Fic recs, August 5th! · 10:29pm Aug 5th, 2018
Haha, holy shit, two posts in a week! That's what happens when I actually get back to listening to audiobooks. :) I've shifted things around a bit -- not to mention that 'long audiobook' didn't last quite that long -- but this is mostly me finally getting to Magpiepony's channel. And that means lots of Pinkie Tales! This is just the beginning!
H: 1 R: 2 C: 1 V: 0 N: 1
My Little Mages: The Nightmare's Return by BrassHeart
Reading (part 1) by Goombasa
Genre: Humanized High Fantasy
My reaction to this story is not easy to enumerate. We start in an obviously humanized Equestria — Mystica — based on the "My Little Mages" gijinka images created by didj, as conveyed in the opening author's note. But the big problem I had is that the rules defining when this story hews rigorously to canon and when it diverges in big ways were arbitrary if not entirely absent. So we get things like the "Spike can't spell 'precipice'" scene and the "meet the Apple Family" scene word-for-word from the show. Others, like meeting Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy for the first time, follow the same beats. Then there are things like Granny Smith being the Bishop of Sweet Apple Cathedral, or Chrysalis being the Necromancer of the Everfree that, while inventive, didn't seem to do much beyond slow down the story for the sake of expanding the world. A lot of the new scenes slowed things down, as a matter of fact, and while it might be interesting to get some foreshadowing from Celestia about her feelings on banishing her sister to the moon, there's a reason we didn't get a comprehensive rundown of everything Equestria in the first episode. Not to mention Nightmare Moon was essentially created by Discord in this story, and that's never a good idea. Also, this is tagged Comedy, but I never found the attempts to be particularly funny. (For god's sake, there's a Gilligan's Island reference.) The more I read, the less I believed that this story was going to give me anything I was really interested in, and the breaking point for me was the "werewolves" (Diamond Dogs) arguing over meat. That being said, I wouldn't call this story bad; it's just meant for an audience far newer to the fandom, who would enjoy if not outright demand seeing the pilot over again with magic people. But for me, even when this was written, it doesn't give me what I look for in fanfiction.
DNF: 2/10
Pinkie Pie Places Her Tongue on a Polar-Temperature Pole by Justice3442
Reading by mindlessgonzo
This is not a good reading for evaluation, for a number of reasons. I'll have to give him a second try. Though if all his other readings are livestreams with a peanut gallery, he'll be a hard no.
Genre: Comedy
Have you tried pulling?
Thankfully, there's more to this story than just the scenario set up by the cover art. Less thankfully, that 'more' is a load of mind-bending wordplay and a punchline that will best be appreciated by you weirdos who like feghoots. >.> Not amazing, overall, but I even got a few laughs from it.
Recommended for Laughs
Pinkie Tales: Applejack and the Beanstalk by Magpiepony
Reading by the Author, et. al.
Genre: Fairy Tale Comedy
Applejack is sent to market to sell her family's cow.
So here's the thing about Pinkie Tales stories: they're really just vehicles for the audio dramas. In fact, they might be novelizations; I say that because this one isn't linked in the video description. Point is, if you just go and read this, you will be missing out on a lot; the purest way to experience these stories is via audio. That said, there's still a lot to enjoy here. It's just Jack and the Beanstalk with ponies, but there are some notable changes (Rarity's role is astounding, and this may be the only fic that makes a Fluttertree joke work), not to mention tons and tons of fourth-wall breaking. Even when she's a character in the story, Pinkie talks to the narrator, but front and center is Applejack, who isn't just genre aware, but knows the story she's in and gets rather resistant when things don't work out the way she expects. Long story short, this is a toot hoot, so make sure you check out the reading. I expect I'll have much the same to say about the others.
Highly Recommended
When a Blind Bag Cries by Selbi
Reading by Scribbler and Astro-Brony
Genre: Toyfic/Dark
What's so special about Twilight Sky, anyway?
This story reminds me how long it's been since I had the time or money to collect blind bags. ;_; That kind of used to be my thing. This story also made me feel guilty for shoving all my blind bags into a drawer in lieu of a proper lunch box to store them in. >.>; But yes, this is maybe the third story written from the perspective of a real-life MLP toy I've ever read. They're quite the rare sight, which makes them worth talking about. And while this one maybe doesn't go to any place surprising, it also toes that psychological horror line without overdoing it. Definitely a unique read.
Recommended
Pinkie Tales: Little Red Riding Bloom by Magpiepony
Reading by Magpiepony, et. al.
Genre: Fairy Tale Comedy
Apple Bloom is sent through the dangerous woods to take her granny some treats.
I think Applejack and the Beanstalk may have spoiled me. Nothing's going to top Rarity's role in that one. XD But this was fun in its own way, and likely what I can expect moving forward: a funny, often self-aware take on a classic fairy tale, with a much happier ending. And I don't mean "G-rated", either; this changes the ending of Little Red Riding Hood in a way that reinforces the "bedtime story for foals" frame, for all that Pinkie appearing in the story to mess with the narrator does not. That said, most of the humor actually comes from Pinkie's outbursts, though there's some to be found in the casting: compare how fitting Apple Bloom is for the titular role to how unfit Applejack is as the wolf. That's kind of the whole idea. Anyway, I found this entertaining, and again, you'll want to listen to the reading.
Recommended
When do you usually listen to audio books? I almost never do because they take so long compared to just reading something.
4915030
In the bath and while doing dishes.
I could also do it while playing certain video games, but not most of them. But I learned early that that means reading lots of fics and playing lots of video games and being fat :(
I would recommend giving the rest of My Little Mages another shot. No, it is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a much strong story than its first chapters may indicate. Despite what it may seem, the author does manage to establish a decently unique take on the "G4 pilot, but..." genre, thanks to the inclusion of multiple villains as obstacles who tie together with the back story of the mane 6. It is ultimately a very solid take on the idea of "MLP by way of magic fantasy", and wound up being a very enjoyable read, save for the inclusion of one of those early fandom action fics hallmarks.
4915928
I wasn't really a fan of throwing in a whole crapload of stuff. Mentioning Shining Armor is one thing, throwing in a whole Queen Chrysalis is another. Two chapters in, and it was already starting to feel bloated. Also, if the plan was "extra bosses" instead of the friendship challenges, I'm not sure I'd really like that. Very little in that story was being used in a way I appreciated.
4915978
Fair enough. I just felt that the comment about this being written just to scratch the itch of seeing the pilot again was unwarranted.
4916546
I mean like, when you're new to the fandom and everything's exciting, seeing anything pony-related but slightly different is always more exciting than when you've been here almost the whole time. And if you liked it regardless, well, that's fine. :)