Fic recs, November 19th! · 2:50pm Nov 19th, 2015
It’s funny how I sort of assumed my review of Bubbles would be one of those that everyone called me out on for being 1000% wrong, but it seems to have garnered nothing but praise for the story. And there’s no higher praise than another reading, this one by Illya Leonov!
And on that note, Nimbus Productions has done a reading of Cold in Gardez’s The Lantern, with Caitbug and Kovabomb!
So it's time for another one of these. :V The good news is, I cleared two or three of them, so the next one will be decently shorter. I'm close to clearing a couple more as it is! Minifics ahoy!
H: 3 R: 7 C: 7 V: 1 N: 0
Medium Rare by Cold in Gardez
Genre: Chopped! Crossover
Having never seen the show before, this was a tad hard to follow, but assuming it was basically Iron Chef helped. The all-dialogue sections, for the record, are those scenes where they’re interviewing contestants overtop the visuals of them cooking, or in between shots of the cooking, whatever. Anyway, I was intrigued by the cuisine at play and entertained by the thought of ponies cooking meat, but the real joke is finding out the prompt at the end. When you discover why this story was written, I guarantee a laugh.
Recommended
Laughter Is the Best Weapon by Esle Ynopemos
Genre: Comedy
Fluttershy runs afoul of a monster.
This is a really bizarre piece. The first half is Fluttershy trying her best to reason with, and then Stare, our monster of the day, and then the laughing happens and everything gets floopty. That’s all I can say, really.
Recommended as Light Reading
An Equestrian Gaur by Chris
Genre: Poem
This is an epic poem about a gaur (wiki it) who left his homeland for Equestria and has come to regret it. It’s not only epic in scope — world-building, lore, distant travels — but in style, with its constant mid-line rhyme scheme that was most, most pleasing to the ear. Definitely poetry done right.
Highly Recommended
It Never Changes by Pascoite
Genre: Character Study
This is a series of quick scenes throughout Celestia and Luna’s lives, tied together thematically by a repeated line. As a flashfic, it works perfectly, capturing a series of feelings and studying how they change over time. Also, the headcanon about alicorns was pretty unique. Definitely one of the better Royal Sister fics I’ve ever read.
Highly Recommended
The Slow Fall of an Unfamiliar Star by horizon
Genre: EQG Angst
This is great. Sunset Shimmer angsting over Flash Sentry a week before she sets her plans in motion at the start of the first movie? Hell yes. The prose is wonderful, the emotions are told in absences, and her motivation is considerably more nuanced than what we got in the movie (no shock there). I really, really love Sunset, and this is one of the best stories I’ve read about her.
Highly Recommended
Virgin Green Fields by Titanium Dragon
Genre: Historical
If there’s anything wrong with this piece, it’s that it builds up a head steam but never leaves the station. What it’s building to is SmartClover shipping. Maybe it’s because I’m really into shipping historical ponies that the lack of anything concrete by the ending annoys me. But if nothing else, it’s a good look at Smart Cookie entering the land that would become Equestria.
Recommended If You Like Historical Pieces
Gilda’s Secret Origin (Part 1) by Wanderer D
Genre: The Daftest Crossover Ever
For fuck’s sake, this shit is bananas. You get the feeling just from the first few lines that the narrative is being overdramatic for comedy’s sake, which it absolutely is. But it’s not until you get to the author’s note for the reveal of the crossover — I’d like to see anyone guess this in realtime — that the wacky turns up to eleven. I don’t even.
Recommended Just for the Challenge
Poachers by Ezn
Genre: Thriller
The draw in this one is the voicing: even without the nod to her gem-finding spell, it’s very easy to tell this is Rarity. The writing does feel a little compressed toward the end, but it’s good for a shortfic. What escapes me, sadly, is the significance of what happened. The mentions of Dream Valley suggest the involvement of a G1 beastie, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out which. Still, again, good for a shortfic.
Recommended as Light Reading
Ecclesiazusae by alexmagnet
Genre: Crackfic
This is a fun piece about Trixie at a rehab meeting for bad ponies. It’s her reaction to the whole thing that takes it into crackfic territory. Maybe not the best punchline at the end, but this is still a real hoot.
Recommended for Laughs and Trixie Fans
Blight by Filler
Genre: Character Study
Rainbow Dash asks Fluttershy would it matter why she keeps watering a blighted plant. This is a short, simple piece about Fluttershy’s values. It’s economical and thoroughly effective, and that’s really all you need.
Recommended
The Perfect Hearth’s Warming Gift by Nonagon
Genre: Comedy
These tiny fics are perfect for scenes like this. This could easily be a short comic, all things considered. It’s a great little scene with Celestia and Twilight.
Recommended
Parents by FuzzyFurvert
Genre: Slice of… Life?
Well, this is actually a great piece of characterization for Twilight’s dad (I particularly like his hobby), but the subtitle gives away what’s really going on. And honestly? “Twilight asks her dad what to do about her accidental new penis” is a good use for this kind of prompt. Just, uh, be warned it’s borderline Mature, if you’re not into that kind of thing.
Recommended If You Want to See Non-Sexual Futa for Once
Against the Dying of the Light by HoofAndQuill
Genre: Adventure
This is a nifty bit of dreamwalking. I was impressed by the subtlety with which Fluttershy’s dream is handled, but this suffers a bit for the short writing time. The writing isn’t all that great, and it’s definitely a bigger story than could reasonably be written in half an hour, so it feels compressed. A lot more could have been done with each segment, and after the first, barely anything is done with them. It’s worth reading for the setup, I suppose, but would be better expanded.
Vaguely Recommended
Blues in the Night by Tall Tales
Genre: Romance
So Caramel and Blueblood fight crime. That’s what you’re going to have to wrap your head around if you want to approach this piece. Honestly, I think this could stand to be a lot longer, both to set up their situation as well as their relationship, but I get that it’s TSSSF and things are meant to get to the shipping as quickly as possible. That said, what transpires surprised me, and it’s quite effective. If you’re good at diving right in, give this a try.
Recommended If the Premise Intrigues You
Under Wraps by FanOfMostEverything
Genre: Drama
This is some of the best post-Slice of Life LyraBon I could ask for. :D And they’re not even in a relationship! The downside is it ends; I want a sequel. D: But this gets a lot of good shots in at world-building and silly things like battle confections. It’s a ton of fun, and I love where it goes.
Recommended
A Quiet Cave by darf
Genre: Dark
This is a really atmospheric piece. Rumble’s tension and panic come through quite well, and the revelation isn’t a sudden twist but a slow buildup to surety. This doesn’t have a happy ending, but as it presents a scenario and runs through it, it’s quite worth the read.
Recommended
Lipogram Day by Admiral Biscuit
Reading by ShadowOfCygnus
Genre: Literary Trolling
For those who don’t know, a lipogram is a story written without the letter e. This is one such story. It’s also funny as shit because it turns the idea of a lipogram on its head. I laughed more than I probably should have. Be sure to read this.
Recommended
Ponyville by AugieDog
Reading by Me!
Genre: Sestina
I wrote a sestina once; it was not easy. But I’m impressed with the simple solution Augie’s taken to this rather complicated form. Subject-wise, it’s about Ponyville, the town’s entire character, its light and dark sides. Really, I think the form is the draw here; I mean, I just can’t get over how incredibly clever this is.
Recommended
PP, I want to give you a big, and very heart felt Thank You for reviewing my short bits of word-based diarrhea. It brings a smile to my face and chuckle to my day when I see these. One one hand, I wonder why you seem to hit my weirdest ones, but then on the other, you're hitting all your other readers with them...so I guess the schadenfreude equals out?
I love ya, man.
Awesome stuff as always PP
3553182
I'm just going down the list, man, with the exception of your guest chapter for that fic I haven't read yet. :B
3553838
I'll just have to keep adding more on then, won't I?
3553908
no please don't D:
Clarification: a lipogram is writing that avoids a particular group of symbols. "e" is a typical pick owing to its commonality, but hardly your only option (and in my opinion, not so tough as avoiding "t"). If you want illustrations, all of my posts on Not Another Pony In Equestria lipogram out a symbol or two.
3554035
PFFT I SAY
Okay, okay, you got me to read a fucking Darf story. You happy?
3555149
ye :V
There's more where that came from...
An R for Augie and an HR for me?
We'll make a poetry-lover out of you yet, PP!
3557202
well when people actually fucking do it right it's fine D:<