Fanfic: Garden Of Eva

Author: Jim Lazar

Reviewed by: Jon L.

Date: 9/2/01

Revised: 5/1/02

Rating: 10 (hey, I liked it that much)

This is my very first review of a finished series; one that I felt deserved to be the first to be done. Over a year ago, I happened to stumble upon an Eva fic on the FFML (fan fiction mail list). At the time the author was up to part 2.4 in his series. At first I didn't understand it so I decided to go to the beginning of the story at his site. Once I started reading I happened to come across his warnings for the first part (0.1). At that time I had a feeling that this chapter would be interesting, if not strange. As I continued downward, I hit the story and thought, "What the hell is going on?" It wasn't until a few minutes later that I got my answer. Once I finished up the chapter I found myself wanting to read more, so I moved onto the second one and found myself becoming more interested as I read on. I continued reading late into the night, until I reached a bad file since I had saved them to a disk to read on another computer. I found myself devastated that I couldn't continue for a few hours so I found myself in bed trying to guess what would happen next. The next day I picked up where I left off and was totally shocked by the time I finished 2.4. It was at that time that I knew this series, titled Garden Of Eva, was one of the better ones I had read, my very first one being Eva:R. I was so pleased with what I read that I printed it out for archival purposes and put it in a book where I could bring it with me wherever I wanted. Recently this series finished was finished up with a nicely done ending. I myself am a fond Rei/Shinji person, but this ending went beyond what I would have called nice.

Garden Of Eva is based off of the five-minute alternate life segment within TV episode 26, at least at first it is. As the story progresses we are introduced to the alternate world in an expanded way, with plenty of fan-service to keep the reader interested and corny jokes to make them fall down laughing. Even better, everything is not what is expected as far as the characters go. The story seems to focus on the alternate world mainly, but does have parts where the theater is the scene for contemplation of Shinji's "Perfect World".

When you first start out you will get lost for a few pages because it starts off with a game in progress. When you do reach the explanatory point you begin with the alternate world, which is mostly where the story will take place in the beginning. At first Rei appears to be a normal teenager (yes, normal) with the exception of her hair color. As you read on, a relationship begins to come together between Shinji and Rei. Asuka continues to be the redheaded shrew she is and never gives the boys a break. Hikari and Kensuke are still their normal selves as well, but further into the story you learn that things can change without you wanting them to. Misato and Kaji are here as well and are together to an extent. Lazar has also found some interesting roles for Ritsuko (annoying as ever), Gendo (Still an ass), Yui (So pure and honest...maybe), Maya (What a bitch), and (did not expect this one) Naoko (Lady, get a new life). Fuyutsuki, Makoto, and Shigeru make minor appearances as well. Anno (yes, I think it is the same one that directed the series) even appears in the story for a bit. And, before I forget, Toji is still is normal, perverted, and not too bright self.

The "Eva Game" is this new game that appears in the alternate world that the original Shinji has created in the theater (the world number is 666). In the theater with him are the original Asuka, Rei, and Misato to make the umm...afterlife hell (What else would you call it). Second impact had occurred in this world as well, but sadly no mechas to destroy people's lives and crush houses in a single step. For the purpose of trying to not make your head explode, I will refrain from any long and complicated numbering methods.

After a few chapters, parts of Rei's life (not her past life) begin to surface as Shinji tries to figure out what to do since he is decisive between several girls (In your dreams, hormone-boy). At some point he gets a clue and goes for Rei (Still unsure if it was the right choice). Of course, her mother (loser) is not too happy about that. Okay, I lied, Rei's mother will do anything to make her daughter a lesbian by the time she is eighteen (told you, loser). Lucky for the readers it will never happen because Rei will never turn that way, I would never allow it (Right, like I have a choice).

When it comes to Shinji and Rei, everything seems to stand in their way from having a good time together (sometimes more than simple fun too...eheh). Including evil mothers, sisters, running from the law, jail, death, blackmail, past boyfriends, redheads, teachers, family, restraints, police...simply put, they have too many things in their way, of course that doesn't mean they don't find a way of being together. The two of them go through some really bad times together as they do whatever they can to be together and happy (of course, those moments are rare).

Asuka (this is the kind of person that deserves to be slapped many times for stupidity) is her crude self, wanting Shinji, insulting Shinji, hurting Shinji...the kind of person you would love to hate if you met her. After she finds out about Rei and Shinji she does anything she can think of to make Shinji go for her instead (this ranges in various levels from coloring her hair to marriage). As mule-headed and clueless as always, she continues to try until she is forced to face the fact that she blew her chances and accepts that Shinji loves Rei (before you think some friendly type of accepting, remember that Asuka is a shrew and would rather reject a person than be nice to them).

Kensuke is still a military freak in the story (Boy, you need a life too) but does get into some really messed up situations (hint - Hikari, Misato, others...oh hell, you get the idea). Managing to stay alive through the whole story (yes, Kensuke has that much blood) he becomes more of a man (well, I think that depends on your definition of a man). He also is still a computer geek (like that is a surprise).

Toji and Hikari (How the hell did they really get together in the first place?), they are like two people that forgot to set standards for themselves once they passed the age of twelve. In the beginning, Toji is a jock/pervert while still trying to keep Hikari from giving up on him. Since this is Eva, he doesn't get very far and little by little things go downhill (Oh, you will love the Hotel). Then things get even worse after a simple mistake for the couple. My advice to Toji - Love will only work if you are willing to be true. Then again, Toji is a pervert, so my advice is pointless.

Misato and Kaji, geeze, you would think that they would be great together, but again, Eva. They start off well but then secrets get out and they take a turn for the worse (or was it the better). No government spy work here, just simple, if not messed up, adults. But have no fear, they eventually learn and (somehow) manage to stay together...with a few wrenches in the works (don't get it? You will, trust me).

Gendo and Yui, just the simple parents to Shinji. Well, simple if you count the fact that Gendo is a wuss and easy to control (nothing like the madman from the series, thank god). Gendo, destined to be a loser for life. Yui, the wife willing to put up with him. With the many flaws he has, one would wonder how the man got through life.

Ritsuko and Naoko (dubbed "pathetic pair"), Daughter and Mother. One is stupid, the other just plain clueless. Rei's family is really messed up as far as relationships go. They never get along, which I was expecting since in truth I would think that their Genes were messed with from the start. Ritsuko has had bad luck in the past concerning relationships and wants to "prevent" Rei from making the same mistakes. Naoko...what can I say...she is hung up on her pubic image and work so much that if she were told to give up her family she would charge top-dollar.

Minor characters (Eva ones)...well, just think of them as jokes and you will get the picture.

Minor characters (non Eva ones)...something not quite right about them. The opposing group in the Eva game, and one of them has a past with Rei. Just don't be mad when you reach the identity of one of them (Wow, what a twisted idea).

Maya (Damn bitch, who raised you?), she isn't the lovable person you have come to expect. Hungry only for fame, she will use anyone to get what she wants. She hates men for some reason (well, this sorta surprised me) and sees them as toys. When she is near, it's best to stay clear.

The author (I must have your brain dissected to figure out what goes on in it), he wrote this piece of work worthy of being considered a good continuation. It is unknown to this date if he is a twisted freak or not but he used good common sense in trying to keep the reader going (jokes, sex, boobs, game, sex, crotch, fan service, pain, life, S & M, cheating, STRIP POKER, love, outlaws, jail, few caring moments, penis, destruction, revenge, alcohol, sex, pain, jokes, lust, family, cheating, perversion...and did I say sex?). Titling the chapters with hints was a nice touch for the series (I am talking about method here), having warnings at the beginning was neat (not that anyone cared about the content, just that it was funny and perverted).

Once you near the end of Book 1, things start to get really weird, and the five-minute piece from Episode 26 is changed to reflect more of an EOE situation. Since Shinji's (theater Shinji) world is not set in stone yet, he has only been able to observe it along with his resident theater-mates. But at the end of the last part, he gets to recall past events from BT (Before Theater). This is picked up in the next Book where all of the previous worlds are replayed as a type of lesson (by the way, the real Yui come in at this point) to the troubled youth as to why his worlds are never perfect (not that he gets the message). During these replays, many different versions of the characters are shown to us, ranging from virgins to all out sluts (Lazar, just FedEx your brain to me once you are finished with it). Once the replays have finished Shinji gets to BE in world 666 for a while...until once again the nature of 666 rears its head and kills him and that world's Rei (warning, at this point it gets BLOODY. So bloody that if you have a weak stomach that you are better off asking for a modified version) when they drop into the theater. Because the real Shinji was put into 666, the other Shinji went to the theater (confusion fits perfectly there). Soon (depending on your speed) everyone is alive again with a twist (roll-play time). It gets better from there, after the problem is "solved", a new one pops up for a few moments (OH NO, BARNEY'S COUSIN *pulls out shotgun*).

What follows is what starts the good part about the ending, Shinji makes one last world and is forced to confront his problems concerning the people he cares about (a bit of a sad point). Once that is taken care of a new twist is applied, the theater residents are not real after all (EOE). The real ones have been waiting for the fake ones to make a new world for THEM (lazy). World 667 gets tested for a bit before a sex scene plays out concerning the rebirth of Humanity. One person is lost though because of what the rebirth entails. Have no fear, at some point the problem is resurrected in a scene so fuzzy that I labeled it "Best Shinji/Rei WAFF scene ever" (in my opinion). If you liked 666, then have no fear, because it still exists. For the last part of the story, several years go by as the author takes us between 666 and 667. It is here where we are given a glimpse of how love and death can affect a person, and how eternal a moment can be.

Oh...and God's true identity is revealed, but that isn't important, really.

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Book 0 (Bites)

This is where it all starts. Rei is the new kid in town who has found a group of people to hang out with. They all have stumbled upon a game that follows along the guideline of Eva itself. Outside of the game, Rei seems to take a liking to Shinji (understatement). As the person (that would be you, dummy) reads on they start to learn of things that lead up to where the book title fits in. Each chapter's title (and warnings) hints to the reader of what to expect. Book 0 is also the only book that holds two lemon side stories. And I agree that this book DOES Bite as Shinji learns that life isn't fair. By the end it gets to the point where it starts to suck (the title of the next book, by the way)

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Book 1 (Sucks)

This is where it gets really interesting after Shinji and Rei find out secrets from the last book, not that they will let that stop them. Despite how they are related they continue to enjoy each other's company as they begin the Eva championships. But poor Asuka begins to get left out after learning Shinji and Rei have been dating and does her best to stop them, without much luck. The couple, on the other hand, begins to understand how much their lives really suck as they run from the law, their parents, and a mysterious boy from Rei's past. Near the end they wind up getting separated for a while only to be brought back together. Once the end does come things really start to suck as the mystery boy is revealed to Shinji. A hint of End Of Evangelion now begins to show up as the author starts the next book (blows).

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Book 2 (Blows)

The third of three books in the series, it opens up with Shinji reviewing his failed worlds with his mother. By the time they finish up Shinji has found he is trapped in his most recent one where he learns how much it blows chunks at times until he wishes to go back to the theater, only to die a bloody death with his love, Rei. After being brought back he begins working on his last world which ends up totally opposite of the last ones. But much to everyone's surprise Shinji is not the real Shinji after all as he meets his creator, face to face. As everyone present prepares for the next step for humanity, the created Shinji's last world is decided to be the best one, he learns that HIS world did not die out, even if it did bite, suck, and blow. The last chapter covers the final events of both worlds right up to the point one world discovers the other, by mistake.

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If you don't like Sex, Perverseness, Bad jokes (maybe), or a Shinji/Rei fic...don't read this one, but if you want whacked out story lines that make sense, then start reading now! For this isn't your standard fiction, this is something that touches upon reality in a sense. Form what I have read, the writer has put his feelings on life into this story. My life itself is not very fair at times and if I had the option of starting over I may take it. The method of telling the story was great once it got away for the original endings for Eva. Rei and Shinji are brought together through events that pair in tandem to both the theater and alternate world up to the point their selves are merged, giving this story the winning status it deserves, from the game it starts in to the eternal kiss it ends at. I couldn't stop laughing as I read on up until I reached the very last chapter where the mood changes from humor to seriousness. I found myself mesmerized as I read it, learning the fate of the alternate world and the pair I have come to adore. Though I still believe Asuka and Shinji would make a good couple, I favor Shinji and Rei, but when it comes to Garden of Eva there I no other way it should have ended. This is one story...no...series-made-for-a-book that deserves high honors in my opinion. It may be perverted and sick at times (many times) but it fits perfectly with how things turn out for everyone. The writer shows us a world that can be pure and many that have flaws. Shinji being given the power to create them was a nice effect since he is messed up to begin with (review note: there are multi-Shinjis and Reis). Asuka is her normal self in most of the worlds as well as the theater, and Misato is...Misato. A good read in my opinion, funny too.

You can find it here: http://www.animeprime.com/ff/geva/index.html