After - Miriam Rocke
The problem with this story, is that the author tries too hard. adjectives fly out at an alarming rate (usually in threes) and a good part of the fanfic is told in the characters' thoughts, in attempt to convey their feelings. But then, that's the whole point of the story. The one idea is stretched to near breaking point, but it never actually breaks, leaving the reader totally involved in the characters' relationship. It's good, but ould do with a little trimming, editing, cutting . . . [4/5]
Addicted Much? - Little Willow
Bizarre. That's what this story is. It describes itself as a
"Therapeutic Parody", but what it actually is is a twisted take on
those shows that *know* they are shows (if anyone has seen "Sean's
Show", then they'll know what they are in for). It's an enjoyable read
for Buffy fans; everyone else will just be bemused by it. If only the
dialogue had been spiced up a bit . . . [3.5/5]
After The Dance - ET Hills
This story is non stop action, leaving little room for anything else. I gather that it is meant to be an alternative ending to the Buffy: The Vampire Slayer film, which I haven't seen. Still, the writing is tight and to the point. [3/5]
Aftermath - Tina Cooling
I like this one a lot - it's not a story; more of a set of thoughts
from one of the shows characters. The problem is, it's far too short.
It really should have been worked into a longer piece of fiction. If
it had it been, it would have gotten full marks. [4.5/5]
Sacrifice - Jessica Hodge
I think that the whole point of this story is to set up Willow as some kind of powerful being. I think. See, Willow gets captured by a so-called sorceress, and then is recued. And that is it. The characters are paper cut outs, the dialogue is minimal, and the whole thing is as fleshy as a skeleton. [1/5]
A Sad Story With A Happy Ending - Lisa Moore
Um, is that all there is? This fanfic must have been knocked out in literally a couple of minutes, as it is so short. If I were to write "Buffy staked the vampire", you not only would know the plot of the story - you would have read a good percentage of it. And what's with the hallucinations? And the inaccurate title? [1/5]
Safe . . . Uh . . . Haven? - Sali
Short but sweet, this is a very funny "missing scene" from a Buffy episode. I liked it. [3.5/5]
Say That Again?! - Leslea
Usually, to get a good mark a fainfic would have to have a good plot, great characterisation, be well written, etc, etc, but in this case, it all goes out the window because this story made me laugh a lot. It's written in reverse and is funny. I liked it a lot. [4/5]
Sealed With A Kiss - Anya
Willow plays the hero as Buffy and co prevent a new wave of demons escaping the Hellmouth in this very enjoyable fanfic. However, there is a problem, and it's one that I myself have experienced time after time in my own work, that is: overwriting. Simple descriptions are panned out over many paragraphs, and the language used is dense and archaic, real dictionary stuff. This particularly doesn't lay well with some of the more comical expressions. For instance, the character of Cai is referred to by increasingly silly names, all aimed at emphasizing his short stature and ugly features. Still, it's a good read, and has a marvellous in joke for vampire fans. [3.5/5]
Three Handed Game - Theodore J Miller
There is a sort of war in fiction, between the "don't show, tell" authors, and the "don't tell, show" authors, and the winners will be the authors that come up with a compromise between the two factions. That's ironic, because in this fanfic, Buffy and crew are caught up in a war between two factions of vampires (imagine Interview With The Vampire versus The Lost Boys), and the fanfic loses out because it's on the "don't show, tell" side. I liked the story; don't get me wrong; but it would have made a much better script than a piece of prose. The whole thing is almost entirely dialogue, admittedly *good* dialogue, but if you are writing a story, you cannot rely on what the characters say to each other. [3.5/5]
Under The Blood Moon - Sharon Jacobs
A short but sweet tale in which Angel saves Willow from an unknown attacker. What makes the story are
the little touches - Angel’s opening feelings for Buffy and his knowledge of the nuances of the inhabitants of
the street. There’s little here to go on, but what there is is pretty good. [3.5/5]
Up All Night - Omega
“Buffy” said Angel
“Willow” said Buffy
“Angel” said Willow
Believe you me, if I thought that the above greeting was written in a post modern ironic style, which then
carried over to the rest of the fan fiction, then I’d probably *love* this story. It’s one of those little
word-plays that I just can’t get enough of. As it is, ‘Up All Night’, in which Willow finds herself with body
hair problems of the worst order appears to have been written with deadly seriousness, and so is utterly
hilarious. The sentences are abominable, the grammar is hideous. Someone, please take this story outside
and plug it with a silver bullet. Or send it first class to Joss Whedon. I’d love to hear what he has to say
about it. [1/5]
Monster Under My Bed - Dusty Fincher
Don’t let the dodgy title put you off - this is a damn good story. Taking its lead from the American kiddie
culture of the bogeyman (as explored in the under-rated movie ‘Little Monsters’) the plot takes the simple
idea of a monster that preys upon children from underneath their beds, and sets it against the backdrop of
mid-season two Buffy, meaning we get Angelus, Spike and Druscilla in all there glory. While the story is
pretty simple it is carried out with great aplomb, and the dialogue is great. But . . . If there is one problem
with this fanfic it is without doubt the *way* it is told. The format - a hideous combination of script and
prose - is terrible. During script elements there are no directions as to what is happening outside the
dialogue, and when the fanfic lapses into prose it is a vile, shuddering beast, with horrendous tense problems
and character’s thought which shouldn’t appear in scripts. If this story was re-written into a proper script or
piece of prose it would be truly great, but in its current incarnation, it just isn’t. [3/5]
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