[Fanfic] UF:FI -- Proving Grounds: Introduction
Lawrence R. Mann
UNDOCUMENTED FEATURES -- FUTURE IMPERFECT
P R O V I N G G R O U N D S
Copyright (c) 1994 Eyrie Productions, Uninc.
FOREWORD BY AUTHORS
---
Ben "Gryphon" Hutchins (gry...@world.std.com)::
What you are about to read is the first of a Undocumented
Features story arc called Proving Grounds. It's a section of the Future
Imperfect part of UF, which takes place after _Undocumented Features
Volume 4: Crossroads_. It appears that there will be several arcs
within the Future Imperfect cycle; the basic idea behind Proving
Grounds is its focus on, primarily, a small group of characters and
the changes that the times cause in them. If you stay with it for the
full run, you'll see some pretty dramatic changes; you'll see children
be born and grow up; you may even learn something from the people
you're watching. Or perhaps, in my eagerness, I overestimate myself,
my co-authors, my characters; time will tell.
If there is any lesson to be learned in Proving Grounds, it's
that time will tell.
There are problems with this first installment, from a purist
standpoint; I'll grant that. It's very long, much longer than Larry
and I originally intended it to become, and yet when we sought to
break it up into three or so separate stories, they never sat well
with us. The central idea is incomplete without all the story
presented. It rambles, and might even seem incoherent at times; but
then, so do our lives. Bear with these foibles and you may find the
stories themselves rewarding. You may even come to like the somewhat
unusual styling.
As always, we welcome comments and other feedback, so long as
those who criticize don't mind seeing us defend our position. :)
--G.
15 December 1994
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Larry "R-Type" Mann (lrm...@uci.edu)::
Welcome to Future Imperfect, and to _Proving Grounds_.
I think Gryph pretty much covered it: this is the beginning
of one of the most challenging pieces of fanfic which has ever been
written. For us, anyway. This thing is big. Really big. Not much
for it, though, simply because there's quite a bit to be talked about
here. Get ready for a lot of changes. Times are changing, people
are changing, growing up. Old problems have been replaced with new
ones, and the rules are beginning to change accordingly.
My personal opinion: I've learned quite a bit in the course
of putting this project together, and I'd like to think that as this
story continues to unfold, there will be a lot of wisdom to be found
here, wisdom that perhaps we could all apply to real life, and just
maybe make this life a little more tolerable. But of course, it's
up to you, our readers, to make the final decision for yourselves.
That's the way democracy works, after all. :)
I promised myself I wasn't going to get long-winded, as I
tend to do <grin>, so let me finish by saying again that comments and
other feedback are welcomed. Just remember to email both of us, okay? :)
I stand by my coauthors, and our characters, and I believe we can learn
quite a bit from their experience.
So, with that said, let's begin. Please enjoy the ride!
-RT
17 December 1994
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