If you base your story on an ACC (author created character), you better do a damn good job of getting my attention. Yeah, I'm biased against ACCs, and even more against self-insertion when done for anything other than author abuse. Why? I'm reading Eva fan-fics because I want to see more of the eternal bastard, more of Rei, Asuka, Misato, Ritsuko, and yes, even the eternal wuss himself. For fan-fic authors, the first goal is to convince me that I should bother to read your interpretation of a series I already like.

If, and only if, you've managed to do that, then ACC stories have the added chore of convincing me that I should then give a pair of fetid dingo's kidneys about some new character you brought in. You've given yourself two tasks you must achieve: create an interesting story that captivates my imagination, and have a character who doesn't cause me to curl my lip up in distaste. Fail at either, and I'm out of here.

I make no excuses. I'm temped to use the reviewed author's own words of "bite me" here to defend my arrogance, but I've talked to many people who dislike ACCs as well. So unless I wake up one morning with the severed head of a Charlizard beside me in bed, I think I have at least some support for my position.

(As an aside: I've written a story with a self-insertion character, so yes I'm guilty of some of what I claim to despise. In my defense:  a) my ACC is *not* the main character in my story, and  b) he is a complete and utter moron. He's also based on me. Draw your own conclusions. ^_^ )

Now on to this fic, 'Scenario No Kawari'. It is a retelling of the first couple of episodes of NGE, with a bit of a prologue that touches on the Second Impact. However, unlike the Eva canon we've all learned to love (and wonder exactly what drugs Anno should have been on when he made it), in this universe there are two survivors of the Katsuragi expedition: 14-year old Misato Katsuragi, and a self-insertion ACC who happens to go by the same name as the fic's author.

(And you thought my preamble was just because I like to hear myself type.) ^_^

From there, the scene jumps to the start of the series ('Angel Attack'), and follows the life of the ACC as he goes through his job at NERV. The way the ACC is made to fit into the cast is with him acting in a 'big brother' fashion to Misato, kind of like the guardian of the good Captain. With only two parts completed at the time of this review, there isn't much to be made of this relationship; it holds possibility, but so far it's nothing more than a bit of flavour. Something has to eventually come about because of this to justify its placement as anything more than a way to stick the ACC into the story. There is promise (at least he isn't one of the Children), but for the moment, the jury's still out.

(Aside number two: The author and I go to the same anime club, and I'm *really* glad he didn't make himself one of the Children. The thought of him in a plug suit would stretch not only the bounds of good taste, but the elastic fabric of the suit itself. (And in case you ask, yes, I am a dead man once he reads this.)) :-o

As to the ACC himself, the focus of the story... There are parts that are very disconcerting to read. For example: he makes most people around him feel uneasy simply by his presence. Including the bridge bunnies... oh, but not shy, innocent Maya. Yes, you know, the one who's a bit meek around people generally, but not of course, around this ACC. She feels comfortable in his presence and actually seeks his advice. Er... okay... no wish fulfillment here. No, not a bit.

And from his mouth we learn that Ritsuko is

[quote]
a miserable, worthless, pitiful excuse for a human being
[unquote]

Gee, no bias here.

This is perhaps the hardest thing to digest about this fic: the obvious and total dislike the author has for Dr. Akagi. Those of you with even the slightest bit of affection for this all-too-human person will probably choke reading this fic. Me, I'm neutral towards the scientist, but find I'm more likely to take her side than the opinions of some ACC. Fortunately, the author does allow Ritsuko to get in a few hits in of her own, preventing this fic from being nothing more than a thinly veiled character attack. If he hadn't, I'd have been out of here.

Gendo is also high on the ACC's hit list of people he doesn't like, but certainly without the same kind of vemon he joyfully doles out to Dr. Akagi. Hating Gendo is nothing new; Hell, if he didn't loathe Gendo I'd be surprised. So long as the ACC continues to bristle at Ikari's existence and Gendo continues to smirk at the activities of such an insignificant little peon, I can accept it.

This is a fic that obviously is not focused on the main cast, but on ACCs and others. More lines are given to a single bridge bunny or NERV support staff than to all of the 'main' Eva characters put together. That actually is something that pips my interest. Personally, I'm interested in stories that focus on the supporting cast and give them a bit of a life, since, due to limited time requirements, they were left by the wayside in the original series. Fleshing out the 'extras' and allowing me the possibility of understanding their behaviour is something I appreciate. I already have a good idea on what drives the main characters since time was spent on them during the original series; seeing what motivates the co-stars can give me a greater understand of these people as well.
 
However, this interest in the minds and psyche of the bit players doesn't stretch to include ACCs. By part 2, a second ACC is added to the roster (Danger Will Robinson! Danger!), apparently based off a buddy of the author's. I'm hoping this doesn't turn into the on-going adventures of, "The Author and Friends In Eva-Land." We'll see how many other e-mail cronies show up.

As for the story behind the fic itself, at the moment, the whole thing is... well... unfocused. There really doesn't seem any reason for it to have been written, but that could just be because it's still early (in the middle of NGE episode two). A distinct lack of an answer to the question, "Why write this?" broods over the whole thing. The short answer I give myself, "What, are you stupid? It's so he could write himself into the story! I don't know why I even bother to talk to myself sometimes." doesn't convey the situation completely. There may be more to come, but I'll have to see it before I even vaguely consider the ACC worth putting up with.

Taken as a whole, this is a self-insertion fic; pure and simple. So far the author has resisted the urge to travel down the DJ Croft path, but neither has he made me care the slightest bit what happens to the ACC.

So, is it a good fic, or not?

It's an ACC, self-insertion fic. On those criteria alone, the author deserves some respect for overcoming my initial biases and not having me abhor the story from the start.

Still, did I like it?

Imagine Rei in Unit-00. Now imagine Maya in the control room saying,
"Pulse and harmonics normal! 1.5 to Absolute
Borderline...1.0..0.4...0.3...0.2....0.1..."
 
Does it synch, or does rejection in the central nerve elements occur?
 
For the moment, I can't answer that....
 

Till they let me out of my cage to be involved with Instrumentality again...
 

SEELE-04
 

[Pair of fetid dingo's kidneys (copyright 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the
Galaxy' Trilogy)]

[Will Robinson and mockings of the Robot belong to 'Lost in Space'.]
 
 
SEELE-04
January 12th 2000

First off, I'm biased. I've always enjoyed Chris Davies' work, especially his El Hazard 'Nights' series, 'Slayers Lime' and 'Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Ten Years After'. In my little mind, there is this instant credibility that appends itself to work bearing his name (there are others - no prizes for guessing who...) So far, I have not been disappointed.

Okay. The review. 'Scenario no Kawari' (roughly translated as 'Changed/Alternative Scenario') is a self-insert featuring the author as a Major in charge of NERV Security. The focus of the story is on Major Davies' interaction with the NGE cast and what effect he might or might not have on the NGE plot structure.

ACCs or SIs (Self-Inserts) tend to put people off but the author has been in the fanfic arena for too long to fall foul of the pitfalls of these devices. In fact, there seems to be a high degree of self-awareness (not to get carried away with himself, letting other characters speak for themselves) and irony with a smirk. Fleshing out the "so-called supporting cast" (as he puts it) is a welcome departure for the bulk of fanfics which concentrate on the Children.

Common gripes about SnK include "Davies is mean to Ritsuko!" An author with strong opinions eloquently expressed. Being agnostic about Ritsuko, it looks like fun to me. Another gripe - "Why the hell would America want to invade Canada for goodness' sakes!?" Well, I can answer that. Second Impact melts all the ice on the South Pole leading to climate change. If we parallel that with studies modeling climate change as a result of global warming melting the ice caps, we find that a few small coastal equatorial states and Pacific island nations disappear. We also see that the bread baskets of the world - the great cereal plains - shift north (Ukraine to Siberia, Mid-west America to Canada). Food security. That's what I call that motive for invasion.

I enjoyed SnK. Definitely watching to see how this develops. My only gripe is the author's slow workpace. But as the Guiness ad says, "Good things come to those who wait."