Fic recs, September 7th! · 5:48pm Sep 7th, 2017
Scribbler has done a reading of WovenWord's Wonderbolt!
Got some minifics today, 'cuz I'm listening to a long audiobook of Firebird Dahlia. Speaking of which, I'd like to take an informal poll: Should I do a solo post for its review? Because it's a name I've heard often, and there's certainly plenty to talk about, but at the same time, it has a lot fewer views than I had expected. Maybe my understanding of its popularity and importance in the fandom was inflated somehow? Let me know what you think!
H: 3 R: 11 C: 6 V: 0 N: 0
The Memory Palace by Cold in Gardez
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Man, what was Cold in Gardez doing? This isn't even trying to pretend like it's ponyfic! But with that said, it's excellent, minus some fantastical drug use. Just when it seems like it's simply the exploration of a concept — a company that can erase bad memories for people — it turns around and socks you in junk. This is on par with the stuff I read in Flash Fiction Online. :)
Recommended
Excluded by Esle Ynopemos
Genre: Shipping Comedy
What's great about this piece is that at first, it seems like it's just having fun at AJ's expense, but by the end, the tables are turned. It leaves the reader with a 'quality vs. quantity' question, of course. Mostly, it's just silly fun, I had a lol.
Highly Recommended
Agoraphobia by Esle Ynopemos
Genre: Psychological
This is meant as a horror piece but doesn't quite cut it. Still, it's a solid look at what the title suggests, through the eyes of Fluttershy. The drama of being overwhelmed by fear, paranoia, not knowing reality from what's in your head: it's all there, starkly, on the page.
Recommended If You Like Psychological Fiction
Daring Do and the Princess of Magic by Esle Ynopemos
Genre: Adventure
This is the second story I've read recently where Twilight goes into a book and displays a dismaying lack of genre-awareness; this time, at least, it's intentional. I'm always impressed by short adventures, and this one's no exception. We get a situation, raised stakes, a resolution and then, surprisingly, a snapshot of a greater conflict looming on the horizon. It's awesome.
Highly Recommended
Horror Week, part 2: Rarity by Nonagon
Genre: Dark
Not exactly horror, but effective regardless. This is one of the better examples of fics from this collection!
Recommended
Carrots by FuzzyFurvert
Genre: Drunk Ponies
This isn't too shippy, if you're not into that; the shipping is more a punchline. Otherwise, it's… well, it's mostly slice of life, just discussing alcohol production in Ponyville and the lives of a couple background ponies. It's actually rather pleasant, not to mention quite amusing.
Recommended If You Like Drunk Ponies
Mystery Ingredient by HoofAndQuill
Genre: Comedy
What's the special ingredient in Pinkie's new punch?
For all the author's note is meant to decrease your expectations, this one turns out pretty well! I had an inkling of what the real answer might be, and it turned out I was right, so I feel clever for figuring it out. :) Plus, it's just a good turn for Pinkie.
Recommended
Take-Home Assignment by FanOfMostEverything
Genre: Epistolary Comedy
Twilight writes a letter to Princess Celestia, explaining what she did wrong.
This is an odd one, written as it is in the future conditional. Twilight describes various punishments she should be subjected to, and then what Celestia actually does. It all builds up to the last two words of the letter, which put everything in perspective, and the author's note, which serves as an extended punchline.
Recommended
Flash Sentry Steals Everybody's Waifu by Admiral Biscuit
Reading by ShadowOfCygnus
Genre: EQGiE?
Flash really shouldn't have come through the portal.
My big question is, why didn't Flash turn into a pony? Like, he's still human after going through the portal! It's triggering my autism hard. :| Anyway, whether or not you like this is probably going to revolve around whether or not you can handle a mass of ponies being described as "fuckable". Also, old fandom memes.
Recommended Only If You're Into Pony-on-Human Action
A Simple Desultory Philippic by AugieDog
Genre: Limericks
I'm not sure I ever realized you could do serial limericks. c.c But Augie has shown us the way with this masterful and incredibly silly piece about Twilight and Rainbow arguing over words! And a few other things…
Highly Recommended
Tipsy Tock by Silvernis
Genre: Drunk Ponies
This is fun and quirky and completely unexpected. Minuette is drunk and ranting about how everyone thinks she's a dentist because toothpaste mane. Berry Punch is her foil, keeping both of them liquored up while somehow being a solid shoulder to cry on. It goes to some interesting places. If you're not into ponies being drunk, you may be irritated by the random Spoonerisms, but otherwise? This isn't making light of drunkenness, but using it to tell a pretty unusual story.
Recommended
Generosity by Bombastic Bookpony
Genre: Sad Shipping
So, you're not going to be interested in this if you're not into shipping. And if you are, you're going to want to be someone who cares about more than just ponies getting to kiss. Because this is a pretty dark drama, and it takes the characters to some places that they're truthfully unlikely to go. And I loved it. I credit a pretty good voice for Rarity for lending verisimilitude. Again, when you step back, this is all hard to swallow, but if you can let yourself get caught up in the love triangle, it could be rewarding.
Recommended for Shippers
Listen by Eakin
Genre: Cadence of Cloudsdale
Yes indeed! If you haven't read Skywriter's series, you absolutely should, because it's fantastic. Then you can step back here for a little background on a couple supporting characters. This is about the strength needed to fulfill a promise, on top of being some compelling world-building on its own. Check it out!
Recommended
Even Less of a God by KingMoriarty
Genre: Oversaturated World
Ohh, oops! I guess this is my first experience with this AU. :B I have to say, it was interesting trying to figure out what was going on, not that I really got everything by the end. But if you like EQG stuff, this looks to be an interesting future fantasy scenario.
Recommended
Goodbyes Are Not Forever - Except When They Are by ObabScribbler
Genre: Sad Romance
This is really neat. First, Flash Sentry/Spitfire has no business working as a couple, let alone this well. Second, I'd point to the setting as what makes this work, the period in both of their lives during which this happens. It tugs at the heartstrings a little, and it's a neat, believable backstory for pony Flash.
Recommended
Vacation Pony Paladin by SirNotAppearingInThisFic
Genre: D&D Campaign
Man, that's totally a thing that can happen entirely in canon now, isn't it? XD These stories are based on the goofiest stuff. And I have to admit, the action does get a little dull in the middle, in the way others' D&D stories can. But if you enjoyed Dungeons and Discords, this is a good extension of the playstyle we saw the characters engage in. Which is to say, yes, there's lot of Discord whining about things. Thankfully, there's more to like than that, starting with the name of the swamp they're exploring!
Recommended for Roleplayers
Lyra Does Tech Support… by GroaningGreyAgony
Genre: Comedy
This is pretty short, so I was a little disappointed by the opening, which is very "every tech support joke ever". But the first two paragraphs only serve to set up the punchline that comes right after, and I was not expecting it. Suffice to say, I was highly amused, but then, this is my aesthetic. :3
Recommended
Relinquishing by Chris
Genre: Bittersweet
She's finally old enough to take part in the yearly sun-raising ritual, but Twilight still can't.
Stupid Never the Last Word, making me get regular fics in with my minific reviews! :| Mmm! Thankfully, this one's short, not to mention powerful. The idea that Celestia and Luna have to give up control of the sun and moon to unicorns for one day out of the year is intriguing, and given good reasoning. Though it's worth saying that Twilight's troubles are due to legalities (which could be changed), and thus sort of contrived. Still, this is about the importance of rituals, and it very clearly communicates the sense of disappointment at being denied something we've waited all our lives for. I mean, the unfairness of the situation is striking, and you have to hope maybe there will be some kind of change in the future. Worth reading.
Recommended
The Substitute by Georg
Sequel to Relinquishing
Genre: Comedy?
I was kind of expecting some wish-fulfillment, a "let Twilight raise the damn sun!" moment or something. I think the point of this, the humor, was meant to be derived from what Twilight was dismayed about being something other than what she talked about in the original story. I have to admit, I glanced down at the punchline and spoiled myself accidentally, so the whole thing kind of slid off my back. :/ I dunno.
Recommended as Light Reading
Namesmithing by FanOfMostEverything
Genre: Episode Followup
Oh my god, this has one of the worst jokes I've ever seen in a fanfic, not just because it kind of doesn't make any sense in context, due to playing off a voice actor's past roles (except totally not!), it sounds nothing like the original. But I still laughed. And then this turned into a surprisingly insightful look into Apple Family history. Like, the purpose of this story well justifies that terrible pun(?). So yeah, not bad at all.
Recommended
Firebird Dahlia is great, but I don't know if it has the fame/notoriety/whatever for a solo post.
Oh goodness, I'd forgotten that KingMoriarty had put an Oversaturated story in that collection. Not what I'd have chosen for your first exposure to the setting, but at least you enjoyed it.
Also glad you liked my offerings this time around. And yes, I fully acknowledge that that is a terrible joke on multiple levels. I'm still not sorry.
Ooh, WovenWord's Wonderbolt! Happy to see it get some attention.
I like your List
There's another:
Big series of limericks later in the collection, too, so be ready for that!
Mike
Hey, you didn't call me out on my horrible ye-oldie-English Luna dialogue! ?
?
4661420
No, I'm all for her trying to mix EME with countryisms. :V
I didn't hold back on any reference that came to mind while writing this Unhinged entry. 4661312's reaction seems very apt for The Name of their destination, but if the shoe fits...
This includes references to zombies (because zombies), LoTR, Wizard of Oz, MtG, Neverending Story, MLP (evidently), various RPGs, more LotR, I legitimately forget what Sir McBiggun's title was a reference to, and Monty Python. At least, that's all I remember.
Of course Discord whines – if anyone wouldn't be pleased with being Legolas, it would be him. I have been tempted to revisit the O&O concept for a longer story ever since I wrote this, though, and I suspect that it would be equally as terrible with the references.
Glad you liked Relinquishing! The whole situation is unfair, of course, but what could Twilight really do? It's a no-alicorns-allowed undertaking for a good reason, and if Celestia/whoever actually makes the laws changed things to let her in--made her an honorary 21st member or something--then it still wouldn't be the same. Because that's the real rub; this is a ritual that's stayed the same for thousands of years, and Twilight as she is today can't participate in that ritual without changing it, and without being an unneeded and (from a practical standpoint) unwanted addition.
It's a bittersweet moment for Twi, but I think she's smart enough to realize that there's no way for her to be a part of the ritual the way that she wants to be part of it, not anymore. It's a bittersweet moment, but then, that's part of growing up. We change, and even when we succeed beyond our wildest dreams, that doesn't mean that allour dreams come true.
(Also, george's comic epilogue is great. It's classic awkward comedy, because the only thing worse than not being able to do something magic-related is knowing that Trixie, of all ponies, can. I may be biased because writing follow-ups to my stories is the definition of buttering me up, but still!
Eee, I'm tickled pink you liked my crackship!
4661923
You're frighteningly good at those so far. XD
4661944
