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Post by Fritz on Jan 26, 2006 9:47:39 GMT -4
Longtime readers know this already--but as many things as I like about Ghostbusters, if I had to pick one single element that grabbed my attention, it was the weird budding romance between Egon Spengler and Janine Melnitz. It led to some touching scenes in the first movie, and the writers of the animated series--most notably J. Micheal Straczynski, Micheal Reeves, and Richard Mueller---took it and ran with it, deepening and defining them into possibly my favorite couple in popular fiction. Well, to the consternation of fans everywhere, Harold Ramis disowned the idea and created the gut-churningly dumb Janine/Louis Tully romance in the sequel. An idea that was, in turn, disowned by Straczynski, comic writer James Van Hise, the producers of Extreme Ghostbusters, and even later licensees such as the 88MPH mini-series. Not to mention a vast majority of the writers of fan fiction that have helped keep the flame burning in the years since. (The iBooks novel The Return was the sole exception, but even they, intentionally or not, had some material that could be construed as pro-Egon/Janine). Well, after exploring the very beginning of their relationship in Fateful Opportunity, it's highs in The Zodiac Imperative, it's fall in As Dreams Fade, and it's rebirth in Dreams Reborn, it is time for the event so many have waited for. Ghostbusters: Forever1998--Timeline Year Sixteen After fifteen years (or twenty two, depending on how you look at it) of confusion, denial, reversal, and dark moments of dispair, the long-awaited day has come for one brilliant physicist and one spirited secretary to celebrate the love that bind their souls together. At long last, the wedding of Professor Egon Spengler and Ms. Janine Melnitz. And check out the "cover" variant of the opening picture: www.deviantart.com/deviation/28197153/
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Post by ECTO-1 on Jan 26, 2006 10:46:48 GMT -4
See, now it's a good thing I delayed Date Fright a week so as not to steal your thunder (even though I doubt they'd be on the same level). If I have a chance to print it out later after my nap might bring it to read on the train to school. What can I say, I'm a sucker for variant covers.
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Ghostbuster Don
Extreme Ghostbuster
The Ectozone's Token Republican
Busty Japanese High School Girls Are Nice.
Posts: 44
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Post by Ghostbuster Don on Jan 26, 2006 10:50:03 GMT -4
I didn't just liked the story...I LOVED IT!
[SPOILERS] I mean it was so romantic with the constant reminders of those keynote E/J moments brought on by GB1, RGB(Both the Comics & the Cartoon), EGB, & the fan fics. Plus how clever it was to have "I Can't Wait Forever" from the soundtrack. Then there was ending where we see the newlyweds at Tahiti(nod to "The Devil To Pay" I bet) was so cute. [/SPOILERS]
So once again... ***Stands Up And Applauds Fritz*** BRAVO, BRAVO!
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Post by Miss Janine on Jan 26, 2006 11:26:23 GMT -4
Oh...my...God...Fritz, that was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! *grabs Kleenex* (I'm not kidding about that) I don't know what else to say, really. Let me think, then I'll be back. There's just so much right about this that I don't know where to start.
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Post by Silent Seraphim on Jan 26, 2006 12:00:15 GMT -4
Oh, my gosh… What can I say? Fritz, you’ve done yourself and all of us proud. This is absolutely beautiful. I loved everything about it, the flashbacks to the various E/J moments in GB1, RGB and EGB, the fanfics and the comics… The ups and the downs of their history together… The preparation with the guys and Janine’s family… The faces from the past and the present in the congregation… The lucky coin… The vows they made to each other (props to Ghostdiva for Janine’s)… Their song, a nice reference to the film and a perfect choice for them… Peter’s reaction once they’d wed, which made me cry. There are moments of great friendship and a deep and abiding love. No-one is missed out here, not even Louis, who made the right choice for the right reason. All in all, it left me with tears in my eyes and the feeling that I was really there to witness it all. How I’d have loved for this to have happened in the show. I think that this is the most perfect beginning to a most wonderful marriage. To Egon and Janine - Forever. *clinks glass* Thank you, Fritz. Thank you very, very much.
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Post by EGBFan on Jan 26, 2006 13:30:42 GMT -4
Told ya they'd love it. (I commented by e-mail. Fritz knows what I think and you'd all find it boring, so I won't go into it again.)
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Post by Miss Janine on Jan 26, 2006 15:28:34 GMT -4
What Silent Seraphim said, times two.
I'd always wondered how Fritz would write Katherine Spengler, and I finally got it- a doting mom finally seeing her only child getting married. Seeing Ellis and Cyrus was a treat, too. I loved how they mentioned how Egon's father would have felt about Janine, and Egon's response of "I don't care" was perfect. When he echoed that to his mom, saying he'd marry her anyway, but her approval was nice, made me see him as someone who's finally found his own path.
The flashbacks were perfectly worked in, tracing the rise, fall, and rise again of a relationship that was meant to be. And I thought it was touching that Louis, though invited, didn't go, but decided not to intrude on their special day. It made me care about him, at last. The families and friends were nailed as well. Janine's family has been fleshed out (I love her dad!), and I feel like I know them, and where Janine came from, a LOT better. Victor hitting on Jen was so cute, and it was great to see Eddie and Kylie together like they were. She seems to be coming out of her shell as well. Oscar and Jassica's dialogue about the dancing had me cracking up!
More to come...
If this isn't a tale of the triumph of love, then I don't know what is. This is truly a masterpiece! Bravo! Bravo! Take a bow, Fritz. You DEFINITELY deserve it for this one!
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Post by ghostdiva on Jan 26, 2006 15:29:42 GMT -4
<<<<<SPOILERS AHEAD>>>>>>> Okay, so I made it all the way to dearly beloved before I started crying. Can I say that this was perfect? Well I guess I just did. It was exactly what I expected, not that it was predictable, but that it, in my mind, couldn't help but play out exactly like you wrote it. It was great, momentous, exact, fulfilling, terrific, and yes, perfect. Everything I imagined was there, and a few other things, that became a plus. Everything that was said, the flashbacks, the toast, the coin, starting the story in Egon's dressing area, all of it is what I wanted, and dreamed of... and this is getting sappy, so I'll stop. I couldn't get the link to the cover art to work. I'll try again later though. Please tell me two things. What was in the box (evil grin), I think I already know, I just want to make sure. And what was the signif. of the sash color? I still can't put a finger on it. You are awesome. ghostdiva
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Post by SuperStantzio on Jan 26, 2006 15:45:30 GMT -4
This was so awesome! I enjoyed reading this. Keep up the good work, Fritz!
Farah
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Yami Mirai
Doberman
dustn00b
Insane fangirl, at your service. :D
Posts: 120
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Post by Yami Mirai on Jan 26, 2006 15:52:02 GMT -4
Stupid power outage, not letting me get on to the computer until now...*Ahem* Anyway, words alone can't describe exactly how happy this fanfic has made me. I'm misty-eyed just thinking about it. This was a truly beautiful, magnificent piece of work Fritz. I don't think that even the writers of the shows and movies could've done better. This is easily the greatest moment in the Ghostbusters fandom and there wasn't a bit of the story that I didn't love. Venkman's reaction when they kissed was exactly how I felt. Aw, look at me! I'm crying here now. I'm getting all emotional over a story. That's definitely the mark of good writing right there. And the picture you drew of them is so lovely. A perfect compliment to a perfect story. I know for a fact that this will always be my favourite piece of fanfiction. Thank you for sharing this with the world. ;D
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Post by Miss Janine on Jan 26, 2006 16:57:03 GMT -4
That was my question: what was in the box? Knowing Peter, though, I'm almost afraid to ask, especially with the comment he made. Another part that choked me up was having Egon's father referenced: the empty chair, Doc Hazzard dancing with Katherine, and the voice she thought she heard. I think he WAS there, if only for a few seconds. And the Epilogue? Just brilliant. To quote Peter, "Finally." Was it worth the wait? OH YES!!!! *applauds wildly*
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Post by ghostdiva on Jan 26, 2006 18:00:16 GMT -4
The really scary part is how Ray knew what it was and felt the need to comment that it shouldn't be opened in front of children. That's scary. lol. I read it again, I cried again, I laughed again, I'm probably off to read it again. It's just perfect I especially like the part from the comic, one of my favoriet cannon E/J moments, second only to J,YC, I'm glad people who don't have the comic get to see it in context and fully described. My new All Time favorite E/J moment "Forever" by Fritz ghostdiva
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Yami Mirai
Doberman
dustn00b
Insane fangirl, at your service. :D
Posts: 120
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Post by Yami Mirai on Jan 26, 2006 20:05:50 GMT -4
That was my question: what was in the box? Knowing Peter, though, I'm almost afraid to ask, especially with the comment he made. I think some things are better left unknown... I really enjoyed that too. Even though he couldn't be there physically, at least Egon's father was there in spirit. Even death wouldn't prevent him from missing out on his son's big day. Most definitely! ;D *applauds along with her*
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Post by Fritz on Jan 26, 2006 20:53:58 GMT -4
I'm still not sure what to say to all this.
I spent a lot of time on this story, sweating the details, hoping it would live up to everyone's expectations.
It's a relief to see that seems to.
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Post by Miss Janine on Jan 27, 2006 5:16:48 GMT -4
Why would you think it wouldn't? It was everything I thought it would be, and so much more. I have NEVER been this moved by a story. Never.
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