Simply magnificent.
Very powerful story. Many emotions - especially towards the end - and solid writing. Few shaky imho points but mostly solid story.
I couldn't finish the epilogue without crying, and for that I love you and I hate you. Because I know that even though I will watch some TV now to take my mind off the story when I go to sleep I won't be able to stop thinking about it.

Bravo

Like someone previously stated, these stories (Normal-verse) stand up to re-readings and offer something new each time! I hope you continue to be inspired and, at the same time, continue be a source of inspiration and joy to others!

Huh. Why does the President keep referring to Iran as part of the Arab world?

Really enjoying the story so far - but the SGC side of things is starting to feel more and more like an ATL. I don't recall anything in any season of SG1 to suggest that O'Neill and Carter and Jackson lived in a world where there was significantly less tolerance of either atheism or homosexuality than in either Buffy's original world or our own. Maybe there was less presence of homosexuality (at least openly), given that so many of the characters were active military, but I was never necessarily under the impression that either Carter or Jackson were necessarily theists, or that others in the mountain would look at them askance if they were not...

So, I guess I'm asking... is this version of the SGC meant to be essentially the same folks we saw up to a certain point in the series, or to be in some way divergent even before that point? Odd that these particular issues are triggering the question, as opposed to the whole thing with State Security in the first story, but there you go.

Having finally caught up on reading "Redefining Normal", I couldn't resist the temptation to go back and re-read the latter 3/4 of "Far Beyond Normal" and all of "Return to Normal", just to see what I missed the first time around.

Also, re-reading Buffy's discussion with President Hayes about halfway through this story took on a whole new meaning, in light of the current situation with a president who's inherited a right mess from the previous occupant of the office.

These stories DO stand up to repeated re-readings and offer something new each time, and I can't pay them a higher compliment than that!

Sensational story. I've just read chapter 17 of 'Return to Normal' and I have to say, from my own international experience and traveling your insight and research is extremely well down. The crystal clear analysis of each character in the previous chapter's brainstorming under General Hammond blew my mind; you must have done some serious critical thinking and difficult work to come to all those conclusions and personify your characters so effectively.

Age of sexual consent varies quite a bit between states. Very few people think much about this, however, which can lead (as it apparently has here) to people assuming what is true in their state is the same everywhere. It's not.

Washington, for example, sets the age at 16 or within 4 years if 14-15, 3 years if 12-13, 2 years if under 12 (with no lower limit). Some states are more restrictive: California sets it at 18, for example, though it's worth noting there's a 3 year age gap allowance for those under 18.

Colorado (where the SGC is located) has about the most lenient law in the US about age of sexual consent. 15 or older, but less than 17, the law allows a 10 year age gap. So a 15 year old and a 25 year old would be 100% legal. At 17, Faith would be legal with absolutely *anyone* as long as it was consensual. There might be some scandal, especially from people from other states who assume that their local laws are universal laws, but it wouldn't be illegal in Colorado.

As for being a bartender at 17, that's illegal under Colorado law. It wouldn't be illegal at 18, though she'd need to be 21 to legally consume alcohol in Colorado. While dispensing alcohol (being a bartender) has a minimum age of 18 in Colorado (as does working as a waitress in a bar), one can work in a liquor store (where alcohol is not consumed on-site) at ages below 18, providing the containers involved are sealed.

Since Faith's ID showing her to be old enough to work in a bar is fake, there won't be any legal penalty for the owner of the bar, and he won't lose his license. Had he known she was under 18 though, that would be another story entirely.

That is why the police never became involved. It wasn't that she did anything illegal; it was just 'wrong' enough to use in a smear campaign. When governments or the media abuse their power the 'little guy' gets crushed.

Great Story, as always.

Perhaps a sequel set in this world with Melaka Fray?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fray

Watchers ineffective and only ally are so-called neutral demons.

I haven't encounted a cross between Xander and Fray.

Perhaps the Zeppo is needed.

I have just reread this story and it was just as excellent as the last time I read it.


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What you are will show in what you do.
- Thomas A. Edison
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It took me a few days to read this story, but it was good.

I've just re-read up through Ch8 RTN of this series, and am just in total AWE how many of your analyses in ch1-8 of 'Return to Normal' accurately and consistently apply to politics and people in D.C.

Seemingly now more than ever.

Is Buffy absolutely CERTAIN there isn't at least one PiT still on the planet?

I think you had a great plot, good characters, and some truly touching moments, but you're a little long on exposition: too much narrative, too much repetition with only slight variations, too much background in some cases. Other than that, congrats on completing a compelling story! :-)

Wonderful story. Your views on many subjects were laid out in an easy to read, interesting manner and fit nicely into one of the most intelligent, all-encompassing plot lines I've had the privilege to read. The story itself was very entertaining, the characterizations were phenomenal, and ... I think you managed to make Joss' BtVS somehow better here. By going back and explaining some of the show's choices, you have actually filled in the entire story - made it fuller and more grown up.

Point being, I think you've gone past writing plain old fan fiction. You've made this story your own. I hope you know how truly talented you are. If you have ever published anything, I'd love to know. I'd go right out and buy it without even reading the cover.

Thank you very much for sharing your work.

'lucidity

Fantastic story. You combined the epic scope so well with believable characterisation and intricate scientific and political backgrounds. I am very impressed that you managed to bring up such thought provoking topics about the nature of our society and the use of power without completely derailing the story. I have read published novels that did not do as well. I can only imagine the satisfaction that finishing such a story must bring to you.
I hope you will continue to share your brilliant work with us in future stories :)

I've just read this series. Oh My God. This is brilliant and awe inspiring like very little I've ever seen. So fucking thought-provoking.

Bravo.