Read it Later story count: 90 (nc)
With Make Your Mark drawing ever nearer, I don't think it's going to be all that long before I start covering my first G5 fics in this spot. I don't yet know exactly how long it will be, but I'm sure it will happen this year and perhaps before the end of the summer... anyway, for now it's still an all-G4 slate. Here goes...
We Are Forever by PapierSam
At the Swimmin' Hole by SockPuppet
Twilight Sparkle, M.D. by alexmagnet
The Incognito Cart by bahatumay
★: 0 | ★★: 1 | ★★★: 1 | ★★★★: 2 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I find average scores two stars.
Mane Seven
Equestria Girls/Comedy/Slice of Life; 10k words; Oct 2018; Everyone
In the pilot episode of the Rainboom's reality TV show, the band breaks up -- and it's a plane-wreck before it even hits the air.
This is a lot of fun. We see, from one of those semi-external angles this kind of show specialises in, the Rainbooms as they go through the travails of life as a popular media-savvy band. The narrative bounces between following the band themselves and a number of short interview segments. This does make the flow a little jumpy at times, but that's pretty true to the type of programme it's satirising. The characterisation is generally very good, which is vital for a fic like this. I was mildly irritated with Fluttershy being shown as quite so timid, but she does get a chance to shine later (cf Rainbow Rocks I suppose). There are a lot of real-world music references in here, and a couple of times it felt like the author was trying slightly too hard to force them in. That's a minor complaint, though. It works well and feels in the tradition of the Monkees or S Club 7. As I say, it's a lot of fun. Recommended. ★★★★
At the Swimmin' Hole by SockPuppet
Apple Bloom, Applejack, Big Mac and Granny Smith
Comedy/Slice of Life; 1k words; Jun 2019; Everyone
The Apples try to explain what happened to Apple Bloom. (A feghoot contest entry.)
The poor filly is recovering from serious injury, indeed is lucky to be alive with three broken legs. Unsurprisingly, the authorities want to know, right now, the full story about what happened. So, the Apples explain in great detail the saga of the swimmin' hole. This being a feghoot, the entire story leads up to the joke in the very last line. That means everything will hinge on how funny you find it. Me? I found it fairly amusing, but I'm not sure it's quite snappy enough to be up there with the very best feghoots. Top-end two for me, then, although I could easily see many readers rating it higher. ★★
Twilight Sparkle, M.D. by alexmagnet
Twilight and Spike
Slice of Life; 2k words; Aug 2013; Teen
Time is running out as Twilight attempts to perform life-saving open heart surgery on her friend. But with Spike there to assist, she should be able to save her in time... right?
Now there's a dramatic short description! And indeed, the fic starts off pretty tensely, with it being clear time is not on the (unnamed) friend's side. But why is the patient under Twi's care rather than a hospital's? As the tension increases and the emotions run higher, these questions start to feel almost secondary. The fic effectively makes you root for the patient and desperately want them to pull through – the questions surrounding Twilight (and Spike, come to that) can wait. There is, of course, a twist to come, but it's nicely handled and the fic was a particularly satisfying read once I'd realised the context. ★★★
The Incognito Cart by bahatumay
Sassy Saddles, Rarity, Spitfire and Pinkie Pie
Slice of Life; 5k words; Feb 2022; Everyone
On the dark streets of Canterlot, a mysterious food cart offers ponies a taste of something uncommon, and sometimes, even more.
A lovely fic here, and one which (as Bad Horse notes) is reminiscent in tone of early-series FiM, albeit with a few notes that wouldn't quite hit the TV-Y requirements. In oh-so-posh Canterlot, many ponies nevertheless long for food that's, well, not posh. Greasy and fatty and indulgent and just plain tasty. The Incognito Cart is the place to get that – but there's a catch: the "incognito" rule applies to customers too. Unicorns don't even use their magic in case others recognise their auras (a great touch). The pony running the cart knows how to run things, and Rarity knows how it works; taking Sassy along for the first time allows some natural exposition. Mind you, there's also another mare there. Well, there are lots, but there's one particular mare who seems to enjoy the freedom the incognito rule brings. This leads to a great twist and an ending that just plain works. I had to look up "86", a term I've never heard in the UK, but otherwise this is a really satisfying read. One with a spectacularly great bad pun tucked away, too. Unless you actively dislike show-style slice-of-life, this is an easy recommendation and an easy four. ★★★★
Next time, I hope that stories reviewed will include The Descendant's Sisterhooves Social comedy Certain Advantages.
The Incognito Cart, eh? Wonder how it ended up here…
ReplyDelete[Yes yes, it was already on your RiL list, but it still leapfrogged up the list based on my review of it two months ago.]
Nothing to add to my own review and yours, except I didn't realise it was an entry for the Crackship contest until just now, with fresh comments from the judges there. bahatumay didn't tag it as such in the description. I still don't know if the ship aspect is as strong as the rest of it, but it's a ★★★★ fic for sure.
And weirdly, I did know the term "86'ing". Picked it up from reading production history on Disney's Aladdin, of all things! Hot-headed executive used it in reference to removing Aladdin's mom from the picture. "Eighty-six the mom. The mom's a zero." No reason for sharing that, other that how words and terms latch into our minds in all kinds of ways.
Happy to see We Are Forever natch a ★★★★ rating too. I have read it before, but can't remember a thing, so it might as well be new. It's been on my list for a while, more for the unique reality tv show perspective than anything. Looks like it may me my turn to bump a fic up the list based on someone else's take on it!
I might give Twilight Sparkle, M.D. a glance, looks interesting enough. If it can sustain that tension for 2K, we're off and running.
And The Descendant's Certain Advantages next week, eh? You don't say. Wonder where that one came up for you…
With it being not too far down my list (a reread again, but still) and it also being on PaulAsaran's Reading Now bookshelf, we may be see a fair few reviews for that one soon!
Indeed, thanks for that The Incognito Cart praise, as I'm very glad I read it so soon. I'm also very glad still to be seeing fics like that being published in 2022. :)
DeleteI think Twilight Sparkle, M.D. lives or dies by its twist. I liked it quite a bit, since it worked (for me) to contextualise what had gone before and answer a nagging question I'd had almost since the start.
Well, The Incognito Cart goes on my list. I don't know how I missed Mikes' review of it. 10-hour days may have something to do with it. 86 is slang from the 40's, AFAIK. I'll bet most yanks don't know the term.
ReplyDeleteI read and enjoyed "We are Forever." It's a bit of a niche thing, to where if you're not into pop music or these kinds of documentaries, it might not mesh with you well. I'm generally not, and had the same experience as you in thinking some of the references tried a bit hard (and no doubt there were some I didn't get). Still, it's an entertaining story in an unusual format.
ReplyDeleteAlso read At the Swimmin' Hole," and I agree with you completely. The ending joke was amusing, but it wasn't particularly clever or a real groaner, so it's not a standout as far as feghoots go.