EFNW Fanfic Spotlight #12

Welcome to the penultimate issue of our fanfic spotlight before Everfree Northwest 2014 begins on July 4th! In today's edition, we're taking chances! "What sort of chances?" you may ask. Why, reading stories before they're complete, of course. So spin the wheel, roll the dice, and pick a winner in The Week-of-Incomplete! In our fantastic tableau you'll see: A joint griffon/pony crew turn on one another when an interstellar mission goes wrong; Discord take an earth pony as his personal student in the ways of chaos; and Ponyville face an overabundance of lavender unicorns.

Verdant Song

by Mixolydian Grey
Words: 9,677 Complete: No

The story picks up in media res, on board a spaceship in a far-away solar system. On board, we meet a pony and griffon working together against the other griffons who have gone a bit... feral.

This is a new story, but I immediately took to it. The author's done a great job of building suspense with each scene, leaving me constantly wondering what's going to happen next. The world-building is also excellent so far, with many little details hinting at much larger truths about this pony future. I also have to give major points for any story whose characters are making life and death choices via Markov Decision Processes.

It's only three chapters so far, but I have high hopes for this one, and, like the other selections for this week, believe it's definitely worth the "risk" to read it now.

How I Learned to Stop Being Harmonious and Learned to Love Chaos

by kudzuhaiku
Words: 6,342 Complete: No

This is another relatively new story, and another one that grabbed my attention right away. In it, Discord (after much pestering) finally agrees to take an earth pony as his personal student. As is usually the case with Discord stories, this one centers around the comedy. That said, what sets this apart from those other stories is the very intellectual take on Discord's view of the world. Here we're presented with a lord of chaos who has genuine reasons for what he does, and as he begins to instruct his apprentice, we start to see some very compelling arguments for his chaotic philosophy.

Not to oversell it, but there are some genuinely interesting philosophical arguments made just in these early chapters, and, almost as a bonus, the comedy is genuinely funny as well. I personally couldn't hope for more in a story, so I'm putting my hope in this one as well. If the rest of the story maintains as well as these early chapters promise, I'm glad to be along for the ride.

Lavender Unicorn Syndrome

by Sharaloth
Words: 27,339 Complete: No

Unlike the previous two stories, this one has been running for over a year now. It is, not surprisingly, already a lot more popular as well. So mayhap consider it less a risk.

That aside, let me say that this is a really fun story. It's a comedy that starts as basically just an excuse to set up a bad pun about the titular fiction faux pas. However, unlike many stories centering around absurdity, this one actually builds and maintains a structured plot as it progresses. There is a real story underneath the seemingly-random happenings. Yes, it's whimsical, and yes it's wacky, but it still leaves me wanting to know what happens next. As such, it's a rare example of what I'd call "adventure comedy," or at least, one of the rare examples where it actually works. Besides, where else are you going to see Pinkie Pie fight Sock-Puppet Sombra, or get to use the phrase "doom-pogo"?

Alright, that concludes things for this week. I hope you all take a chance and read at least one of these stories. Remember, authors thrive on feedback, so don't forget to comment, critique, and encourage when you find stories that you enjoy.

As usual, last week's edition of the spotlight can be found here. Also, as I'm sure you're all aware by now, Everfree is just a week away. To anyone going, feel free to give me a shout and say "hi" if you see me there. I also can't resist encouraging everyone with even the slightest whim to write to come participate in one of the critique sessions or workshops that I'll be running (or any of our other great writing events as well.)

Until next week, have fun!
--Xepher