R4 (Reactions, Reviews, Reference, Redirection) #0096 · 7:11pm Apr 5th, 2015
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Here are five old reviews:
Tangled Up in Blues by The Descendant
A Hiccup in Time by Pascoite
A Puzzle Unsolved by PresentPerfect
Secret of the Pegasi by CTVulpin
The Midnight Run by Midnightshadow
Tangled Up in Blues by The Descendant
[story link] [my original review]
Bleh. Did not like this one. Mostly because I couldn’t stand the main character. He talks about feeling the blues because life keeps knocking him down, but even in the first chapter most of it was things that were easily preventable. The biggest head-smack moment was him during the events of the first episode of the show. He agreed to play at a part after the summer sun celebration. He takes a nap, wakes up and the sky is dark. Hurries through a strangely empty town, plays a set in a empty dark room where the party was supposed to be, then goes home. He thinks it’s odd, but doesn’t spend a moment trying to find out where everypony was or even just waiting until someone shows up to play music. It was a really stupid scene. Both of my parents were working musicians for years, both of them continued to play music for years as a hobby after they settled down, and a good number of people I knew growing up were musicians. Given that, it boggles my head that anyone like that would show up to a gig, play to a dark empty room, then leave, all just because that was the time and place agreed to. Oh, and without getting paid. I think that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve read in any pony fanfic so far. That includes the one where Discord captains the Enterprise against a horde of star-powered evil Octavias trying to kill the universe with music.
More of this review in the original, but mostly more detail-focused complaints.
I also actually asked a musician I know about the scene which made me put down the story, and turns out the character's reaction was closer to what they would do. So guess I was mostly wrong about that particular part.
A Hiccup in Time by Pascoite
[story link] [my original review]
Fun time travel story. Very well written, as good time travel stories tend to be. I love the concept of a whole room full of the same person, time-loop copies, alternative universe clones, whatever. I just find that situation really funny to watch or read about. This story had some fun subtleties that got me thinking. Plus pamphlets! Very informative pamphlets.
This is also so much fun to read out loud to someone else.
A Puzzle Unsolved by PresentPerfect
[story link] [my original review]
This is a story that deserves the sad tag. Not horribly gut-wrenching sad or overly maudlin, just a sucky situation that isn’t really anyone’s fault. This premise could have been played for laughs or as something more surreal. Yet the author uses it for a handful of sweetly romantic moments. Even if you don’t watch any Agents of Shield or the other agent Coulson stuff you’ll probably enjoy this anyway. If you do watch any/all of that side of the crossover it just adds a bit more texture to the whole thing. I think this is going right into my Marvel movie universe headcanon
Secret of the Pegasi by CTVulpin
[story link] [my original review]
Silly, but not over the top. This is a comedic premise played straight and done well. It wouldn’t hold up for a longer story, but here its got just the right length. Very enjoyable.
The Midnight Run by Midnightshadow
[story link] [my original review]
I liked this one. Really pulls you in. Not sure I would call it worldbuilding exactly. I really liked the letter to Celestia at the end.
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. It might take a while, as more precision means I need to actually think about things instead of just doing stream of consciousness typing.
