Last updated on the 15th of January, 1999.

My Biases

     However, just because I am biased, and I believe that most people have biases, however, small or slight, it does not necessarily mean that that is an utter disadvantage. For while there are, quite obviously, some disadvantages to being biased, as I mentioned at the end of The Purpose of This Review Site, in the same way it can be turned to advantage. As long as one recognizes, is aware of, one's whims and preferences (and perhaps, to some smallest of extents, can reason them) I feel that one is alright. Just do not be blind.

     I think that, as a reviewer, it is important for me to state my biases, to put forth some sort of order and reason and predictability to what might otherwise be, at first glance, seemingly illogical (and hence, useless) preferences. While this site is ultimately for those who share my biases, it may also be of service to someone who happens to like what I dislike, or vice versa. For example, I tend to avoid dishes with celery, while there are others I have met who (amazingly enough) love celery. Saying, "I didn't like that dish because it had celery," is much more useful than just saying "I didn't like that dish." See what I mean?

     Well, enough of this for now. Let us go on to what my biases actually are. Also, I will make a mention that these are not rules. I do have a little set of rules that I keep in my mind with regards to what I think should and should not be in fanfiction, however, it is not necessarily something be to stuck closely to. Indeed, one or more of these rules have a tendency to be broken by quite a few of my favourite fanfics. In other words, one bias may overcome another bias. But I think I can safely say that I will never go against all my biases. I could go into a whole argument about this, but I don't think that this page is the place for it.

1.     I happen to like Uranus/Haruka and Michiru/Neptune. I have already mentioned this in My Limitations as a Reviewer. It takes too long for me to go completely into this topic, but I shall simply state that they are my two favourite characters. Hence, I tend to favour fanfics including them more, i.e. they interest me more.

2.     I like fanfics that go into thoughts and thinkings. Contemplations and going into the mind. Character exploration. It's sort of all the same.

3.     Character portrayal is also important. If a writer shows how a character really is, or convinces me of how a character might be (because, with the exception of Historical fanfics (retelling the story) and Thought fanfics (simply going into the mind and little else), fanfics are all basically a "what-if" situation), I think the writer has done a good job. (To understand my characterization of fanfics, see About the Categories.)

4.     I am highly appreciative of fanfics that try to capture the essence of the anime. Some writers may go off into marvelous and wildly intelligent tangents that is recognized as good writing, but they no longer feel like the original anime to me (apologies to manga-based writers). I like something that makes me feel like I'm watching the anime. Of course, if I put my mind to it, I can imagine most fanfics that I read anime-style, but still, it's nice if it comes more effortlessly.

5.     I am not one for lemons. I'm not talking about anything mild here, I talking about the very explicit. I have read a couple, unintentionally, and I sort of feel that being lemons spoiled them. For one thing, the anime never went into it (see point #4 above) and I did not see what was beautiful or appreciable about it. Perhaps being a lemon in itself is not a bad thing, but rather how the writers go about them.

6.     Fanfics on the more poetic side tend to appeal to me. Writing style is important, even if it's not on the poetic side. For examples, descriptions can be tedious or appreciable, depending on how they are done. (I know, I could have gone in to a little more detail.)

7.     I like something with story, plot, and sometimes a twist is nice. Give me a little darkness, give me some suspense - I can appreciate something keeps me sat deep in my seat or still on edge. Cleverness and intelligence is generally welcome, but I also like it if the storyline is sad, or beautiful, wistful, or something about love, because, ultimately, that is what Sailormoon is all about.  (Yes, again, a little vague.)

     This isn't it, and I'm not reviewing fanfics solely on what you see here, but I hope you have a better understanding of the kinds of fanfics that I like.

Both images found here.