You know, I thought I was going to regret starting this thread, but I have
to say that having an argument like this with someone as intelligent and
well written as mine noble opponent (nod to Richard) is a sheer joy.

OK, I understand Richard's opinion (having heard a similar argument from
Katchan at a Con once), and in many ways I can sympathise with it.  Hell, I
agree with what he's saying on many levels.

But, I'd like to make a response on several points:

1) I draw issue with your claim that an SI is a fantasy, and as such is
somewhat different than a story.  Just because a story happens to feature
"ME" as a character, does that all of a sudden mean it doesn't have a plot
or any of the other things that create a story?  I don't think so.

2) Yes, often times a writer will make an SI that's not interesting to
anyone but himself.  Frankly, I've seen this for non-SI fiction as well.  In
my opinion, a GOOD writer worries about that no matter what kind of work
he's creating, be it fiction or not.  I know I (and a lot of people) work
hard to try to create works that are not only interesting for me, but a GOOD
STORY to read.

3) Melodrama.  UGHT.  Once again, I've seen this in non-SI fiction too and
more often than not it makes me somewhat irritated no matter where I see it.
I try to avoid melodrama where I can, especially after my initial scrapes
with it (prefering to write what I think is comedic drama somewhat like
Eddings).  A lot of authors don't.  They LIKE melodrama.  Bully for them.

4) The sheer hubris involved.  Heh.  I love this complaint.  What makes "ME"
better than X or Y?  The fact that it's my bloody mind coming up with the
story, and it's damn fingers typing it.  If X or Y want to be in the story,
they can write it themselves.  Now, I've actually considered doing something
like Sean Gaffney's works involving Zen.  Maybe I will...I don't know.  I've
got too many damn stories whirling through my brain as it is....besides, I
don't hink Ed would lend me his avatar.

5) Ah...the sterotypical complaint to the stereotypical SI.  I don't know if
I need to say more than that...but I will anyway.  ^_^  I like Sebastian's
"The Fanfic for *You*" because it shows EXACTLY all the things an SI writer
should avoid like the plague.  I feel a GOOD SI writer works to avoid
falling into that trap.  People DON'T fall in like immediately all the time.
Sometimes they fall in dislike too.  Look at Ed's Mi Vida Loco works.
People don't automatically like him.  As far as I recall, Kei wants to smack
him around for a few hours.

6) "SI's, in short, are self-serving, a kind of mental masturbation for the
author."  What makes you think SI's are any different from any other story?
IMO, ALL works of fiction are a kind of mental masturbation.


Finally Richard, I'd like to say that I've read all of your works - well,
the ones posted on your page, anyway.  And, while this may seem rude, I'd
like to say that I feel a good portion of your problem with SI is your own
reaction to YOUR SI's.  You are a very emotional, dramatic writer.  Hell,
your Nuku-Nuku work messed me up for WEEKS.  I'm willing to bet that shines
through on all your SI's too.

(Oh, BTW, not ALL my works are SIs.)

I don't think my works really apply to most of your complaints.  But then,
I'm biased - I LIKE SI's.  I don't think Ed's do, or Zen's (or Sean's), or
Brett's, or even a good chunk of the Eyrie works (especially the non-UF
ones).

Like you said, Richard, this is *MY* opinion.  Take it as you will.

--
Christopher Angel, B.Sc.(CS), B.E. (EE)
c_j_angel@hotmail.com

M.Sc. student at UCalgary