R4 (Reactions, Reviews, Reference, Redirection) #0005 · 4:35pm Oct 29th, 2014
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Here are five slightly edited old reviews:
Twilight Sparkle Makes A Cup Of Tea by Ghost Of Heraclitus
Dictated, Not Read by Device Heretic
Martial Bliss by Skywriter
A Princess By Any Other Name by Skywriter
In Celestia We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Georg
Twilight Sparkle Makes A Cup Of Tea by Ghost Of Heraclitus
(story link) (my original review)
This one is by the same author as Whom The Princesses Would Destroy… and this one is completely different from the previous stories from him I have read. This one is almost not even a story. No conflict, no real tension, and it really is just Twilight making a cup of tea in the morning before her day begins, yet it is extremely engaging because more than making tea is really happening. This is a perfect example of how to do a simple character study. Just a single scene of the character doing something simple, exploring how and why they are doing it, but without any blunt exposition.
Unlike several of the shorter stories I’ve read recently this would not make a good scene in a larger story. Putting this between two other scenes, even as just a relaxed moment, would both rush it and limit it too much. As brief as it is, it works best as a stand alone moment to savor without being a bridge between other things.
Dictated, Not Read by Device Heretic
(story link) (my original review)
This is a fairly sad story. The author is the same one who wrote Eternal, which as I mentioned previously, is one of my favorite stories and is probably the reason I’m reading so much My Little Pony fanfic these days. It deals with Twilight Sparkle’s parents, which is interesting because we see them so little in the show. We see them the first time when Twilight becomes Celestia’s Student, then they are never mentioned or heard of again. Twilight doesn’t even seem to talk about them much. When I finished this I didn’t think they were even in the wedding finale of season 2, but I just went and checked and they are both in the wedding and when Twilight becomes an alicorn. So that was just bad memory. Still, three seasons and they get basically a guest spot and two snapshot close-ups in big scenes.
This story was sad, but very well written, so much so that when I finished it I felt the need to find and hug one of my parents. Because even if it seemed silly, I figured there is never a bad time to tell your parents that you love them if the mood takes you to do so. I’m starting to think that MLP fanfics might be the secret chink in my depression/apathy. As mentioned in a previous post I have had more emotional responses to these stories than I’ve had in the rest of my reading during the last five years. Have to say these ‘human emotions’ you call them? They are a little weird. Especially when I’m having them when reading about cartoon ponies.
Martial Bliss by Skywriter
(story link) (my original review)
This story is now tied for the funniest fan fiction I’ve read. This is neck and neck with Whom The Princesses Would Destroy… for which one made me laugh harder. This one was fall over laughing the whole way through. One bit I was cracking up so much I had to put my kindle down and wait for it to finish up before resuming, and then I went back to reread that part and nearly had to stop again. It is just a silly little story when all is said in done. No big worldbuilding concepts, no in-depth characterizations, just a simple little story that is hilarious. I’d recommend watching the Crystal Empire episodes that started season 3 of the show first. It just adds another layer of humor on top of everything else. Highly, highly recommended.
A Princess By Any Other Name by Skywriter
(story link) (my original review)
This is something of a cross-over with the pony civil service from Whom The Princesses Would Destroy… and that is awesome. Even though there is only three stories that involve them in any way they are one of my favorite ideas to spring out of my fanfic reading. This is also the first fan fiction to have Princess Cadence in it, well, Martial Bliss had a brief bit with her but that doesn’t count since it was just a episode reference and it was really a Shining Armor story.
This was a fun story. Not exactly a comedy in some ways, but did have good surreal humor. The idea of a semi-immortal alicorn divine royalty hitting a unyielding nit-picky bureaucracy had amusing moments. It is a part of a bigger set of stories of which there is only a few others out, one of which I read and will be coming up probably in the next set of short stories.
In Celestia We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Georg
(story link) (my original review)
A silly little story about Celestia dealing with a mundane problem and how even a simple problem becomes not-so-simple when it happens to the divine ruler who raises the sun. I remember another story that mentioned that Celestia is bad with money… I think it was Celestia’s Teeth. Wonder if that is a thing out in the fandom I don’t know about because my only intersection with said fandom is reading fan fiction and checking out cool art online occasionally. Anyway, really good story.
The interesting worldbuilding bit is the idea that Luna was the more level headed and had a team of ponies that looked after her money and invested it, and that the family kept up the tradition throughout all the years she was exiled. Given that she was pretty much a evil tale told to scare little colts that is some dedication. I’m picturing it almost a semi-hidden religious cult.
Was a little frustrated by a ice cream vendor that was a bit rude to Celestia. Even as casual as she is, even in Canterlot I don’t think anyone would be that rude right to her face. Especially when it’s something as simple as a couple of bits for a snack. I mean Celestia could just trade a royal favor or something. But I suppose it needed to be that way to start the story off. The author emphasizing the leader of the state over the divine presence.
As always, The Big Master Review List is here: {THE MASTER LIST}
If you know of a text-format reviewer I'm not keeping track of, please let me know and I'll see if they meet the criteria to be assimilated into the list.
If you are an author who wants a more detailed review of a story I've covered feel free to message me. My reviews tend to be fairly light, mostly just reactions to a story right after reading it. I am happy to give a more careful read and reply to anyone who wants more precision and/or feedback.
I like reading your old reviews, because I sometimes get reminded of a story I meant to read but didn't get to, or pick up on something great that I just missed for some reason.
BTW, when I checked the latest edition of The Master List, (which is an incredibly useful document, if I haven't said so before.) I noticed that you missed Chris' review of my story Hooves of Clay... or maybe you don't track his mini-reviews? Anyway; link to the review if you need it:
Mini Reviews Round 30
2562313
Thanks for pointing that out! I totally missed two stories in that post. Sometimes things just slip through the cracks when keeping track of thousands of reviews.