Hi!
Just a reader here, not a writer. I consider what I have "penned" to be essentially exercises in character development, the "left over" result of being a drama student many years ago!
I became interested in fanfics while trying to find something new and different to watch, while recovering from a knee injury and subsequent surgery. I hobbled into my son's room and just picked a DVD off the shelf. It happened to be one in the RK series. After watching it I was told that it was based on something called a "manga". Well, I finally figured out what that was, limped into the bookstore to see one "in person" and then went on-line to find a translation, which I then read. (Thank you Maigo-chan!) In the process of looking for the manga translation on-line, I just stumbled onto some fanfic sites and decided that reading some of them would keep me from not being bored while perched on the couch after surgery, letting my knee recover. (I finally got tired of watching Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta on Fox!)
In my "favorites" section I have listed some of those that kept me entertained. Being past the half-century mark, I tend to like to read about the "older" Kenshingumi residents, usually Hajime/Tokio or Meg/Aoshi. I also seem to like the stories that have a "happily ever-after" type of ending. I don't find movies or books with unhappy endings to be entertaining. There is too much of that in real life!
I personally find reading unfinished stories frustrating, because I always want to know how the thing ends. For that reason my favorites list is comprised of finished fics with only a few exceptions because I like them so much. Although unfinished, The Courtship of Lady Tokio is very good and worth reading. I also included a five-part Meg/Aoshi AU by Cherie Dee, that is technically not finished, but the last chapter of the last part leaves the couple in a very satisfying place, and if that fic happens to end there, there is no doubt about "The End".
I think that the action between Saitoh and Tokio in the AU, Captain Miserable Finds the Greener Grass, is a real hoot! The author added a companion series, All the Small Things, that tells the "rest of the story" about some CM moments. The author, Talentless Hack (a misnomer if there ever was one), is faithful in updating, giving previews of new things, and communicating with her readers through her LJ!
Bird in Hand explores the very beginnings of Saitoh and Tokio's relationship and his marriage to Yaso, something that is rarely written about. The Place Where I Belong by Jesphoenix05 is an AU fantasy crossover. I really like how the author develops the relationship between them. Tale of Kenji is another work in progress. Besides being a very engaging tale about the Himura family, it has some really great action between Fujita Tsutomu (Saitoh's son) and Himura Kenji.
I realize that "real-life" gets in the way and many people are not able to finish what they started even though they would like to. I do appreciate all of you authors out there, who have devoted so much time and effort, so that the rest of us can escape from our "real lives" and be entertained for a while!
Anreg
1-19-08
Thanks Irena for letting me use your original drawing for an icon! (Sorry the scan and post did not turn out as nice as the original.)
FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination
