Random Fanfic Idea: "The Littlest Houyhnhnms & The Adventures That Befell Them" · 11:37pm Apr 1st, 2019
Jonathan Swift, in Gulliver's Travels, wrote of a civilized race of horses called "Houyhnhnms" (I've always heard it pronounced "Wyn-hims"). Some, back in the early days of MLP, claimed that this made him the very first ponyfic author. This fic would take that idea and run with it.
Hit the jump for some literary humor.
In 1852, a Mrs. Winthrop, of London, published her adaptation of classical literature for young readers: a thoroughly eviscerated take on Gulliver's Travels. Of course, her attempts at making the story more tasteful did much to eliminate much of the biting satire and insightful commentary of the original, but Mrs. Winthrop nevertheless enjoyed the enterprise a great deal. So much so that, in 1854, she published a new, original volume of thoroughly saccharine prose: "The Littlest Houyhnhnms & The Adventures That Befell Them."
Only Mrs. Winthrop herself appeared to expect anything out of the book--which is why it so surprised the booksellers when the entire run sold out in less than a week. It turns out that Mrs. Winthrop has accidentally stumbled upon a winning formula: telling a compelling social story in a cutesy package, which entranced the adult men of London without offending them. Soon, a brigade of those calling themselves "Houyhnhnmites" was clamoring for a second printing--not to mention, a new book of the collected tales of little Sparkle-Star, her pet dragon Gilliam, and her friends Brandywine, Gemstone, Revel, Thunderclap, and Papillon.
...from there? No idea. Probably re-intepret major fan controversies through the lens of Victorian London ("Whatever do you mean, the Littlest Houyhnhnms will be turning into Yahoos? Has Mrs. Winthrop gone mad?").
Could be fun--but as you can see, I don't have much of an idea to go off of other than the premise itself.
Any thoughts?
Is read it
There would definitely need to be additional stories penned by the Houyhnhnmites themselves. The time period allows this to expand on a much more legitimate level... though the medium means that there wouldn't be nearly as many background characters to latch onto. Barring illustrations. Some of which might have their eyes askew.
You need either a group of people with good chemistry to react to the story in a funny manner, or a goal for you to keep her from achieving while she writes the books. Probably her intended goal of educating children.
I do not remember this being a thing. <.< It sounds like you have stumbled upon something great and terrible.
When you have an idea so good that I *had* to Google it to check to see if it was real, run with it!
I've always figured that "Houyhnhnm" is what you get when a horse tries to pronounce "human".
This might not be a terrible idea. If anything, using the Houyhnhnmites' reactions to new stories might indeed be a fun -- and Swift-like -- way of satirizing the fandom itself.
Alternatively, 5036665 raises some fair points.
As for the pronunciation of "Houyhnhnm", I always figured it to be a short, sharp, rising whinny followed by one of those snorting exhalations horses do.
This IS some really good bit of historical literature trivia.
Perhaps the "Friendship Is Magic" world of Equestria could be an EVEN MORE fantasy based series of stories in the Houyhnhms' world penned by Sparkle Star herself (Twilight and Spike, obviously, based on herself and Gilliam and Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow and Rarity are more loosely based on her friends).