An Accidental Interception of Fate is a prequel novel to the first X-Men film, and like any introductory novel, it's intended to be read by anyone, even those who know nothing about the X-Men.  That said, the more one knows about the Marvel Universe, the more cameos and inside jokes one is likely to catch.

Nonetheless, this novel doesn't keep comic canon in several important respects.  I've used the origin-story for Scott given in the original film's novelization -- which differs markedly from his comic origin and (unsurprisingly) from Chris Claremont's novelization of X2.  The same is true of Storm.  Little was said about Jean, so I've employed the comic.  There are a few contradictions between this novel and information given in X2, most notably how (and when) Bobby Drake arrived at the mansion.  The version in Accidental is based on his comic origin, and was written well before I'd heard anything about X2.  I ask readers to remember that this novel was first conceived of in January of 2001, though I didn't begin serious work on it until February of 2002; it was completed in early July of 2003.  There are, however, surprisingly few major conflicts with the second film. 

Accidental would run roughly 475-500 pages in print, so it's a hefty novel.  It's won three awards:  Best X-Men Media and Best Romance in the 2003 CBFFAs (comicbook fanfic awards), and Best Novel in the 2003 X-Day Awards.

WARNINGS:
This novel is intended for adult readers.  It contains disturbing imagery in places, and a few scenes of more or less graphic sexual description.

IMAGES:
Puguita has fashioned a number of images especially for this story.  Please don't use them on your site without asking her permission first.  We've found some of them "drifting."  It took her no little amount of time to create them.  If you don't recognize the picture of Scott (or Jean) from the films, it's likely a manipulation.  

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
The Berkeley material could not have been written without the gracious assistance of Judy Hsu, and the New York sections owe to both Naomi Kraus and Domenika Marzione.  Information about genetics came from Tarchannon, and Naomi and Domenika both assisted me in Columbia-specific grad school info.  As always, Naomi edited the final drafts.

All image manipulations (of which there are legion in here) were done by Puguita unless otherwise noted.

In no particular order, others who've contributed ideas or assistance at one point or another include:  Lelia Burke, Barbara L., Andraste, Jennifer, Linda, Sequoia, David Ellis, Matt Nute, Ninamonkey, Tzezuko, Mack, Diana, BrenK, fitzrose, Randy, Libby Edwards, and Kat Hughes.  Minarya edited the epilogue.

Literary and lyrical references, and a few specific disclaimers, will be acknowledged at a chapter's conclusion.

The X-Men, of course, belong to Marvel.

FUN and GAMES:
For those who like amusement -- count the Marvel cameos.  At least six popular (non-X) Marvel characters appear (or will appear) in the novel (by name).  See if you can catch them all.  Email me a list of all six and the chapter/scene in which they occur, and I'll blow you a public kiss in my LJ.

This particular story also included a "reader challenge," in which I promised to incorporate five things suggested to me by readers.  The elements for the Reader Challenge follow below in the order in which they were submitted, not the order in which they'll appear in the tale).  Following each is the name of the reader who submitted it, and the chapter number in which it can be found.

1. a mother duck and ducklings (Rebecca) - 6
2. a performance of The Phantom of the Opera (Linda) - 1
3. a reference to Katherine Hepburn (Katta) - 18
4. Professor Xavier with hair (Shireen) - 21
5. A very 'loud' Hawaiian shirt (Sarita) - 10
 

Go on to the Prologue: The House