I am mostly not an anime or manga fan, but I've found a few that I like . For example, when I ran across the NGE videos on the Web, it soon became evident that this was NOT a kiddies' cartoon. The main story line was increasingly dark and depressing. The End of Evangelion left a bad taste in my mouth. The story should not be allowed to end this way! I was hooked.

A little later on I discovered this site and, in particular, the EVA fics. Although many of the stories were left unfinished and many were written by people who badly needed to sharpen up their basic writing skills, I found many -great- stories . . . a lot of them filling my need for a better ending. Some of the authors, IMHO, should be getting paid good money for their efforts. The quality of their writing is at least as good as what I have found in commercially published fiction. I am, however, grateful that I can read their stories for free.

I've branched out to reading fics based on other works. I've read some of those based on Love Hina . . . another example of a story with an ending I didn't like. I've found a fair amount worthwhile and enjoyed them greatly. To those who like Love-Hina, there is a fic not on this site called "Motoko's Dilemma" by Teisu that I can recommend.

There are a lot of good stories based on Harry Potter (breaks the pattern - I liked the ending). S'TarKan's "The Nightmares of Futures Past" is in my "favorites". Though unfinished to date, it has already raised the bar in quality writing around here.

A TV series that I was sorry to see canceled, "Firefly", lives on in a lot of good stories on this site as well.

Updated 06/10/08 - Finally decided to try some more writing, mostly to see if I could do it. It is a very humbling experience for me. Almost all of the writers around here are more creative than I am. My strength is in the basic writing skills . . . grammar, spelling . . . you know, the nuts and bolts. So now I have a greater appreciation for those who manage to do it all: come up with an original plot, do great character development, pay enough attention to the nuts and bolts I mentioned, and maybe most important of all, FINISH IT. That's what I'm trying to do right now. I've been so frustrated with reading unfinished stories that I refuse to post until mine is finished. Hopefully I'll get there, and maybe even have an entertaining product to show for all the effort.

9/19/08 I'm following a story that for reasons that escape me, seems to be largely ignored. It is Opus Kouzo. I find it to be an interesting and original take on post 3-I. I'm hoping that the few who may happen by here will give it a read. Another is Neon Genesis Evangelion: Redux. This one is a bit more light-hearted, with tongue firmly inserted in cheek. I'm not sure where either of these are going, but they maintain my interest, and I hope to be able to read the final chapters when they arrive.

12/15/08 Posted my 2nd short piece (woo-hoo!) . . . another NGE, a one-shot for now. I'd like to do something longer, but haven't had much inspiration for a good plot. Still reading all of the good writers out there. When I find something I like, I check the author's favorites . . . usually they are good recommendations. Lots of good ones in the Firefly (a one-season TV series and movie) category. Missed most of it when it was on the air, but found I could request the DVDs from my local library. Excellent!

12/23/08 Finally qualified as Beta Reader (published enough words). Check the stuff I've uploaded. I did not use a Beta, or anyone else to pre-read. And of course, check my Beta profile.

01/04/09 Happy New Year! A word on my "Favorite Stories" . . . consider them my recommended reading list. Special mention for "Together We Stand" and "Divided We Fall" by Hotwire, incomplete here. I managed to find the third part, "Carpe Diem", and saved a copy along with the other two parts. Anyone interested, email me and I'll send you a copy of "Carpe Diem"

2/9/09 Well, I did what I said I wouldn't do. I wrote a one-shot that later turned into a two chapter piece. I called it 'complete' each time, but after a while I added another chapter, then another. Now I can't call it complete. Worst of all, I don't know if I will continue it. Lack of inspiration, mostly. I don't want to just rehash the original story. On the up side, I don't think I will disapoint more than a very few, if any, by not finishing it.

4/7/09 Removed chs. 3 & 4 of "I Didn't Ask For This". Chs. 1 & 2 can stand alone.
~ ~ ~ Trying to develop a story that expands on events starting from (approx.) the beginning of Gehirn. There were two survivors of 2nd Impact. The other one knows it was planned and wants to hunt down and punish the ones responsible. He connects up with others wanting the same and ends up creating an organization as shadowy as Seele, but with a little better ethics. When they find out about Seele's and Gendo's plans for the Instrumentality of Man, they aim to stop that as well. Nearly 13000 words so far. I'm trying to make it feel as real as possible . . . an alternate timeline to our own.

6/30/09 Work proceding, but slowly, on the story involving a second survivor os 2-I (mentioned above). Word count at 23,000+ and growing.

10/21/09 Finally bit the bullet. The first chapter of "The Other Survivor" is posted. I was trying to be stubborn about not posting until the whole story was in its completed form on my computer. What can I say. I couldn't wait any longer.