It Is Recommendsday, My Dudes #86 · 8:20pm Nov 9th, 2022
This week, I'm taking a look at more new writers. And today, the connecting theme's a pretty good one: the transition into adulthood.
Our first comes to us from Flutterflyer, in the form of the very simply named Great.
About the first third opens with an intense bargaining session between Trixie and Sunset Shimmer: the end of their senior year is approaching, and Trixie is stressing about her future. Who she's going to become, what she's going to do with her life. But she has a solution and she needs Sunset's help. Trixie needs... Trixie. Specifically the other, older her from Equestria. So after a bit of bargaining (and bribery), she gets her wish. And then the remainder is Trixie and Trixie Trixie-ing at each other in a Trixie-like manner.
The first compliment I give this story is just how smooth it flows. It feels natural, the characters act natural, and the entire thing has the proper cadance cadence and flow for actual human conversation. That's not a trivial thing and a lot of writers (even veterans) mess it up. That also helps the story speed - it's 9k words, but it didn't feel like 9k words. It doesn't drag, despite being two characters standing around and talking at each other throughout. That easily turns into a drudge, but this story avoids that.
The material and how its interwoven with the characters is also well done. Trixie is not the easiest character to handle, and far too often she's left one-dimensional. Trixie talking with Trixie could turn into a farce, but here it's the right call: she knows herself well enough to punch through the stage persona and defensive mechanisms to make the talk frank and sensible while still having that Trixie personality.
Plus, of course, there's the last part of their conversation. The rest was nice and serious, but no Trixie conversation really feels right without that moment where you go "God damn it Trixie." (You'll know the part when you get there.)
Going with a less... talky and still just as chaotic story, next up is Spring Six by Pen and Paper.
It's Spring Break, and the Student Six are about to have the time of their lives. They've pooled their money to rent an extremely crappy cottage in Mareskoka, where they intend to party, get drunk, smoke clover, and otherwise engage in exactly what you would expect teenagers to do when left alone for several days. And they do it with gusto.
This here's what I've taken to calling fuzzy fics - the sort that you read and you just get that warm fuzzy feeling in your gut. Nothing world-shaking, no high drama or wild laughing. Just that pleasant, happy feeling of good memories and slice-of-life joy.
Because seriously, I've been in this story. Going to a semi-remote location on a long weekend with friends, armed with nothing but $50, a few six-packs, a bag of gummy worms, and possibly a couple of joints that Eddie swears aren't his but everyone knows totally are. (I'm also like 90% sure I've had the pickle beer conversation, just about black licorice.) So this brings back happy memories of youth, and it captures those moments perfectly. It isn't more, but it doesn't need to be more. It's beautiful in what it is.
New or catching up? Try Recommendsday: The Index for your story needs!
Goddamn it, Trixie!
Thanks for the recommends; these are good stories, once again!