Beginners story list!

Summary:

What stories are 'Must reads' for all new MK writers?

Beginners story list!

MishaFox 1203054884|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

A long and confusing discussion on MK IRC led to this!

What stories do you think MUST be read for a new writer to understand MK without having to wade thru all 300000000 stories in the Archive?

With so many stories in the archive it can be frightening to a potential writer. Whe need to have a 'Must read' list to help the new writers.

I'll add the first one to the list. Apropriately it is the first MK story by Cope.

Re: Beginners story list!

Virmir 1203057982|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Mix of short stories I thought were good setting-establishers and longer polished works:

• Metamor Keep, by Copernicus
• For Knowledge's Sake, by Christopher Hughes
• Writer's Guild, by Charles Matthias
• Storm Watch, by Terry Spafford
• Tail of a Young Wolf, by Wanderer
• Lightbringer, by Raven Blackmane
• Alone in the Dark, by Dan D'Alimonte
• A Small Repair, by Chris O'Kane
• Rites of Acendancy, by Raven Blackmane
• Warding the Watchwoods, by Ryx
• Lynn's Tribulations, by Ryx
• Liturgy of Blood, by Charles Matthias
• Vantage Point, by Joanne Hunter
• The Bonds of Family, by Michael Olson
• Never Again a Man, by Charles Matthias
• Drifting, by Hallan Mirayas
• Dusk, by Michael Olson

By no means a complete list… may add more, but don't want it to get too long. ;)

I propose we all post a list and then pick the ones that get nominated a minimum number of times. (E.g. 2 or 3 times, depending on how good response is.)

Re: Beginners story list!

LurkingWolf 1203092538|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Good idea. Though I've written a story already, I've not finished reading the saga. It reminds me of my fight to read LoTR. Took me a while. Just last night I finished "Wagging Tongues Will," and I've seen a few more monsters coming up by Matthias… Yeah, well, I'm not done yet.

Re: Beginners story list!

MatthiasRat 1203374420|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Wagging Tongues Will is the longest of my fourth cycle tales, so if you've managed to brave that, you can handle everything else coming your way. :-)

How did you like it, btw?

Dominus vobiscum

Re: Beginners story list!

LurkingWolf 1203394147|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I liked it, mostly. It was cool, creepy, scary, and even flat out terrifying at parts. Being an insomniac at times, I read the part where the big Z was taking the merchants at 1 o'clock in the morning. Horrible twitches ran through me every time the heater kicked on. :) Note to future readers: Refrain from reading said part while alone.

Anyhow, I still am working on my stories. To facilitate a few hours for my character to delve a little farther into his backstory, I've stuck him in the middle of a storm. Poor guy… He'd better not read that part….

Re: Beginners story list!

Michael Bard 1203102532|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Not really a MK story, but something that I think ALL fantasy writers should read in order to avoid the majority of silliness: On Thud and Blunder by Poul Anderson. It's an essay, but fairly short, and definitely readable. Matthias has probably heard of it—

Re: Beginners story list!

MishaFox 1203300993|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Ok. I'll a few of my own suggestions. This is not complete:

Metamor Keep by Copernicus
For Knowledge's Sake, by Christopher Hughes
Lightbringer by Raven - Introduces the Lightbringers
Long Patrol by me - this introduces the Long Scouts
Hunt by Matthias - Introduces Long house
Shoving Match
Four on the Floor - both introduce and refine the taur idea
Snips & Snails - as it introduces Madog
A Taurs tale - Because i like it!
Rites of Acendancy, by Raven Blackmane
Never Again a Man, by Charles Matthias
Winter Assault - with the warning of just how big it really is.

Re: Beginners story list!

Virmir 1203362397|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Nice! In addition to the ones you have from my list, I will also second Long Patrol and Snips & Snails.

I would say no to the Winter Assault. While it is definitely my favorite story, I think it's a bit long for the quick intro concept we have going on here. It is the most major MK event, but it is also referenced fairly well by later stories. Plus we already have a couple of longer works in there. ;)

Re: Beginners story list!

MatthiasRat 1203374878|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I have to concur. Definitely a big no to Winter Assault. That's just too much story.

A few good early ones that show some other characters and give a better breadth to Metamor would be:

Storm Watch by Terry Spafford
Malvoison by Wanderer
Fetish by Christopher Hughes
Admissions and Applications by Charles Matthias

Dominus vobiscum

Re: Beginners story list!

FoxMarine 1203328941|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Wow! Now that is a good article to read. Definately will be trying to put that to use soon.

Re: Beginners story list!

MatthiasRat 1203374715|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

And read it. A few times now. Certainly good to keep in mind. I confess I've violated a few of those rules from time to time, but I've tried to make sure they aren't noticeable. ;-)

Dominus vobiscum

Re: Beginners story list!

Virmir 1211760410|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

The list is now up!

Feel free to discuss if stories should be added or removed. :)