As you've probably already heard, the Royal Canterlot Library has officially shuttered its doors. In my case, it was a case of the pandemic kicking me in the teeth and never quite getting my rhythm back. But before I close that chapter of my part in the fandom completely, I may as well make up for lost time.
Here are five of the less viewed entries on my recommendation shelf that I never got around to bringing up with the other curators. My apologies to them and to the authors.
This year, more than 450,000 ponies and other creatures will undergo cutie mark cosmetic surgery. The Manehattan Times investigates, in this exclusive report.
Mica ·
4.9k words
· 226
6 ·
2.4k views
A disquieting concept told with a well-crafted journalistic voice.
Chrysalis and Cadance have been engaged in a battle of wills against each other for longer than either can remember, but little do they know they're both fighting for the same reasons.
Silent Whisper ·
2.5k words
· 209
8 ·
2.1k views
A single-idea story that tells it well, progressively more engrossing as you read.
A comet heads towards Equestria and Twilight is bidden by the other Princesses to move it into orbit. Problem is, she has no idea how.
Fylifa ·
33k words
· 137
7 ·
2.2k views
A fascinating exploration of the alicorn condition.
Twilight Sparkle travels to a remote town to prove, once and for all, that there is no such thing as Ghosts. She's about to learn that some secrets are better left covered... | Original Gothic Horror story in time for Nightmare Night
Rockstar_Raccoon ·
11k words
· 98
10 ·
1.9k views
A gripping paranormal mystery. To say more would risk spoiling it.
Sunset Shimmer. Celestia's student, element of magic, princess of friendship. From the outside, it was all perfect. From her point of view, it was quickly turning into hell.
Equimorto ·
8.4k words
· 103
12 ·
2k views
A multilayered tale of parts just slightly askew.
I can doubly endorse the first two - they're both excellent pieces. Haven't touched the others yet, but that's the fun of reading, now isn't it?
Oh, neat! Fylifa is an author I recommended a story for through Seattle's Angels. I'll have to give that a try.
It's a bummer both places had to shut down, but people move on. Perhaps Gen 5 will inspire new groups like these.
Thank you for the shout out! I always wanted to be in either RCL or Seattle's Angels... but this is almost as good and I'm glad you enjoyed Heartless.
Awesome! More to add to my list!
Heartless is absolutely cracking, glad to see it was on the RCL radar. Silent is a brilliant and idiosyncratic author, I genuinely never know what I'm gonna get everytime I read their stuff and yet they always pull it off. Anyone here looking for reccos could do a damn sight worse than checking it out!
I've never read any of those, so that's five more fics for the RiL list and review queue! Thank you for the recommendations! And, of course, thank you for the time you put into the RCL.
I'm rather busy at the moment, but I'll take at least a quick look at those. Thanks!
Ah, that explains the uptick in notifications on ATTWR. It's a weird feeling to find out at some point I might have had a chance to be featured on the RCL, only because it shut down. I guess all we can do though is move along at this point. Thanks for the shout-out, and good luck with whatever life takes you to next.
Yeah, I can second Mica's piece.
Oh yeah, I've read Comet. Solid story. Fylifa does good stuff.
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And big thanks for the consideration, FoME! You never fail to bring a smile. I hope one day there's another incarnation of RCL or Angels. You guys do (did?) such great work.