"Equoid" by Charles Stross

Having used a pastiche of his fictional "Laundry" agency in Kraken, I feel obligated to point out that Charles Stross recently put up a new story in the series online, titled "Equoid".

It's about unicorns... sort of.

Whether you're already a fan of his fiction in general or the Laundry Files in particular, or if you're simply curious about what inspired the inclusion of Canterlot Laundry Services, Mr. Delta Green, and CASE NIGHTMARE MOON in my story, check it out. FAIR WARNING: Despite the occasional comedic bits, this is at its heart a horror story, and when the horseapples hit the fan Stross does not pull punches. It's nightmarish and disturbing at times, and the usual "rules" for most fiction of who's allowed to die and when do not apply.

If you're still interested, you can read it here.

Comments

[Psykosis]

Yeah, not a huge fan of horror. Sorry.

[Admiral Stoic Rum]

oh... I thought it was ponies

[SIGAWESOME]

I love Charles Stross.

My favourite quote in the story:

But I do assure you, young feller me lad, that unicorns are very real indeed, just like great white sharks and Ebola Zaire—and they’re just as much of a joking matter. Napalm, Mr. Howard, napalm and scorched earth: that’s the only language they understand. Sterilize it with fire and nerve gas, then station armed guards.

1390489

oh... I thought it was ponies

It is about ponies; just not your cute and cuddly, jelly-eyed, technicolour ones...
Think sexually dimorphic, carnivorous, Eldritch horror parasites that seek out human hosts to spread their spawn.

(Read this and you will not look at My Little Dashie the same way again...)

Having used a pastiche of his fictional "Laundry" agency in Kraken

That high pitched squeeeing sound was me dashing off to your story list to add Kraken to my read list. I love the Laundry series.

[CLAVDIVS CAESAR]

1391071
My own favorite quote is about the containment protocol:

I start by making some phone calls which, by way of a liaison officer or two, induce the police to evacuate the surrounding area. Then what appears to be a Fire Brigade Major Incident Mobile Command HQ vehicle arrives, followed by a couple of pumps which are equipped to spray something rather more toxic and inflammable than water. Finally, the insurance loss adjusters turn up.

Also, I'm seriously tempted to use the life cycle of EQUESTRIAN RED SIRLOIN for changelings. Chrysalis was queen because she was the only fertilized female in the swarm.

[SIGAWESOME]

1391086

Also, I'm seriously tempted to use the life cycle of EQUESTRIAN RED SIRLOIN for changelings. Chrysalis was queen because she was the only fertilized female in the swarm.

Perhaps.
Personally, I think Sombra would be a better candidate for EQUESTRIAN RED SIRLOIN than Chrysalis. He already has the fangs, glowing eyes, and self-replicating horn.

IMHO changeling stories are pretty much at a saturation point. While I do not doubt your writing skills, it would require that much more extra work to make your changeling head-cannon stand out from all the hundreds of other changeling stories already written. Sombra on the other hand is pretty much an open tabula rassa.

[Admiral Stoic Rum]

1391071

eh, Sounds like Aegean hrses

[Lurks-no-More]

Woohoo! I had been meaning to read this for a while now, but kept forgetting to do so. Thanks for reminding me!

It was an excellent read, one of Stross' better horror stories. And you weren't kidding about the "nighmarish and disturbing" thing, either. (Apparently, he brainstormed the unicorn lifecycle with Peter Watts which, if you know Watts' works, is enough to trigger violent shudders right there...)

[CLAVDIVS CAESAR]

1391174
ERS doesn't fit well with Sombra in my head. You probably have a point about the saturation of changeling fics, but I might sneak it a reference at some point. EDIT: Instead of turning it into a complete fic, I mean. (I wonder what Equestria's own Laundry-analog would codename the file?)

[SIGAWESOME]

1392836

ERS doesn't fit well with Sombra in my head.

I suppose. Each to their own...

The way I see it:
ERS:
- sessile
- mimicry
- fangs/glowing eyes
- virgin host
- dimorphic mate in the form of a "land snail"
- solitary

Sombra:
- "Smoke form" was localised in a relatively small area
- looks like a regular unicorn
- fangs/glowing eyes
- blank flank
- self-replicating horn
- only one of his kind

(I wonder what Equestria's own Laundry-analog would codename the file?)

DELTA DECIBEL CUMULUS

[CLAVDIVS CAESAR]

1395366
Individual details may line up, but the overall tone doesn't fit for me. I felt like they were trying to make a pony version of Sauron with Sombra. Alternately, I could see him as a pony vampire, either in the literary Dracula style in that he's also a student of black magic, or something closer to Alucard from Hellsing.
Spoilers for Kraken: He's also where Luna got her copy of the Necroneighmicon.

DELTA DECIBEL CUMULUS

I'm curious how you arrived at that.

[SIGAWESOME]

1395375

Individual details may line up, but the overall tone doesn't fit for me.

I will defer to your experience about the story writing....

I'm curious how you arrived at that.

Just picked 3 semi-random words that had a good "sound" to my ears: 2-3 syllables, nouns/adjectives, hard consonants.

[CLAVDIVS CAESAR]

1395410
Please don't take it as me telling you your interpretation is wrong. I just see it differently, is all. Preference, not correctness.

[Shantara]

Thanks for the heads-up! I would have missed this story if not for your blog post. Stross is awesome as usual! Also, it is insanely quotable...

The adult unicorn is a thing of dire & eldritch horror & I would advise you to pray to your creator that you live to a ripe old age without once encountering such a monstrous creature