On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Christopher DiNote wrote:

example of this, I think, would be Gunbuster (one of my personal 
faves!).  With this type of story, you can be pretty much limited to 
fanfics in the same _setting_, if not using the characters and 
situations of the source material. 

Preach on.  I'd love to do a Gunbuster story, but the problem is, to be in
the same timeline as Gunbuster, you'd have to either focus on events
occuring on earth while they wait for the Gunbuster to save them, or have
a story "between" the episodes.  With the latter, much of the "thrill" of
not knowing the end is lost.  Maybe an expansion of the romance between
Smith toren (grin!) and our heroine.

Another reason commonly agreed on is scale.  How "big" is the original 
story?  Generally speaking, you need something either pretty epic or at 
least with a huge cast (three guesses here).  Gunbuster is pretty epic 
in scale, but not enough of a cast or background story really exists to 
delve into.  I'd go back to Angus's email:  you're  pretty much limited 
to cross-overs, alternate universes, prequels, or sequels.  But the last 
two especially would have to be populated by a large cast of 
author-created characters though.

I disagree.  You don't need a huge cast.  Ensemble drama/comedy is cool,
but if you work at it, you can create a *lot* of effect with only three
characters.  Heck, for a one-shot, two will do!  But for a continuing
series, you can get away with three or four main characters, and a couple
of minor characters for the mains to expound to.

I'm working on a Boku no Marie fic, for example, that has currently four
main characters, and one minor (so far) character.  A lot of drama can be
generated, not because there's a 17-member cast, but because there's still
drama to be had.

Look at some of the great dramas of our time.  The Remains of the Day?
Two characters, mostly.  Endgame?  Two characters.  Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern Are Dead?  Three (with the rest of the cast of Hamlet making
minor apperances! ^_^).

I think that large casts give writers a more pre-fabbed palette to work
with -- the writer knows Nabiki will try this, and Kasumi can provide this
dialogue (vacuous as it is).  Ranma will bring out this side of the story,
and Akane that side.  Maybe it's harder working with smaller casts because
the characters must be 3D, or the story will fall flat on its face.  That
is, unless the story is completely plot driven... ^_^

I have every respect for writers who want to tackle large casts.  It's
hard to keep up with everybody's comings and goings, let alone their
thoughts and ideas and feelings.  But they aren't a requirement by any
stretch of the imagination.  The norm, maybe... ^_^

And, besides alternate universes, prequels, sequels and crossovers, what
other major genres are there?  I think that covers a lot of the gamut.
this si an honest question.  What other genres of fanfic are there?

Wow, we had a whole discussion on the list without a mention of 
you-know-who.  I like that.

Woohoo! ^_^



--Matt

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"..."  --James LaBrie, "Hell's Kitchen"
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