Story Reviews » Seattle's Angels Round 137 · 10:34pm Oct 1st, 2018
Seattle's Angels is a group that promotes good stories with low views. You can find us here.
“Um… watcha doing?” asked Matthew. “And why am I tied to a chair?”
Archonix looked at him and smiled. “Don’t you get it? It’s a conspiracy! All of it!”
“Uhh… ok. Mind explaining?”
“You don’t believe me do you?” Arch screamed at the ceiling. “They’ve already gotten to you! It’s too late, I’m the only one left.”
“Yeah, ok…” Matthew looked around the room. “Mind having a breakdown later? We gotta get some reviews done…”
ROUND 137
STORY 1
Luminescense, by -TGM-
From raising the bright moon to lighting the glittering stars, to guiding the majestic comets that streak across the skies on the darkest of nights, Princess Luna has done it all. Where other ponies see a dark, empty sky, Princess Luna sees a canvas. A canvas waiting to be filled with the beauty that is the night sky.
I've never particularly been a fan of the fanon that has Luna controlling the very stars themselves, but I am a fan of those stories that can take the idea and make something interesting of it. What would it mean to be able to paint the very night sky?
Though short, and to be honest a little abrupt, this story gives us a thoughtful insight into the kind of the pony that can, and perhaps a hint of the reasons why she might do so every night, even when nobody is watching.
Personally, the idea of Luna controlling the stars along with the moon has always fascinated me. It’s right up there with SunLight shipping.
This story is short, and in a way feels unfinished, but is beautiful nonetheless. I could even go so far as to say the unfinished feeling is intentional. But this story focuses on the character. What would drive a pony to rearrange the heavens, knowing most others won’t even notice? What is it like? Insert other philosophical question here. I thought it was a good story, and I hope you do too.
War is brutal. It asks you questions with no right answers. It leaves scars on your body and mind.
War is a game in which you will always lose.
And Rainbow Dash might've just lost everything.
War. War never ch ok enough cliché for now.
War is a perennial favourite topic of genre fiction and with good reason. Conflict is written on every facet of our existence. Our history is divided up by the dates of wars. We do, as a species, have a small talent for it.
But that alone doesn't explain the popularity of war fiction. In conflict, the worst and the very best aspects of us are revealed. The hatred, the anger, the cowardice and violence, yes, but also the loyalty of soldiers to one another and to their cause, their bravery in the face of insurmountable odds. The compassion in an unrelentingly crushing world.
Which is what this fic, set in the universe of Sombra's war on the world, attempts to explore.
I’ve read no shortage of Crystal War fics. I dare say, done well, they’re some of my favorite fics period. This one is a little different than the others though. This one… this one tackles some of the heftier subjects.
It touches on the guilt of harm done to others, on the brokenness of losing everything, on coping methods… but most importantly, and this one’s main theme, that drive to keep going. To keep fighting through the pain, that sense of duty to fight for what you believe in… even if you know it’s hopeless.
Sunset was a student of the Princess, a magical prodigy, a diplomat and adventurer long before CHS. She was a researcher, an academic, a fighter, a lover, a general and a thief. She's been to far away countries, alien worlds and deadly jungles, crossed sea and scaled mountains, fought mythical beasts and rescued damsels in distress (and some times the other way around).
So when the time is right and audience is willing, she has tales and stories to tell, to amaze and to astonish.
Some may be tall tales, other - honest truth, and none may tell which is which, yet still, each story is what made Sunset who she is today.
What is love?
I'm just a pile of cliche tonight...
Sunset Shimmer tells the story of her possibly first love in an exotic locale, and the crushing realisation that sometimes love is not all it's cracked up to be.
An interesting tale, one that might (if you look at it in the right light) explore some of the underlying motivations for Sunset's rejection and hostility toward Celestia later in her life, but that also gives us teasing glimpses of a culture beyond Equestria.
This story explores two subjects, Sunset’s character and worlds beyond Equestria. I love both of those.
Anyway, this is pretty short. Shorter than I’d like. But it uses those words it does have well, exploring Sunset’s first love and how, sometimes, life doesn’t work how you want. How people, or ponies, sometimes just want to use you. It’s a lesson Sunset takes pretty hard, but learns nonetheless. I’d like to think it foreshadows her eventual falling out with Celestia. And it does this all through the marvelous backdrop of worldbuilding.
Sunset Shimmer needs information on a specific mirror, and she knows just the ogre to get it from.
Dialogue alone cannot sate the senses for long, but when used well, it prompts the reader to fill in all the details that normal prose directs to us otherwise. It is the very bare essence of fiction, the most minimalist exploration of a scene. Almost a poem.
Sunset's dilemma here rings clear, almost literally, between the lines. Lines that, in many ways, form a prison for the writer and the characters, to mirror the prison that the titular Ogre inhabits, and from which Sunset must break free - just as the story must break out of the confines of mere words, to find freedom in the imagination of the reader.
An imaginative use of minimalism.
And here we have another Sunset fic. Aren’t you glad? I’m glad.
This one explores a world told entirely by dialogue. A bold style, as it requires a reader willing to imagine the prose around it for themselves. Most of what I got from this was worldbuilding. It explores some of the magic behind the world, some of the creatures in it and their rules… all through dialogue. It’s quite masterful, honestly.
Matthew awoke to a light. A very bright light. Aimed at his face. He did not scream nor cry a little, no matter what anyone else tells you. He also noticed he was sitting in a chair, his review packet still in his bag next to him. But he forgot all of this when he heard a very recognizable voice. A terrifying voice.
“So tell me,” Ferret said, “what you know about Floor 14.”
“Uhh, nothing?” Matthew squeaked out.
“You were found in a room with Archonix. Clearly you know something.”
“I don’t, I swear! I was just trying to get reviews done! See? I got them right here!” He pulled out the reviews and waved them in front of him.
“Alright, but we’re watching you,” Ferret warned.
“O-okay…”
Feel free to visit our group for more information and events, and to offer some recommendations for future rounds. See you all next time!
Yess, Roam-Springa and Queen of Clubs. :D
...I feel like I have left this comment elsewhere once before. c.c
4946662 What? You're imagining things.
Oh shoot, totally unexpected!
Thanks so much for the feature you guys, glad you enjoyed the fic! However short it may have been. :p
The plot thickens. Game Theory will make an episode based off of this round.
Oh wow, thank you for featuring my fic! I didn't even know it was in here, just happened to click upon this post! I appreciate it so much! :D