Søren has a good point...

[Olaf Solstrand]

I read the last mail from Søren Krarup Olesen. Søren, you have a very good 
point.

But, I must say: When I read a story about the Ducks, I try to knit it all 
together in my head. I try to get a full picture of it all together. 
Therefor, it feels WRONG to BELIEVE in a story which says something opposite 
than many other stories. I have to decide in my mind which version I will 
believe in. One good example is the old European myth about $crooge and 
Grandma being brother and sister. When I first saw Don Rosa's Duck Family 
Tree, I had to decide in my mind which version I should believe in (is she 
his sister or his sister's mother-in-law?). In that example, and in very 
many other examples, I have decided to support the Don Rosa version. This is 
because I know that Don Rosa does extremely good research on every story he 
makes! Therefor, I support the Duck Family Tree. I support the entire story 
"Life of $crooge". I support the fact that $crooge died in the 1960's, which 
HAS TO mean that every story which contains computers, modern airplanes, 
modern cars, cable TV etc. does NOT fit into MY Disney Universe! I read the 
stories. I am amused by the stories. But they're fairy tales. Things that 
COULD HAVE happened, but are impossible. (the same about stories with both 
ducks and mice - in my head there exists no Mickey, no Goofy...)

But if the story does not break my Duck Universe picture - of course I'm 
open for that the story could have happened in MY Duck Universe (the 
universe inside my head)! I try not to exclude a story just because it's not 
Don Rosa, but he IS the best story writer. I miss more stories about 
journeys to distant countries. I miss more stories with REFERENCES to other 
stories (either it is Barks, Don Rosa, Van Horn, Marco Rota or anybody). And 
I miss more stories that take place in the mid-50's. This is not personal to 
anybody, but that's what a story needs to become good - according to me. And 
that is why so many small (Italian) creators fall in the shadows of for 
example Don Rosa. Don Rosa is not good only BECAUSE he's Don Rosa! But he 
amazes us again and again and again... and through history, I've found only 
a few Don Rosa stories that don't fit into my Disney Universe (example: 
"From Duckburg to Lillehammer" is an impossible story with the time frames I 
operate with).

When it comes to new persons, it's always interesting to read about a new 
character. But at the end of the story, I must decide whether this character 
fits into my head. Example: I have read a few stories (I believe it is 
William Van Horn?) where $crooge has an former un-known half brother. At the 
end, I have decided that I can NOT believe in the "fact" that Fergus McDuck 
has been cheating on his Downy. This is the kind of decisions I make every 
time I read about a new introduced figure. If nothing breaks with logic, I 
let the person stay in my head.

BUT; the universe in my head is in many ways similar with the Barks/Rosa 
Universe. Therefor, TUSEN TAKK SØREN! I will try to become a better reader 
of all Duck stories now. And I hope such things will be discussed on the 
list in the future.

-olaf-
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