Greetings!

Out of the darkness, a crystal-blue hardsuit steps, its eyeslot
glowing iceblue. A deep, electronically modified voice resonates
against your ears. "Good day, everyone. The sermon is in session."
A chuckle escapes from the figure as he steps onto the podium.

Send money now!! Limited time offer!!  Uh....what was it you're selling
again? ;)

Okay, I -KNOW- I'm gonna get flamed left and right for this one,
but I just can't resist the chance to add my two cents.

You forgot to add the GST.  That makes it about four cents.  ;)

Crys Saga was actually pretty good if you actually ignore the 
over-powered main character. He has EXCELLENT characters
to start with (I wouldn't mind seeing other fanfic writers adding
a few of his new additions), and his descriptive writing was good
as well. I kinda wish he'd finished it.

Let's be honest, evem with its flaws, Crys Saga is still one of the
better Ranma Fanfictions out there.

Hmmm....if I get the chance, I'll have to have a look at it then. :)

Heck, while we're at it, let's critique a few other "Otaku" fanfics-- Twisted
Path, Chinese Samurai, Bubblegum Zone, and Undocumented Features.

Oh no....I know what's coming... *SkyKnight slaps a gauntleted hand over his
eyes.*

Twisted Path. now there's an interesting one-- somewhat overpowered

<SNIP>

like the story, as well.

Well, add one more fan to that list.  ^_^   I like it a lot as well,
although 'overpowered' was my original assessment as well.  Thankfully, I
didn't let that stop me from reading it. ^_^

Chinese Samurai. Hmm.. if Twisted Path is overpowered, this is

<SNIP>

you say MANGLED, everyone? Sure you can! I bet you can even spell
it too!

Haven't read this one, mostly because I tend to delete/avoid Ranma fanfic,
purely because there's such a surfeit of it out there.  I've broken down and
looked at some short ones and enjoyed them  (Right Side of The Ledger was
one I really liked), but because I don't have a huge amount of free time, I
don't usually pay attention to them.

Bubblegum Zone. The definitive single-man encyclopedia-sized fanfric.
Not even an OUNCE overpowed. The descriptive writing is top notch,
the chatacters are all on-target, and SkyKnight's humor shines throughout
the fanfic. A classic in its own right. This one has earned, as has Crys and
Twisted Path, a permanent spot on my HD. I've reread this many a time.

*sigh*  I knew he was going to start gushing about Zone. ;)

I'm not so sure I'd call it definitive, or encylopedic (I need another 20
pages to be that big. ;)  ).  I'm enjoying writing them, and I'm happy
others are enjoying them.  That's about the only reason I'm doing it, so as
long as I don't run out of ideas.... ^_^

(Side Note to SkyKnight, since I expect he'll see this:
BGZ 9 late??! AARGH!)

Side Note to Firehawke:  Where's Project- Firehawke then, HMMMM?!?!?!
*SkyKnight folds his arms across his chest and listens to the silence....* ;)

Zone#9 is coming.  Patience!!  ^_^

And last, but never least, the impossibly odd Undocumented Features.

<SNIP>

place on my HD. Excellent reference material as well, I might add. As
I said before, this is a MUST READ.

I'd have to agree here.  The core UF was great.  I haven't read any of the
expanded series spinoffs from that yet, mostly because time hasn't permitted
it.  Oh well, someday....

There are a good number of people flaming the Otaku Fanfics out there.
I suggest to you flaming, give suggestions on how to FIX it instead of
dissing it. I don't think these authors will stop working on their fanfics
just because you flame-- wouldn't it be better to show them what you
want instead of leaving them to do it on their own?

Well, it's a good idea.  If some people weren't quite so parochial in their
views of what constitutes a 'good' fanfic, they might enjoy them more.
Instead of reading, sure that it's going to be crap 'just because the author
put himself into the story', why don't they try reading with an open mind,
and thinking of everything as *fiction*, which is what it is.  I mean, I am
*not* totally like SkyKnight (I'd need a new ribcage if that were the case!
;) ), and I am *not* writing this as an ego boost.  I'm just putting pen to
paper (figuratively speaking) on some extensive daydreaming.

The figure steps off the podium and solemnly declares, "This preaching
session is ended for this post."

All rise!  ;)

He turns to everyone, and salutes. Then he nods to SkyKnight, Twister,
and WWolf. Turning to the crowd one final time, he exclaims, "Oh! Before
I forget.. Hi Mom!". The figure disappears into the darkness, leaving
you to puzzle his final comment.

SkyKnight salutes back before fading into the shadows....

===============================
Bert Van Vliet   SkyKnght@sentex.net
[http://www.jurai.net/~skyknght/index.html]
[Alias SkyKnight: Knight-in-Shining Armour, Punster at large, Die-Hard
Bubblegum Crisis Fan, and writer of Really Long Fanfics!]
"I have a very firm grip on reality....I can reach out and strangle it
anytime I want to!"    ^_^