Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 19:14:30 -0500
From: Dan Root <dar-ffml@thekeep.org>
To: ffml@fanfic.com
Subject: [FFML] [Ranma][Fic] The Martyr

$Revision: 1.2 $
$Date: 1999/01/17 23:56:07 $

		      Damn This is Stupid Productions
				    and
			 Why Do We Bother Pictures

				  present

				The Martyr

		A spam-fiction from the world of Ranma 1/2.
				  by DaR

				    fin

				    ***

There.  Another quality, or not-so-quality spam-fic, done and out the 

door.

Ukyou always dies a tragic death in fanfic.  Taking a blow for her 

fiance

or friends, dying at the hands of a rampaging villain, slowly pining 

away
>from a broken heart or some terminal illness.  Preferably in some 
manner

that makes everyone re-examine their lives, their purpose, their 

decisions.

Especially if it's worth some tears from the reader.  Such a martyr.

Well.... not this time.

	-DaR

You know, this could almost be a continuation of such fics as "Ranma's 
Dead. Oh, well" (I think that was the title) and "Dr. Tofu falls down a 
manhole cover and dies".  Seriously, though, I think that just about all 
death in fanfiction tends to fit the mold you complained about, outside 
of humour fics.

I don't think I've ever seen a serious portrayal of death as something 
that is random and meaningless--random, yes, but even then the author is 
usually trying to make a point about that, so it isn't really 
meaningless.

Frankly, even if this fic were continued without the monologue at the 
end, it could be portrayed as tragic.  Not necessarily noble, just 
tragic in the way Ranma so eloquently expresses:  "This sucks!"

Hell, I could see a better author than myself doing a creditable job of 
writing half-a-dozen character sketches showing how the "tragic 
senselessness" of Ukyou's death makes everyone else decide to get off 
their asses and try to do something about the rut their lives have 
become, because they might die tomorrow.

Sorry, DaR, but I think you'll need to go back to the drawing board to 
make this say what I think you were trying to say.  And to be honest, 
I'm not sure that's even really possible.

--Freemage


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