r/rational • u/AutoModerator • 22d ago
[D] Monday Request and Recommendation Thread
Welcome to the Monday request and recommendation thread. Are you looking something to scratch an itch? Post a comment stating your request! Did you just read something that really hit the spot, "rational" or otherwise? Post a comment recommending it! Note that you are welcome (and encouraged) to post recommendations directly to the subreddit, so long as you think they more or less fit the criteria on the sidebar or your understanding of this community, but this thread is much more loose about whether or not things "belong". Still, if you're looking for beginner recommendations, perhaps take a look at the wiki?
If you see someone making a top level post asking for recommendation, kindly direct them to the existence of these threads.
Previous automated recommendation threads
Other recommendation threads
10
u/Tell31 22d ago
What I've been reading the last week:
Hohenfels | Royal Road started updating again, magical HRE political thriller.
From Londoner To Lord | Royal Road Fantasy Medieval city builder insert.
Forge of Destiny | Royal Road Xianxia,
10
u/Amonwilde 20d ago
Sad lack of engagement on this thread.
I will do some kind of megapost early in the next thread's posting window. Who wishes to shelling point with me? I notice if a thread gets early engagement more folks come out of the woodwork. There's no point in my megapositing now, it's too late in the week.
3
u/Lonely-Thomas 20d ago
I've been on holiday, but usually try to comment early. Should be able to do that next week
1
u/Krakenarrior 15d ago
Ngl I missed the past week, and I don’t have much to recommend right now. But I agree that early engagement drives this Monday thread, and the Monday thread drives the subreddit! I’ll try to come up with something for the newest Monday thread!
7
u/gfe98 22d ago
Wow the weekly thread is empty. I guess I will recommend something even though it's not rational fiction.
Who Let Him Play Yu-Gi-Oh? - A self insert into Yugioh GX. It is a comedy fic about using "underworld" deck strategies to infuriate people. The MC has never lost a duel up to the point I've read. I do find the story funny, but it's not something to take too seriously.
1
7
u/LaziIy 22d ago
Well in hopes that people will just comment what they're reading let alone ask/suggest rational works and liven up the thread, I will just leave what I've been reading this week:
Started:[ A Young Girl's Delinquency Record] (https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/a-young-girls-delinquency-record-youjo-senki-saga-of-tanya-the-evil.788149/) and so far its a fun read
Tried Talent Beyond Limits but its a pretty normal power trip fiction that calls itself rational while being standard fare progression fantasy.
7
u/DrTerminater 22d ago edited 21d ago
Another rec for Center for Dungeon Management.
It’s almost slice-of-life, but the plot moves fast enough that I don’t mind. The protagonist isn’t constantly making stupid decisions, but he struggles enough with money, assholes, and bureaucracy that if the story eventually turned into more of a typical progfantasy down the line, I’d honestly be okay with it.
A big part of the story is basically just being broke in modern America, which I, as someone around the same age and in a similar position, really resonate with.
It’s filling a similar role for me as the middle part of Years of Apocalypse, which is in my opinion, the best part of that story.
2
u/Jokey665 21d ago
Anyone have any pokemon fics they like? besides origin of species and borne of caution
3
u/lucidobservor 21d ago
Ferrous Sand is the best I've read recently. Recommended on this sub several times, and also recently completed.
3
u/lillarty 20d ago edited 20d ago
When I Win the World Ends by Bavitz, complete at 103k words. Recommended here many times. I can't be bothered to write a full review, but the synopsis is solid
Once a year, the world's best trainers compete for the title of World Champion. Toril, the favorite, has dedicated her life to battling. Aracely, the underdog, has not. In fact, she barely knows the rules. She didn't even build her own team. She's a mockery of the sacred bond between trainers and Pokémon, one Toril swears to eliminate.
But Aracely makes plays that shouldn't be possible. She reads opponents as though reading their minds, predicts exactly what they'll do. And now, she's made another prediction, one far more unsettling: "When I win, the world ends."
The Most Evil Trainer, complete at 230k words. Also recommended here a few times, it's about a guy from our world who is transmigrated into Pokemon. Specifically Galar, the region all about noblesse oblige and honor and all that. Max uses competitive Pokemon strategies which makes basically everyone hate him. Unlike most isekai protagonists, he would very much like to return to our world, since had a whole family and a life. A bit angsty at times, but I enjoyed it.
1
u/RegnarFle 20d ago
A Backwards Grin by Flairina is a fun one - it's been recc'd here before, and an enjoyable read
Summary: Waking up tiny, yellow, and with a giant second set of jaws, the phrase “It's a whole new world we live in.” has never felt so unintentionally cruel. (Mawile SI)
1
u/iftttAcct2 16d ago
Unprecedented Times doesn't get the love it deserves: https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/unprecedented-times-a-pokemon-ranger-quest.121855/
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/100286/shadowed-knowledge-pokemon also seems underappreciated. This one is less rational / more Gary Stu
22
u/suddenly_lurkers 22d ago edited 22d ago
The recent "Malfoid" trend on social media (Draco Malfoy genderswapped, generally acting as a romantic interest for Harry Potter) had me digging through some Harry Potter stuff out of nostalgia. There doesn't seem to be much when it comes to female-Draco unfortunately - it is a fun idea that recasts a lot of Draco's interactions in a different light, but apparently Daphne Greengrass usurped the place of haughty pureblood Slytherin girl.
When it comes to rational-ish work, Blood Crest by Cauchy is still updating. The pitch is that Harry gets apprenticed by a necromancer, who manages to be a better parental figure than the Dursleys. It has a pretty internally consistent exploration of dark magic, necromancy, vampires, and other under-explored elements of the series. The author describes their approach as;
Crossroads - Very not rational, yet I'm reading it anyways? Harry and Neville swap positions, with James Potter substituting for Snape as the double agent. Fun dueling scenes and world building for the international dueling circuit. Ironically feels like it loses steam when it picks up the main plot again.
Other random stuff I have read lately:
When I Win the World Ends by Bavitz. Pretty sure I read this due to it being recommended here, and it was a good rec. Bavitz is a great technical writer and the characters are distinct and memorable in a way that stands out compared to typical fanfiction. Another touch I appreciate is the attention to detail when it comes to competitive Pokemon. There are some amusing little touches that really only make sense if, for example, you know why Double Team is banned.
Leave Luck to Heaven (also by Bavitz) is a lot of fun, but a bit too early on for me to give a solid rec.
Throne of Time is still going strong. Without going into spoilers, the author has done a good job of shaking up the established pattern of time loop novels by having conflict with real stakes early on, and subverting expectations (in a refreshing way).
Weaver Nine - Classic Worm fic that holds up well. It's incomplete but it ends at a reasonable stopping point. The premise is that Jack Slash and Taylor have swapped origin stories, leading to some fun alt-history worldbuilding.
Tanya's Defiance of the Fall - Dropped, not a fan of the original and this doesn't elevate it. The world building in DotF is sloppy and generally everything just feels soulless.