Fic recs, September 21st! · 9:32pm Sep 21st, 2017
KwirkyJ has done a reading of horizon's Drunkwriting 5! It's on horizon's channel!
So I don't often delve into the realm of art recommendations, but I recently started watching the artist dSana, formerly known as Stainless Key, who does a lot of comics, and I wanted to point to one in particular: Left Behind. It's an origin story for Starlight, building on what we got from the show. Be warned it's full of domestic abuse, but if you want to see Starlight being the evilest little filly, oh man, it's great. (They also do a lot of fantastic Twilight/Spike bonding comics, some of which were written by the Descendant!)
So does anyone read these? :/ Like, not just the reviews after you find out it's yet another round of minifics, but the actual fics themselves? Reviewing them piecemeal this way is probably not conducive to giving you things to do. And twice in a month might be pushing it, but hey, I'm almost done with the long thing. :B Anyway, there's a milestone in here!
H: 2 R: 13 C: 4 V: 0 N: 0
The Tattooist by Cold in Gardez
Genre: Totally Not Fanfiction
Seriously, he's not even pretending to pretend anymore. Anyway, this is like the kind of thing you'd read in the SCP Wiki, and that's all I'll say about the plot. I do agree with the author's note that it's more of a scene than a story, but it's not too far off of one, and it's pretty interesting, to boot.
Recommended
Lies by Esle Ynopemos
Genre: Dark
Applejack thinks about honesty.
So this is one of those stories where the tag and the setup gets you all prepared for a twist. But the twist was not actually something I saw coming, and I think you might also be pleasantly surprised if you give this a chance.
Recommended
Dangerous Mission by Esle Ynopemos
Genre: Warfic
This is a really good AU, light on world-building as it is, for two reasons. First, it allows the author to explore Fluttershy's character in a setting we'd never get in the show. (Or would we? :V) Second, it really does harken back to what makes her her, by the end. Plus, it's just a really good portrayal of a war.
Highly Recommended
A Room With a Door by Esle Ynopemos
Genre: Dark
The first scene of this is a tidy little piece of horror, giving us a situation and a reason to be on edge about it. Then there's a twist. I liked it.
Recommended
Horror Week, part 3: Rainbow Dash by Nonagon
Genre: Horror
It might take you two tries to get the horror in this piece, but it's under 100 words, I think you can manage that. I'm impressed by how much is packed into so little.
Recommended
Ghosts by FuzzyFurvert
Genre: ComedyI mean, you could call it creepy, but the 'punchline', if you will, is just so off-kilter, I'm not sure what to make of it. Oh fuck me, it's a Ghostbusters reference. >.< I'm dumb. It's funny.
Recommended
The Chase by HoofAndQuill
Genre: Action
Twilight tries to escape a marauding griffon.
I'll admit the ending didn't go where I expected, but this is a real thriller of an action chase scene. :D
Recommended
Lather, Rinse, Repeat by FanOfMostEverything
Genre: Power Ponies
Cream Rinse knows better than to help.
I'm really into superhero stuff, and really really into the Mane-iac, so a story about a reformed Mane-iac trying to walk the line between making up for what she's done and holding onto what little sanity she still possesses is right the fuck up my alley. The names of the villains in the piece are kind of… uninspiring, and that Starbucks pun took me a bit, but goddamn, this is cool. I need more of this.
Highly Recommended
Undisplaced by Admiral Biscuit
Reading by ShadowOfCygnus
Genre: Power Ponies
So this is billed as an "anti-Displaced" story, and it just so happens to star Radiance! Where it goes, I did not see coming, but then, I have yet to actually read any Displaced. Conceptually, it's interesting. Structurally, it's a little less than inspired, since it's just her telling the story of what happened. But if the phrase "anti-Displaced" piques your interest at all, this is probably worth the read.
Recommended If It Sounds Interesting
Cadance Call by AugieDog
Genre: Comedy
So this is presented like a cute piece of in-universe military call/response chant. It's not until you get right near the end that you find out there's a story to it as well. :D It's a hoot.
Recommended
The Princess's Wish by Silvernis
Genre: Shipping
This is a fun little bit of Twiluna, mostly Luna angsting over Twilight being unreachable, and for a very interesting reason. :) Likely won't interest you if you're not into the pairing.
Recommended for Shippers
Cool by Bombastic Bookpony
Genre: Scootalove
Scootaloo is not happy with her cutie mark.
This one's kind of all over the place. First, it's a funny look at how much life shits all over Scootaloo, ending with the worst cutie mark ever. Then it turns far more serious, with Scootaloo trying to use this talent to help Fluttershy, and finally getting frustrated. It ends on an uplifting note, with Big Sister Dash there to dry the tears. So, not consistent tonally, but kind of fun regardless, especially if you like Scootalove.
Recommended If You Don't Mind Tonal Issues
Forever and Ever by Eakin
Genre: Immortality Contentment
Oh wow, I get to trot this genre tag out again! :D And this actually goes further than Forever: not only is eternal life not terrible and angsty, Celestia is of the mind that it's the best thing ever, you guys. I'm inclined to agree. :3
Recommended
Weakness by KingMoriarty
Review #4500/600th Review of 2017!
Genre: Magic: The Gather Crossover?
Coco Pommel doesn't consider herself to be a strong pony.
I have to admit, this was great up until the very end. Something happens, and I do not know what the significance is. :( But otherwise, this is a great look at Coco, up to and including a fantastic idea for her 'real' first name. Like, that alone makes this worth reading.
Recommended
Deathless Love by Scribbler
Genre: Grimdark
Holy shit. Well, uh, I was wondering how Tirek and Cadence would work as a couple, and the answer here… Let's just, uh, do one of those "trigger warning: abuse" things and leave it at that. c.c This is not for the faint of heart, but if you ever wanted to see a pony brought as low as possible without dying, yeesh, here you go.
Recommended
Howling Me "Pinkie's Lassoeratorseshoes!" A True, Trap by SirNotAppearingInThisFic
Genre: Slice of Life
Pinkie is done waiting for the mail.
That title, wtf. c.c This is the strangest collection of fics I have ever read. And despite the tag, this is a surprisingly consistent entry therein. Pinkie's logic is more or less sound, for Pinkie logic (can't fault her for taking a catalogue at their word!), and it doesn't feel random. It's just based on random things! Also, it's fun, low-stakes, and almost episode-like.
Recommended
My Little Primordial Sin by GroaningGreyAgony
Genre: Bible Crossover
...Literally, what the fuck. c.c I don't even this fic. Read it.
Recommended
Cutting Ties by Lunae Lumen
Sequel to About Last Night
Genre: Shipping/Dark
Yaknow, the spoiler summary for this story makes me think I didn't give About Last Night enough of a chance. But then, if it had been apparent at all that the various contrivances were engineered by those wanting Twijack to happen, instead of just happening themselves… Anyway, this, uh, wow, really capitalizes on those feelings of inadequacy said mentions AJ having. Yeesh. Not exactly light reading.
Recommended Only for Fans of Dark Fics
On Trichtomancy by FanOfMostEverything
Genre: Episode Followup
This is some thinking-out-loud about the most recent (non-leaked) episode, wrapped around a core of insane wackiness. Seriously, almost nothing about this is serious. It was the perfect note to end this on. :D
Recommended
I now have several more things added to my ril bookshelf. thank you
These minific reviews are great for supplying me with material for lulls at work. Plus it's fun to watch you go through Story Shuffle step by step, especially when I stumble upon something you love so much.
I might skim for HRs, but mostly pass them over. If someone seems to be getting a bunch of high ratings I'll go and tag the whole anthology as tracked or whatever. So in that sense, a bunch by the same person all in one post is more useful than a ton of authors each with 1 or 2.
Yeeep, but I'm not going to complain too hard when it's good stuff anyway.
Halfway through Unhinged... I'm going to have to get back to writing entries for that, lest you run out of 'wtf' stories.
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Oh, no rush, there's little worry of that D:
I usually end up with at least a couple extra open tabs after you do a round of minific reviews. So they're working for me, at least!
Oh hey, Nonagon's Ultra-Short Bite-Size Pony Fics! I love that collection!
True story, I haven't either.
I'm with Chris. I usually add one or two to my TBR list. I even read some of them!
P.S., The first line of FOME's story is the best thing I've read this week!
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I don't feel so bad now. :V
4674855
Which FOME story? :O
Wait are you seriously going through Nonagon's Ultra-Short Bite-Size Pony Fics one at a time?!?
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Oh yeah, there were two of them...
On Trichtomancy! I will now forever think of Twilight's vulgar crystal treehouse as Namepending Castle.
I almost always find at least one minific whose description intrigues me enough to pause my reading of the reviews and go and check it out immediately. In that regard they're probably more successful than the longer-fic reviews, in which I almost always find something I want to read and then add it to the tail end of the eternally growing RIL.
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yes sir, ma'am, sir :B