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Date Posted: 01:44:55 11/18/02 Mon
Author: Bri
Author Host/IP: cpe-66-1-253-227.co.sprintbbd.net / 66.1.253.227
Subject: Re: General Review & Discussion: SlayereyalS by Mediancat
In reply to: KatLurkin 's message, "General Review & Discussion: SlayereyalS by Mediancat" on 18:07:38 11/12/02 Tue

Sorry so late with the review. I read the story, then kinda forget I was supposed to come back and review it... LOL

Anyway, I liked the concept of everyone in the AU being the antithesis of their counterparts in the original 'verse. However, I had a big problem with the way it was started. I was so confused at the beginning, I had no idea what was going on. It wasn't until maybe the third or fourth part that I really started getting a handle on who was who and what was what.

The brief explanation for Buffy's "realization" that they were in AU-the fact that they'd been in a couple before-was very thin. They referenced both at other times, just to drive home the point that yes, they'd been in other AUs. I understand that the point of the story was *this* particular AU but I think if they'd explored the ideas of the others a little further, maybe have the characters talk about them as a reference point for what to do in *this* one, maybe it would have been a little more logical than it seemed. Or maybe not. I just think it would have lent credence to their sudden ability to figure out what was going on without texts and discussion and everything that they normally use.

There were several weak points-as TC pointed out, the fact that it would take Buffy 14 minutes to run to the mansion. Hell, I'm really out of shape right now, and I can still do a mile in 12 minutes, mostly walking. LOL It was a little thing, but little things make or break a story. It shows that the author took the time to think it through and make it logical. We don't get that impression here, and when I read something that it doesn't look like the author even cared about anything besides getting to the end, I get fed up and usually stop reading. As is often said, "It's not the end you come to but the journey to get there that matters." Or something to that effect. :)

My biggest overall problem with this fic is the ending. It was such a complete and total cop-out that I was disgusted. I was mildly intrigued throughout the majority of the story, and was interested in figuring out how they were going to get back home. When characters started dying I was honestly more concerned with how Buffy and Co. were going to deal with the loss of their friends as a result of what was supposed to be a simple spell-gathering mission. (And thank God we're not grading me here, or I'd have gotten an F for that massive run-on! LOL)

But to have it all be undone very simply by a wish from Anya, well, I was seriously disappointed. I was looking forward to more angst, more in-depth examination of emotions and the concept of friendship in the type of existence they lead. Granted, I cheered on the idea of Anya having the brains and courage to swap places with her demonic alter-ego and carry it off so well-in fic she is mostly portrayed as the character she was in seasons four and five, blunt and crude and uncaring if she hurts people with her opinions, and also as Xander's Girlfriend. The useless one. So to see a fic where she makes the heroic move is awesome.

But still, the execution of this was just sloppy. Even in "The Wish" when the Wishverse was undone by Giles breaking Anyanka's amulet, it was a result of brains, knowledge, and intuition that led to a solution. Here, it was pretty much identical to the cliched "it was all a dream!" happily-ever-after. That takes no imagination and no skill, and frankly insults any halfway intelligent reader.

The author here has some great moments and some great ideas. But if (s)he's not using a beta reader (s)he should get one, and if (s)he is, (s)he should fire the one (s)he's got and get one who actually knows something about the construction of a story. Someone else reading over his/her shoulder and pointing out flaws could have saved us some serious headaches while reading this.

My grade? A 70.

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[> Re: General Review & Discussion: SlayereyalS by Mediancat -- ScarletNicky, 13:06:45 11/18/02 Mon (NoHost/130.127.13.220)

I know I'm not quite as tough a reviewer as most people here, but I really loved this story. Yes, there are some problems with it and he could have definitely used a beta-reader, but those flaws didn't impede my enjoyment of the story. I loved the "Mirror Mirror" Star Trek episode that inspired this, and I liked "SlayereyalS" even better than "The Wish," simply because I thought more interesting things happened. And there was Evil Giles.

I really enjoyed Mediancat's portrayal of the Evil Scoobs, and I thought there were lots of cool thouches throughout, like a good version of Dru. I also loved the dialogue, and thought he got the mixture of humor and adventure that makes BtVS great about right. Yes, I know both versions of Riley were pretty much trashed, but for some reason I just didn't have a problem with that.

I don't consider a fanfic to be truly great unless I wish it were an actual episode so that I could see the actors perform it. There are very VERY few fanfics I would say that about, but this is one of them.

95


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