Fic recs, January 15th · 10:47pm Jan 15th, 2015
Hey, I'm working now! (And also in the middle of the Allegrezza audiobook.) So yeah, far less stuff coming out of me these days. :B Work's okay, though. I wouldn't mind sticking with this place if it weren't a half-hour drive.
I don’t care if you don’t follow the writeoff, you need to go read this comment because it’s hilarious. And about me. :V And 100% totally factual.
So check out A Hoof-ful of Dust's The Good Ship Lifestyle, The Element of Surprise by Trick Question, and three others! Because I don't have a lot of reading time outside the weekends now. :B
H: 1 R: 1 C: 3 V: 0 N: 0
More Than Its Cover by Just Horsing Around
Genre: Not What It Seems
Twilight gets a new book on astrophysics, penned by Professor Dood.
This is a nice piece looking to make Derpy into more than just a bumbling mailmare. It does that, don’t get me wrong, and the way in which it does is fun. But it could have been so much more. The big problem is the reveal comes halfway in and then we just spend the rest of the fic talking about it. It might have strained believability somewhat to have Twilight remain oblivious for too long, but I’d have rather had more time to piece things together myself. Still, this will likely appeal to Derpy fans and those more into slice of life stories, and I can’t argue too much with its depiction of her.
Recommended for Derpy Fans
The Good Ship Lifestyle by A Hoof-ful of Dust
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Absolutely nopony will leave Cheerilee alone about her being single.
This is a romantic comedy in the sense that romance is the topic of discussion, to which the main character’s reaction is frustration, and that makes it funny. I read this one a long time ago, and even added it to my favorites (note to self: make sure all faves are reviewed), and I’m glad to see it still holds up. This starts out in Hearts and Hooves Day territory before swiftly moving into the realms of the absurd. Cheerilee lives in a bizarro Ponyville where the status of her relationships is foremost on everypony’s mind and everyone’s dating Rainbow Dash. And ultimately, this ends up being a hilarious critique of shipping, which I am always amused by. The only thing that stuck in my mind as bad was the idea that Cheerilee never noticed anyone doing this before. I mean, the whole town getting into this shipping frenzy has happened before, but she seems oblivious to it. Lots of reasons to hand-wave that, though, and this even passes the Zecora test! A really funny story if you like lampooning shipping, relationships, or pretty much anything at all.
Highly Recommended
Irreplaceable by The Princess Rarity
Sequel to Little Gem
Genre: Cute
Applejack and Rarity spend time with their daughter.
I liked Little Gem enough to want to check out the sequel. Unfortunately, I feel like the first story was stronger. This is mostly just AJ and Rarity cooing over their new baby, though the ending does get in some nice relationship-strengthening. Again, this isn’t going to appeal to anyone uninterested in Rarijack, but it’s also got an added slice of life-ness to it.
Recommended Only If You Like Rarijack
Verdict by Sharp Spark
Genre: Courtroom Drama
Twilight Sparkle argues in court for Trixie to be brought to justice.
This took fifth place in the most recent writeoff, and something in the early going threw me, so I didn’t quite give it fair shakes. Anyway, it’s a decently set-up joke, and you figure it has to be when it involves Fluttershy arguing for the defense. I have to turn up an eyebrow at the thought of Twilight stacking the jury (there’s a passage near the end that suggests she’s gone about things unethically), but in the service of comedy, it’s forgiveable. If anything, this just needs more words.
Recommended as Light Reading
The Element of Surprise by Trick Question
Genre: Future Fic
After Twilight becomes obsessed with the idea that all of her friends will someday die, Pinkie Pie comes up with a super-special surprise, just for her.
The big issue with this story is that sixty years’ events are infodumped right at the start, and that sets the stage for the rest of the story. Huge swathes of time are vomited up helter-skelter with nary an explanation for the author’s vision of the future. But if you can get past that, the main conceit of this piece is really compelling, not to mention charming. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, per se, but Pinkie logic goes a long way to cover the explanation. Mostly, it’s just nice seeing an “everyone slowly dies off” fic that does something different with the idea. And I mean, this is just really different and worth the read.
Recommended If You Don’t Mind Some Telling; Upgraded to Recommended 11/9/15
Trick Question, as it turns out, is another person-who-I-knew-before-ponies and so she got a watch and a review from me! :D
Bad Horse, giving us more education every day. Also, a whole post of normal reviews. Thank you so much. So easy to link to.
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Er... Present Perfect is not Bad Horse, unless someone has been pulling one over on me and Bad Horse is very good at pretending to be two different people.
Also, I see you ended up reading The Element of Surprise!
Sadly, I have to admit to not liking most RariJack fics, which is probably a little weird given that I ship them so hardcore. I'd already read this particular example.
I added the Good Ship Lifestyle to my RIL list, though!
2725461
Go to the link way at the top under 'this comment'.
V:
2725464
Oh, right. That. I actually have that favorited under my "the internet is a wonderful place" folder.
Freaking ducks. IT ISN'T GOING TO WORK THIS TIME PP!
Hahahahah!
2725465
Follows link to comments-
950 comments...
Wow writeoff comments are getting out of hoof!
Those bastards! They know about her cosmically bad luck, and still they pester her about it. They damn well know she can't date! SHE HAS A ROMANCE DISABILITY! SHOW THE MARE SOME SYMPATHY!
> Verdict
> it’s a decently set-up joke ...
WHY DO YOU AND THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE KEEP INSISTING THAT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A DARK DYSTOPIA MASKED BY A PRETEND PUNCHLINE REVEALING THE TRUE DEPTHS OF ITS DESPAIR
... *cough*
I mean, yeah, I agree that Verdict is good. Go read it.
2726796
I shall not reveal my methods. :B But I will say that of the last three stories of yours that I read and reviewed, this one I would put squarely in the middle. So I think you have a solid grasp on what does and does not make your stories work. :)
...and the highest-rated thing I've ever written on fimfiction.
:B