Fic recs, May 19th! · 2:20pm May 19th, 2016
Man, remember when I posted huge review blogs every three days? Haha, me neither.
Hot on the heels of the first reading I heard, Illya Leonov has also done a reading of Quiet Boy and Moon Horse!
Speaking of which, I questioned that story's purpose during my last review journal. After reading this journal by the author, I realize now it's simply about the importance of fictional characters in our lives. It's so obvious! I am a poop machine.
And now, something that gives me great joy.
Head below for review of Estee's If I Gave You Diamonds and Pearls, Do That Again by Bad Horse, Ceffyl Dwr's True Bowmance and a whole lot more. :)
H: 3 R: 4 C: 2 V: 2 N: 1
Death of a King by DeathFox4
Genre: Sad
I was gonna groan and call this a chessfic, but for all that this actually includes enumerated moves, it's really not about playing chess. Instead, it's about the pain of losing a friend. Granted, it seems like that friend just kind of went away for a while — it's not like she left because she lost at chess, for all the first scene suggests that might be the reason — so it's kind of much ado about nothing. I have to say, I found this piece kind of irritating, but reading the A/N tells me that it accomplishes what it set out to do. The characters, other than a bystanding Pinkie Pie, aren't named, and could be anyone. Frustratingly, there seem to be a number of conflicting tells about at least the narrator's identity. As for the writing, it's a little stilted, with far too many sentences starting with "I", but for a first time writing first person, that's to be expected. At least this has something more to offer than its tried and true chess motif (seriously, what is with this fandom and chess [and tea]?) would suggest.
Recommended as Light Reading
Dinky: A Filly That Is Loved by vincent5000x
Reading (part 1) by Forest Rain
Genre: Drama
Two lives change forever when Derpy finds an abused baby in a dumpster.
I went into this story expecting trite maudlinity; instead, I got melodrama. Which, honestly, I think I'd rather have. Conceptually, I like this: the story of how Derpy ended up adopting Dinky after she was abused and left for dead. It's got some good hospital writing and some good headcanon, and while it doesn't focus too much on Derpy suddenly being thrust into the role of teen (?) mom, it does at least touch on the idea. What it lacks is a certain amount of realism. The aforementioned good hospital procedures are balanced by police procedures subverted for plot convenience. The good characters, Derpy's father in particular, are moral bastions, while the bad characters are cartoonishly evil, thoroughly reprehensible individuals with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. What killed the story for me was two things that happened in the same chapter. First, it's revealed that Derpy's eyes are the result of having been shaken as a child; I was fine with this, because it gave her a more personal link to Dinky. But when it's revealed — and I should say, told, after the child abuse is established via showing — that this was a result of her mother's "minor case of depression", it lost me. Then, the police let Dinky's mother talk to Derpy in a room by themselves, without the magic suppressing ring that she's been wearing since she was arrested, leading to her taunting Derpy and getting a faceful of hoof, and of course Derpy gets in trouble for this. Why would they allow that? I can't fathom it. The writing also has some issues, mostly repetition — characters continually "notice" things, they "can't help" doing things frequently, and until she actually gets a name, Dinky is referred to continuously as "the baby filly". I was also put off by the constant changes to Dinky's POV, not that they weren't done well, but that they served no purpose. Generally, they would back the story up a scene, show events through her eyes, and then maybe creep it forward a bit in time. Along with wasting time, I never really bought that this was a filly who'd been born two weeks ago; she's incredibly perceptive of the world around her, far more than a baby really should be. In the end, this is a pretty decent story, but my disbelief is a fragile thing, and chapter 7 shattered it to bits.
Not Recommended: DNF 7/14
Oh No, He's Cute by Tinybit92
Reading by Captain Sand
Genre: Light Comedy
Twilight keeps running into the same guard.
The author's note says this isn't so much a shipfic as it is a character study of Twilight. In that regard, it succeeds, casting her as appropriately dorky and overthinking of everything. On the whole, though, this is just kind of okay. Not amazing, not bad, just sufficient. I was mildly intrigued by the revelation that Fluttershy has a crush. At the same time, I found myself thinking that the Bechdel Test is really on to something, because having all the characters suddenly start talking really intently about romance and crushes is kind of weird and/or boring. So, probably best for Flashlight shippers, but anyone who likes adorkable Twilight may also find it amusing.
Vaguely Recommended
Starry Night by AShadowOfCygnus
Genre: Philosophical
Twilight and Applejack discuss the princesses.
I suspect that readers who are very much into philosophy will get the least out of this. Unabashedly a story where two characters debate some headcanon, the central conversation is one I've seen before, though I don't have a snappy word for it. Basically, Twilight and Applejack are discussing the merits of religion. And for all that this is just a conversation between two characters, I rather liked it. There's a rather subtle literary pun early on, both of them are in character, and even when the conversation feels deliberately steered, it's pretty interesting. Again, I'm sure a lot of readers have seen this before, but as this sort of story goes, it's not too bad.
Recommended If You're Interested in Pony Religion
If I Gave You Diamonds and Pearls by Estee
Genre: Memorial
Rarity doesn't know why she's mourning.
For all that this is a story written in memory of Prince — like one of my own pieces, dealing with how we relate to celebrity deaths when we never actually knew them — it's really about Rarity: her relationship with her mother, her thoughts on death, music and love, how she comports herself, works and runs her business. It's weird in that Rarity does a lot of things without realizing she's doing them, but at the same time, it's most impressive. The writing is excellent, Rarity's voicing is perfectly believable, there's some fascinating death-related rituals explored, and the way a Prince character is fit into Equestria is the most natural thing ever. It deals with a tough subject in the middle and ends on a moral that I absolutely agree with. Regardless of whether Prince's death affected you at all, this is absolutely worth reading.
Highly Recommended
Do That Again by Bad Horse
Genre: Comedy
Snowfall Frost was not so quick to change her ways.
It's not a clopfic, but Bad Horse did his best to fulfill my prediction on Applejack's scene in A Hearth's Warming Tail. Yes, this is a story about Starlight's Victorian doppelganger trying to get freaky with a ghost, and it's hilarious. It ends on a slightly mature note, so be warned, but if you like comedies wherein one party is into another party who is just not having it, read this.
Highly Recommended
True Bowmance by Ceffyl Dwr
Genre: Comedy
As a Cupid, it's Archer's job to help ponies fall in love. Too bad she's terrible at it.
What a well-crafted, thoroughly imaginative piece this is! This fandom never ceases to amaze with original stories for ponies who got two fucking seconds of background screen time four years ago, and this story is a prime example. Archer's family history is creative, and while her dilemma is transparent, I found myself really wanting to see her figure things out. And it's a clever twist on the CMCs: instead of trying to find her talent, Archer's having to wait to use it. Up front, the writing in this piece grabbed me, though I was a little disappointed after the first scene. It just seemed like things were less tight after that, though I still have no real complaints. This is quirky in all the right ways, and will doubtless be a memorable addition to the litany of background pony stories.
Highly Recommended
The Cabbage Way by Super Trampoline
Genre: Comedy
A human, a pony and 576 cabbages wash up on a deserted merely underfurnished island.
So this is a parody of The Savage Way, as the description states, and boy, it sure is a thing, isn't it? From fourth-wall-breaking to random accent changes, it never ceases to provide an unexpected chuckle. And for all that it supposedly fails at accurately parodying the original (Horse Voice disagrees with the author on this, and one would assume he knows what he's talking about), it's really a story about what makes humans humans. Like, comparing them to ponies in a matter-of-fact, slightly tongue-in-cheek way. It's not high literature, no, but it sure is fun, and maybe even a little more meaningful than the description would suggest.
Recommended
Princess Celestia Is Just Riddled With Bullets by Protopony350
Reading by S Ninja
Genre: Random Comedy
Celestia's trip to the Princess Store is interrupted by gunfire.
This story taught me that friendship is bullets. :V So I've been reading Proto's work for at least a year now, and I've become very familiar with his style. This story has all the trappings of his usual work, but with just a bit of focus, it feels like he's honed his usual randomness into a fine-tuned machine. I honestly think this might be a fun read for those who don't normally partake of random comedies — especially if you enjoy dark humor — and I'm not just saying that so he doesn't get mad at Super Trampoline for getting a better review.
Recommended
Fork Everything by Casca
Reading by ABagOfVicodin
Reading by Voiceguy
Genre: Character Piece
Everyone has their own ways of relaxing and coping with stress.
This piece is shot through with understated humor; a good thing, since its Pony Does X title would be "Celestia Looks at a Fork". I'm not sure why Celestia's scenes in No Second Prances evoked such reaction from the fandom, but this takes that on, making a stab no pun intended at why she was so upset. Along with her thought processes, we get a look at her daily routine, the stresses of ruling a country, and a smidgen of her centuries-long life. In many ways a fairly standard Celestia-centric piece, I nevertheless found its droll near-meta-ness amusing, and I think it will have wide appeal.
Recommended
The Mane Attraction by Karrakaz
Reading by Captain Sand
Genre: Fluff
I had to read this story myself because I couldn't follow the reading, so I can say with authority that not only does it have copious punctuation errors, it rather fantastically fails the Luna Test. It also kind of makes no sense, so I can't place all the blame on Captain Sand. In this story, Twilight, Luna and Princess Cadence play hide and seek in Celestia's tail. They haven't been age-regressed; they are described as mares numerous times. I just… don't understand why. The end effect comes off like a Pony Does/Discovers X, pointless and meant to fill space. Yet no one actually discovers anything. I suppose this will appeal to readers who just want to see ponies do stuff and be happy doing it, but if you want anything like motivation, look elsewhere.
Vaguely Recommended
I Always Thought They'd Be Cooler by Erisn
Reading by Dr. Wolf
Reading by VisualPony
Genre: Light Comedy?
Starlight thinks the Cutie Mark Crusaders would be great knights.
I'm honestly not sure what to make of this one. Given Starlight's obsession with knights, it has all the makings of a crackfic, but it's not like she has much of a personality to begin with. It's also got trappings of echoing fan complaints about the CMCs' marks, except that it doesn't go where I would have expected pure author tract to. The end result sits right on the edge of meta, as well as comedy, making this an unusual, if interesting, look at knightly traditions in Equestria. It's worth a read.
Recommended
Yes I realise I wrote it in half an hour, and that it's not great. Gods forbid I try to write something that makes me smile.
Lots of intriguing stories in this batch. Also Wheely Bopper, who's always nice to see.
Honk.
3956029 We all need to write something for us every now and again. That story made a few hundred people happy. It did its job.
I think Prince was originally from Equestria.
Thanks for the review! The check's in the mail.
I'm so confused. I was pretty unhappy with how the cabbage way turned out, but then it's sitting at 22 up votes no down votes and you just gave it a recommended. My first recommended from you.
Fandom? No, no, I think it was just me. :V
also yes keeping quiet about getting a review from you paid off whew
3956221
This is a pleasant surprise for both of us. I thought it was funny and insightful, but if someone pays homage to your work, you're always going to be a little biased. <pompous>It seems I was right after all!</pompous>
And I stand by that, given the references to things like the island not being so much deserted as underfurnished[1] and the common complaint that the story dithers out at the end[2]. And I could list others, if I had time.
[1] Which one alleged editor actually complained about. At that exact second, I stopped taking him seriously.
[2] Which I maintain is unavoidable, with the theme I was going for.
Too late, I now hate Super Tramampoline. You did this. You are to blame.
3956643
A rivalry for the ages.
Also, popping in to note: unless there was another big reviewer who did The Savage Way/The Cabbage Way, it's very likely that your review post was the reason both of them were bumped up to the Popular Stories tab (as of this time of writing).
3956643
I suggest hatesex with 3956221, by which I mean drunken fic collaboration.
3959732 are you saying
3956643 and I should finish THIS?!?!?
3959366
:D
3959867
Whatever that link is, the answer is yes.