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Title: Realizations
URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1260679/1/ (alt.)
Author: Wishweaver
Source: Harry Potter
Rating: 6/6 (and 1 bonus point)
Type: Alternate Universe (Takes place between books 4 and 5 among other things)
Length: 33 Chapters so far

Do you think you could live Harry Potter’s life? I know I couldn’t. He’s got a strength of character that’s downright inhuman… but so far, everything has been decided by someone else, be it Dumbledore, the ministry of magic, Voldemort, the Dursleys, or whoever. What if he was given an opportunity to shape his own life? What if he didn’t want to go back?

Realizations is a definite example of good fanfiction. The borrowed characters and settings feel realistic and in-character, the original characters are definitely well done (In fact, the author gets a +1 bonus point for them.), the writing makes you feel as if you are there, and it manages to feel familiar without re-using any of the existing plot.

I wish I could give this fanfic a 6/6 for originality but, because the setting is pre-existing, I have to give it a 5.5/6. (For it to be a 6/6 would require both familiar and well-done original characters in a new setting.) I know I’m being a stickler for the rules here but I don’t want to start handing out 5.9/6 ratings.

Also of note, this is my first time giving a fanfic a preemptive 6/6 rating. I haven’t re-read it yet but I have an extremely strong desire to do so and it’s only been a week. It’s got that “freshness” that is so rare in fanfiction but, when encountered, can even make original works feel cheap. Thanks to it’s lasting quality, this is currently my second favorite fanfic of all time.

Grammar: 6/6
Originality: 5.5/6
Overall: 6/6

Bonus Points:
+1 for doing such a good job on the original characters

Title: Naked Quiddich Match
URL: http://daisygrrl.com/quidditch/
Author: Anya (with a teeny bit by Karen)
Source: Harry Potter
Rating: 5.5/6 (and 2 bonus points)
Type: Alternate Universe (They have m-Mail)
Length: 10 Chapters (complete)

Have you ever considered the potential consequences of Magical Truth or Dare? It seems that Fred and George Weasley didn’t either. Because of them, the entire Gryffindor Quiddich team will have to play their next game naked.

This story is definitely funny. In fact, it’s the most hilarious thing I’ve read in ages. It loses grammar points for doing the first 8/10ths of it in the format of a batch of mMail (magical eMail) messages. (It’s easier to write since it’s similar to script format) but gains back for the quality of writing shown in the last two chapters, not to mention the skill shown in the decisions made for formatting and the fact that it takes proper advantage of the fact that it’s HTML and not just plain text.

It also gains points for taking the opportunity to show that just because a character is female doesn’t mean she has no interest in the bodies of the opposite sex. So many fanfics just ignore that fact or downplay it, especially comedic ones. It does get a bit out of character but it’s so fricken funny that I couldn’t care in the least.

This is how a fanfic should be. It gets you feeling something, uses the medium to it’s fullest, and brings you into the story.

Humor: 6/6
Grammar: 6/6
Overall: 5.5/6 (this is the closest I’ve ever come to 6/6 without re-reading.)
Bonuses:
* +1 for realism
* +1 for HTML-based beautification

Title: This Means War!
URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1603039/1/
Author: Jeconais
Source: Harry Potter
Rating: 5/6
Type: Alternate Universe (Sirius is still alive and they have m-Mail)
Length: 8 Episodes so far (Unfinished but guaranteed to be finished)

We all probably know (or at least know of) one family where the older brothers try to scare away boyfriends for their younger sister(s). What if the Weasley boys from the Harry Potter series were doing so with Ginny’s Boyfriends? What if she had a counter-plan that had been brewing for years?

This is definitely funny. It’s a Harry/Ginny match-up that provides a good example of all-out many-on-many (plus false neutrals and advice givers) prank warfare. I have to admit, I love the addition of m-mail (magical equivalent to e-mail) and the contents of the m-mails that people are sending. The part about the teachers placing bets is also quite a hoot. I don’t want to give away too much of the following plot but I’ll say that it’s one of those “[name of main character] gets overly powerful” fanfics. In this case, it’s well enough written for that not to matter.

It’s incomplete so far (8 chapters) but the author has promised that, although it may take a while, it will be finished. I’m giving it 5/6.

Title: Mirrors Multiplied
URL: http://www.asynjor.com/fanfic/ornstead.html
Author: Jared Ornstead
Source: Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, Oh! My Goddess, Iczelion, Robotech, and more.
Rating: 5/6
Type: Mega Crossover
Length: 19 Episodes so far (Unfinished)

Title: Mirrors Multiplied | URL: http://www.asynjor.com/fanfic/ornstead.html | Author: Jared Ornstead | Source: Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, Oh! My Goddess, Iczelion, Robotech, and more. | Rating: 5/6 | Type: Alternate Universe | Length: 19 Episodes so far (Unfinished)

What if Ranma got dumped into a universe where Genma was dead and his counterpart had learned kendo instead? What if his counterpart had died in a blood feud at the hands of Kuno? As the author put it, “What if Ranma were as smart and experienced as he were talented?”

Mirrors Multiplied definitely gets a 5/6 on the originality scale and it is an enjoyable read despite the fact that it’s a type of “Ranma gets a harem” fanfic. It’s got a good bit of humor in the first half, a solid storyline throughout, and a mixture of dark, epic, and drama in the end. I’m giving it a 5/6.

Title: Otaku Reflected
URL: http://www.asynjor.com/fanfic/ornstead.html
Author: Jared Ornstead
Source: Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, Mythology (and some names from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty)
Rating: 5.5/6
Type: Self-Insert
Length: 3 Chapters so far (Unfinished)

A nice implementation of what could otherwise have been a “not another one!?” concept. What if an Otaku ended up getting dumped into the Ranma world in some less than usual circumstances. This is probably a 5.5/6 for originality. I’ll give you one hint. They borrow the character names from the fairies in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Anyway, on with the review. I would have preferred it if the author had used the Japanese names for the Sailor Moon characters but it doesn’t really affect readability. (I don’t really mind the names Serena (Usagi) and Darien (Mamoru) but Amy (Ami) and Susan (Setsuna) are too close to the originals for comfort and Lita (Makoto) is just wrong.)

The background that has been put into the Fae kingdom is exquisite. Probably on par with the Artemis Fowl books. (a two-book series by Eoin Colfer with about the same target audience as Harry Potter. I highly recommend them and I’ll review them when I get a chance.) If you are a fanfiction writer who learns by example, you will definitely want to read this. By the way, y’know those annoying people who start off into their own world and won’t let you steer them back to the conversation at hand? The type who bring up meaningless points and don’t care about what’s really important. Ever wanted Sailor Pluto to have to deal with someone like that?

The only way I can describe it is to say again, “This is fricken’ funny as hell, amazing writing, and quite original to boot.” It does use a fanfiction cliche or two but nothing detrimental to the enjoyability of the story and I do wish that more had been written so far but it’s still amazing regardless of the fact.

Originality: 5.5/6
Overall: 5.5/6 (6/6 if I re-read it which I probably will.)

Title: A Little Motherly Love
URL: http://www.asynjor.com/fanfic/byrd.html
Author: Celeste Byrd
Source: Ranma 1/2
Rating: 4/6
Type: Alternate Universe
Length: 8 Chapters (Unfinished but author is deceased)

Grammar: 3/6 (Fairly well written but in script format. There’s the occasional uncorrected word)
Originality: 4/6 (Uses the original story and makes just enough changes to feel new)
OOCness: 3/6 (Sure, it’s an alternate-universe fanfic, but the author has stillmade false assumptions)
Overall: 3.5/6 (Has it’s flaws and just isn’t quite worthy of a 4 but still an OK read)

It’s in script format so my rating of the Grammar will be lowered and it does re-quote a lot of dialog but so do a lot of other fanfics. It just means that it can’t get as high an originality score. The author did say that it was her first fanfic but I can’t go easy on that. These ratings are supposed to tell you how much or little you would enjoy reading something.

The beginning feels a little unoriginal but not as much as it could be. I have to admit that it’s an interesting concept. In fact, this is only the second time I’ve ever seen a Genma is dead and Ranma is raised by Nodoka fic. I’ve seen several “Ranma gets left home” fics and one other “Genma is dead and Nodoka takes Ranma on the training trip” fic. (Review for that one pending.) I also have to admit that I prefer the other fic though. This fanfic makes too many common mistakes and I have noticed some places could benefit from a proofreading.

I would send in some corrections to the author but she is now deceased as far as I know.

Title: Otaku Three – Eva Revolution
URL: http://www.asynjor.com/fanfic/ornstead.html
Author: Jared Ornstead
Source: Ranma 1/2, Bubblegun Crisis, Evangelion, Tenchi Muyo, Slayers (and Magic Knight Rayearth if you include interlude)
Rating: 6/6
Type: Self-Insert
Length: 12 Chapters + 1 Interlude so far (Incomplete)

Well, there are a lot of crappy self-inserts out there but I seem to have hit gold. Otaku Three isn’t just good, it’s amazing. I should note, however that it is not the first part of the mega-series which it belongs to and I read it because someone linked to it. I’ll probably revise this review after reading the prior part of the series. (Otaku Reflected. Otaku 2 hasn’t been written or has been taken down.)

I must to admit, I did enjoy the author’s method of showing why certain courses of action wouldn’t work in the beginning. The story definitely has tons of good humor in it too. In fact, it’s probably the funniest fanfic I’ve ever read. Sure, some of the episodes on the Anime Addventure come close but none provide both quality and quantity.

It does give you the “I know the ending from the beginning” feeling but so do who knows how many published serial stories. The important thing is that the course from beginning to happy ending is unpredictable and enjoyable. In fact, it’s got enough quality and the right style to feel like a written anime instead of a fanfic. (at least, from where I’m standing.) In fact, I only noticed three places where it draws commonly-borrowed jokes verbatim from other series. The first is when the cast from Tenchi Muyo sing “When You’re A Professional Pirate” from Muppet Treasure Island. the second is in the interlude (chapter 12.5 which is ) where it borrows “Castle Anthrax” from Monty Python’s Quest for The Holy Grail, and the third and final one is the “stupidest combination I’ve ever heard in my life” bit from Spaceballs which appears in chapter 15. The author also seems to have extensive religious knowledge.

There are occasionaly slip-ups which could be caught by another wave of proofreading/editing but nothing that would take away from the appeal or quality of the story. (Unless the reader is an obsessive nitpicker) I’ll give it a 6/6 in all areas since I will definitely re-read it in under half a year.

NOTE: Starting with this review, I’ll include a URL section right in the beginning summary so that you can find it more easily and so it will appear in the RSS feed.