Not having seen the movie and all...

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor in Chief, Netadmin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

Do - from what I've seen of your tastes, I think you'd get a tremendous kick out of it.

Blessed be.
-n

I wasn't counting Welcome Home, just looking at the most recent two, Starting Over and Blood Ties #1. (And if you really want to be mathematical about it, you have to take back six of the comments on that, since they were actually my responses to questions. I don't count my own answers as "buzz". :)

I can understand the appeal of Starting Over being pretty narrow, but the slack response to Blood Ties #1 has me a bit surprised, given that there was (I thought) some pretty heavy stuff in it. I dunno. Maybe it's just because it's the first of three parts and I said as much when I released it. It just seems like it came out and most of the board kinda went, "Huh? ... So anyway, how about Sky Captain!"

(shrug)

I guess I'm just getting paranoid in my old age. I find myself more often looking at what I'm working on and thinking, "And this is accomplishing what, precisely?" It's probably just an equinoctial funk. I'm sure I'll get... much worse, actually, now that we're plunging down the slippery slope into winter. (For crissakes, the local cellphone shop's "days until next major holiday" window counter has already been set to Christmas mode. But that's another rant altogether, and I'd rather not get into it here - it's too early even to be complaining about early Christmas things. :)

I am chuffed about the Titans fan art, though. I may need to set up a Titans subpage in the Bacon Comics subdirectory sometime soon, so that there's someplace more permanent to display them. My general policy is not to give something a subpage unless there are at least three pieces (which is why CSI: New Avalon and Titans don't have them at the moment), but, hey, my rules, I can break them if I feel like it. I just have to come up with a decent title graphic. (Dave saved me the trouble in Raven's case. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor in Chief, Netadmin
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

Well, I think you've nailed it as far as Blood Ties goes... waiting for the rest of the story arc for a full on reaction. Well, that and, for myself anyway, my reaction would be limited to simple fanboyism... and I feel like a goober just posting "wow, really neat ideas, more please." Probably ought to more often, everyone likes encouragement, but ah well.

>
>I guess I'm just getting paranoid in my old age. I find myself more
>often looking at what I'm working on and thinking, "And this is
>accomplishing what, precisely?" It's probably just an equinoctial
>funk. I'm sure I'll get... much worse, actually, now that we're
>plunging down the slippery slope into winter. (For crissakes, the
>local cellphone shop's "days until next major holiday" window counter
>has already been set to Christmas mode. But that's another rant
>altogether, and I'd rather not get into it here - it's too early even
>to be complaining about early Christmas things. :)
>

I've found that the "what am I accomplishing" train of thought leads nowhere good, and does so very quickly. In answer to it, though, from my perspective your work accomplishes something very worthwhile, it helps me make it through my days at the Hell Desk. For reasons I'll never understand about myself, I can switch from one window to another on a PC without skipping a beat, but switching from paper to a PC window is like rebooting... it just throws me. So, having gobs of generally high quality and always entertaining fiction available in electronic form is a boon to my sanity, and I thank you for it (as would my coworkers, if they ever understood the danger they're in if I should lose my sanity, hehe.)

	-={(Astynax)}=- "Darkness beyond Twilight"

What he said.

Well, that, and I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be able to obey Rule 1 if I fanboy'd about Blood Ties. Call me Mr. No Self Control.

Shalon Wood

Having read them all and liked them all, I think the easiest thing to say is, well, on a Friday it's easier to post on something low brain (like a movie) then something high concept (like Raven as Rose Bride). Plus I'm trying to quietly think of a way of saying "I knew Akio was her father!" without sounding like a putz. I need to re-read your stuff about 2-3 more times before I can intelligently post. At least that's my excuse.

>I guess I'm just getting paranoid in my old age. I find myself more
>often looking at what I'm working on and thinking, "And this is
>accomplishing what, precisely?" It's probably just an equinoctial
>funk. I'm sure I'll get... much worse, actually, now that we're
>plunging down the slippery slope into winter.

Um, if you like, we could set up a Greek Chorus to praise you. Would that help?

Ok, probably not. If it makes you feel any better, I spent my Friday evening in a bookstore, wandered around and thought "UF source material, NXE source material, I like Gryphon's version better, damn it why can't people write character and dialog these days?". Or perhaps you would be pleased to know that I can't play Halo without imaging the Master Chief as a Salusian? Or wonder just how Cortana is dealing with the AIs of her world 300 years on? Or what happened when the Chief met Tuncer? I know that if I saw an elite I'd probably blast him (or run like hell)...

Hmm, did you realize that the body of UF material alone is over 120 stories? My god, can anyone else on the Internet - or in print literature - boast that many Novellas and Novels? Admittedly it's all collaborative and quality varies, but I can't think of a single series that's spawned over 120 books. Not even DragonLance :)

And frankly, you're part of one of the most copied fanfic groups on the internet. How many times has a DJ Croftesque character showed up in other universes? Way, way too many in the EVA fic I've read lately. What about the Norns as goddesses in crossover universes? Yup, seen them too. Maybe those are tips of the hat to you, but I've only seen two other anime fanfic authors get that kinda love since 2000, and neither has continued writing.

I admit, I haven't seen a Mariel equivalent yet, but I don't read In Nomine fanfiction. And Mariel is way, way cool. As for Warriors universe...that one might be your most original and unique one to date since most video fanfic reads like "Fist of the NorthStar". Hell, your art deco/golden age of detective fiction is chic and has stayed chic over the last five or so years. Maybe that's just y'all catching the wave and coincidentally riding it, but I have a feeling that you're subtly part of the phenomena, not outside of it.

Even if the powers that be might get pissed over intellectual property, you've created a remarkable universe and one that will be enjoyed as long as English and the Internet exist. Plus, in 70 years all the source material IP will run out (assuming Congress doesn't do something stupid and even more conducive to stiffling inovation). So maybe we can't legitimately enjoy the body of work you've created, but my grandchildren will (mind you, I'm assuming a lot about the world 70 years from now, but it's too early on a Monday to be pessimistic). How many authors get that sort of fame?

Anyway, are you just feeling some extenstial angst? Are you worried that these stories didn't turn out the way you expected? If that's what you're worried about, why not try a project that doesn't have derviative source material? It's clear you can write original characters and put them interesting settings. Why not concentrate on doing something like that. You've the talent, you've obviously got some sort of muse...perhaps she's just prodding you in a new direction? (and yeah, I've said that before too - wasn't planning on bring it up but you started on this again so...)

>I am chuffed about the Titans fan art, though.

Chuffed? what does that mean?

t.
who will now duck and run from the Crack Weasels who will be a little ticked at the suggestion that an Author spends his energy on something other than fanfic.

p.s. btw, the comments hold for all the Eyrie authors - not just Gryph.

Trigger Argee
trigger_argee@hotmail.com
Manon, Maccadon, Orado, etc.
Denton, never leave home without it.

"If we are marked to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater the share of honour
God's will I pray thee wish not one man more" - Henry V, Act, IV Scene III

Before you scoff at the unrealism of this scenario, keep in mind it has several historic precedents. The first example that springs to mind is Heinlein's lemon-scented crossover fanfic The Number of the Beast. Nobody's estate sued him for that one.

Mike Thedford
Ex-Dictator
Homemaker in Captivity

Na. Not going there.

ANYWAY...

Gryph, you ARE doing a lot of good. Why are you doing this? Cause we all love to read what you write. Yeah, maybe there wasn't 50+ posts immediatly on Blood ties, but this was just the first part, after all. You're laying ground work. And given the ground work you've laid, I expect parts 2 and 3 to be real rollercoasters.

Personally, after 4 Eryie fics in the space of 2 weeks, I about ready to keel over from the overdose. Not that it would be a bad way to go (other than not reading how it ends). I didn't get a chance to finish Blood Ties until this weekend and as a few others have said, I'm still in the 'Wow!' stage.

>And frankly, you're part of one of the most copied fanfic groups on
>the internet. How many times has a DJ Croftesque character showed up
>in other universes? Way, way too many in the EVA fic I've read lately.
> What about the Norns as goddesses in crossover universes? Yup, seen
>them too. Maybe those are tips of the hat to you, but I've only seen
>two other anime fanfic authors get that kinda love since 2000, and
>neither has continued writing.

Umm Trigger? The Norns as Goddesses bits in Gods Willing and UF is adapted from the Ah! Megami-Sama/Oh! My Goddess anime and manga.

Norgarth

Yes, I know. What I'm pointing out is how characters and situations in UF are mirrored in other fanfics. Croft was an example of using an archetype (British or at least BlueBlood American with great fighting skils and wits saves NGE universe). My point about Aa megami-sama was really about using the Norns as gods in a crossover universe. Prior to this, I saw them in contexts that stayed closed to the source material. Now I'm seeing them in their role as the fates in cross overs. Just my observation. That and $1.25 will get you a ride on MUNI.

t.

Trigger Argee
trigger_argee@hotmail.com
Manon, Maccadon, Orado, etc.
Denton, never leave home without it.

"If we are marked to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater the share of honour
God's will I pray thee wish not one man more" - Henry V, Act, IV Scene III

Why the hell would some of us do that? Hell, I've already offered to use what connections I have (the owner/EIC of F&SF is an old college friend of mine, for one) should Gryphon ever want to try his hand at pro writing.

-- Bob
-------------------
This announcement was brought to you by the Committee to Elect Abraham Lincoln President. Yes, he's dead, but that qualification alone makes him better than the other candidates.

I feel particularly like an AOhelLer saying this, but "me too" :)

Seriously, I mostly forgo commenting (in general) because my reading style requires multiple passes before anything but the most blatant details sink in (and even then, if I want to comment usefully, I ahve to take notes, or I just end up with a kind 'wow, that was fun' sort of feeling when I'm done reading).

Not wanting to tap-dance along/across the line that is rule 1, and not having taken notes while reading, I haven't posted any comments on the recent stuff.

>This would likely be an unpopular comment, but I'd recommend that you
>space these releases out, so they don't overwhelm us. :D

part of me wants <censored for rule 1 violation> but the other part agrees with the above. Then again, I doubt any sort of timing modifications to your Muse would be overly helpful, so I'll just wait for the next arts to come, whenever they do.

HEE HEE!

See, I finished 'A Certain Obligation', and Gryph finished the editing on it, and we put it out, and literally a day later he suddenly got Welcome Home done.

The conversation went something like this:
"I feel bad putting it out right on the heels of yours, like I'm going 'see? I'm still here!' I should wait a few days."
"Ah, put it out. It's good, the only person with a real right to bitch about it is, well, me, and I'm not going to."
"OK, then."

So this time, you have ME to blame, and not Gryphon! Just so blame goes to the right place, y'see.

Next time, I'll let him go first.

--
Geoff Depew - Darth Mephron
Haberdasher to Androids, Dark Lord of Sith Tech Support.
"Brazil has decided you're cute."

And since you've said you don't like that sort of thing, I don't go posting "oooh, shiny!" every time the What's New page changes. But the sentiment is there.

Edit: Bah, I'm resurrecting old threads. Serves me right for only coming here once in 2 months. I'll go away now.

--
Satya.