URLs for the fics that don't have them would be appreciated.
DEAD HORSES IN RANMA & SAILOR MOON FANFIC
DEAD HORSES IN RANMA & SAILOR MOON FANFIC
compiled by Scott K. Jamison
Edition 1.2
"There is nothing new under the sun."--attributed to King Solomon
While it's certainly not true that every possible plot twist or
character twitch has already been used up, some have been more heavily
mined than others in fanfiction. Some of them have been done so often
(and so often badly) that the experienced reader, upon seeing someone
attempting to "reinvent the wheel", can only sigh and think "here we go
again."
Thus this list, which hopes to cover the most commonly overused
themes and scenes, not to forbid their reuse, but to let the beginning
writer know what has already been done, and done well.
Each person contributing to this list, therefore, was asked to
provide examples of "dead horses", and more importantly, an example of a
story in which that scene, theme, or characterization was done best. If
nothing else, it should allow the reader to look up the more interesting
specimens.
Further suggestions for this list should be sent to me by private
e-mail at majks@cyberx.com . On-topic discussions of the stories
themselves need not be sent privately, of course.
I've restricted this to Ranma 1/2 (Created by Rumiko Takahashi)
and Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Created by Naoko Takeuchi) because those
are the two series with the most fanfic traffic right now.
RANMA/SAILOR MOON CROSSOVERS
Ranma Becomes A Sailor Senshi
Getting Ranma into a fuku one way or another is a staple whenever
these two series cross. Indeed, it's actually a surprise when he doesn't
get co-opted.
Best Treatment: _Lines of Destiny_ by Louis-Phillipe Giroux
"Just the overall treatment."--Luigi Mattera
"Instead of Ranma just blindly jumping in and accepting, with
only a minor complaint about skirt length, we get to see Ranma really
worrying about a potential to lose his masculinity, since his female side
has become so much stronger than his male one."--Christian A. Rogers
RANMA 1/2 STORIES
Nabiki/Kunou matchup
This is Nabiki's default coupling in "continuation" or "wrapup"
stories. Usually, it has no more justification than "Nabiki likes money,
and Kunou has it."
Best Treatment: (1)_Long, Hard Road_ by George Mori
"Gives Nabiki a believable reason to begin to respect Kunou.
Once of her schemes goes too far, and he is there to help her when she is
in trouble over her head."--Gary Kleppe
(2)_Reunions: Kunou/Nabiki Chapter_ by J. Austin Wilde
"Nabiki takes advantage of Kunou, marrying him only to gain
access to his money. A believable plot, and one that actually made me
feel sorry for Kunou."--Gary Kleppe
(3)_Thy Inward Love_ by Richard Lawson
"Lawson's version is possibly the definitive one. While it's a
trifle odd that Kunou suddenly manifests the nobility of his posturing in
reality, that's certainly a kinder fate than what Kunou will likely
become. Actually, I'm not sure anyone did the N-K matchup in more than a
perfunctory way before him."--David Johnston
"Nabiki-Kunou is best treated here because it isn't sudden--like
a true relationship, it slowly builds over time."--Jonathan Ng
Ryouga and Ukyou Pairing
"Like Nabiki and Kunou, the "destined" matchup in many fics.
Often, the reasoning behind it is shaky, as Ryouga and Ukyou just don't
get along very well at all in the series, and the only real relationship
appears to be occasional cooperation in breaking up Akane and Ranma. In
anything set after V. 31, Akari also enters into things. And by V. 35,
Konatsu's there as well."--Alan Harnum
Best Treatment: _The More Things Change_ and _The Pursuit of Happiness_ by RPM
"They feature probably the most plausible, well-developed and
realistic Ukyou/Ryouga relationship ever."--Alan Harnum
Akane/Ryouga matchup
This one is most common in stories where either Ranma is
dead/missing, or the author favors a different fiancee for our
gender-challenged hero. Few authors are really able to make it feel like
anything but a patch job, but those that do are to be commended.
Best Treatment: _Lies_ by Jeffrey Hosmer
"The only basis for the pairing on Akane's part (aside from a
nightmare Ranma had in the anime) are her friendly feelings towards
Ryouga, which are based on mistaken assumptions about him. Lies is one
of the few fics that takes this into account."--Brendan
New Relative
A quick way to introduce a new character, but often suffers from
a lack of imagination, making the sister/brother/cousin just like the
original, only quirkier.
Best Treatment: (1) _Give Peace a Chance_ by Stefan Gagne
"Ryouga has a peacenik older brother."--David Johnston
(2) _Saotome Squared_ by Eternal Lost Lurker (aka Robert Morrison)
"Ranma accidentally gets cured of the curse, then his daughter
comes from the future, and she does not act totally like Ranma or Akane;
she has a bit of Happosai in her, and given time, she could become quite
the character that neither of her parents weren't."--Andrew
Akane's Hammer
If you look carefully, almost every continuing character in the
Ranma 1/2 series uses a hammer at one point or another; even Kasumi
advocates hammering. But in fanfics, it's usually treated as something
unique to and stereotypical of Akane.
Best Treatment: _The Art_ by Gregg Sharp
"Made good use of the hammer by connecting it up with Akane's
relationship to Thor."--David Johnston
Psycho Bitch Akane
Yes, Akane has a bad temper, and tends to overreact when she's
angry. Yes, she does hit Ranma even when he doesn't really deserve it.
But that *isn't* the only side to her character, or even the main side.
This particular "dead horse" becomes especially annoying when the author
forgets the "slapstick" rules that apply to the Ranmaverse, or worse,
only applies realism to Akane's behavior, while excusing other
characters.
Best Treatment: _The Bitter End_ by Zen
"An excellently written story. The author deftly ducks the more
rounded characterization in the manga by giving Akane a mental illness
which takes an abrupt turn for the worse early in the action."--Scott K.
Jamison
Overuse of Character Catchphrases ["Aiyah", "Oh my", etc.]
Yes, it's a quick way to remind the reader who's saying what.
But too many writers use catchphrases as a crutch instead of writing new
but still appropriate dialogue.
Best Treatment: _Hearts and Minds Prelude 3_ by Gary Kleppe
"The pun on Nodoka's name, "Saotome Nobaka", is probably the best
use of this cliche that I can think of."--David Johnston
Ranma Is Split Into Separate Male and Female Halves
One of the most obvious Ranma plotlines, and one with a lot of
potential. Actually, it's not so much the number of stories with the
plot, it's the number of unsatisfying or unfinished stories with this
plot.
Best Treatment: _Two Sides of the Coin_ by Benares
"I liked [it] enough to try to write an ending for it. It was
funny at points but captured the torment of being left out of Ranma's
life for his female half."--David Johnston
Ranma Gets Stuck as a Girl, Long-Term or Permanently
"Like the Ranma splitting plotline one of the most obvious plots,
and also one with a lot of potential. Has been done numerous times, by
numerous authors, with numerous methods, and with varying success."--Alan
Harnum
Best Treatment: (1) _Sunrise_ and _Sunrise Chronicles_ by Nick Leifker
(2) _Thy Outward Part_ by Richard Lawson
"Both explore with skill the psychological and emotional effect
that such a situation would have upon Ranma and those in his life, but
each takes a very different path to do so."--Alan Harnum
Nodoka Finds Out About the Curse
The early stories about this made sense, since it hadn't happened
yet, but we still have people reinventing the wheel long afterward.
(Which isn't to say that it isn't appropriate in "alternate universe"
tales, but even in these, there seems to be a fatal sameness creeping
in.)
Best Treatment: _Ranma 1/2 Volume 36_ by Rumiko Takahashi
"Just the right blend of suspense, silliness and plot
twists."--Scott K. Jamison
Akane's Cooking
All too often used as a quick way of creating hostility between
Ranma and Akane in a story, even when it's taking place past the point
when Akane's cooking became acceptable in the manga.
Best Treatment: _Variyah Cycle_ by Mike Loader
"Uses it in a way that's genuinely funny and not just a rehash of
the same old supposedly `original flavor' stuff."--Gary Kleppe
Gaijin Visitors in Nerima
AKA "Self-inserts", nine times out of ten.
Best Treatment: _An American Gaijin in Nerima, Tokyo_ by Karl Rim
"The genre has been parodied by many, but Rim did it first and in
a way that was quick and to the point."--Gary Kleppe
Evil Cologne
"People really seem to have it in for the old girl. Cologne is a
common villain throughout fanfics, presented as the scheming witch who
forces her innocent great-granddaughter into foul schemes to kill Akane or
drug Ranma into submission. The biggest problem with the idea is that
Shampoo does things in the manga that Cologne wouldn't touch with a
ten-foot hopping stick."--Alan Harnum
Best Treatment: (1) _Hearts of Ice_ by Krista Perry
"For sheer nail-biting intensity, as Cologne teeters on the brink
of absolute victory or destruction time and again."--Scott K. Jamison
(2) _Thy Inward Love_ by Richard Lawson
"The archetype of the evil Cologne in fanfic...which set the
stage for numerous other authors to use Cologne as a convenient crutch to
explain Shampoo's behavior."--Alan Harnum
Ryouga Kills Ranma
"A common plotline, given the adversarial relationship of the two
and the chance for heaping spoonfuls of angst. Has been done many times,
ranging from extremely well to poorly."--Alan Harnum
Best Treatment: _Lies_ by Jeffery Hosmer
"Just about the best of the lot, as it is both an early example
and superbly written."--Alan Harnum
BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILOR MOON
New Senshi
Perhaps the most obvious plot device available, with even
Takeuchi-sensei herself succumbing to some of the sillier examples.
Best Treatment: _Lines of Destiny_ by Louis-Phillipe Giroux
"Oh sure, Sailor Dirt is inherently lame, but the conflict of
Ranma having to accept his previous female incarnation is worth looking
at."--David Johnston
Jadeite Returns
Note that this one is anime only, since in the manga Jadeite is
pretty definitely dead.
Best Treatment: _Sailor Moon Expanded/Dark Kingdom Renegades_ by Mark Latus
"Gave a reason why he survived, and it's one of the few times
that Jadeite comes up with a scheme worth the effort."--David Johnston
Lesbianism in Crystal Tokyo (Non-Lemon)
"Why should Usagi be the only Senshi in a heterosexual
relationship?"--David Johnston
Best Treatment: _Zodiac Grand Tour_ by Berk Watkins, set in the _Sailor Moon Expanded_ Universe
"Makoto's relationship with Chrysolite. It's the only time I've
seen poor Makoto hooked up with anyone, and you know what Woody Allen
said about bisexuality....[*1]"--David Johnston
Rei and Usagi Discovering They're In Love and, After Admitting it to
Each Other, Go at it Like Rabbits in Heat
Ahem.
Best Treatment: _Curiousities_ by Siranime
"It builds well, although the group orgy scene at the end is a
bit excessive, but the moments where Usagi and Rei discuss how to handle
their new-found feelings are pretty darn touching at points."--Christian
A. Rogers
Self-Insert Lemons
All too often, merely an ego-stroking fantasy for the author, and
less than thrilling to those who fail to share the author's kinks.
Best Treatment: _Coming of Munihausen_ by the Great Red Serpent
"Not chosen because it's a good story (it's f***ing disgusting)
but because it has not one...not two...but THREE people inserted to rut
with their favorite Senshi...and respectively involving a cucumber, a
bloody corpse, and racial slurs."--Christian A. Rogers
Naru Confronts Usagi About Their Distancing Relationship
Strange how she never seems to do this in the anime or
manga...though she does seem to know why it's happening.
Best Treatment: _Suiseki_ by Eternal Lost Lurker (aka Robert Morrison)
"The moment they confront each other is powerful and, while the
problems are over for the moment, the feeling that there's still a rift
between them is expertly left behind."--Christian A. Rogers
Setsuna is Manipulative and Will Do *Anything* to Advance the Path
Another of those stereotypes that is perhaps more fan canon than
reality, though admittedly not without cause.
Best Treatment: (1)_Secrets_ by Ken Wolfe
"While Setsuna's manipulations are horrifying in their results,
she is not depicted as omnipotent or omniscient; the author manages to
make her seem very human, despite everything."--Chris Davies
(2)_Universal B_ by Jendra
[No quote provided.]
* * *
I'd like to thank everyone who contributed. In addition to those
quoted above, assistance came from Murmur the Fallen, Brian M., Bob W. and
Benson Yee. Congratulations to those authors whose works were chosen as
examples!
Comments?
SKJAM!
majks@cyberx.com
http://geocities.datacellar.net/Tokyo/Flats/5990
*1: "It doubles your chance of a date on Saturday night."
v1.0 (081398) First version.
v1.1 (081498) Added Gary Kleppe's nominations, put in a couple of
pointers, minor corrections.
v1.2 (082098) Added Alan Harnum's nominations, more URLs, deleted
unnecessary footnote.
v1.3 (082298) Updated Kleppe quotes, a couple more nominations,
corrections.
