's curse, as Nodoka points out, is a furry manifestation of his greatest personality flaws: cowardice and denial in the face of difficulty.
Especially appealing and intriguing is the notion that Ranma's curse has some momentous, if inscrutable, purpose that is part of his true destiny. Other fanfics have toyed with this idea, and Lawson is poised to develop it most fully. The tale of Ranma's first attempt at Nannichuan is a splendid illustration of this interpretation of the curse. Ingenious is Lawson's integration of this new dimension of Ranma's curse into the many anime/manga episodes concerning "failed cures," including the manga's concluding fiasco.
Lawson's use of violence is measured and very well integrated into TIL's storyline and themes. Appropriately, in this serious Ranma universe, the violence is realistic, with realistic consequences. Akane's brush with death and Ranma's enraged attack on Shampoo are chilling because of their authenticity. The unity and consistency of the story are highlighted in the fight scenes: battling Shampoo, Akane gains the upper hand after remembering a lesson from her recent sparring with Ranma; Ranma's tactical brilliance in the final showdown with Cologne fuels Mousse's conjecture that Ranma is destined for something greater than running a dojo.
TIL's length is daunting and might have been unnecessary in hindsight, given the bumper crop of side stories it has reaped. Most extraneous is the storyline concerning the romance of Kasumi and Tofu. While these parts of the fanfic are as well written as the rest, and while I must admire the obvious hard work that went into the tea ceremony scene, the Kasumi/Tofu subplot is ultimately unexciting and remarkably irrelevant to the main story.
Read more of my thoughts about Thy Inward Love in a special posting on Lawson's works and in the 1996 Taleswapper Awards.
Click
here to go to Richard Lawson's fanfic page.
Rich characterization of Shampoo, set against a backdrop of political intrigue and well-thought-out details of Joketsuzoku culture, makes this story my favorite of Lawson's excellent works. The most neglected of major Ranma characters in fanfic, Shampoo finally receives in TIL and Amazons the same level of scrutiny and creativity that fanfic authors have long lavished on her "peers," Ukyou and Ryouga. Having added whole new dimensions to Kasumi's and Kunou's characterization, the author's brings us a sophisticated Shampoo who features a religious dedication to the mores of her tribe, noble ambitions for greatness, and a deep capacity for love.
Appropriate to this new, refined Shampoo is a story of battles fought without martial arts. The political machinations in which Shampoo is swept up, and the clever plot hatched by Lawson's coolheaded Mousse, hold the reader's fascination. The resolution would seem too neat if the road to that objective were not so complex and richly detailed. Particularly impressive is the dual-perspective depiction of Ranma's courageous second encounter with the Amazon spirits. Those scenes of psychological drama, and the less-serious confrontation with the customs agent, create undertones of anxiety and supernatural tension.
The milieu for Shampoo's side story is a splendidly elaborate sketch of the Joketsuzoku village, its leading citizens, and its elegant culture. Lawson carefully weaves into the story cultural elements that serve as important drivers of the plot and as showcases for the characters' motivations, including formalized speech, ancient rituals, and an intricate web of customs consistent with the proud bearing of great warriors.
Read more of my thoughts about The Ways of the Amazons in a special posting on Lawson's works and in the 1996 Taleswapper Awards.
Click
here to go to Richard Lawson's fanfic page.
I began reading this fanfic with some trepidation. Leifker's Sunrise is one of my favorite stories of the year, and it stands very well on its own. The author's decision to fill in the missing eight years separating Ranma's two battles with Herb was logical, but troubling in that there is the potential that an extended series, with its myriad subplots and new characters and story elements, will diminish the grandeur of Sunrise.
So far, so good. While Burned and Broken cannot match the legend-like power of the earlier fanfic, there is artistry in the more down-to-earth prequel sufficient to do honor to Sunrise. Leifker experiments more with style in Burned and Broken, departing occasionally from the third-person-omniscient perspective in which Sunrise was written, with a journal-style passage to open the story and with use of the epistolary device to fill in details of Ranma's journey across China. The subtle switch to third-person-uninformed-observer perspective to describe the arrival of Cologne's party at Joketsuzoku was especially impressive. Leifker's use of this new voice helped to establish the new setting and to provide a concise illustration of the Nichieju view of unfolding events.
These stylistic flourishes supplement the superior level of prose writing that we saw in Sunrise, making Burned and Broken a satisfying read. The style also does much to make up for a plotline that is, perhaps unavoidably, predictable. Leifker does not rely the element of surprise to maintain readers' interest; rather, strong characterization and emotional catharsis, along with the excellent style, urge us onward.
Because so many background elements of Sunrise are fleshed out well in Burned and Broken, I have to wonder about the quality of the main plotline in the remaining chapters of The Sunrise Chronicles. The wise chieftain Ranma and the grim warrior Nabiki portrayed in Sunrise are now almost fully explained, they just need a few years of maturing. The subplot revolving around Blossom will no doubt prove interesting, but its climax has been telegraphed and its outcome decided. The Happosai and wedding stories announced in the teaser may very well be excellent standalone tales, but linking them effectively to Sunrise will be a challenge for Leifker.
Click here to go to Nightelf's fanfic page.
Read my thoughts about the progenitor story, Sunrise, in the Second Quarter FY 1996 posting and in the 1996 Taleswapper Awards.
This fanfic gives the reader an opportunity to feel the guilty pleasure of hating someone whom everyone is supposed to love. The Kasumi portrayed by Morganfield is much closer to the original Takahashi characterization than in other stories of comparable maturity and complexity; most authors seeking to write a sophisticated fanfic succumb to the temptation to make Kasumi more intelligent and aware. The author, however, sticks with the original - a blissfully simple Kasumi - then extrapolates to horrifying, yet believable conclusions.
And so we can despise this Kasumi, who - despite great beauty, peerless homemaking skills, and devotion true and deep - is a nightmarish wife. Morganfield showcases a Kasumi who is increasingly annoying and finally repellent. Her hour on the stage is filled with mindless and repetitive responses in conversation, unending references to her iconic mother, and the dreadful logic underlying her definition of love. Perhaps more telling are the tiny details: the "already prepared" vase, her pretense at embarrassment in the bedroom, and the not-so-subtle signs that Tofu is beginning to realize that the ideals Kasumi embodies don't make for a desirable companion-for-life.
It must have been challenging to write this fanfic from first person perspective. Such narratives, done well, give the character great depth, a quality we cannot associate with this Kasumi. And yet Morganfield's Kasumi is deep: bottomless and labyrinthine oblivion defines her. Her maddening simplemindedness has solid foundations and there is an elaborate (however perverse) theology to guide her sickeningly innocent thoughts, words, and deeds.
The latest episode contains much of what I like best about this ongoing series and little of the DnR elements that don't appeal to me. The introspective dialogue by which Ukyou reveals the details of her old life is a refreshing change from the "poor pitiful me" scenes that have typified her most prominent moments in DnR. The character study that emerges is as good a reconciliation as we are likely to see between the manga Ukyou and the divergent character that has become fanfic canon (i.e., Ranma's "best friend").
Most impressive are the flashbacks which bring life to Ukyou's tale. These scenes are well conceived, with a generous dose of the anime-style staging that is one of the principal appeals of DnR. Especially enjoyable are the childhood scenes, peppered with humor that is very faithful to the Takahashi style. I only wish the authors could have included more retellings of the manga events in which Ukyou was a major player, such as the secret sauce and breakup cave stories. I applaud the beginnings of the effort to fill in the "lost years" between the Ranma 1/2 manga conclusion and DnR's beginning with interesting stories. The flashback to Ryouga's rampage was riveting, with well-choreographed combat scenes.
The penultimate scene with Ranma and Akane features a dialogue that piques our interest, then ends far too abruptly. Progressive disclosure is fine, but "I'm too sleepy to reveal any more" doesn't cut it. The slow evolution of their pseudomarital relationship is nicely showcased in this scene as Akane tries to make up for the failings that Sato discerned for her and as Ranma exhibits a healthy level of concern for the future of their marriage.
The original DnR characters are rather low-key in this installment, which is a nice change of pace from most of the stories of the past year. Makiko is for the most part reduced to a sounding board for Ukyou, a refreshing muting of this often-shrill character. And Sato seems to be getting fewer of his lines out of fortune cookies. The collegiate setting of the series also fades into the background in this installment, appropriate to its focus on the original characters and the evolution of their relationships since the manga conclusion.
Nabiki's argument with Kasumi is intriguingly novel, and the authors knew exactly when to cut the scene. A shorter exchange would have been unsatisfying or unmemorable; a longer one would have stretched credibility as Kasumi has not yet been given a "dark side" in DnR.
Click here to go to the
Daigakusei no Ranma home page.
In my opinion.
Taleswapper
For the second year running, I will select my favorite Ranma 1/2 fan fiction that has been posted to the newsgroup over the past year, and will write new appreciations for each. I plan to pick the best 7 stories from all the fanfics I have written up in my posts for FY96. Unlike last year's awards, I plan to rank the seven stories, making clear my choice for the Best Ranma Fanfic of the year. The "nominees" are:
So be sure to get your votes in. Actually, my vote is the only one that counts. But since I've yet to finalize my top picks or their ranking, your remarks may help me make up my mind. I might try to get a little creative in this post; perhaps even soliciting some lighthearted input from the nominees. Or maybe not. In any event, look for the post before the end of October. In addition to handing out the annual Taleswapper awards, I will induct three more fanfics into Taleswapper's Hall of Fame. This "honor" goes to favorite Ranma fanfics more than a year old that have had the most impact on my reading of all fanfic. The three new inductees will join Putting Your Heart in the Right Place by John Biles, Ranma's Timeslip (Actor in the Mirror) by Christian Gadekan, and Ranma 1/2: Kanketsuhen 93 by Richard Uyeyama.
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