Review: Anthropology. by: JasonTheHuman

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Do I really need to say anything for introduction to this story? It's Anthropology. It is THE Lyra fic. Lyra is sure that humans are real. Or at least that they used to exist, and that there is some vast conspiracy to hide this fact from ponies. But even in her wildest dreams, she never would have considered just what the real truth was.

Now, for these reviews I tend to try and keep spoilers out of it, but because of the way this story is set up, it's almost impossible to adequately review without spoilers. The overall story is broken up into three major parts, each one almsot being it's own separate story. (Like separate volumes of a trilogy, all part of one story, but unique stories in their own right.) And you can't even talk about the basic premise of the second or third, without spoiling the big twist at the end of the first. So, if you are one of the likely very few people by now that doesn't already know what that twist is, read the story first, then come back or else be prepared for spoilers.

Story: First part- A really well done look at the fanon idea of Lyra's human obsession. Explaining how she learned of them in the first place, and ultimately why she was so drawn to it. Some of the ideas she comes up with, the tests she does, the lengths she goes to to try to prove they were real. All are very believable. And her paranoia over some vast conspiracy.. another well done bit. You know she's likely overreacting, being paranoid. And yet at the same time, there is enough off about things that you are sure something is going on. Even if it's not what she thinks. It works really well, and to me is the best all around written part of the story.

Second part-then the story takes a right angle turn and becomes something totally different, yet why the change happens worked very well. This is where issues start to appear however. While it's still well done, and thoroughly enjoyable. Just how easy things are for Lyra really stretches disbelief. The way everything works out. Finding a place to stay instantly, getting along so well with everyone, finding her parents. It all comes across as implausibly quick and is hard to buy that she didn't have any trouble. The way nothing even the slightest bit bad happened to her at all that whole time. While I AM glad the story went with a more idealistic outlook, had her succeed, didn't have her show up and just have problems heaped on her. That she had it all work out without having to suffer. The story went a little to far the other way. Made it to easy. That said, while the first part is better written overall, this is the one I enjoyed the most. While yeah, it has flaws, it was just so much fun seeing Lyra adapt to the human world.

Third part- And here is the part with the most issues. This one, feels rushed. The ending takes the "this was way to easy" contrivances of the second part, and cranks them up. Everything works out to perfectly, to quickly, and is based on stuff that really does not work. But I'll get to that under characters. Suffice to say, while opinions tend to be split on whether the first or second part of the story is better, this part is generally agreed on to be the one the story most needed to work on, and for good reason.

Characters: This is the point that pretty much makes or breaks the story for people. At least those that didn't have it broken by the sudden shift in tone and plot a third of the way through. How well you liked Lyra as a character here. Cause that's really what the story is all about. All the changes, all the twists, through it all the story is really about not them, but how they effect Lyra and how she deal with them. Personally, I loved her, and her personality, or enthusiasm, and her bizarre little twists of logic that you can see how they make sense to her, despite being hilariously wrong.. are the best part about the story. And this fic is likely a large contributor to the general fanon impression of Lyra, or at least m favorite one. A happy, bright, energetic, optimistic pony. that is basically Pinkie Pie, without the 24/7 sugar rush and ADD. Seeing her explore, learn, seeing her thoughts on the human world, on trying to make sense of it all. It's why the second part is my favorite, just for how believable and fun Lyra's reactions were.

The other characters... the pony ones were well done. the canon ones felt in character. But well well-done, hardly amazing. Just, a decent all around job on them. Now Bon-Bon, Bon-Bon was really interesting. And I do like how she was handled. Exasperated at Lyra's antics, clearly not ever going to support her. Trying to just ignore or push away anything not 'normal'. And yet never being an outright antagonist. She did still care for Lyra in her own way. But simply had no tolerance for the whole 'human' thing. I really fine line that the story did a great job walking.

Now, the human characters on the other hand. They, were not so well done. Most of them just came of as rather dull, boring, generic and forgettable. The only one that left any impression was Audrey. And this is why the climax fails so bad for me. It's built up on these humans Lyra met in her time here mattering, being embodiments of the Elements. And yet, they were all so generic and bland, the first time through I had no idea who as who other then Audrey and the girl from the bookstore. And I only remembered her since she was the only other female. While you can tell the story was trying to give them individuality, was trying to make them all different characters, it never spent enough time developing them. they meet Lyra, interact for a few scenes, then leave. Even her family came off as rather generic, I'd be hard pressed to describe an of her family beyond the most vague impressions.

Engagement: Really really high. I loved reading this story and wanted to keep going all the time. A first, to see the mystery unfurl, to see what was really going on with the humans. And once Lyra went to the human world, to see what new things she would experience. The overall writing is very plain, very simple. Direct, to the point. No real fancy prose, or anything you really have t think to hard about, letting you simply enjoy the story. It's a very utilitarian style that lets the story be fairly quickly paced, without feeling rushed. Bar the final section where it did start to get rushed. it's a story you can easily lose yourself in, just keep reading without realizing how long you've been at it.

Ponyness: Very high. The first act feels fully in keeping with something I could see happening in Equestria. Celestia's reasoning for trying to keep knowledge of humans hidden does make sense. Even if I don't really agree with it. Then when she goes to the human world, the story keeps the same upbeat, optimistic view of things. Doesn't try to paint the human world as some cynical counterpoint to Equestria, but keeps the same tone. Which, is a point not in the stories favor. While I do appreciate keeping that tone, and it helps the story be so fun and enjoyable. It was a tad overdone, and Lyra got through things implausibly easy. it would have had her final defense of humanity hold more weight if she hadn't had everything go so perfectly, if she did have some hardship, some issue. Actually saw some of the darker parts of the world. Not a lot, but enough to see they are there, to see this isn't the same idyllic place as Equestria. but to also see the good and to make the argument for that goodness outweighing the problems. So in this rare case, sticking to much to the tone and feel of he show actually wasn't a good thing.

Overall: Incredible. While if I was going just be personal shear fun and enjoyment, this might have been bumped up even further. However it does have problems that bring it down. The poor characterization of the human characters. Just how implausibly easy a time Lyra has in the human world at first. How rushed the final act is. And the question of just what Discord was doing between when Lyra went to the human world, and when he showed up. Did it just take that long for him to cross over? Was he there the whole time just observing?

But despite all those issues. the story was very fun to read. Most of the issues you could gloss over and only come back to after. And Lyra in this story is a really interesting character, and seeing her dealing with all of this is what makes the story so good to me. While the final act is a marked dip in quality, the first two more then make up for it. And even then, the final act had a lot of good ideas, it just rushed through them to fast, and was hampered by the poor set up for the human characters.

So a really fun, engaging, lighthearted story that I'd recommend anyone give a try to. And one that does earn all the fame and attention it's gotten. And how can you not love the story the led to the creation of this