Fandom Classics Part 180: Light the Sky on Fire

To read the story, click the image or follow this link.

So, I guess Britain's getting their pony fix early?  The season finale will be airing there before we get it in America, it seems.  As someone who watches the episodes online (and, these days, doesn't always get to watch them right away anyway) this isn't a huge deal for me, but it does raise the question: assuming, as is probably safe, that I have OPINIONS I NEED TO SHARE about said finale, should I share them as soon I see the episodes, or wait until they air in the US?  I'll probably just follow everyone else's lead on this, but if you have any strong ideas about the whole matter, let me know.  Otherwise, let's get on to the reviewage!  My take on EquesTRON's Light the Sky on Fire, below.

Mini-Reviews Round 152

This isn't exactly related to anything, but I found this backstory for the Edmonton Oilers' new mascot both hilarious and entirely apropos.  Plus, anyone who enjoys reading too much into the lives of background ponies ought to be able to appreciate this, the sports equivalent.

But if you're the sort of person who can only take joy in tales based around fictional equines, then you're in luck!  Head down below the break for a few short reviews of ponyfic I've recently read.

Fandom Classics Part 179: And the Temptress Came Unto Her

To read the story, click the image or follow this link.

Excessively extravagant magic, mostly taking the form of lasers?  Lazy pop culture jokes and references?  Casual mindrape with no consequences more lasting than your run-of-the-mill comedy of errors?  Starlight Glimmer's very existence?  That's check, check, check, and a big ol' check.  So yeah, I wasn't really a fan of Every Little Thing She Does.  But hey, what's fanfiction for, if not to wash the taste of disappointing episodes out of your mouth?  Click below for my thoughts on Device Heretic's And the Temptress Came Unto Her.

Fandom Classics Part 178: Veil of Thoughts

To read the story, click the image or follow this link.

Sometimes I like to spoonerize titles, for my own marginal amusement, when I read them.  As such, it occured to me as I sat down to begin reading this story that "Theil of Voughts" would be an excellent name for a D&D character, or possibly a classical Greek philosopher.  Either/or, really.

Head below the break for some (marginally more substantive) commentary on Starwin's Veil of Thoughts.

Mini-Reviews Round 151

For my birthday (which is actually today, but which, for logistical reasons, we celebrated yesterday), I had carrot cake.  I did this not for any best pony-related reason, but because I like carrot cake.  Still, as I was eating a second slice, the thought did cross my mind that, between it and the cider I was drinking with it, I was having a very agriculture-pony-themed dessert.

Anyway, mini-reviews, below the break!

Books, Episodes, and Dead Mice

A bit of a grab-bag today, as I have several things I want to say a little bit about, but none which really merit an independent post.  Also, this gives me an excuse to slap four different tags on a single post--there's no good reason why I want to do so (and I could get a couple more on there if I really wanted), but it amuses me, so we're doing that.  Click below the break for a little Episode Talk, some Talk About Actual Books, and my patented Ramblings!

(And if you can't guess what the fourth tag is, you haven't been following this blog nearly long enough)

Mini-Reviews Round 150

I have fifteen minutes to write this intro before I have to be out the door.  Luckily, I'm just forty seconds in, and I'm more than halfway done :P

Get some mini-reviews, below the break!

(I wrote them earlier.  They're not on a next-fifteen-minute deadline.)

(Dang, turns out when I said I was halfway done, I lied.  Okay, time to wrap this up.)

Fandom Classics Part 177: A Great and Powerful Heart

To read the story, click the image or follow this link.

It's fantasy football season (which, conveniently enough, coincides with actual football season), and my team is off to a roaring start.  And by "roaring start," I of course mean that they got beat by a single freaking point this week to start the season 0-1.  It turns out that Tyrod Taylor was maybe not the best possible quarterback I could have drafted.

Okay, okay, I won't bore you with talk about my fantasy team.  Instead, I'll hopefully not-bore you with a review!  Click below for my thoughts on Deep Pond's A Great and Powerful Heart.

A New Story From Me

Relinquishing

On one day each year, Celestia and Luna turn control of the sun and moon over to a group of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria. Twilight is finally old enough to take part.

But she can't.

*****

This is the story I wrote for the Princesses Not Included minific writeoff.  I was planning to put it in my minific collection, but a funny thing happened when I started sprucing it up: it grew!  And eventually, it ended up over 1000 words (actually, it ended up close to 1200 words, but after I went back at it and cut out the dead weight which I invariably let creep in if I'm not judicious with my pruning, it was much closer to 1000).  And, since that put it over FiMFic's minimum wordcount, I decided to go ahead and publish it separately.

If you haven't read the story yet, give it a try if it sounds interesting!  If you already read the writeoff version, this one is fundamentally the same--the tone and purpose of the story hasn't changed, and there aren't any new scenes.  What's been added is mostly smoothing out dialogue, and expanding on why this event is so important to Twilight.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy, and if you have any comments or criticisms, please let me know!  Here or on FiMFic, I deeply appreciate quality feedback.

Mini-Reviews Round 149

This week has been... a learning experience, let's say.  Working with 2nd-3rd grade newcomers (i.e. less than two years in America) is far different from middle school ESL, in basically every conceivable way, and I'm just doing my best not to drown.  This Thursday post is taking the place of both Wednesday and Friday, while I try to get my feet under me; hopefully I'll be a little more on-the-ball by next week, both at work and in my blogging.

Happily, though, this has been a really good week for me when it comes to positive reinforcement re. ponyfiction.  Titanium Dragon recommended two of my stories, which naturally brought out other people to say nice things about them as well.  With the exception of a few of the very best-known (and thus, most polarizing) fics, positive comments tend to beget more positive comments.  Couple with with my short story winning the most recent Writeoff, and I've been getting a steady stream of approval at a moment (well, fortnight) when I really needed it.  It's funny how sometimes, life gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.

But enough about good news, let's get to the reviewin'!  Here're some mini-reviews to last you until Monday.

Episode Talk: S6E18, Buckball Season

Remember the good old days when Carrot Top was in virtually every episode?  Sometimes on screen two or more times simultaneously when they showed a big crowd?  Ah, for the good old days; nowatimes, we get her in a mere 1/3rd of all episodes (of course I counted).  But we got to see her this weekend, which is doubly nice!  Not only for the regular reason that Carrot Top is best pony, but also because work starts up on Tuesday, and I'm going to be starting at a new school, a new grade level, and... a new everything, basically.  Stressful times, these.

But before we get to good ol' CT, let's talk about the episode itself!  Click below for my mostly-disorganized impressions of Buckball Season.