Cerulean's Voice On The Matter #24 · 2:28pm Jul 10th, 2015
With but three stories remaining on my Read Later bookshelf, I’m feeling pretty good about keeping up with things. First, empty my reading list. Second, catch up with some editing jobs. Third… well, let’s just say that there’s something in the pipeline. Let’s call it… a Long-Expected Party. But I’ll not spoil the surprise just yet. You’ll just have to wait. 
Catch-up time for some favourites and guilty pleasures, and two more reviews. You know where to go.
Previously-reviewed favourites with new chapters read: Transdementia, Letters From A Disgruntled Friendship Student, Responses To A Disgruntled Friendship Student, Besides the Will of Evil
Story: So Many Wonders
Author: MerlosTheMad
Synopsis:
Fox squirrels are frisky little creatures. Ferocious too, as Fluttershy will come to find out. However, like many of Equestria's own little critters, they react best to kindness.
Kindness is what Fluttershy needs the most now, too. Dark machinations are at work, and she's become trapped in a foreign land where there are very few things familiar to her. Lost and frightened, she will travel these worlds, fraught with perils and dangers that seem to be never ending; hoping to one day find a way home.
Length: 50,230 words over 10 chapters, averaging 5,023 words per chapter
Status: Incomplete
Review: When I was looking through MerlosTheMad’s stories to decide which one to finally read a while ago, I happened across this little gem. At first it seemed like a nice little adventure with Best Pony Fluttershy as the main character, and ordinarily that alone would be enough to draw me in. But it was what I noticed further down in the description that sealed the deal for me.
The story crosses over with Studio Ghibli's works
Admittedly I went into this with high hopes and there might perhaps be a little bit of bias present here. But damn if it isn’t really a decent effort. After a slightly rocky start during which a lot happens in a short space of time, the story slows a little to establish some real stakes. Fluttershy is stuck in a strange world with even stranger creatures, with no idea how to return to Equestria or even where any of her friends are. Worse still, not every creature she encounters is friendly. There’s a few friendly sights like Nausicaa, Totoro, Catbus, and the Kodamas. What else is interesting is that each of Fluttershy’s friends all seem to be trapped in a different part of this amazing multiverse, with Princess Luna the only link between them all (because apparently dreamwalking can transcend dimensions). While the story slows down a touch in the middle chapters (of what’s written so far at least), it makes up for it by truly paying homage to not only the characters and environments of the Ghibli multiverse, but the feel as well. There are lots of elements at play, both fun and very serious, that all raise and lower the tension appropriately.
One thing I appreciate is that there’s a very obvious language barrier between the E(quish)nglish-speaking Fluttershy and the very obviously Japanese residents of the Ghibli multiverse. You might think it’s irritating to read a story in which the characters struggle to communicate, but this makes it all the more compelling. Fluttershy might as well be any wild beast rather than just a pony in a strange place; in fact she’s treated a lot like one in the magical worlds she gets swept through. Hunters, people wanting to scratch her ears, that kind of thing. It’s actually quite charming but at the same time it brings out just how alone she really is in these worlds. Well not exactly alone, but essentially.
The writing’s a bit rough, though. There are a great many comma splices and superfluous commas being the more prevalent grievance—that, and Merlos seems to delight in reminding everyone that Shy’s mane is, in fact, pink. Sentence structure’s a bit wobbly and could really use a spruce up, but it’s only really noticeable if you’re trying to see it. My only other major complaint is a subjective one: namely that the story hasn’t updated since January 2014!
Seriously. Why. The story has reached a critical moment but there’s no payoff yet for any of the other conflict that has been interwoven with the main narrative. Yet.
If an adventurous Ghibli crossover sounds like your cup of tea, it’s my guess that you’d be hard pressed to find a better one. But that 18-month cliffhanger is really getting to me. Whoever you are, go and pester Merlos to continue it? Please and thank-yous in advance.
Story: Red Shoe Diaries: Equestria (Mature)
Author: Grand_Moff_Pony
Synopsis:
Mares, do you keep a diary? Did you find the love you always wanted, or did you risk it all to chase wanton desires? Have you betrayed that love, or been betrayed by another?
Was it worth it in the end?
Send diaries to: Red Shoes
A series of erotic one-shots inspired by the Showtime classic TV series, Red Shoe Diaries.
Length: 39,307 words over 9 chapters, averaging 4,367 words per chapter
Status: Incomplete
Review: A series of vignettes inspired by an old raunchy show. Essentially a short story compilation with a lot of separate ideas, one for different characters each time (and not in all cases a pairing), RSD represents the author’s true foray into not just clop, but an attempt at a sexy narrative. While most of the vignettes start out unrelated, there’s a feeling growing within me—no not that feeling, gawd!—that some characters might become involved. The sexy times vary from wholesome married sex, to a sneaky solo session, to a full-blown affair… and the hottest pamper package I’ve ever read about. Different ponies, different situations, and yet there’s a feeling that an overarching story could join them all together.
No two diaries are the same. GMP has gone to great length to make each vignette feel differently and not just like the same cookie-cutter sex scenes over and over again. Every situation is unique, every character has a noticeable motive and interest for getting what they want. Some characters end up surprised by what happens, others send in their letter to Red Shoes with enthusiasm, some with regret, embarrassment and so forth. But every story feels real even if you couldn’t imagine a particular pairing / setup. There’s one particular chapter that really hit me hard though. You’ll know it if you get to it. As far as cloppy stories go, I recommend RSD. It’s not the most incredible erotica, but it’s more than adequate to fulfill both a desire for hot content and coherent storytelling and character voice. A final point in its favour: as a short story compilation, RSD being incomplete doesn’t hurt anything at all.
Stories remaining on my RL: 3
Thank you very much for the review, and I'm glad you liked RSD overall.
Just two things to note:
First and foremost, I want to tip my hat to my good friend Loyal for providing that 'hot pamper package'. He really knocked that one out of the park, and I hope to have more guest chapters like that in the future.
Second, I'm glad you noticed the narrative in these assorted chapters. I've been trying to give them at least a bit more setup than the original TV show did, lol. Although, I think from a 'sexy narrative' POV, Full Bloom hit that target much more cohesively than RSD has so far.
Thanks again for the kind words!
GMP
PS: Fun factoid - the original TV show was hosted by a very young David Duchovny. *XFiles.mp3*
*ahem*