Fic recs, July 21st! · 7:28pm Jul 21st, 2017
Only three days, wow! :D And because it took the regular amount of time for me to get here, I ain't got no news! Instead, have an audiobook update:
Coming off of PH, I went immediately into a big audiobook, the review of which you'll find at the end of this blog. There were also three one-shots (why three? c.c), likewise included. Next is a big audiobook, then four one-shots (see, because that's an entire blog...), then one more big audiobook, and then it's one-shots for the next fifty or so videos. Scribbler, Captain Sand and Illya Leonov have been keeping me in audiobooks pretty consistently, but once I'm down to about ten or so, I'll add in the next channel or three. Though I'll first double-check the audiobooks I've been keeping an eye on. Fingers crossed for Pink Eyes! :B
Anyway, the reviews. Lots of stories with ambitious premises today. Also, some paid reviews! Be sure to check out this post if you want to get in on the action!
H: 1 R: 3 C: 3 V: 1 N: 0
Rarified Airs by SpinelStride
Genre: AU/Adventure
Long ago, pegasi and earth ponies were wiped out by unicorns to stop the windigoes. A thousand years later, Princess Twilight Sparkle has created a single pegasus, and it's high time she saw the world.
Look at that premise. Look at it and tell me it's not the coolest shit. Unfortunately, though this story is quite a fun romp and a good example of how to build a solid AU, it doesn't quite live up to its potential. To put a fine point on it, the first five chapters build not just the world, but the Rainbow Dash who lives within it, introducing us to the various divisions of Unicornia and the ponies who rule them while meditating on what it means to be a pegasus in a world without them. And you can kind of sum it up as "Rainbow Dash solves the world's problems by herself", but she fits that role (I mean, if she were an OC, she'd be a Mary Sue), and she learns a lot about politics in the meantime. But all that does is lead us into an "enter the Everfree and finds the Elements" plot that not even a well-crafted AU can hide the triteness of. Dash even ends up tying a rope bridge after warding off the entreaties of an illusory pony! I just found myself profoundly disappointed by the final chapter and the apparent return to status quo we're left off with at the very end. But with that said, I couldn't have been disappointed by this story if it hadn't had a lot to offer along the way. And it really does! The politics, as I said, are fascinating; a good thing, since they're a big focus. Wrapping your head around the fact that everyone, from Cadence and the crystal ponies, to Diamond Tiara and Filthy Rich, is a unicorn is tough, but a lot of fun. (Actually, the hardest one is Twilight, since she's a princess and all.) Also fun is realizing who characters like Rose Quartz and Due Respect are meant to be. I actually feel really dumb that I never made the connection with the latter until it was spelled out in the final scene! The writing is quite good, Dash herself is a good character, and even if the plot grows a tad predictable by the end, the scenery is lush and memorable. I do think, at the end of the day, that this story is worth reading, especially if you want to see first-hand how to grow characters who are at once familiar and changed by divergent history.
Recommended for AU Fans
I Changed My Mind and Wrote That ASoIaF Fanfic I Threatened to on Monday, but Instead I Made It an MLP Trollfic and I'm Inflicting It on You All Because There's No Way I'm Going to Sully FIMFiction With Something Like This by Chris
Genre: Random Comedy
The Cutie Mark Crusaders need something to do.
This may be billed as a trollfic, but it isn't. I don't think Chris has the heart to do actual trolling. (Outside of that Trampolinian title.) I maybe forget what was originally threatened, but I never saw a connection with A Song of Ice and Fire; I mean, I've never read it or watched Game of Thrones, but Sweetie sings about burning things, so I figured there would be punning had. Also, the ending is pretty much a non-event. But getting up to it involves amusing character destruction of the CMCs, and Twilight lampshading the same. So this is actually worth the read, if you enjoy its ilk, just don't get your hopes up for Chris to turn out a master troll. Or did he?
Recommended for Laughs
The Carrot Dog Fight by xjuggernaughtx
Paid Review for xjuggernaughtx
Genre: Action/Comedy
I don't recall which episode it's from, but because I've wanted to read this fic since it came out, I remember it happening: Spike at some point buys a 'carrot dog' (a carrot in a hot dog bun, per the cover art), which is snatched from his outstretched claw by a bird. This is the story of what happens after: a merry chase, some poop jokes (I liked those best :V) and a lesson in the end. I was astonished by how much fun the birds are, talking in heavy Brooklyn accents. Something about that particular detail just made them a joy to behold. The action is light and breezy, the stakes are comedically high, and like I said, Spike learns something by the end, in the way that only he can. It's heartwarming as well as funny!
Highly Recommended
Second Pony Point of View by Super Trampoline
Paid Review for Super Trampoline
Genre: Dark
It's your fault Morning Breeze is dead.
Interestingly, this is an aborted entry for the Most Dangerous Game contest. Oddly, it isn't exactly a second-person story; rather than telling you what you're doing, it's a dictated letter, so the 'you' fits the situation better. Specifically, it's Silver Spoon ranting at Diamond Tiara, in a now-un-canon fit of redemption after DT crosses a line. She's got a lot to say, and while some of it is what you'd expect from a story like this, I rather like a lot of it. (Sisters of Friendship, anyone?) A few errors here and there, but I think we can chalk those up to the foibles of a dictation spell. :V (I mean, I'm writing this after having just dictated a story to myself on my phone, and it looks like hot garbage; I understand.) Worth it if you can deal with stories that mention suicide.
Recommended
Written Pleas by BlahbideeblahMLP
Reading by Scribbler
Genre: Poor, Pathetic Changelings
Her changelings dying, Queen Chrysalis writes to the only pony who can help her.
The problem with this story is spelled out in the very first comment, and given that the A/N alludes to it, I'm not inclined to be generous: Would Celestia ignore the pleas of a dying race? Be skeptical about the first letter, sure, maybe even two. But ignoring Chrysalis for upwards of two months, as she writes one to two letters a week, each more desperate than the last? The fact that there are two endings doesn't help, either. I mean, the happy ending puts that question on a pedestal; the dark ending turns the spotlight onto Celestia's own character. Neither is particularly satisfying. Add to that the writing is occasionally weak, and the letters get repetitive after a while, and you have a story that wasn't well thought-out, and is just okay for being so.
Vaguely Recommended
Important Wizard by All Art Is Quite Useless
Paid Review for All Art Is Quite Useless
Genre: Drama
Sunburst is not so sure about his new place in the Crystal Empire.
This starts off slow, but once Sunburst introduces himself, it gets funny, though that doesn't last too long. The rest is very talky, with a lot of headcanon to go over, and Sunburst is very angsty. That said, this has some pretty decent things to say about hope and the nature of heroism; all the talk ends up at a worthwhile place, in other words. The angst would be about the only aspect I would consider as to whether or not you want to read this.
Recommended for Sunburst Fans
Two months after I panned the story, Waffen Pony reworked For Science, and since Captain Sand did a new reading, so am I. Has it improved? I think so, but I'll admit I don't really remember the original. Taken on its own merits and going by my original review, the pacing has done a 180, though I often prefer "too slow" to "too fast", and the word choices are not nearly as much an issue, though "girlhood" remains. The leadup flits back and forth between interesting and "shit I already know", but it does have some good characterization moments, not to mention Twilight's apartment itself. As for the sex, it doesn't feel rushed in the moment, only after, and this is likely tangled up in the fact that they do it and then exchange "I love you"s. Overall, still not an amazing story, only worth it if you're in it for the sex, but a definite uptick in quality, so I'll up the rating to Recommended If You're Into Sexy Queegees.
Necessary Evil by Super Trampoline
Reading by Loyalty Streak
This wasn't a good reading to evaluate a reader on, given the voice filter, but since I came away with a positive impression, that oughta tell you something! He could stand to mix the background music down a bit, and the intro was unnecessarily long, but he's got good delivery. So, a hit.
Genre: Sad Romance
Whatever this is, it's not love.
First off, two problems: there's a mention of Faust, and all the swearing keeps it feeling somewhat un-pony (our narrator being a changeling notwithstanding). Otherwise, this reminded me a lot of White Space, at least by the subject matter, though it's overall a better piece of writing. I very much enjoyed the way it unfolds itself, and as a rant against a failing relationship, it's hard-hitting and identifiable. Definitely a worthwhile read.
Recommended
Three Hundred and Fifty by Void Chicken
Reading (part 1) by lieilengi
Genre: Time Travel/Slice of Life
When Sweetie Belle is diagnosed with a fatal heart deformity, Twilight Sparkle takes the two of them three hundred and fifty years into the future, hoping that medicine will be advanced enough to cure her by then.
This story is a lesson in never discounting a fic; it's also a lesson in how to set expectations. To wit: That premise up there? That's fucking awesome, I hope you'll agree with me. You've got medical drama, you've likely got magical shenanigans, and you've got time travel. The stage is ripe for all kinds of interesting shit to happen. But the more I read this story, the more I found myself being disappointed: where are all the scenes of Twilight fighting the odds to bring her and Sweetie Belle back to past, where they belong? Why are we focused on Sweetie going to school and having slice of life adventures with her new friends?
It wasn't until literally halfway through the story, after an excellent, dramatic scene where Sweetie yells at Twilight, that I realized the problem: this was a slice of life story. And I wasn't realizing this until halfway through. That was kind of a problem, but I was willing to deal. And then, not to spoil anything, but I got another kick in the head in the penultimate chapter when, after multiple very large time skips ranging from months to years, the time travel shenanigans rear their head. I was all set to be disappointed a second time from the tonal whiplash, except that everything gets resolved in a monumentally clever manner, and that's why I said, I should never have discounted this fic.
With that said, trying to sum up what it's about is hard. It's not about Twilight trying to get back home, for the most part; is it an excuse to write about Sweetie growing up? Fostering a mother/daughter relationship between her and Twilight? Shipping her with a grown-up Spike? Writing about OCs doing stuff in what's essentially an AU? I dunno. It's all these things and none, though I can say for certain that "letting go of the past" is a definite theme.
But who cares. There's a lot of cool shit in this story! That aforementioned future AU? Really neat. From the lack of trees and clouds to the Equestrian colony on the moon to the amulets that let everypony have horns and wings (but not earth pony strength! XD), there's always something interesting to see, even if this story isn't always exciting. The mother/daughter relationship is written quite well, and watching Twilight lag behind Sweetie in forming that bond was heart-wrenching. Celestia's role I saw coming early on, yet had forgotten about by the time it played out; I'm sort of of two minds about it, though I can definitely see her acting this way. (Also, I presented the school thing as a complaint, but literally the chapter before it's introduced, I was questioning why no one, especially Celestia, was making her go. On that note, the mention of shipping was just me being cheeky, but the OCs are fun.)
Confounding this was an ever-present sense of didn't they matter? Sweetie and Twilight both eventually find memorials to themselves, but never does anyone recognize them when they introduce themselves by name. You get the feeling that neither the Mane Six nor the Cutie Mark Crusaders really mattered. All I will say is, there's a reason for this, and at least the CMCs, if forgotten by history, left a notable mark on Equestria.
Suffice to say, I should have set your expectations properly for this review. Go into this story for slice of life adventures in the fuuuutuuuure and you won't be disappointed. Because it's quite a clever story and, if nothing else, Sweetie Belle is a total hoot. :)
Recommended
Actually it's Rarity who buys Spike the carrot dog in Rarity Takes Manehattan during the Generosity song. That's the important part. It's a gift from her because Spike is shlepping around all of their luggage.
I'm happy to see that you enjoyed that one!
I had no idea what "Sexy Queegee" meant in your recommendation. I still have no idea.
Unfortunately, I did a Google search for "queegee" to find out. The first link gave this definition:
Pee pee, what is wrong with you
...Of course you reviewed this
It's not actually ASoIaF related in any way, but it's a ponified play on the crackpremise for a Westerosi fanfic I've long dreamed. Here's what I said about it on the blog:
So yeah, this is that idea, but with ponies
Glad you thought it was funny, even if it wasn't a trollfic (but Twilight literally says "You three sound like well-rounded and multidimensional characters"! How does that not qualify?). I guess I just don't have the blood of the
dragontroll.What sucks is that SpaceCowboy and Meeester now revoke published status of any of my stories with titles that long. I've had to resort to putting the full titles in the description. It's really fucking stupid.
Without rereading it, I'm guessing I used her name in a deific sense, like "Faust above" or something. Which I'm known to do.
Glad to notch two more "recommended"s :)
I liked Carrot Dog Fight as well. I mean, I'd kind of have to, right? I gave it multiple rounds of feedback. The pigeons were definitely fun characters. I have to think they were based on the Goodfeathers from Animaniacs.
4608514
I didn't purposefully base them off of the Goodfeathers, but I did watch a lot of Animaniacs, so I'm sure they had a role somewhere in my brain. I just needed low-level criminals from New York, and the Goodfeathers are also low-level criminals from New York, so...
4608463
I can take you on as a trollfic apprentice if you wish.
The only one here I've read is The Carrot Dog Fight, which I also liked. I mean, it's a bird-perspective fic, and that's a good thing by definition!
I'm not sure it's really a Comedy as such, more of a Slice of Life/Adventure (yeah, I know) with jokes in. Either way, though, it's great. If you haven't read it, read it!
4608428
I thought it was RTM, I just couldn't remember actually having seen it.
4608447
That is amazing, by which I mean completely terrible.
Queegee means an Equestria Girl. :B (EQG = Queegee)
4608514
Aw yeah, no wonder I liked them! :D
4608623
Yeah, nopony will get that but you.
4608688
Well, if I use it enough and people keep asking, eventually it will catch on, kind of like :B
WTF, apparenlty I have all but the last two chapters of three hundred and fifty read. I vaguely remember it, but I must have gotten sick of it?
4608964
Time to finish! :O
I really liked three hundred fifty. My only complain is that the second time travel structure was not built on the moon.
4608964
Yo dog did you ever finish it?
5146819
Yep. It was very good!
5153536
Agreed! It was one of the first pony stories I ever read, before I had even made an account here!