Fic recs, January 19th! · 8:57pm Jan 19th, 2017
If you haven't already, be sure to check out Mikesnipe and Flutterpriest's Writer's Workshops, a podcast where they evaluate and critique stories from top to bottom in real time!
Cynewulf is open for writing commissions! Now that's a good deal!
I spent yesterday cruising all around northeast Ohio on a donut crawl with my dad. I might write about it sometime. <.< It was a grueling 6-hour trip that left me curled up on the floor, moaning, "There's too many donuts." (In my defense, it's a day later, and there are still too many donuts.)
Also, holy shit, it's a hat trick. :O
H: 1 R: 1 C: 1 V: 1 N: 1
You're NOT a Lesbian, Rainbow Dash! by Lise Eclaire
Reading by Scarlett Blade
Sequel to You're a Lesbian, Spike!
Genre: Comedy
Spike and Rainbow Dash go to Canterlot, where Rainbow is about to learn something shocking about herself.
You're a Lesbian is the kind of story you write on a bender because you got a wacky idea and want to see it through to the end. This is the kind of sequel you write because people liked that wacky idea so much, and it suffers by comparison because you have to try and replicate what made the first fun. Gone is the freewheeling drunk logic of its predecessor, replaced by the hammer of logic and a ponderous scope. I'm honestly not sure what the point of it is. That's not to say it's bad — I got a real kick out of Spike calling Celestia "mom" and the fallout that represents for Rainbow — it's just lacking in big laughs or anything beyond a general sense of vague amusement. It's only okay, and if the first story didn't pique your interest, this definitely won't.
Vaguely Recommended
Mistakes Best Not Remembered by Sorren
Reading by Illya Leonov, et. al.
Genre: Dark
Luna returned to the old castle to remember, but got a reckoning.
Want to write a story where Luna is a ball of angst and regret without coming off as your typical maudlin Sad Luna? Do this. What helps it along is that the emotions and regrets are only one half of the coin; the other is a revealed tragedy that hits like a sledgehammer. The comeuppance afterward is tense and engrossing, and overall, the language use is excellent. This is the kind of story I want to read!
Highly Recommended
Why the Nobles Are Big, Stinky, Stupid Heads. by Clockworklich
Reading by Scarlett Blade
Genre: Comedy
When she discovers her student has vented at the end of a prepared speech, Celestia is all too happy to indulge her.
Sometimes, a story is just exactly what you wanted it to be. In this case, Dear Idiot by way of a filly Twilight who is equal parts precocious and innocent, and perfectly adorable. And it's entirely within Celestia's character to do something like this, as well. I'm pleased to say the essay isn't the only joke, either: the event at which Celestia is speaking is a riot, and the reason Twilight writes it in the first place is great. But my god, the dirty secrets Twilight is privy to! My only complaint would be the dodgy POV in the first scene. Otherwise, if you passed this by on its first go-round, do yourself a favor and correct that oversight!
Recommended
Almost Too Late by Final Sunlight
Reading by Astro-Brony
Genre: Suicide
After the Anon-a-Miss incident, Sunset Shimmer has nothing to live for.
I dislike this fic because it's another poorly done mess of angst and sadness, but I hate it because it reminded me of the awful "Anon-a-Miss" EQG comic. Like, seriously, that thing was bad, and this is no better for trying to be a take-that fixfic. But yeah, when I say "sad", I mean "today, the part of Scootaloo will be played by Sunset Shimmer". Not content to let the Anon-a-Miss thing stand alone, it has to make her homeless as well, just to add to the emotion, and, oh, she told the shelter she wouldn't need a place this week because she's having sleepovers with each of her friends, but now they're not her friends anymore, and also it's the dead of winter. Rather than freeze to death on a park bench like any good chicken, she starts cutting her wrists. Good thing her friends are there in the nick of time to save her and let her know how much they love her! There's a second part, which bills itself an "alternate version". It's so alternate, it's a completely different story, better in that it avoids the suicidal thoughts, but no less maudlin. Overall, this is not worth the read.
Not Recommended
A Brother's Love by Sendor
Reading by Scribbler, et. al.
Genre: World-Building
It wasn't Hartwin's fault that he preferred music to fighting, or that his brother was the chieftain of their tribe. But he still had a duty.
This gives us a good setup for conflict: Hartwin is a kind soul in a society of warriors, and, being the brother to the chief, has to at least put on a show of trying to be one, even if he has no taste for combat. It's used effectively, and definitely gives this story some heart. Even the fact that he undergoes a moment of sudden badassery at a crucial point isn't used poorly, since the story continues on and shows the fallout of how he deals with it. Unfortunately, this is let down by its writing. It starts with a severe lack of commas, moving into misplaced and missing words, and gradually just getting worse and worse proofread as it goes. The flat, dull and lengthy fable told in the final scene doesn't help, either. Still, this is a fair sight better than the last story about griffin culture I read, and it might be fun for folks who care more about setting than writing.
Recommended for Griffin Fans
Theirs never too many donuts
Dang. Full recommendation spectrum on display. Has that ever happened before?
OH YOU DID NOT JUST POST A REVIEW OF A BROTHER'S LOVE THE FRIGGIN' DAY BEFORE I POST A LONG OVERDUE READING OF IT THAT TOOK TWO YEARS TO FINISH!
You got me all excited for a podcast.
This is just a youtube channel. There's no RSS feed available so I can subscribe to it in a podcatcher and automatically get episodes delivered to me.
I think that's the real thing stopping me from listening to more fanfic readings, no one has made the MLP fanfic readings podcast. (It's been on my want-to-do list for ages, but man do I not have the time for that right now).
I still appreciate the link though. I'll have to give them a listen sometime.
4388470
Definitely, but not often, and not with only five fics. :B
4388476
1) Great minds think alike and so do we?
2) It's totally not my fault. D:
At least I liked it? :B
4388552
It's two people talking about stuff on the internet, ergo, a podcast. :B I dunno what else you're looking for.
4388476
4388732
There is no such thing as coincidence.