This crossover is more than just a classic 'meeting between two universes' x-over. Instead, this creation is an overlay of one world atop another. Here, Asuka and Shinji replace FBI special agents Scully and Mulder in a world that jumbles the X-Files, Eva, Silent Mobieus, Parasite Eve, and others.
To be honest, this mix of genres and ideas is a mess. There is very little to hold the setting together in any kind of workable fashion. It is pure and unmitigated chaos.
And you know what? It works.
I am myself amazed I enjoy the series so much. The writing style of the author is not as developed as it perhaps should be. There is a lack of explorative depth to the stories and scenes that would seem to be a strike against them. However, the plots, characterizations and ideas the author uses overcome these faults in manner that is a true joy to behold. I can't explain why, but this mess is glorious. A beautiful, magnificent mess.
Most of the reason for this success rides on the author's ability to make Shinji and Asuka into Fox Mulder and Dana Scully of the X-Files. In fact, Shinji and Asuka are better as Fox and Dana than the original actors ever were. There's something about watching an older Shinji and Asuka act like the X-Files couple, but still be their argumentative/affectionate Eva selves that is pure joy to read. Add the fact that this is the best X-Files fic out there, especially considering it doesn't use Fox and Dana... it really is kind of freaky to read.
Cameos occur with characters both from Evangelion and the X-Files. Special agents Ikari and Soryu take their orders from Assistant Director Skinner, yet are looking for answers from Cancer Man Ikari Gendo as Shinji searches for his long lost sister Rei. Along the way they trade blows with Parasite Eva, have interactions with Tokyo's AMP, etc, etc, etc. Like I said: it's a mess, oh, but *what* a mess it is.
The problems with this work are the aforementioned writing level, which is very unpolished in some places. It almost seems like you're seeing a rough draft that needs another run through to make it perfect. As well, the author stopped the series at a *major* plot point, and being left there will hurt if you become a fan.
Still, this work's strengths far and away bury the cons under the pros. An excellent story that is to be read both for the wonderful send up of the X-Files universe, it is also *the* description of how an adult Shinji and Asuka would interact. A true gem.
SEELE-04
June 5, 2001
End notes: Along with Wakabayashi's episodes, author E.L. Toh has written several 'Eva-Files' stories as well. I also highly recommend them. They can be found here: http://www.teloong.cwc.net/fanfic.htm
The Evangelion Files Series, by Joyce Wakabayashi, contains the following stories (in series-chronological order):
1. The Evangelion Files
2. The Neon Mobius Files
3. Utopia
4. Without Foundation
5. Last Photograph
6. Very Unfamiliar Ceilings
7. My Heart is that Eternal Rose
8. The Unbroken Thread
9. And I Was Still Afraid
10. World without Limits Part 1: Fuyutsuki's Story
I had the pleasure of pre-reading for Joyce as they were written and, as Darren has pointed out, the main problem lies in occassional curtness of expression and failure to follow through with ideas, but these are more than adequately remedied by the sheer magnificience of the ideas: they hang together and they work. She just manages to capture the spirit of the adult Shinji and Asuka relationship with wit and elegance: both with dark, unhappy pasts, both seeking truth, reconciliation, and their futures in their own ways. The chemistry between Shinji and Asuka play very well within the X-Files context: the hesistancy and ambiguity in their mutual (unlikely yet almost inevitable) attraction, and the depiction of a growing bond of friendship, trust and even love.
Joyce has probably been one of the strongest influences on my own writing and on my interpretation of NGE. It was only upon reflecting on Darren's review that I realised that most of my fics (except the 'Ramen' series) are based on projections of Shinji, Asuka, Rei et al as adults rather than children. Another feature of this series is its emphasis on Rei as a being of immense power (emphasizing the implications of 'I am not your doll' in EoE), mystery and knowledge with a lining of naivety. Asuka's flares of jealousy were also both humorous, touching, and romantic.
All in all, a very imaginative and complex cross-over with its main strength in the characterisation and the manic interweaving. Frankly, a loss to the NGE fanfic community since she retired (I feel similarly, if in varying intensity, about the non-activity of talents like Ka-Wing Tam and Anand Rao).
SEELE 06
06 June 2001
P.S. And on my own work in this area, I had a great time picking up and developing ideas, from Joyce, in the EVA-Files universe such as the Lone Three Stooges (Lone Gunmen), Asuka's S&M hobby (Joyce is much more subtle about it), Shinji's (and Mulder's) unfortunate porn habit.
It's hard to follow up on the reviews of Darren and E.L. Toh, as much of what they said I agree with. The writing can get rough, but when I was reading these stories, it didn't matter; I was drawn in. It is a messy mesh of Eva, the X-Files, Parasite Eve, Silent Mobius, etc., but it is also very beautiful, and all of it works very well.
When I first came across these long, I had written them off because I did not really like what I had seen of the X-Files, and felt that hefty knowledge of the X-Files would be required to read them. And I was wrong. These stories are great to read even without the knowledge of that series (or any of the others), although some jokes or (what I felt was) minor plot points may be missed.
My only gripe was that while each episode is essentially self-contained, the series itself seemed to skip around in its timeline. This gripe is, however, minor.
Joyce's stories are enhanced by E.L. Toh's takes on the Eva-Files universe. He does a successful job in capturing the feel almost exactly, while keeping his own touch. For instance, the basis of H.P. Lovecraft's stories and the use of other anime characters (such as the Goddesses from Ah! My Goddess!), are injected into the plot. As mentioned in his review, he has also added and further developed ideas, yet retains and respects Joyce's world and characters. Because of this, the Eva-Files has stood out in my mind as one of greatest examples of two authors sharing a work.
To conclude, these stories are fantastic reads, regardless of author (though I highly recommend both) are worth reading again once you gain some more information on their source materials.
Until Instrumentality is needed again...
SEELE-03
June 12, 2001