An Apple Sleep Experiment- a.k.a. How to Make a Good Grimdark for Cheap · 3:17am Feb 28th, 2020
Might not be the right time for this one, but when inspiration hits, what can ya do?
The first time I heard this story (thank you LostNarrator), I found that it strangely ... stuck with me. And I'm not saying that as a pun, it actually stuck with me in a way that no other grimdark had before. And before I read Past Sins, I read grimdarks and only grimdarks. So for this one to stand out in particular is impressive in and of itself. And now, writing this a year or so after first hearing the story ....... I think I know why.
It's all in the distinct atmosphere, the inciting object, and the viscerality. (But being written by Magpie Pony, who is married to the grimdark queen LostNarrator probably helps.)
Let's start with atmosphere. Those of you who read my blog on Something Sweet To Bite know how much I loved the atmosphere in that story, and this story is no exception. In fact, I can still see (and feel) it now: Ponyville in the middle of a heat wave, with a yellow tinge from the sun, a blur from the heat, and a mugginess in the air that would make it impossible for anyone to sleep; that is just memory. I have neither read nor listened to this story in months, and I still remember the look and feel of this story.
I've also found I tend to favor more grimdarks involving a character losing their sanity. Needless to say, a potion removing Applejack's ability to sleep, thus causing her to go insane from sleep deprivation, is a great macguffin to get the plot rolling. 'Nuff said.
And now, the viscerality(if that's even a term). Most typical grimdarks leave their gore inside a closed room/basement and confine it to the victim(s) in question. Not so here. All the gory scenes take place outside, and mixed with the heat that must leave a terrible smell. The sheer volume of gore displayed here is frankly shocking, and the use of garden tools is certainly unique, compared to the typical knives or medical equipment.
Needless to say, this story definitely stands apart from other grimdarks, and in this case, it certainly stands out for all the right reasons. Do you agree? Disagree? First time hearing of this? Let me know your thoughts, and I will see you all next time.
