On Thu, 6 Jun 1996, Jon K. Hayashi wrote:

Strictly speaking, we're all writing without permission of the original 
author.  The "continuation to Angel's Spit" was just an example that it would 
be possible to take an existing story and change the tone and the facts as 
presented without explaining why, just as some fanfics do.  In my 
"continuation", it would have been completely consistent with the original - 
and just as mysteous in why the characters act the way they do.

	...and it would be your work.  I can't do anything to stop you 
from interpreting, and possibly expanding upon, my work.  And, frankly, 
as long as you don't sell the work as being entirely written by me, I 
don't really care if you _do_ continue _Angel's_Spit_.  In some real 
sense, a fanfiction is a discrete and permanent thing.  Right now I can 
justify or explain my works, and my ideas (although I won't, in this 
case).  Maybe I'll be dead, tomorrow -- or just off the list.  The work 
will _still_ be there to be read.  It will _still_ be the same mass of 
words.  I wouldn't pretend that _Angel's_Spit_ is anything more than what 
people read into it, just like I wouldn't pretend that Ranma is anything 
more than what we see it to be.  Is that really so strange?

CHL