Fic recs, January 18th: Reccing Rec Recs Edition! · 2:52pm Jan 18th, 2015
Because I needed more reading projects, right? (This is, FYI, the "big 50-story project" I've been teasing.)
With the advent of the new related stories feature, I did a little poking around and noticed that those stories tend not to change much. They actually do, yes, but day-to-day, you’ll see many of the same recommendations next to your fics if you care to pay attention. So I got to thinking: theoretically, I like all my fics, right? So I should like at least something suggested as similar reading!
This is probably a bad idea. (Spoilers: It was.) Anyway, I’ve gone through all my stories (yes, all of them!) and picked one out of the eight recommendations for each to read and review. My choices were guided by what was complete, what I hadn’t already reviewed, and what looked interesting. The review format will be a little different for this journal (not to mention I read these out of order presented and the review “narrative” might not make sense), so here’s how to read the entries:
Title of my fic
List of other recommendations, underlining those I’ve reviewed previously
Commentary on the selection
Title and author like usual
Genre like usual
Review like usual. Note about relationship to my story.
Recommendation like usual
Okay? Okay! Let’s do this. It’s gonna be a long ride. (Oh, and I chose all of these at the start of December, so there’s every possibility things have changed since then, if you’re paying attention.)
One last thing before I forget: a big review post needs a big Sonata post! :3
H: 3 R: 5 C: 21 V: 5 N: 14 (count's incorrect but I ain't going back to double-check D:)
Present Tense
The Best Most Awesome Radical Character EVER!; Twilight and the Mime; Marmite Showers; Twilight Sparkle Gets a Free Salad; The Pony That Is Never There; A Filly’s Foray With Fireworks; Sometimes, a Story Is Just a Story; Twilight Sparkle Is Untouchable; Evicted
Apparently, Fimfic thinks Present Tense is a Twilight-themed trollfic.
Kiss Kiss Boom Boom by alexmagnet
Genre: Crackfic
Out to prove that she is the illest DJ around, Trixie squares off against Princess Neon Boom.
I’m not really sure where Neon Boom came from, whether she’s an intentionally bad OC meant to mock actually bad OCs, or if she’s the latter, latched onto by crackficcers for ironic fun. What I do know is that I’ve never understood what makes the Space Jam theme so funny. Nor do I understand why I never got on board that particular meme; you’d think I would have, given how many people I know who love it. Anyway, this is a serviceable crackfic, mostly comprised of song lyrics and epic explosions, though Twilight’s pretty legitimately funny. If any of this sounded interesting, you’ll probably like this. It has jack fucking all to do with my story.
Recommended If You Like Space Jam, Ironically or Otherwise
Testamintin’
Whisk (!); Life Is a Lemon; We’re Not So Different, You and I; Louder Than Words; Order Up!; Letters from Ponyville; Sylphidine; Stormy Nights; Ready for Responsibility
Looks like the OC and SoL tags were the main drivers here. Love that it recommends my own fic, that kind of thing is really necessary for a system like this to work. :)
Culture Shock by Black Skulls
Genre: Future Fic
Golden Delicious is mocked by a couple of Manehattanite fillies.
For a long while, I’ve been vaguely aware of an AU set in the future of season three, starring the children of various canon character pairings. I’ve got a couple stories from it on my RIL, and I notice the artwork, done by Kilala97, every now and then. I like the character designs, even if Twilight’s daughter is visually just a mashup of her and Flash Sentry, for instance. This is the first time I’ve read one of the stories, however, and it’s left me with a bad impression. This started off with what I sadly expected: a lengthy description of the author’s OCs, earth pony twins, and their mother, if no indication of who she might actually be. (I have a feeling their parents are also OCs.) Because of this, I expected them to be the protagonists, so I was thrown for a loop when they turned out to be snooty, rude, and entirely loathsome. The main character is really Golden Delicious, son of Applejack and Caramel, and the whole point is he gets bullied by this pair and his cousin saves him. That’s it, that’s the whole story, and I don’t really see what the purpose was in writing it. Added to that, the writing is flat, telly, fast-paced and full of word usage problems. I really hope this isn’t indicative of the group surrounding the setting, because I’ve got a few more down the line. No idea what this has to do with my story other than “slice of life with OCs”.
Not Recommended
Future Progressive
The Funeral of Derpy Hooves; Twilight Eats a Hamburger; Agent Stone, Reporting; Fluttermistress; Twilight Sparkle Gets High and Eats All of Her Books; When Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike Do Battle; A First Time for Everything; Twilight Analyzes Nursery Rhymes; Firstborn
Aaaand I think I’ve confused the algorithms. This is essentially the rec list for Vinyl Scratch Drops the Title, and I could get a new one every time I upload a new story and change the character tags.
Dogeing the Issue by Lord Destrustor
Genre: Wow, Such Memes
I may not get Space Jam, but y’know what meme I do like? Doge. It’s still funny, even if I use it sparingly nowadays, and I thought this story was hilarious. While the description invokes LoHaV — which I only really know as a featurebait Thing a while back that eventually imploded — the story can just be taken as “doge in Equestria”. The narrative gaily plucks along, spilling spaghetti everywhere, and I lol’d 5ever. If you like internet memes, you’ll like this. (Link to my story is obviously irrelevant.)
Wow, Such Fic
Very Recommend If Liek Doge
Memes Everytim
The Profits of War
Baser Instinct; Curls; Lost in Love; Under the Northern Skies; The Sound of Her Voice; Where the Sun Is Silent; The Lucky One; Love Sick (not to be confused with Love.Sick); Restraint
Definitely taking the Romance tag too far. I don’t think there’s a single warfic among these.
Sweetie Belle Finds Out Where Babies Are Made by TheOnly
Reading by Mic the Microphone
Reading by VisualPony
Genre: Comedy
After Featherweight gets a new baby brother, Sweetie Belle asks Rarity where babies come from.
Now I’m cheating and using this as an excuse to review something I’ve already read. I like it more than the last “CMCs ask about babies” fic, whatever that was. Despite being written by TheOnly, one of this site’s best trolls, it’s actually legitimately funny, if a bit cracky. The writing’s a little perfunctory, which might catch structural sticklers off guard, but the punchline is great. But what the hell does this have to do with future CMCs fighting a war against aliens?
Recommended for Laughs
Dance ‘Til We’re High
Secret Admirer; Butterflies With Wings of Diamond; It Takes One to Admire One; A True Surprise; Confidence; First Date; It’s Not Mine; Twilight’s Strange New Illness; Sparkle Kitten
Lots of Twidash! Also a lot of Rarity shipping. But almost everything here is a shipfic, good job!
Experiments by The DJ Rainbow Dash
Genre: Shipping
Rainbow Dash gets caught up in the romantic plot of the newest Daring Do novel and has to deal with her crush on Twilight.
I really like where this starts off, with Rainbow seeing herself in Daring and assigning the nerdy professor role to Twilight. She’s basically shipping, not to mention shipping-by-proxy, and it’s fun. Unfortunately, things start to go south pretty quickly. This story is in need of proofreading as well as editing, featuring typos, missing words, telling and out of character moments for both Rarity and Fluttershy. Rainbow’s first POV scene is inexplicably in first person, and doesn’t particularly sound like her; her second isn’t, and I have to wonder why the change was made. The plot revolves around Twilight deciding to date Rainbow because she’s kind of like Daring Do and she wants to see if it would work… except they just end up making out in a field instead of dating. I will say that the very last scene was a good way to end it, but the relationship to my story is pretty telling: you have to be a hardcore TwiDasher and want them to be in a relationship for this to work.
Vaguely Recommended
Right Before Your Eye
One Mare’s Trash…; Sketchy Trust; Right Beside You; Whisk again; Apprentice; All Is Calm; Belle Crush; The Weed; Three Past Two in the AM
Lots of shipping. Dang! I’m amused by the one I picked, though, since “eyes” shows up in the title.
Stars in His Eyes by The Princess Rarity
Genre: Shipping
When Starburst falls asleep helping Golden Delicious at Sweet Apple Acres, he starts taking notice of her a little differently than before.
Here’s the second entry in the Kilalaverse? I guess I can call it that? Anyway, this is loads better than the last one I read, if still slightly flawed. It gives us our first look at Twilight and Flash Sentry’s headstrong daughter Starburst, who makes a strong impression. She’s a good bit more serious than I expected, too. As for the plot, it’s not much more than a couple awkward teens having a deep, personal conversation, but it’s overall pleasant. As for the flaws I mentioned, well, the writing’s rough around the edges, but I’ve actually read a lot by this author and she’s improved quite a bit. Just be warned you’ll find some telly spots, saidisms, and typos. It’s worth noting that, unlike the previous Kilalaverse story, if you have no idea what these characters look like, things will get overwhelming by the end; the author throws the reader no clues in that regard. But if you like OC stories and fluff, this could appeal. A slightly different creature from my fic.
Recommended If You Like Light Romance
The Elements of Awesomery
Snowdrop and Nyx Get Drunk and Make Out (my sides!); Accidental Romance; The Reader: Book Two; The Elements of Awesomery: Side Stories (thank goodness); Stars in the Making; The Griffon; School of Hard Knocks; Misadventure Preview; Of Druids and Ponies
I have to comment on Accidental Romance: it’s an incomplete fic from 2011 starring Sethisto, Phoe and Cereal Velocity. How a propos. Also, I keep getting these “mane 6 kids” future shipfics. Also, I was going to read School of Hard Knocks, but it’s 118k words and written by a good writer, and given that it was the very last story keeping this journal from being posted, I instead picked...
Seeing Rainbows by Android
DNF: 1/12
Genre: Second-Person Shipping
There’s not much to say about this one. It’s super-old, it feels like a first fic, it’s filled with every mistake imaginable. I’ll give the author credit for doing something different in making the “you” character an actual character, and also blind, but unfortunately they did the “disability makes you a superhero” thing and, yeah, this just isn’t any good. This is the kind of fic I wrote Elements of Awesomery to lampoon.
Not Recommended
The Elements of Awesomery: Side Stories
Old Flames and New Sparks; The Cloudy Stars; An Outsider’s Perspective; Younger Generation; Memoirs of a Gryph0n; Two Simple Words; Special Friends; In the End These Things Matter Most; Screwball Mio Amore
I’m very excited about that last one. :D I can’t wait to reread it for the “Old Favorites” series. Otherwise, there’s not much of a theme here, though most of these are either comedy or shipping.
Eh? by FanNotANerd
Genre: Comedy
Twilight and friends get a free flight on Equestria’s first airplane to the tropics. Or not.
Of course, this story is just an excuse for a Canadian to rib his countrymen based on their collective stereotypes. So there’s lots of easy-going ponies, snow, hockey, toques, and sentences ending in “eh?” Also, in what is probably the fic’s best moment, the Caneighdian version of the Apples. Unfortunately, the comedic potential is subdued somewhat by the majority of this being about Rainbow Dash hating everything about Caneighda, which turns into interpersonal drama with Caneighdian Big Mac. I mean, I didn’t think Canada jokes could be stretched out to ten thousand words, but I was expecting the focus to remain on the comedy, not vague romantic overtones. Not to mention the first mention of the plane had me wondering about that. It’s explained, yes, but it’s such a departure from the show it kind of held all my attention for the early part of the story. So this ends up being a bit of mess, all told. But hey, the EoA sidefics are a combination of drama and comedy too, so there you go.
Vaguely Recommended
Pinkie Pie, and Nothing More
Why Pinkie Pie Smiles; Pinkie’s Last Party; Where All Roads Lead; The Party Is Over; Happily Ever After; Mean and ‘Mena; Where You Can’t Follow; The Fourth Barrier; The Only One in Color
Good god, look at all those sad Pinkie fics. D: I guess I deserve it. Also you can blame the fic readers on Youtube for me having read all of those.
Nothing to Say by DuncanR
Genre: Horror… ish
A young Pinkie Pie’s desire to fit in with her friends leads to an encounter with the creepy old lady on the farm next door.
This is a very rich story. It’s full of life: on a rock farm, as a young schoolfilly, at an old farm that’s been abandoned by everyone, including the one pony who lives there. There’s tons of atmosphere, tension, and emotion. The characters pop off the page, and hooked me into the first chapter. (The bevy of OCs are not hard to keep track of in the least, and older sister Inky Pie does a great turn as a disaffected, gothy teenager.) The one thing standing out from all this life by virtue of not standing out is little Pinkie. It takes a good two chapters for her to really take charge as a character. And given the description, you’d expect her encounter with Old Mare Bramble to be more the highlight of the story, rather than the endnote. But the way this weaves characters, settings and tone into a piece about saying nothing is really remarkable. It’s not Sad Pinkie by any stretch, and that alone is enough to recommend it on.
Highly Recommended
Fluttershy Goes to Hell
Sombra: The Shadow Over Ponyville; That Freezing Touch; Shadows of Ponyville; Right Behind You; Zecora’s Book of Horrific Tales; World Without a Rainbow; Faded Rainbow; The Nightmare; Pony Fantasy IV
Lots of dark-and/or-adventure fics this time. A couple about Fluttershy. This is more what I expect to see.
Love Your Difference by BronyDad
DNF: 3/11
Genre: YA Fiction/Mind Swap
Twilight is stumped when Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie start acting like each other.
It’s actually more a personality swap than a true mind swap, but the result may as well be the same, minus the three knowing something is wrong. Anyway, this was written for the author’s young daughter and thus invites comparison to G.M. Berrow’s official novels, which is a bad thing, because this fic suffers for doing so. It’s more Crystal Heart Spell than Daring Do Double Dare, hung up on minutiae, retelling us things we already know about the characters, and saturated with adverbs and saidisms. I have to admit, if a group could perform this story, if we could hear the characters acting like each other, it would be a great deal more interesting. Honestly, I love the concept, but the writing moves at a glacial pace, and chapter two is horrendously dull. For someone who knows nothing at all about the show, this could work as a halfway-decent introduction, but for a fan, even a young one, I can’t recommend it. Obviously has nothing to do with my story, by virtue of being decidedly show-tone.
Not Recommended
Whisk
The Mannequin; Belle Crush again; Grow Up; Back to School; We Will Never Stop Our Journey; A Sweetie Lesson Sequel; The Worst. Possible. Thing.; Light Away the Fear; One Tenth-Bit
Lots of Sweetie fics, mostly slice of life. Notably, Grow Up is the sequel to ”Another Cup of Tea, Madam?”, which I did a reading/review of a while back.
Sweetie Belle Makes a New Friend by ABagOfVicodin
Genre: Slice of Life
After Sweetie Belle loses a baseball in the backyard of a mean stallion, she decides making friends with him is the only way to get it back.
This is a little unbalanced, but if it does one thing well, it’s introducing an OC. Unfortunately, that character is interesting enough that he sort of overshadows the rest of the story. This features a rather lengthy and somewhat dull buildup, plus some questionable characterization of both Sweetie Belle and Rarity. Though I’ll credit the author again for not being too blatant about the Memorial Day theme. (This was apparently written for a prompt.) This is also decently show-tone, and didn’t resort to bringing Equestria into war for the sake of making a veteran. Still, the writing’s not the most evocative and the conflict is resolved easily, though again that’s rather show-tone of it. Certainly has a connection to Whisk.
Recommended for Slice of Life Fans
ACT OF WILL
What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse; Twilight’s Inquiries Into Cthulhu; Termina’s Final Twilight; Suponynatural; Twilight the Traveler; Twilight Meets Companion Cube; Castle Crashing Canterlot; The Whooves Collection Episode Two: Vengeful Hate; Pikmin
So many crossovers. D: All of them with something different. All with something you can tell from the title (except Twilight the Traveler; I have a feeling that’s about Twilight going through various other franchises).
The Scratch by uberPhoenix
Genre: Alternate Universe
Celestia rebuilds her kingdom with help from an unknown advisor.
I picked this because it sounded interesting and I didn’t see that it was a crossover with Homestuck, which is a thing I know precisely nothing about (like most of the others on that list). Still, this is a pretty intriguing AU, with an arrogant Celestia lording over a beaten, but not broken, Twilight Sparkle, who seems to be the only one who remembers the way things were. Of course, being a big fan of AUs, I ate this up, but others may have a hard the reconciling the alternate Celestia with the one we know. Still, the writing is decent, it’s got nothing to do with Homestuck that I can tell (nor with my story), and it unfolds in a very pleasing manner. If you’re okay with Tyrantlestia — and note, I’m not, but I liked the subtlety at work here — you’ll probably dig this.
Recommended for Fans of AUs
That’s Right
Letter to Cadance; No One Refuses Mi Amore Cadenza; Final Draft’s Rough Drafts (what’s that doing there?); Trixie’s New Life in the Crystal Empire; Shiny Wants a Sammich!; The Call of Duty; Full Moon Prince; A Night Fit for Greatness (M); Hello Big Brother
Aw yeah, here we go. What will the shitfics bring? Notably, these are all at least Teen rated (I suspect I’m only getting mature hits because my filter’s off). At least some have something to do with Shining and Cadence…
The Fan by Sparkler
Mature: Sex
Genre: Public Sex
A horny fan filly is about to find out Vinyl Scratch’s secret: “she” is really Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard.
C’mon, Mature rating aside, how can you not read something like this? As erotica goes, this is surprisingly good, maybe just for the ways in which it plays with sexual identity: there’s something dysphoric hovering around Vinyl/Shining as “she” is played with by an eager fan. It does have a small issue with POV changes, and in hindsight, I’m not sure how much I buy the setup in the long run. (That and the “big secret” really isn’t.) I wouldn’t suggest turning off your Maure filters to check this out, but if you’re not bothered by such things, definitely read it. (That’s Right is of course considerably sillier and has nothing to do with this.) I think I have a new favorite clopfic.
Recommended
Things Rainbow Dash Doesn’t Like
Chrysalis’ Idiot Ball; A Generic Story 2: Trope Hard; The Doctor Changeling; A Generic Story 3: Three Word Subtitle; Through Alien Lives; The Doctor Gets Wasted; Clop It!; The Colt in the Box: Time Turner’s Story of Playing Doctor; Raison D’être (the title for this one is all fucked up)
The Doctor Whooves and Chrysalis tags are way too heavily weighted. I don’t think a single one of these is about Rainbow Dash. Wow.
A Generic Story by Final Draft
Reading by SJF95fighter
Genre: Parody
Generic the red and black alicorn wakes up in the Everfree Forest.
With a lineup like that, how could I not pick this one? This is incredibly silly. There’s lots of fighting and sex, and it all happens more or less in the background. There’s some pretty funny stuff in here. Honestly, it belongs more with The Elements of Awesomery, because it’s all about intentionally hitting every branch on the way down the Fanfic Cliche Tree.
Recommended If You Like Badfic
Fluttershy Goes to Fucking Narnia
Doctor Bees Goes to Equestria; Scootaloo’s New Family; The Criminal Mind of Fluttershy; Alone; Fluttershy vs. Mary Sue; Fluttershy’s Pet Zergling; A Machine for Ponies; Stonershy (the story, not the author); Fluttershy’s Ball
Gaze in awe upon that first entry. ROBCAKERAN HAD BETTER FINISH THAT. Algorithm knows what’s up with this story.
Fluttershy Sits Down With Lyra for a Day by Church
Genre: Crackfic
Fluttershy has a conversation on a park bench with Lyra.
I was not, in fact, expecting crackfic with this, but the narrative breaks the fourth wall in the first sentence, and we get a music reference shortly thereafter. What’s great is that Fluttershy’s the medium-aware one; I was not expecting that either. This is about fanfic and it’s about shipping and it definitely belongs with Fluttershy Goes to Fucking Narnia and I kind of adore it.
Recommended If You Like Random Shit
The Scope of Love
Starstruck; The Night and Her Thief; Half the Day Is Night; A Knight’s Tale; Love Is Patient; The Longest Journey; Moonrise; The Night’s Companion; Long Distance
All but the last one is a Romance/Adventure, and almost all of them involve Luna. Okay.
Happy Adventuring, Twilight! by Pennington Inkwell
DNF: 1/46
Genre: Self-Insert
Twilight Sparkle gets swept up in an adventure with Pennington Inkwell.
I had severe reservations about this story going into it, not least of which was its length, but also that the main character and author share the same name. (And that there’s another story by the same author that looks like it ships Trixie with said character.) As it turns out, this is every bad OC self-insert story from the fandom’s early days. From the weather report opening to the flat narrative, the loudly expository dialogue and the fact that Twilight just happens to get curious about Pennington’s shop, this is just nakedly poor storytelling. And that’s just the first chapter! The OC is not interesting either, not with the way he enjoys rattling off the titles of Twilight and friends when mentioning them, or the fact that his job is writing commissions. I had zero interest in continuing this, and I wouldn’t suggest anyone else attempt it. Has nothing to do with my story.
Not Recommended
My Full-Sized Goddess Horse
Author of Reality; Geoverse Prologue: The Last of His Kind; A New Dream; Glass a Thousand Miles Thick; My Little Dashie ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?; A Gift from the Sun; The Lonely Sun; Something to Look Forward To; Painting Our Life: 6 Colors
And that last one’s an MLD fic too. Wow. At least most of these are about Celestia. Sadly, most are HiE’s.
Interview With a Princess by Hoopy McGee
Genre: PoE
A man writes a letter to Princess Celestia… and gets a response.
This falls into the odd category of “MLD with Princess Celestia, but grown up and written by a competent author”. Hoopy-insert summons Celestia to his Minneapolis home while his wife is out and sits down for a chat with her. Of course, being a self-insert, it comes with all the usual baggage, and I have to say it starts dragging toward the middle. I mean, watching Celestia watch the show sounds interesting up until you see it in action, not to mention this takes its sweet time getting to the actual interview. Also, this being a fairly old piece, the author takes time out to ramble about classic fandom tropes and arguments, like what Derpy’s name was. If anything, I would sum my reaction to this up as, “What makes you think you know the one true Celestia?” Petty? Definitely. But I think it’s why stories of this sort have limited appeal. The “interview” is really just an excuse to dump headcanon via the “authority” of a character mouthpiece, and a lot of it has been rendered obsolete by subsequent canon anyway. Granted, if you’re into Ponies on Earth (can’t really use the old “Equestrian in Humania” byline anymore, since that’s what I call EQG-world), this is written very well and likely of higher overall quality than I think you’ll encounter elsewhere. But it’s also terribly slice of life, even if it amounts to being “normal guy has world turned upside-down”, and if you liked Goddess Horse, well, it just ain’t as funny. (Though I’ll say the ending kind of makes up for a lot.)
Recommended If You’re Into PoEs or Old Headcanon
Twilight Sparkle Loses Her Wings
Princess Celestia Bursts Into Flames; Twilight Sparkle Exports Herself Repeatedly; Perks; MLP Season 4 Finale; Chrysalis Kidnaps Rainbow Dash for 10 Minutes; Princess Rainbow Dash; Wish Upon a Discord; For Great Justice; Unicorn Horns Are Made of Candy
That’s an appropriately silly lineup, I think. :) I of course picked the one with the silliest title...
IDBP: Interdimensional Ballistic Penguin by Deep_Thought
Genre: Learn to Fly Crossover
Rainbow Dash chases a penguin through the sky.
Learn to Fly is a cute flash game about a penguin trying to fly via gliders and rockets. If you haven’t played it, you won’t be missing anything in the story, because I just tried the game out and I still don’t get it. There are a couple sections, like the first scene with Cadence and Shining Armor, that don’t really do anything, nor does the epilogue accomplish much. That said, this is a pretty silly, random story, and decently written for something that falls under that category. (Could probably say the same for mine! :V) I just wish the ending was a little stronger.
Recommended Only If You like Really Silly Stuff
Dinky’s First Kill
The Best Present She Could Ask For; A Mother’s Work Is Never Done; Mommy’s Special Day; A Mother’s Warmth; Unconventional; Dangerous Goods; Ditzylocks and the Three Ursas; The Legend of Thunder; Derpy and Her Lava Lamp
Okay, I understand more or less now how the system works, and that I was only going to get sappy SoL’s about Dinky and Derpy. But is it really too much to ask for a story that’s actually about Dinky killing ponies?
The Hooves Family Tree by Pastel Pony
Genre: Family Drama
Cheerilee suggests that Derpy tell Dinky about her grandparents.
At its core, this has a fantastic idea: Derpy’s parents kicked her out when they found out she was pregnant, and now she has to reconcile not having spoken to them in all these years with Dinky’s natural curiosity about her family. Unfortunately, it has some issues. The writing is both flat and straightforward. The flashback telling us what happened between Derpy and her parents is short and contains what I have to assume to be pro-life screed. (If not, then the issue is merely handled shallowly.) Lastly, it’s got some major comma issues and a few other typos. Sad to say it ended up being more or less what I expected for recommendations on this story.
Not Recommended
Chrysalicksy
Fireworks in the Night Sky; The Power of True Love; On a Moonless Night (YES!); New Years Shipping Challenge: Spike and Chrysalis; Azure & Lavender; There’s Something About Trixie; Cupid Chrysalis; Lavender Unicorn Syndrome; A Night Out
Chrysalis or Trixie shipfics. Looks like I’m a trendsetter!
Voyage to the Center of the Shipfic Folder by Capn_Chryssalid
Review #1700!
Genre: The Most Random Crackshipping You Will Ever Read
Despite having attended the Bronycon where it debuted and purchasing a deck there, I have yet to actually play Twilight Sparkle’s Secret Shipfic Folder. :( If you don’t know anything about the game, I ain’t gonna explain it to you, save to say that the flavor text is what makes it really amazing. This story, then, is an attempt to novelize a session of that game. It’s so fucking weird. Anyone who takes shipping seriously should stay far, far away from this. The rest of you silly bastards will probably love the heck out of it, as I did. The narrative is thin as hell, serving only to connect the various shipping scenes, and if that (or Tom x Young and Hot Granny Smith) sounds like a good time, well, then this is for you! (It may in fact be too silly for Chrysalicksy fans!) This story is so bad and so dumb and so great.
Recommended
Ponies Debate Gun Control
The Equestrian Snowball Brawl; The Mane Six Hijack a Tank; Talking in Circles; Twilight Finds a Book of Puns; The What-If Spell; When Puns Attack; Rainbow Spongebob Prime and the Attention-Grabbing Title (well played, author); A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Ponyville; The Little Ponies: Friends and Magic and Stuff
Mostly silly comedies. Why are there two stories about puns though? There’s no puns in this one!
The Mane Cast-Offs by Blueshift
Genre: Surreal
One day, Twilight’s horn falls off. That’s just the beginning.
Do you guys remember when “Twilight fucks up a spell” was as cliche as “Rainbow Dash loses her wings”? If you don’t, you might wonder just what the heck the point of this story is! If anyone needed proof of Blueshift’s humanity, this would be it. This story just does not quite work. I liked it well enough when he wrote it (I upvoted, that’s why I’m rereading it now), but it hasn’t aged well. The situation is bizarre and surreal, but not laugh-out-loud funny, and the writing flaws show through. Rainbow Dash and Applejack’s parts are funny, but Pinkie’s is just creepy. (I remember someone really hating this story when it came out because of that.) Plus, I think the main issue is that a lot of the humor comes not just at the characters’ expense, but because of them suffering horrible tragedies. It just isn’t spun quite right (and everyone’s slightly to very out of character anyway). PDGC got nothin’ to do with it, honestly.
Vaguely Recommended
Civil Twilight
Where the Sun Is Silent again; Before My Mind Changes Me; Setting Sky; Friendship; Shipping Goggles; A Not So Quiet Party; The Flames of Friendship; Ignorance Is Bliss; Fluttershine
Lots of dark fics, a couple shipfics, and… Shipping Goggles? And they seem to think you’ll like Cynewulf’s stuff if you liked this.
The Concept of Anxiety by Cynewulf
Genre: Psychological
Rarity has good reason to fear the dark.
Despite the title, this is really more an exploration of PTSD. Rarity has lived through a traumatic adventure and bears physical and mental scars. On that point, this is kind of front-loaded with things that might deter the casual reader: Raridash, Rarity missing a leg, and the mentions of “Jannah”. I’d almost consider this an AU, given the discussion near the beginning separating their previous “storybook” adventures from the “real”, gritty adventure Rarity went through on her own. Still, a lot of things are explained during the course of the story, and if you can forgive the occasional proofreading error, this does a good job exploring its ideas. That’s what it has in common with Civil Twilight, fyi, though this is considerably more atmospheric and, I think, darker.
Recommended If You Like AUs
Treehouse
A Filly Under the Stars; To Love and Cherish; Teatime With Apple Bloom; Autumn; Don’t Ever Say…; The Value of Friendship; Skin of Diamond, Heart of Glass; A Hearth Warming Memory; Debts
Lots of sad shipping, a little bit of CMC shipping. Found one I read earlier.
Hatred Would Be Better by Gabriel Lavedier
Genre: ZecBloom Shipping
The story of Zecora and the filly who loves her.
Yeah, I’d long since forgotten this was ever a ship. What won’t people do next? I of course do not approve because Apple Bloom isn’t even aged up in this story; that Granny Smith doesn’t care and even seems to encourage this relationship is downright disgusting. This story has some other problems too, like the textbook style to the backstory taking place in the zebra lands, and the fact that the author separates out measures of Zecora’s dialogue with slashes. (Despite this, the story skirts by the Zecora Test, even if some of the word usage is a major stretch.) Look, it’s nice that Granny doesn’t care that one of her kin is in love with a zebra, but this isn’t the kind of relationship I want to see encouraged in fics. And somehow she manages to be racist as hell about it anyway, I’m talking thoroughly reprehensible. It really doesn’t have much to do with Treehouse, unless you don’t give a damn who Apple Bloom gets shipped with.
Not Recommended
Fallout Equestria: Aegis
Fetlock Holmes and the Butterfly Killer; Torment: Roots of Equestria; FoE Pink Eyes; FoE The Last Sentinel; FoE Misfits; FoE Red Alert; FoE Guise of Chaos; FoE The Ditzy Doo Chronicles; FoE Fertile Ground
Two non-FoE sidefics? I am shocked, I tell you! (I’m reading this one because it’s a one-shot. Reading Pink Eyes later, when the audiobook finishes.)
Fallout Equestria: A Second Chance by nyerguds
Genre: Psychological
A war hero gets a second chance, again and again and again.
Starting as it does during the war with the Zebras, this is more a psychological piece of science fiction than an actual FoE sidefic. You’ve got a factory that makes copies of ponies, still running after the bombs fall, and the horrific fallout (nopunintended) that comes from that. This maybe moves a little fast, passing by long stretches of time in mere sentences, but for what’s here, it’s pretty great. It’s also not terribly pony, all things considered (it’s hard to believe they’d create a place like this, even in a time of war). Still, this has a lot of merit and is the best (serious) FoE sidefic I’ve read to date, not that I’ve read many. Aegis readers will probably like it.
Recommended If You Like Warfics
Tomodachi no Kyoupon
Where the Heart Is; Harmony in Azeroth; Grave; Dead Rising: The Psychopaths; Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Ponies; Fade Away; Pony Fails; XCOM: Enemy Advanced; Afraid of the Dark?
So many crossovers, electric Scootaloo. No comedies. Except the system thinks you’ll like Troll’s work.
Dat Ass by Troll
Genre: Dat Ass
After his wedding, all anyone wants to talk about with Shining Armor is his new wife’s ass.
Why wasn’t this linked to That’s Right? It’s got way more to do with that story! :V This is a joyous fever dream of a trollfic, just a hilarious rump romp full of teh lulz. The writing’s not great, but you definitely should not be reading stories like this for the writing. (Protip: You should be reading them for the sweet, sweet ass.) The word “ass” will have no meaning by the end of this story.
Troll, Recommended doucwutididthar? :3
Like a G5
Small Little Twilight; The French; Twilight Sparkle Exports Herself Repeatedly again; So… It Has Come Down to This; Baby Sitting; The Slow Mo Stallions; Neightendo: Now You’re Playing With Ponies!; Wario’s Moneytastic Adventures in Equestria; Triangles, Motherbucker, Do You Use Them?; Princess Twilight Sparkle Eats Peach
Somehow, I feel the two Nintendo-themed crossovers really fit this one.
Baby Sitting by storm the castle
DNF: 1/4
Genre: Comedy
Twilight’s efforts to fit into her new role as Princess are thrown for a curve when she has to start babysitting a pair of de-aged Princesses.
To be perfectly honest, I didn’t even get to the de-aging part. This story has obviously not been proofread, and the author has issues with punctuation and capitalization, not to mention character voicing. The thing that killed it for me was Pinkie breaking the fourth wall. Has nothing to do with my story.
Not Recommended
Epic Unicorn History: The Beards of Harmony
Starlight Over Detrot: A Noir Tale; In a State of Flux; School of Hard Knocks again; Mordane Stronghoof (Act Two: Path of Thorns); Starlight Over Detrot: Nightmare Night; Good Intentions; Knights of the Everfree; Book I: Britannia and the Holy Hoof Grenade; Into the Black: A Mare’s Tale
Lots of adventures, very few comedies, both Starlights Over Detrot. Interesting what gets weighted how.
Hot Muzz(les) by RainbowBob and alexmagnet
Genre: Random Comedy
Celestia and Twilight team up to stop a rash of kidnappings.
I’ve never seen Hot Fuzz, so I don’t know if this story has anything to do with it. Just know that it’s based on a lot of character destruction and pretty much makes no sense if you come at it from the angle of “anything having to do with show canon”. If you want to see hard-boiled Celestia With an AK, Twilight With a Shotgun and a ton of ammo team up to fight crime and financial demons, however, then this is the story for you. Doesn’t have much to do with Epic Unicorn History.
Recommended If You Like Silly Stuff
LyrAmie
Faun, are you kidding me?; “Hey, Bon-Bon!”; The Shadow Over Hinnysmouth; In Which Lyra Sees a Human…; One of Us; New Model Army; Jumper; Quest for the Past; Coffee and Laughing Gas
So if you read a story about Lyra and Bon-Bon, chances are you don’t want to read anything else. I want to note that Jumper is about reality-jumping, though. Good call!
Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon by shortskirtsandexplosions
Genre: Surrealism
Bon Bon’s attempt to learn the drums starts her whole world falling apart.
I’m doing three things at once because this is from an old writeoff and I’ve already read it! Despite the fact that the author himself has never been happy with this story, I love it. As Bon Bon whirls through various dream states, Lyra keeps repeating the same lines over and over, each time with a different meaning. That’s what’s always impressed me about this piece, alongside the crazy imagery. And just when you think you’ve figured everything out, there’s one more shoe to drop. This is a far more serious story than LyrAmie, so while LyraBon fans will definitely want to check it out, don’t let the connection fool you.
Highly Recommended
A Lovely Apology
It’s Not Mine again; Flying Blind Into Love; A Silver Crush; Spitfire’s Secret; Meet the Family; Dance ‘Til We’re High? c’mon, guys…; Thunderstruck; Soft as a Rock; Moonspire Run
Lots of Wonderbolt shipping! And just shipping in general. And device heretic. :/
A Tea Party by Maniac92
Reading by Midnight29
Genre: Light Comedy
Rarity and Sweetie Belle have a tea party with a third guest.
Okay, so the big problem with this — aside from the author’s poor dialogue punctuation — is that the “big reveal” is given away by the cover image. However, I am pleased to say that “Rainbow Dash is at the tea party” is only part of the story. Short as this is, it very economically gives Rarity a chance to be a Good Friend, and the ending benefits greatly from that. This isn’t an instant classic or anything, but for being right around a thousand words, and more or less a straightforward interpretation of fanart, it delivers surprisingly well. More or less has nothing to do with Apology.
Recommended as Light Reading
The Sun Shines Brightest at Night
Under the Stars; The Scope of Love fimf plz; Setting Her Heart Aflutter; Heart Nom; Those Golden Eyes; Absolutely Batty; Who Needs to Talk?; Stormy Nights 3: Darkened Skies; Friendly Games
Lots of shipping, lots more of those future fics, but only one batpony fic? Fimf, you are slipping.
Burnout by NotARealPonydotcom
Genre: Kilalaverse
Golden Delicious is concerned about Starburst’s “burnouts”.
Yep, it’s back to these characters, and the setup is very similar to Stars in His Eyes. (I guess people like shipping these two!) I’m not sure there’s really much to this. The writing is good, though the author has a penchant for wasting words. I suspect if you’re not interested in the characters, or at least as interested as I’ve become by reading three of these, you wouldn’t have much of a reason to read this. I mean, all I really get out of it is “Golden Delicious likes Starburst” and “Starburst is way tsundere”. What she does to him is pretty funny, at least. Honestly, this is more slice of life than romance; I think all the story comes out in undertones and subtext more than anything. At least, I hope the single looking-and-touching-cheek scene wasn’t meant to be this hugely romantic Thing. If you liked the random OC romance from Sun Shines Brightest, you might like this.
Recommended for Romance Fans Only
Snowdrop and Nyx Get Drunk and Make Out
The Elements of Awesomery (so it’s completely incestuous then? it sure isn’t consistent…); Accidental Romance again; Shipping Sickness; Yeah, It Needed More Ponies; My Little Paintball; Draconequus at Large!; A Night He (Won’t) Remember; Bedtime Introspection; A Prayer Answered
I am unspeakably disappointed that Past Sins isn’t in there.
Knighty and Poultron’s Gay Day In by NTSTS
Genre: Oh God Why
Here’s one I read earlier. There is no adequate way to describe this story. It has nothing to do with ponies, or Knighty, or Poultron, or pretty much anything. It’s a look back to a younger, funner, dumber time period in the fandom, and it reads like a Blueshift fic. It definitely has everything to do with Snowdrop and Nyx.
Just Fucking Read It, You Asshole
A Puzzle Unsolved
I’m Coming Home; Harpflank and Sweets: Traditions; What Am I to You?; Something More; With All My Heart (Fimfic you’re killing me); The Big Moment; The Rain; Firsts; My Forever
IT’S ALL SAD SCRATCHTAVIA. ;_; Shoot me.
The End of This by Liechtenstein
Genre: Sad Romance
Octavia and Vinyl finally part ways.
Of course, the only story I was going to pick out of this mess was the one that sounded most like “Vinyl and Octavia break up”. Unfortunately, I couldn’t enjoy this. Everything’s overdramatic and the narrative is rushed and telly. Plus, there’s a distinct “they should be together” vibe that just makes this your average ship-I-don’t-care-about fic. Not setting up a romance means that you can’t tear it down effectively. Definitely has nothing to do with my fic.
Not Recommended
Discord’s Deli of Chaos
Discorded Lessons: Chaos Theory; Order Chaos, Chaos Ordered!; Discord’s Cake; Discord’s Possible Change of Heart; Neurotic Chaos: Woody Allen Possesses Discord (wat); Mostly About Tacos; Why Celestia Has a Rainbow Mane; Celestia’s Cake; Discord Gets a Villain Song
Mostly about Discord and/or chaos. Two stories about cake. One not-an-ApplePie-shipfic. (And the taco one is pre-Sonata!) Obviously, the system has no idea what to do with this fic.
Apple Pie by GauntletsOfRai
Genre: Body-Swap
DNF: 5/8
Pinkie Pie and Applejack switch bodies.
Why did I pick the one not about Discord again? Oh well. Sorry to say, when he shows up is when I gave up on this. Unlike, say, Fluttershy’s Bad Hare Day, the conflict isn’t “we must find the cure before midnight tonight”, but “we need the Elements because Discord’s back”. That’s really not a great way to use a body-swap plot, and it comes off feeling really unfocused and unsure of what it wanted to do. This isn’t helped by the writing, which is fast-paced and full of typos. I mean, I can forgive a lot because the author called the library “Books and Branches”, but it’s really the plot that lets this down.
Not Recommended
ДØЯP
Cutie Mark Cancer (I lol’d); Chrysalis’ Idiot Ball again; Fan Service; Vampishy; SO LISTEN…; Awakening as a Mare; A Generic Story 2 again; A Generic Story again; Oh Celestia, Why…
Yeah, that sounds about right. Why does the sequel come first, I wonder? It was like that with the other one…
Sinners in the Hooves of an Angry Goddess by Avox
Genre: Absurd Comedy
Twilight and Cadence have forgotten their pickle jar openers. Surely Luna won’t mind if they borrow hers…
It’s funny, I’ve always wanted to write my own take-off of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. Hadn’t thought about it for a while. Anyway, other than loaning this piece its title, that old yarn has nothing to do with this. My main problem with this story, other than the particular voice used for Spike, is everyone being obsessed with pickles. The problem with running gags is that, if they’re not funny, you’re gonna wear ‘em into the ground, and this one just didn’t click with me. Nor was Luna’s secret particularly funny. Honestly, this is just kind of a train wreck all around, though if you’re into random shit, it could work for you. I think my story is funnier, though I’ll agree they’re in the same vein.
Vaguely Recommended
Cutie Mark Cancer
4th Wall Battle Royale; Who Else, But Discord?; Riddle of the Ages; An Uncomfortably High Number of Twilights; No Bucks; Princess Twilight Sparkle Flips a Table… And Then Some; Go to Hell; And Then Twilight Exploded; MLP: Anthology of Interest
Yes, yeees! I can hear the search algorithm weeping.
Ponies Explaining Ponies by Sleipnirs Foal
Genre: Comedy
Pinkie gets some of her friends to explain various aspects of pony life to the audience.
I read this fic a long time ago. It’s actually a pretty good example of fourth-wall comedy done right: Pinkie knows about us, no one else does, she makes her friends talk to the kitchen wall and they just sort of go along with it while continuing to believe she’s crazy. There’s also a lot of good comedy in it, like Fluttershy getting way into a rant about how awkward wingboners can be, or the running gag about the psychiatrist. The writing has some issues, mostly a lack of continuing quote marks over long stretches of monologue (few things are harder to deal with, I find). Also, the topics chosen may not have much traction with today’s fans; this seems to have started in season one and ended after season three. Still, this is a lot of fun, for all that large parts of it are just a headcanon dump. Definitely more high-class, humor-wise, than Cutie Mark Cancer.
Recommended If You Don’t Mind Some Writing Errors
Fall Down
An Adventure of Two Hearts; Where Would Rainbow Dash?; Be Mine; Adventures and Alicorns; Movie Troubles; An Inconvenient Dash; So That’s What a Wingboner Is…; Practice Is Perfect; Princess Twilight Sparkle and Her Curious Love Life
Lots of TwiDash, but far too many comedies. What gives? Is this revenge for Cutie Mark Cancer?
Distance to Be Covered by AcreuBall
Genre: Romance
Rainbow Dash and Twilight take time out from packing for some romance before they leave for Cloudsdale and Canterlot, respectively.
I was kind of thinking, from the description, that this would be taking place after they’d both left and were dealing with the long-distance relationship, instead of discussing how they plan to deal with it. I can’t say I’m disappointed with the results, though, given how intensely emotional and romantic the denouement is. The main draw here is fantastic Rainbow Dash characterization. Just from the first paragraph, you can tell you’re gonna be in for a wild ride in her head. The relationship is sold really well in medias res, too, which is not easy to do. (Of course, I say that being a hardcore TwiDasher.) There’s an amazing exchange with Pinkie Pie in the middle. And again, the ending is just really intense and romantic, taking Rainbow’s character heavily into account to make an emotional statement while also giving us a look at TwiDash that’s just a little outside the norm. If you liked Fall Down, please read this, because it’s considerably better, another “Highly Recommended for Shippers”.
Recommended
Branch Management
The Book Engrossing Filly; Magic Ears; Easel Said Than Done; Maiden Flight; Rainbow Dash and the Treasure of Canterlot; Scootaloo Stops for Red Light; All I Want for Christmas Is You; It’s Not Mine for like the third time now
Quite a few more random comedies than you’d expect for something that isn’t a trollfic, but at least they’re all about Scoots.
Scootaloo Is Slightly Flame Retardant by DontWannaKnow
Reading by The Captain Sand
Reading by Ender
Genre: Comedy
After an accident with a fire, Scootaloo’s special talent comes to light.
Read this one earlier and apparently never reviewed it. The problem with this is that the title is the punchline. There’s nothing to this other than the ponies figuring out that Scoot’s cutie mark is stupid. And I mean, that’s funny by itself, but there’s nothing else here. We start in medias res, the story is told in a snarky fashion, title happens, done. Has little to do with Branch Management.
Not Recommended
Check Yourself Before You Tirek Yourself
3rd Pony War; The Scepter That Stole My Heart; Getting Tough; Flutter of a Foal; Celestia Rides the Iron Bull; Cutie Mark Cancer is applicable to all my shitfics apparently; Always Calm Is Flutter’s Mom; Alone again; Tacos at Midnight
A couple Iron Will fics, a bunch with Fluttershy. Another story about tacos that was written before Rainbow Rocks. Pleasantly, two about fighting. Unfortunately, two about breastfeeding are you just fucking with me, Fimfic? I’m amused there’s one about Twilicane, at least.
The Way of the Dodging Hoof by pasieka17
Genre: Comedy
The story of how Fluttershy learned to dodge so well.
I’m sorry this story isn’t better written, because the premise is so funny. I suspect the author hasn’t been writing for very long, given the copious and sometimes odd proofreading errors. I will give this credit for being genuinely funny, however. Angel’s “dialogue” is a hoot, and the techniques of this “martial art” are pretty hilarious. I also appreciated the Kill Bill reference. Has some stuff in common with Check Yourself, though Iron Will is just a background character.
Recommended If You Prefer Function Over Form
The JaAm Cycles
Deadpool in Equestria; Too Many Authors Ruins the Bakeoff; Aqua Pony Show Show; Scootaloo’s New Family (again!); Equestrian Jeopardy; The Overlord; Zero Punctuation: Equestria; Chris Redfield Punches Tom; Regular Ponies
Yup. Broke the site. Couldn’t have happened with a nicer fic. Unfortunately, it doesn’t leave me much to work with. If I knew who Chris Redfield was, maybe I’d read that one. Instead...
Button’s First Halo 4 War Game Experience (feat. The Chief) by Midsummer Ocean
Genre: Pony Does X
After finishing Halo 4’s campaign mode, Button Mash decides to try out multiplayer.
You know those stories where the author provides a lot of details about cars or guns or something? This is like that, only with playing a video game. Unfortunately, my experience with Halo 1 and 2 did nothing to prepare me for reading this, as I’ve never played online multiplayer anything. It all went over my head, and there wasn’t even snarky commentary on shit-talking noobs to keep me entertained. The writing is very matter-of-fact and uses bold in questionable ways. I can’t tell if the potty-mouthed player in this fic is meant to be a shout-out to some well-known asshole or something. Honestly, I don’t know anything about this, because it doesn’t even have anything to do with ponies. I guess this is all that I deserve for writing JaAm Cycles.
Not Recommended
Faun
One of Us; A Mile in Your Hooves; LyrAmie haha; My Little Lyra; Broken Then Healed; Biblical Monsters (!!!); Brony Steve Makes Out With Fluttershy; The Mare and Her List; Family
God, why. Only like three of those are actually dark. FFS.
”Fingering” by Sir Hat
Genre: Gross Comedy
Lyra’s attempt to summon a Human accidentally succeeds, much to his dismay.
I was going to read Family, but then it turned out to be part one of a series that’s a sequel to another series thanks for not putting that in the description, author. :| Anyway, this is one of those super-wacky Lyra Likes Humans fics with a ton of double-entendres, that actually turns into just a phenomenal train wreck and a fairly amusing role reversal for Lyra and Bon-Bon. That said, you’re not gonna want to read this unless you’re into shit like LyrAmie more than Faun. Y’know… I never thought I’d have a second opportunity to use this rating, and it’s overselling this piece just a bit, but I’m gonna go4it.
Recommended for Sneeze Fetishists and People With High Degrees of Self-Loathing
Princess Cadence Takes One for the Team
The Price of Change; Like a Princess; Gilded; The Violation of Sombra; You Are Not Alone; Let’s Play! Vol. 01: MINECRAFT - With Luna, Celestia and Cadence; The Child He Lost; Indiscretions; 182,625 Days; Who Am I?
Lots of Cadence fics. I guess the comedies are there because I threw the Random tag on.
Tell Me Please. by Crunchbiter
DNF: 1/3
Genre: HiE
Equestria’s only human comes to the Princess of Love for advice on how not to fall in love.
I’ve lately been thinking about self-inserts. Typically, my reaction has always been “Most people aren’t that interesting”. Characters need to be interesting, and if you’ve spent a lifetime teaching yourself chemistry in between bombing runs of the back alleys of your shelled-out hometown (i.e., you are an interesting person I would like to read about), it’s likely you’re not going to be writing ponyfic. Of course, another thing necessary for the jump from real person to character is self-awareness, and I don’t think I need to tell you how lacking that is when it comes to people on the internet. But really, once you’ve discovered the things that make you interesting and noted the ways in which you act so that you can write yourself honestly, there’s one final step: character growth. Once you put yourself on the page, written you is going to start growing and changing in ways that real you never will. Before you’re done writing this story, the character of you is likely going to be nothing like real you, and suicide via the written word is not something many people are willing to put themselves through, I’d wager.
Anyway, I wrote all that just to avoid having to write a journal about the subject, and as a roundabout way of approaching this story’s human. He feels like an idealized self-insert, one who’s gone through a whole bunch of mental and physical growth (in some other story that this isn’t marked as a sequel to), but retains at least the “D” of “SQUID” and thus isn’t terribly interesting to read about. The first quarter of the first chapter is devoted to his appearance, and the rest is him whining about not being able to find love in Equestria. I won’t say it’s devoid of merit, as concepts go, but I didn’t really care about this dude’s plight by the end of part 1. I mean, he’s got a pet fox, for fuck’s sake; what warm-blooded nerd doesn’t want one of those? So if this is indeed a self-insert, the author has attempted to be self-aware and consider their own growth, but done so in a way that is, again, idealized, and doesn’t do anything to affect their core personality. That, and there were quite a few typos that really irritated me, because this is obviously someone who’s pretty decent at writing. Again, not devoid of merit, but written for a reader who is definitely not me. Has nothing really to do with PCTOftT save the titular character.
Not Recommended
Heads in the Cloud
Starfall; Order-naries: Redux; One-Winged Alicorn; Anomalous; The Great Alicorn Hunt; My Little Pirate: Buccaneering Is Magic; Rebirth; Postgraduate Work; Storygames of Equestria: Rise of the Fatebenders
All adventures, a majority of them pure adventure. Unfortunately, almost all of them are incomplete.
Dawning Transcendence by Repentance
DNF: 1/20
Genre: Adventure I guess? I didn’t read very far.
When a considerable portion of my thoughts involving the first paragraph of a story is “What?”, something is wrong. Add the thesaurus abuse and lack of direct relation to the show to give me terrible, terrible feelings about everything. In the second paragraph, we discover that the narrator is actually first-person. Why wasn’t that revealed sooner, and who talks like this? The worst part of this, however, is thesaurus abuse that turns sentences into incomprehensible jumbles. The inconsistent dialogue punctuation sure doesn’t help. Given that a considerable amount of the first chapter is dedicated to the narrator recounting his life story while extolling his own virtues, this becomes one of the least readable stories I have ever encountered. Has nothing to do with Heads in the Cloud beyond that Adventure tag.
Not Recommended
Swarm of the Sentry
Cutie Mark Cancer, are we really surprised at this point?; Just a Little Chaos; Mrs. Cake on Steroids; Twilight Punches Flash Sentry (yes!); Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…; Twilight’s Cold Hooves; Pinkie Pie Speaks Spanish; Pinkie Pie & the Cakes; Unforeseen Consequences
Rather pleased with this grouping. Chocovich shows up twice, interestingly.
Take Me to Tortilla Land by firefeng
Reading by Me!
Genre: Guild Wars 2/Smurfs Crossover, I Am Not Even Kidding
Dark King Oblivion learns the magic of friendship.
If you go after this story, make sure you read the description; the reason why the story was written is hilarious by itself. Honestly, I can’t add much to the story than that does, other than to say this is just a roast of a super-edgy character and it is hilarious, and also severely wacky. And there’s even more to the story than that. The author’s apology is accepted. More tonally related to Swarm of the Sentry than a lot of these fics have been.
Recommended
Laugh, Laugh
All Washed Up; He’ll Never Leave Me; Lazy River; The Strength to Walk Away; Imagine; Can You Keep a Secret; Taboo Feelings; Pinkie’s Nightmare; I’m Not Crazy
Mostly Sad Pinkie, and of a higher caliber than I got with PP&NM. To wit:
Tired by EbonMane
Reading by Ender
Genre: Future Fic
Pinkie Pie still takes time out of her day to visit with her five closest friends.
I can’t believe I never reviewed this. After all, I edited it! (Also RCL.) I am also very pleased by the (altogether unintentional) comparison with Laugh, Laugh, because this story is more or less what I was trying to do, but better: an older Pinkie — much older, in this case — reminiscing with old friends. And while one could still be forgiving for criticizing the narrative as “not very Pinkie”, a closer look at this story reveals that there’s no one else this could be. The thing that I’ve always believed about Pinkie Pie is that one day, she will have to slow down. When that day comes, she’s not going to sound like she used to. But look at the actions in this story, with its minimal dialogue, and you’ll find a slower Pinkie lurking unmistakably in the background. She still keeps envelopes in her mane, after all. Perhaps even more convincing are her friends in their old age; Rainbow’s part especially gets to me, even having read this three times. But each section is tailored to the pony it represents, and honestly, the writing in this piece is just superb. Rereading, I find newfound appreciation for it, and that’s a rare thing. Definitely read it if you liked Laugh, Laugh.
Highly Recommended
Those Awful Rumors ‘Round Town
Stuck in the Storm; Cuteness Overload; Miss Ponyville; Moving On: Silver Spoon’s Story; Cutie Mark Abandonment; Days as a Diamond; The Cutie Mark Crusaders Do Manehattan; Ditched; The Spoon That Refused Polish
Interestingly, that last one is a sequel to Moving On. And hey look! Tons of fics about the foals!
School Reunion by Blueshift
Genre: Future Fic
After twenty-five years, Apple Bloom is ready to see her friends again.
Here’s another I read once upon a time. It’s a very season one future fic, hearkening back to a time when the show’s promise was infinite and you could get away with anything. Flashbacks take us through fantastic worlds that we know now could never exist. The future world Blueshift has created is really compelling (Celestia’s status is all but skimmed over, yet it sticks in my mind). But the real centerpiece is Apple Bloom, natch, still living in the past despite all she’s done for Ponyville. That’s really what this is about: that you have to grow up someday, and that everything changes, but neither of these things are bad. And honestly, it has nothing to do with Awful Rumors; this is proof that Blueshift can write serious stories as well as wacky ones. (Though his future version of Dinky is amazing.) If I have any complaints, it’s that this suffers from that standard ailment of British authors not being able to write the characters American-sounding enough. It’s worst with the Apple family (and he apparently had no idea how to use “y’all” back then), but still worth mentioning. It’s an old fic, but the central message holds up even if show canon has passed this by.
Recommended
...And It Was Going So Well, Too…
Bedroom Talk; Pinkie and Sonata’s Excellent Adventure (this needs to finish already!); Cafeteria Control (yessss!); Dazzle’s Frizzling Sizzle Hair (In the Drizzle); Hot Times at Canterlot High (M); Equestria Girls: Protectors of Canterlot; My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Twilight vs. Twilight; I Wanna Be Your Pony (M); Equestria Girls: Sunset on My Heart
Lots of Rainbow Rocks fics, who knew. I expect some repeats with the next story…
Like a Messed Up Fairy Tale by SerenaAveline
Genre: Shipping
Sunset Shimmer is thrown for a loop when Sonata Dusk asks her to Senior Prom.
I’m getting a lot of cross-chatter with Taking Another Career Option, which I read first, despite it being below. (That’s just how I roll.) I mean, Sonata even begs not to be “rainbowed” again! Crazy. Anyway, I had real misgivings going into this, remembering the old “Sonata edition” review stories, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. The characterization is pretty strong in the early going, and while the conversations tend to meander away from the central plot, it at least helps the world breathe. Of course, if you’re not into shipping, there’s no way you’re going to like this, because there is shipping everywhere: Sunata, AriaDash, FlutterPie. Even Twilight Sparkle, who doesn’t make an appearance, finds someone in Equestria. (I will not spoil Rarity’s prom date, however, it’s too good.) It’s definitely a shipping-for-shipping’s-sake story; no one really has to work for anything, and that goes double for the Dazzlings redemption. The narrative is rough around the edges, too: you can see the places where the author tried to slow it down, but didn’t quite get all the way there, and there are some typos and missing quote marks. For the plot to work, you’ve really got to want it to happen (yeah, I guess it’s Alien Shipping Syndrome), and I found the sexual humor a little offputting. I know I’ve kind of talked myself down from “I was impressed”, but as first stories go, this is definitely a good place for a writer to start. Far more serious than my story.
Recommended for Shippers Only
The Loneliest Laundromat
Sonata Dusk Goes to School; The Brony and the Baddy?; Moonlight Sonata; Lyra’s Human 2: Derpy’s Human; The Wacky Adventures of Sonata at Canterlot High; Taco Quest (also needs to finish already!); Sonata’s Modern Life; Long Live Sonata Dusk; The Evening Sonata
...Or not. It’s like Sonata edition reviews all over again. On that note, Sonata’s Modern Life is a sequel to something I reviewed.
Taking Another Career Option by DJLowrider
Genre: Sonata Redemption
Sunset Shimmer is surprised to find an old enemy as a coworker at her new job.
Sonata redemption is kind of hard to pull off, when you get right down to it. If you’re not a huge fanboy who wants her to be good, then you have to work through the questions of “was she actually evil?” and “is she actually sorry for what she did?” I think this story accomplishes that, thanks to great characterization all around. (Of course, I’m a huge fanboy who wants her to be good, so…) There’s a lot of side stuff, like Fluttershy’s van, that helps make the world breathe outside the halls of Canterlot High, and making Sunset the main character, rather than Sonata, means that we get to see the other characters make judgements about her. There are some issues with the writing, passages that trip over themselves and others that are flat, but the characters carry the story. This is totally what I wanted this piece to be, and I’d put it at the high end of Sonata fics.
Recommended If You Liked Rainbow Rocks
Button Goulash
The “Death” of Button Mash; Somepony New Day; Dating Button Mash; Codename: Cutie Mark Crusaders; A Sweet Button; The Hearts and Hooves Day Prom; The Life and Death of April Fool; Learning to Fly; Swine Flew
No Buttoning fics? :( Fimfic, you fail it!
Zippoorwhill’s Secret by Alaborn
Genre: Ponies Discover X
The Cutie Mark Crusaders set out to discover what makes Zippoorwhill tick.
Despite the fact that the secret is pretty funny, this story presents itself rather straightforwardly. It starts out with a very slice of life pony-pet playdate scene. Zip’s dad has a tragic, if interesting backstory. Of course, the main problem is that the secret is spilled at the halfway mark, and then the story just keeps going, following the CMCs’ adventure using what they learned from Zippoorwhill. I guess I should blame the author for not selling this correctly. Well, that and for writing an idea that’s definitely been done before. I can’t say this did anything for me, and it’s got nothing to do with Button Goulash beyond the character tags.
Vaguely Recommended
Dirty Prancing
Pushing Daisies: Pie-lette; The Elements of Awesomery, lol; Fluffle Puff, Defender of the Universe 2: Puff Hard With a Vengeance; Snowdrop and Nyx Get Drunk and Make Out (dying); Under a Luminous Skyfall; Chrysalicksy, ffs; Living the Hive Life
Too many tags kills the pony. So, the thing about this one is that I posted it after starting this project. I have to wonder if the preponderance of my own stories is due to it being so new (I waited until there was something under “Also Liked” before choosing the stories, and there is currently one story there). Anyway, lots of Chrysalis comedies/trollfics.
Chrysalis’s College Days by MephileztheHam
DNF: 1/9
Genre: Comedy
Chrysalis is sent to college as a test to see if she’s worthy to become queen.
The concept of this story is admittedly very pandery, but it’s the kind of pandering I’m okay with getting sucked into. Unfortunately, the writing is poor and I couldn’t get far. Words go uncapitalized, the narrative is flat and telly, and it’s filled with the standard slew of typos. It’s a shame, because I’d have liked to see where this went. Still, if there’s anything that really links this to Dirty Prancing beyond the main character, it’s that the author also used random butterfly genus names for Chrysalis’s family members. Well, and I mean, she’s competing to become the next queen, too. So it’s a good recommendation from the site as far as relevance goes, just not a story really worth reading.
Not Recommended
So what have we learned? Your mileage may vary and the site lies. Also, that didn’t have much of an effect on my RIL, because I took off anything I put in the list and added a bunch of things that looked interesting. I can confirm, however, that the recommendations change. How frequently, why or how, I dunno, but I’m goin’ with these because I did ‘em this way. :B I may consider doing one of these every time I upload a new story (or chapter of the speedfic compilation). Just as part of a regular journal, anyway. And using a different format, most likely. Maybe I’ll try playing around with the “Also Liked” option next time...
Wow. If my RiL weren't already stuffed and getting longer by the day, I might have tried something like this (and be damned with the consequences). As always, thanks for slogging through the crap in search of the gems.
>Sonata trying on Adagio's clothes
PP pls
Hee. Kiss Kiss Boom Boom turns out to be the 4000th story reviewed on the master list.
As for Culture Shock, yeah, it was kinda blah. The art actually was first, and people liked it so much they wrote stories about it. That's certainly not the story I would have picked as your introduction. A Little Push by LuminoZero would be my recommendation for that.
Now to read the rest of the post!
Huh. I think FimFiction really wants me to read Knighty and Poultron's Gay Day In. It's been showing up a lot in search returns and now other people's posts.
Man, sometimes I look at old comments of mine and wonder what the hell I was thinking. I suspect I spend too much effort trying to encourage inexperienced authors.
2730738
It's good someone's doing it, though. Don't stop. :)
I think I've read (and reviewed) precisely two of these. :P Namely Tired, which is wonderful and a story I fully intend to re-read at some point purely for pleasure; and Love Your Difference, which I was kinder to than you are (perhaps too kind) but which also annoyed me for its reams of unnecessary (to fans) explanation making it terribly slow. I think a couple of others are on my RiL list, but when or if I'll ever read them is anyone's guess. :P
Regarding "The Fan", I was trying more to hide the secret from the main character, if that makes sense. Tags and comments would have spoiled the one trick the story had, but I wanted to at least make it plausible that Vinyl wouldn't notice what was literally staring her in the face. I hoped that the shifts in perspective would cast the dance floor as a noisy, busy, attention-demanding place.
2730752
That makes sense, I guess. There's still a lot going for that story. :)
That's funny. I find "Also Liked" is great at recommending other stories I like!
For instance, for The Corpse Bride, Also Liked recommends:
Happy Ending, by Bad Horse
The Twilight Zone, by Bad Horse
Trust, by Bad Horse
Friends, With Occasional Magic, by Bad Horse
Ἐλπίς, by Bad Horse
Twenty Minutes, by Bad Horse
Long Distance, by Bad Horse
Fluttershy's Night Out, by Bad Horse
Or take the "Also Liked" for "Trust", which lists
Happy Ending, by Bad Horse
Long Distance, by Bad Horse
The Corpse Bride, by Bad Horse
Behind the Scenes, by Bad Horse
Bad Horse's Bedtime Stories for Impressionable Young Colts and Fillies, by Bad Horse
Moving On, by Bad Horse
The Magician and the Detective, by Bad Horse
All the Pretty Pony Princesses, by Bad Horse
2730757
I'm noticing that...
Aww... I enjoyed BronyDad's story, Love Your Difference.
But I think I do understand your reasoning for not recommending it.
I... don't think I've read a single fic listed that wasn't by you, PP.
Maybe one or two?
Wow. Yeah. I guess Fimfiction doesn't think I'd like stories like what you've written.
That's probably a pretty good guess on the site's part. <innocent look>
>mfw Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon Bon
hue
2730786
Well, I don't get many recs beyond stuff I've written, so. :B
I would try to explain, but your thoughtless and abiding hatred makes me afraid you'll try to kill me in my sleep, and my au t needs me to tAke care of her during the day.
Good cripes, man, if all your reviews are like that then why have I been enjoying your stuff all this time? I shouldn't like folks who despise me.
What is your problem? All this time I thought you were a good person.
Well there's an hour and a half of my life gone and 30 to 40 new stories in my RiL list. Curse you,
Daring DoPresent Perfect!Also fuck that fucking tortilla land song is stuck in my head now! >_<
2730865
Not sure what you're on about. That is definitely not the harshest review I've ever given. Plus, you seemed to have no issue with such things when it was Kkat on the chopping block.
I do so love surprise reviews of my stories. Thanks!
I'm glad you liked it; it certainly was fun to write.
2731004
so fanfic
such funny
very welcome
wow
Ah, fair enough. Even I have to look back and admit The Hooves Family Tree is kinda a crappy story, and I'm the author.
It was only the second thing I ever wrote on this site, and I was still getting my feet wet in how to properly present a story and make it interesting. Hopefullly, I've improved by now. 
As for the pro-life stand the story seems to take though, that really wasn't what I was going for (but I could see why it might be seen that way). I just imagined Derpy as the kind of character that would feel responsible to carry her child to term. As a girl and someone who's watched a friend go through an unplanned pregnancy, I know abortion is a complicated issue. ...A really complicated issue.
2731099
That was a really hard scene to call either way. And nothing wrong with your early fics not being as good as your later ones, we all go through that. :)
2730920
I think Gabe's taking issue with your review on two fronts. One, the fact that the title is related to the phrase 'Hatred would be better than ignorance', thus why Granny is so astoundingly racist. Two? The Zecorabloom shipping is part of a larger world-building Gabe's done, where he's made clear in other stories that Zecora recognizes that AB has a crush on her, and she's willing to wait until she's older and knows herself before she pursues anything if she still feels that way. That sentiment doesn't always come across in his stories because of said prior world-building.
Yay my Kierkegaard story (he said, narrowing it down not at all)
WONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAANDWONT YOU TAKE ME TO.... TORTILLA LAAAAAND
Dogeing the Issue gave me my daily dose of keks. Thanks PP!
2730865
That's very sad to hear. I hope your aunt is feeling better soon, and I wish you all the best: life is short enough as it is. I think you're a good person for taking the time to care for her.
And please don't give up writing. The only way to get better is to keep at it!
2731796
The chemo is going well and she has something resembling an appetite, which is positive.
Though given the venom a defensive posture seems half-way reasonable. An explanation doesn't seem likely to make a dent in automatic hate. It never does. But Noble gave an explanation. I was going to pass on commentary but the site seems stable. Usually on a journal this long my phone would have crashed. But I still can't correct comments.
Dawning Transcendence:
. . . . .
2735026
The whole fucking story is like that.
Holy shit that was long. Let's see if I can't remember everything I wanted to say as I was reading it.
The game of Sburb is so absurdly unfair (whether or not the players can win and survive the game is predestined before they're even born) that it has a mechanism for rebooting and remaking the players' home universe to give it another shot at winning. The scenario you describe in the fic happens in the comic proper.
The Battle Royale roleplaying site I wrote on for about five years is the first time I've ever seen self-insertion done remotely correctly, in part because the self-insert characters are almost certainly going to die and the writer has to get used to that, and because it's grown a culture that tries to improve its overall quality of writing.
Hot Fuzz is absolutely worth watching.
Ohey, here's that review you talked about! Took me a while to find it
Yeah, it doesn't fit pony very well, but that's exactly what makes FO:E a neat setting to play with. A lot of things in there don't really fit pony all that well. (and PH stretches even that a bit further)