Power Ranger "Novels"

[TheOneRJS200]

Fellow fans,

I come before you (or rather, I type before you), not to look down on you as some sort of "superior" fanfic writer, or to play myself off as some kind of "innovator" in fanfic writing. But merely, to give the lot of you some friendly advise regarding a method of fanfic writing that I may or may not have introduced to this board.

Even before the completion of "Forever Red: The Novel", I saw it coming. Various writers, popping up with various episode titles with "The Novel" attached to the end of them. Thus far, i've seen it done with "Return of the Green Ranger", "Doomsday", and of course, Devious One's rather.....unusual take on "Countdown to Destruction". It seems that a number of aspiring writers long to do as I did with Forever Red, and spin their own versions of various tales of the Power Ranger universe. This is a something that I have no problem with. And in fact, I would go as far as to encourage any writer who is having trouble getting his or her creative juices flowing, to try. It certainly worked for me. And evidently, it worked for Devious One.

However, there are some things that I would advise any and all PR "novelists" to keep in mind. Again, I speak TO you, not above you.

My sole purpose for penning Forever Red: The Novel, was not only to get my creative juices flowing again, but to fill in a number of plotholes that the episode failed to fill in. Not only that, but who wouldn't love to see Jason and Tommy conversing about old times? Or get a better insight into the minds of the Machine Empire Generals? Or hear Cole talking about Neptune.......never mind. But you get my drift. Forever Red was an episode that lacked depth, in my eyes. So why was it such a big hit with the fans? Easy. Because we got to see our childhood heroes, Jason, Tommy, T.J., etc, standing next to guys like Wes, Eric, and Cole in battle. It was every Power Ranger fans dream come true. And hey, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the episode. Amit Bhamuk wrote one heck of a nostialgiac ride, that every fan is in debt to him for. But I wanted to show the fans what they "didn't see", because there was seemingly so much. The story just seemed.....incomplete.

Maybe that's why FR:TN was such a big hit. It gave fans a little closure.

But what I urge you all to realize, is that not ALL the episodes are like this. There's not always a whole other story to tell. You can't always have little "subplots" and "added depth", because in most of the episodes, it was already there. Sometimes, added subplots, like what was in FR:TN, can ultimately serve to weaken the primary plot, and thus, force you to deliver a weaker story. Am I making sense here?

I'll give you a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Just before FR:TN was completed, someone (and I honestly can't remember who) sent me an email, with a list of episodes that they'd like to see turned into "novels". Among them was "Green with Evil." Now granted, I already had my current project in mind while I was finishing up FR:TN, and never had any intention of doing another episode related project, but it serves as a good example. How could one add to "Green with Evil"?

The answer is simple. You can't. The story is perfect the way it is. The only thing one could manage to achieve by writing such a piece, is to get inside the head of the Rangers during their battles with Tommy, and ultimately not tell us anything we don't already know, or add in some scenes that ultimately force the story not to make sense, or weaken it. See what I mean? If I were to have added in a scene, like say...."Evil Tommy talks to Trini and Billy", what would that accomplish? Ultimately, the same thing that the scene with evil Tommy talking to Kimberly and sneering at Zack accomplished. The only difference would be that I wasted time doing it twice.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say to all potential "novel writers" (note the ever present use of quotations around the word novel) is: make sure that your story COULD use additions, before you add to it. Honestly, I think I got lucky with FR:TN, because I picked a story with a really weak ending, and a lot of room for adding. And I'm certainly not trying to discourage any "novel writers" out there by saying that there aren't any episodes worthy of adding to. In fact, if done correctly, I think that "Return of the Green Ranger: The Novel" could be great. But just think hard about where you're adding things, and even more importantly, WHY you're adding them. Otherwise, you could end up with just a bunch of random drivel that makes no sense.

Well, that's all I've got to say about that. Again, I sincerely hope that I haven't come off as arrogant, or snobbish, because that is certainly not my intention. I just felt that this needed to be said. Heck, maybe i've been talking to Funaro too much (if you're reading this CL, that's a compliment. ;) ). But for those of you who have a problem with what I've said, I'm ready and willing to take responsibility for my words, and back up any and everything that I've said here.

Your fellow fan,

Rob Siebert


I mean, it's been said time and time again, you can only do so much in 22 minutes. Thus, PR fans were left without their "dream" tenth anniversary special. I took it upon myself to take thi

[Devious One]

Don't you dare sit there and say you didn't introduce episodic novelizations into this board when everyone knows you did. And your right in those points you made. But since you mentioned me TWICE, I think I have to respond.

It's true, I got the idea for C2D halfway through your Forever Red novel, but I didn't do it just to "copy" or "imitate" you as I've been blamed by certain members at this board. I did it because there was so much more that could have been seen in Countdown to Destruction that I truly believe in. We could have seen how the lives of the other Rangers turned out and we sure as heck could have seen some tragedy in the episode, but we didn't. We were made to believe the good guys always win. And that's not the case with C2D, in my opinion.

You called my novelization unusual. Why? Is it because I focus so much attention on Tommy and my personal hope of him being the Black Dino Thunder Ranger in the upcoming series? Or is it because I lack in putting a lot of attention where I could have and that's on the main characters of PRIS? I'm just curious why you chose that particular word to describe my novel.

I have a lot more to say, but I've gotten my point across, I think so I'll let it go with that.

With regards, Devious.

[MegaRyu124x]

Damn. I was thinking of doing either a "Prelude to a Storm" novel or a "Samurai's Journey" Novel.

Damn.

[Devious One]

Ignore Rob, dude. If you want to do a Novel about an episode, go for it.

[Panty Strangled]

Robert is only acting a litttle concerned, he proabably likes many of the other fanfics on this, and since he was the first to write a P.R episode novel, he wants to help any who want to follow in his fotosteps

Devious, your novel for Countdown to Destruction is exactly the kind of novel we like, it shows that the Zeo Rangers, plus EVERY villian in the attack has their own agenda, their own story arcs, you should'nt change that because it's not convieniant in other's eyes.

[MingyMingyJongo]

Originally posted by RedPwr124x
Damn. I was thinking of doing either a "Prelude to a Storm" novel or a "Samurai's Journey" Novel.

Damn.

Prelude to a Storm definitely had plenty of holes and room for improvement. If you don't do a fic on it, I will.

[TheOneRJS200]

Originally posted by Devious One
Ignore Rob, dude. If you want to do a Novel about an episode, go for it.

Sheesh, from kind to.....not very kind.

Yes, I chose the word unusual because of your use of the Zeo Rangers. However this was not meant to be a criticism. Obviously your piece is extremely popular on Rangerboard, just as mine was, and I urge you to continue forth with it. I will admit, it's not the way I would have done it, however, if I were to say that my way is the only right way, I'd not only be wrong, but the victim of a number of flames. But in any event Devious, the word "unusual" was not a cheap shot at C2D. Personally, I don't take cheap shots. I prefer to give people criticisms in emails, rather than publicly.

And um.....thank you....Zarius. lol That was most unexpected.

And Red, as for a Prelude to a Storm novel, I don't have that ep on tape, so I'm not one to pass judgement on it. But, if you think it's got more of a story to tell, then I urge you to tell it.

[Devious One]

Originally posted by TheOneRJS200
Sheesh, from kind to.....not very kind.Okay, I owe you an apology then. Because that remark to Red was not meant the way it came out. I probably should have quoted it differently, so I'm sorry for how it sounded and if it was rude and uncalled for, I apologize again.

But the way you phrased it, when you called my Novel unusual, it sounded very much like an insult to me and I had to respond.

[AbaBlack]

I need to know an opinion from Rob, Devious, AND Zarius, as to, would a 'Trakeena's Revenge' novel have enough potential to do good? Would it do good coming from me? I need all three of y'alls opinions, and the second question goes mainly would it flow well with the way I right, if you have read my fics. I can already tell you this, I do want to do it, and think that there is enough storyline to go on that I could do it, but I need an expert opinion. I can say that my chapters will be longer than my of fanfics are as well!

[Devious One]

Aba, it all depends on how much your going to change and how your going to do the story. Because, oh yeah, there's a bunch of spots to change in that episode. Should you do it? Sure, you can give it a shot and hope it does well. Tell you the truth, I didn't really think the C2D novel would be as popular as it was. I was only looking at probably receiving comments from maybe three people here.

You wanna do it, you go right ahead and give it your best shot. That's all anyone can ask.

[AbaBlack]

Rob, Zarius?

Thanks Devious, and I have decided I will do it, I just want to hear the other two experts opinions, on how good of a potential it has, and different aspects.

[Panty Strangled]

AbaBlack, there is nothing wrong with writing a novel of "Trakeena's Revenge" as long as you do the following:

Don't include any of the L.R Rangers:p

Your prolouge should also be the final battle between Leo and Trakeena

[AbaBlack]

Well, I don't think it would be a very good fanfic without the LR Rangers, since they were key to the storyline. I know most people though that that season sucked, but I actually liked it*don't flame*, and can't wait to read Rob's next project of PRLR. Yes, I was thinking of doing that as the prologue, thanks for telling me that it SHOULD happen!

Rob?

[Clu-less]

Episodes like "Time For Lightspeed", "Prelude to a Storm", "Samurai's Journey" and "The End of Time" could be elaborated on, but don't require novelizations. With Forever Red, there were so many plotholes it was practically begging to be written. With Countdown to Destruction, well, it was basically the end of the world, so that was begging to be elaborated on, seeing as though every Ranger in the universe would be affected by it. "Green With Evil" is the ep with the least, if any, plotholes in PR history. The story was extremely well written and doesn't need to be elaborated on.

But, no one important reads my fic, Power Rangers Aura which is on Episode 5 entitled True Blue, so who am I to give advice?

[MegaRyu124x]

Thanks Mingy and TheOne!

[AbaBlack]

Can we all say, cheap-plug? But anyways, I understand you advice, and back you up on it. But even though the ones that really don't need novelization, for those writers who think of the idea, and can go with it, and make it a good as its potential can be, should, because in the long run, hopefully it would turn out great.

[TheOneRJS200]

Originally posted by AbaBlack
Can we all say, cheap-plug?

Dude, don't talk to me about cheap plugs. One thing I will admit to is making the cheap plug fashionable. :D

As for a "Trakeena's Revenge" Novel, I can see it happening. I can see it being pretty interesting to get inside Trakeena's head. Find out why she wears the mask, exactly how she survived Leo's blast, and how she summoned the ghouls to her aid.

There's always the possibility of going further in depth on the relationship between the Galaxy Rangers, and the Lightspeed Rangers, namely Leo and Carter. It seemed like there was a "more experienced guy meets less experienced guy" relationship going on there.

Not to mention the whole Kendrix/Karone/Pink Ranger saga. I personally don't reccomend throwing Karone into the episode. But it would be interesting to get inside her head about going under the helmet again, and exactly how it feels to be "ressurected" so to speak. That's probably the biggest plothole of them all. Exactly HOW did she come back, or was she ever really dead to begin with?

So, bottom line, yeah, it would be a good one to do. Trakeena's return, and a few plotholes surrounding the Galaxy Rangers give you enough to work with.

Granted, I think "Time For Lightspeed" has much more potential, and could be made into an EXCELLENT piece. Heck, you could branch off into a subplot about where the hell Eric and Ryan were, and how Vypra was brought back to life. lol The ironic thing is that Zarius actually proposed that idea to me at the conclusion of FR:TN.

Also, while we're on the subject, thanks to AbaBlack for plugging my upcoming work on Lightspeed. I hope you won't be dissapointed. :)

[AbaBlack]

When I said, 'Can we all say, cheap plug' that wasn't meant for you, Rob, if you thought it was, I was throwing it at Clu because he was trying to hint to people to read his fanfic, since he claims no one does. But anyways, sorry for the confusion.


Thanks, and I will be doing how/why Trakeena returned and what exactly her master plan is. The Kendrix ideas were something I hadn't though about, but would lead to, as you said, one of the biggest plotholes, and allowing me to go more in depth.

As of right now, I am planning on beginning the thoughs and pre-steps to making this novel a great one, now, and having the prologue premiere sometime between now and October, so that Chapter One can set out, come October, once my other fanfics on my site, are finished.

As for Time for Lightspeed, yes, this episode could be more in depth, in every word that was spoken, almost. Right now, I have no idea what my next project will be, after TR:TN, because I don't know how well it will go over, and if it doesn't turn out well, I will know that another novel won't be the strongest idea to go with. But, if TR:TN is a hit, or even not a hit, but it is liked and people WANT me to finish it, TfL:TN is on a list of possibilities, but so are some other episodes, or maybe not even episodes at all....

And as you said, where the heck were Eric and Ryan in Time for Lightspeed, I thought they were, maybe you might have made a typo, and meant to say Mike, instead of Eric, because I am going to go in depth to see as to why Mike and Ryan did not aid the Rangers in battle.

[Fictional Fan Failure]

Originally posted by TheOneRJS200
Fellow fans,

I come before you (or rather, I type before you), not to look down on you as some sort of "superior" fanfic writer, or to play myself off as some kind of "innovator" in fanfic writing. But merely, to give the lot of you some friendly advise regarding a method of fanfic writing that I may or may not have introduced to this board.

Even before the completion of "Forever Red: The Novel", I saw it coming. Various writers, popping up with various episode titles with "The Novel" attached to the end of them. Thus far, i've seen it done with "Return of the Green Ranger", "Doomsday", and of course, Devious One's rather.....unusual take on "Countdown to Destruction". It seems that a number of aspiring writers long to do as I did with Forever Red, and spin their own versions of various tales of the Power Ranger universe. This is a something that I have no problem with. And in fact, I would go as far as to encourage any writer who is having trouble getting his or her creative juices flowing, to try. It certainly worked for me. And evidently, it worked for Devious One.

However, there are some things that I would advise any and all PR "novelists" to keep in mind. Again, I speak TO you, not above you.

My sole purpose for penning Forever Red: The Novel, was not only to get my creative juices flowing again, but to fill in a number of plotholes that the episode failed to fill in. Not only that, but who wouldn't love to see Jason and Tommy conversing about old times? Or get a better insight into the minds of the Machine Empire Generals? Or hear Cole talking about Neptune.......never mind. But you get my drift. Forever Red was an episode that lacked depth, in my eyes. So why was it such a big hit with the fans? Easy. Because we got to see our childhood heroes, Jason, Tommy, T.J., etc, standing next to guys like Wes, Eric, and Cole in battle. It was every Power Ranger fans dream come true. And hey, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the episode. Amit Bhamuk wrote one heck of a nostialgiac ride, that every fan is in debt to him for. But I wanted to show the fans what they "didn't see", because there was seemingly so much. The story just seemed.....incomplete.

Maybe that's why FR:TN was such a big hit. It gave fans a little closure.

But what I urge you all to realize, is that not ALL the episodes are like this. There's not always a whole other story to tell. You can't always have little "subplots" and "added depth", because in most of the episodes, it was already there. Sometimes, added subplots, like what was in FR:TN, can ultimately serve to weaken the primary plot, and thus, force you to deliver a weaker story. Am I making sense here?

I'll give you a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Just before FR:TN was completed, someone (and I honestly can't remember who) sent me an email, with a list of episodes that they'd like to see turned into "novels". Among them was "Green with Evil." Now granted, I already had my current project in mind while I was finishing up FR:TN, and never had any intention of doing another episode related project, but it serves as a good example. How could one add to "Green with Evil"?

The answer is simple. You can't. The story is perfect the way it is. The only thing one could manage to achieve by writing such a piece, is to get inside the head of the Rangers during their battles with Tommy, and ultimately not tell us anything we don't already know, or add in some scenes that ultimately force the story not to make sense, or weaken it. See what I mean? If I were to have added in a scene, like say...."Evil Tommy talks to Trini and Billy", what would that accomplish? Ultimately, the same thing that the scene with evil Tommy talking to Kimberly and sneering at Zack accomplished. The only difference would be that I wasted time doing it twice.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say to all potential "novel writers" (note the ever present use of quotations around the word novel) is: make sure that your story COULD use additions, before you add to it. Honestly, I think I got lucky with FR:TN, because I picked a story with a really weak ending, and a lot of room for adding. And I'm certainly not trying to discourage any "novel writers" out there by saying that there aren't any episodes worthy of adding to. In fact, if done correctly, I think that "Return of the Green Ranger: The Novel" could be great. But just think hard about where you're adding things, and even more importantly, WHY you're adding them. Otherwise, you could end up with just a bunch of random drivel that makes no sense.

Well, that's all I've got to say about that. Again, I sincerely hope that I haven't come off as arrogant, or snobbish, because that is certainly not my intention. I just felt that this needed to be said. Heck, maybe i've been talking to Funaro too much (if you're reading this CL, that's a compliment. ;) ). But for those of you who have a problem with what I've said, I'm ready and willing to take responsibility for my words, and back up any and everything that I've said here.

Your fellow fan,

Rob Siebert


I mean, it's been said time and time again, you can only do so much in 22 minutes. Thus, PR fans were left without their "dream" tenth anniversary special. I took it upon myself to take thi

My "Return of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, The Movie" Can be called a Novel

[AbaBlack]

Or not!

[Panty Strangled]

Originally posted by TheOneRJS200
lol The ironic thing is that Zarius actually proposed that idea to me at the conclusion of FR:TN.


Dude, I was only joking LOL,but I'm glad you took it seriously, because Lightspeed needed a HUGE improvment, and the author of the novel can give it that improvment

[TheOneRJS200]

Originally posted by AbaBlack

And as you said, where the heck were Eric and Ryan in Time for Lightspeed, I thought they were, maybe you might have made a typo, and meant to say Mike, instead of Eric, because I am going to go in depth to see as to why Mike and Ryan did not aid the Rangers in battle.

Well, if you're talking about Trakeena's Revenge here, then the answer is simple: Ryan was in the desert, and Mike's Magna Defender powers were destroyed.

[Devious One]

This is the PR universe, there's always a chance for Mike to be MD again. It just takes an imaginative enough mind to formulate the way.

[Clu-less]

Dude, why doesn't anyone put "Extended Version" or "DVD Version" or "Unseen Concept" or something imaginative like that. "The Novel" will be done to death by time the end of the year rolls around.

[Ace Venom]

"Revised Version" might work better

[TheOneRJS200]

Yeah, now that I think about it, Forever Red: Special Edition might have been better.

[MegaRyu124x]

Becaus I just started reading FR: Novel, I was kinda hopin for Shane and Hunter to be in, but oh well. Still good.