BUBBLEGUM CIRCUS INFORMATION FILE by Shunsuke Ichikawa ================================================================= To all readers: This information file is an overview to my series, Bubblegum Circus. It is a set of seven stories which take place after the Bubblegum Crisis and Bubblegum Crash. Details of the stories are based upon how I have interpreted the original series, so expect differences from events in the ARTMIC series, but nothing drastic or farfetched. The stories are all interconnected and complete, answering most if not all major questions posed in Crisis and Crash. Three sections follow this introduction. They are: An overview of the series The meaning of the title, Bubblegum Circus Series Story Titles After reading the stories, if you have any questions, comments, or calls for me to "Jigoku ni ike!", please address them to me at: shunsuke@mailcity.com or see my web page at: www.fortunecity.com/victorian/university/5/index.htm www.fortunecity.com/victorian/university/5/a-fanfic.htm If you enjoy my work, please spread the word. Sincerly, Shunsuke Ichikawa ================================================================= An overview of the series: Bubblegum Circus is a series of stories that continue Bubblegum Crisis and Bubblegum Crash. As many do not consider Bubblegum Crash as valid, I will only draw lightly on its influence. That does not mean I disregard it; rather, I am writing the stories to be acceptible to fans in both camps. The events of the first story, "Breakdown", take place four years after the beginning of BGCrisis #1. "Breakdown" deals with the slow decay of GENOM and the events causing it. Multiple events in the story refer to the title, with several plots and subplots running in parallel, and many allusions to other events. Some characters are new, some created, but all the regulars from BG Crisis and BG Crash are here: Sylia, Priss, Linna, Nene, Leon, Mackie, Daley, Quincy...plus a few recurring characters who I have made regulars in this series. Six more stories are set to follow. The stories however, are not in a chronological order. At several points in "Breakdown" I leave open the door to other stories, some before, some during, and some after "Breakdown" takes place. But all will be cohesive and complete, and will answer the questions posed in BGCrisis, BGCrash, and ADPolice series (as I view them) about the origins and character makeup of key players in the series (eg. the link between Sylia and Mason, the love triangle of Priss/Leon/Daley, the survival of the AD Police, etc.) over several stories to follow. The subsequent stories will be shorter than the major effort which is "Breakdown". The tone and tenor of the stories will be between the futuristic, sometimes funny BGCrisis and the morose ADPolice Files, which I found brutal, but gripping. My writing contains a very heavy influence of Frederick Brown (a writer who could say more in 500 words than most writers can in 5000) and Ron Goulart (witty, funny and sarcastic, with a great sense of parody and farce). Brown's sci-fi/horror mix, coupled with his ability to squeeze so much into so little, always fascinated me. I would have to say he is my biggest influence, and the reason I am writing; I always knew what to say, but he taught me how to say it. Goulart's caustic sense of humor is very much on par with mine; I can be vicious and sharp, and am able to put that into my stories. I easily offend, so you may need a thick skin to read my work. For those who read and enjoy my work, expect a new story or segment about once a month over the next six months. Do not expect all the Circus series at once, due to time constraints on myself and also my desire to finish other stories. I am working concurrently on Circus and fanfics of other anime (Ranma 1/2, Maison Ikkoku, Kimagure Orange Road, among others). Again, I have no schedule other than a new publication per month, so please be patient. ================================================================= The meaning of the title, Bubblegum Circus: In Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary, a circus is defined as: 1. A travelling show of acrobats, clowns, etc.; also a performance of such a show. 2. A circular, usually tented area used for such shows. 3. In Ancient Rome, an oblong enclosure used for races, games, etc. 4. /Brit./ An open, usually circular junction of several streets. 5. /Informal/ An uproarious or disorderly exhibition. It came to me as the perfect title for a series of stories. Descriptive as both humorous and chaotic, with the potential for disaster at any time. Accurate in all meanings of the word, and letter perfect (BGC): 1. The acrobat (Linna), the wild animals (boomers), the tamers (the Knight Sabers), the Master of Ceremonies (Quincy), the daredevil (Priss), the clowns (AD Police)... 2. Mega-Tokyo, sprawling over the landscape, and the night as the tent wherein all the action takes place. 3. The chasm splitting Mega-Tokyo, the site of so many battles. A city of excess and debauchery at the expense the weak, like a Roman orgy. 4. The highways, the buildings, the congestion, the Loop Highway...how the stories always come full circle. 5. Complete utter mayhem and wanton destruction. ================================================================= Series Story Titles: 1. "Breakdown" Date: 2036/02 to 2036/03 A series of attacks by boomers on Corporate GENOM Headquarters coincides with the company's downward slide. But who is behind the attacks, and why? Part of GENOM's downfall is the creation of Boomer Control Mechanisms (BCM's) by a company in Germany; it is a company owned by the Stingray family. But are BCM's just an inocuous way to control boomers, or is there something more sinister? 2. "From One To Another" Date: 2034/10 to 2034/11 Once a person joins a secret society, can they ever truly leave it behind? Especially when joining another? A potential Knight Saber has some hard choices and personal conflicts of loyalty to think about before wearing a hardsuit. 3. "Flow" Date: 2035/01 Nene becomes Leon McNicol's new partner, and her first case is almost more than she can handle. Everyone gets older, but when do you grow up? Can she become one of the guardians shielding society from dangers she was protected from? 4. "Plowshares and Common Shares" Date: 2035/02 to 2035/09 GENOM is linked to illegal arms sales in wars going on in Asia and Africa. Who ordered the sales? For what reason? Murasaka Kaiho, trouble-shooter and paid killer, is ordered by Quincy to find out who is destroying GENOM before the damage is permanent. But is he up to the task? Every predator is prey to something else.... (Note: this story rarely involves the Knight Sabers, and a brief appearance by Daley Wong, but not Leon McNicol. It is not meant as an off-shoot of the series, but rather a gap-filler to explain the events of other stories in Bubblegum Circus.) 5. "A Lover's Quarrel: A Dart to the Heart" Date: 2034/05 to 2034/08, and 2036/06 Priss will not say it, but Leon knows he must prove he is worthy of her hand. Without her divulging it, he discovers the mysterious circumstances of her former lover's death. He decides the killer's arrest is what he must accomplish to win her heart. Working solo, with his partner promoted, Leon investigates. But Priss is not the only one with affections for him...and regret and jealousy are an ugly pair. Is there any chivalry left? Will someone say something they will forever regret? 6. "Wolves" Date: 2034/08 to 2035/04 Some consider them a menace, some beautiful. Sometimes they are fierce, and scare away those who would approach, even their own kind. But they are often lonely. Two simultaneous but independent tellings of the feelings and private lives of Daley Wong and Linna Yamazaki. They are more alike than they first appear. 7. "Two" Date: 2036/08 Sylia makes a decision she cannot avoid. Something in her from her past pushes her to a decision, bringing the series, and the threat of GENOM, to an end. ================================================================= This ends the Bubblegum Circus information file. Any questions can be directed to me at the address listed in the top section of this file.