Pandemic - Retrospective and future work · 8:31pm Nov 4th, 2017
So just to warn those who may not have finished reading Pandemic, this post will likely contain some spoilers for that story. Anyone wanting to skip those, or if you just don't want to hear my long-winded post, skip down to "tl;dr".
It's hard to believe it's been ten months since I started this story. Pandemic is my most ambitious effort to date, not just for a single story, but in creating an overall universe. It's the only story I went into knowing there would be a sequel. With Second Chances, Many Changes I was unsure if another story would be in the works, but by the time I had the whole plot laid out, I realized that it would be its own self-contained story not really in need of a sequel. It could have a sequel if I became inspired for another adventure for Candy, but it doesn't need one.
I think Pandemic overall is a good story. It's certainly not perfect (no story on this site ever is), and could stand some improvement here and there, but as an overall effort, I think it works. The biggest challenge was dealing with the sheer number of characters in the story. I've asked myself several times, should I have reduced it in an effort to make the story more focused as several readers had suggested. As the story was told, however, I felt it needed as many eyes as it had to view the world and give those windows into how events were unfolding.
The story touched on some sensitive topics, which is likely why it's my most discussed story to date in terms of number of comments. You may have noticed that rarely did I step into those debates. This was by design. I purposely structured the story to make the readers raise points like this, and there isn't necessarily "one true way" to interpret events. I tried to do the narration such that it conveyed the feelings and opinions of the characters rather than the author.
One of the more controversial points of the story was Sunset's death. I had said that I needed time to process the comments concerning it before forming my own conclusions as to whether the approach worked. After much thought and debate, I stand by Sunset's demise as written. I feel it's a good balance between realism and the needs of the story itself.
That's not necessarily an easy choice to make. It sounds like an easy choice, as it spares me from having to do any sort of rewrite. However, consider that there were several prominent readers (in that they commented often and had detailed criticisms to make but overall were enjoying the story) who were not enamored of that part, and I risk alienating them. This is a risk I accept. At some point, a line has to be drawn between what readers want and what I as the author like to write. To be honest, no matter how I had written her ending, someone wouldn't like it.
Some took the decision by the humans to kill Sunset as indicative of how "bad" humans are. On the contrary, I felt I presented a balanced view of humanity in this story. We're not angels by any means, but we're not complete bastards, either. I tried hard not to make the story a humans-vs-ponies theme, where one was seen as "better" than the other.
Balance was also what I tried to go for in the epilogue. Sure, things are pretty bad off in the wake of ETS, but I also wanted to give some measure of hope that things can get better.
tl;dr. On the matter of sequels.
I do plan at least two sequels to the original story. I also encourage other writers to create side stories. Sir Chaos Omega created a group for this purpose (as well as a place for my own stories). I still need to come up with the rules and such, but I hope to get to that in the next few days. Naturally you don't have to join the group if all you want to do is catch up with my stories. In that case, just follow my blog posts.
However, I need a break. Keeping to a regular update schedule is a lot of work. With the holidays coming up, I would rather take that time to relax and catch up on my other interests (believe it or not, my entire world is not MLP). So work on any new story will likely wait until after Christmas. In the meantime, I will try to make the occasional blog post and respond to comments as best I can. Thanks again for all your support!
The thing that I found odd about Sunset's death, was why they didn't shoot her in the head. For ponies, the head is a larger target than the torso, especially from the front.
i can say that i am currently reading Second Chances, Many Changes and it is awesome story.
now as to Pandemic i have a feeling it will be in my top 5 list for a vary long time.
sequels plural yep i will sit hear and watch closely for them.
4717184
that is a easy answer.
i have family that has served and or been in law enforcement they are trained always go for center mass.
4717188
Yes, because it is the larger target.
I was also under the impression that in this case it was military with rifles and not a beat cop with a handgun.
4717184
Heads are always hard targets. Too many planes which can divert a bullet off to one side or the other. I supposedly had a relative who got shot in the side of the head, where the bullet rattled through the sinus cavity and avoided anything vital, emerging the other side without doing killing damage. Nobody wants to take headshots because they're not predictable. Chest shots are predictable in a way that headshots aren't.
Well that is good to here that you went for the story you wanted to tell. As for Sunset’s death I understand why it had to happen but it still felt that the government wasn't trying a little harder to take her alive as this was part of the official “first contact” situation. Still I would have loved to see how the first meeting between Luna and the Government actually went. She would definitely be different for them.
4717194
vary true but even snipers are trained that way.
when you are shooting down rang 900+ meters center mass is the bigger target and the ammo used if you get a heat well lest just say you need a sponge to clean up.
4717184
Wouldn't have been able to have that dramatic final line if her head was pulped.
I was thinking of writing an interesting side-story, but I already have so much on my writing plate that I'll just stick to reading anything else related to this story.
But on that matter, take all the time you need mate. You've kept a writing schedule that is so very impressive in retrospect... I can't even think of how I would be able to maintain that schedule. You deserve it. Besides, I'm sure many others will be taking time off as well for the holidays, you shouldn't be an exception.
Onwards and upwards, allons-y!
My only question is about the story in some of the very early chapters. At that point there was a government conspiracy on Earth discovering and acquiring magical objects, and then removing the evidence. You removed the conspiracy and you made Sunset the one to remove the evidence; an improvement overall.
I'd like to know what difference it would have made as the story went on, if you had kept it as it was.
kudos for keeping to a tight scheduled with your up dates that in itself was a major accomplishment
I can't imagine it was easy writing 15,000 words a week for like the first 4 months. Take a break, you've earned it.
In regards to Sunset's death...that's entirely on Twilight for failing to get through to her. She failed as both Princess of Friendship AND a family member.
With a story like that with two large plotpoints left unattended, a sequel was inevitable.
Though I am sure those who are more understanding agree that a break is a good idea first and foremost.
Have a good and safe set of holidays and hope to see more in a few months.
4723571
Eh, when Sunset, by her own admission, is irredeemable, she's irredeemable. I feel Asgeek was careful to make sure we knew who was evil.
4761915
Hey, you coulda said the same thing about Discord, Starlight, and the Changelings...
This fic's main driving questions were: "How is Sunset's court gonna be? How they would prevent it from being kangaroo court?" "How to truly save completely transformed humans? How to extract their unadulterated wishes?". Answers to both questions were: "We won't lol". Let's hope future story series won't ask questions it can't answer.
4772549
Exactly; in situations like this, the story HAS to have some kind of reset button.