• Story: What Separates (Update Sequel Part 1!)


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    Author: Zurock
    Description: An effort to analyze, explore, reflect on, and understand several real world concepts and themes by echoing them off the more harmonious ideals and reality of Equestria. In story, this is driven by a human soldier's arrival there, and the struggle of both sides to understand not only the physical nature of the others' reality, but the heart behind it as well.
    What Separates
    Melancholy Days (New Sequel Part 1)

    Additional Tags: Philosophy, Reflection, Education, Dialogue, Why

    43 comments:

    1. Sounds very interesting

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    2. Pretty much the most vague description possible. It sounds more like a social sciences thesis than a fanfic! That certainly doesn't mean it isn't worth reading though.

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    3. Incoherent blurb.
      Does that mean the story
      will be much better?

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    4. I'll give this story a go. I'm usually not interested in [Human in Equestria] fanfics, but that description kind of intrigues me.

      Speaking of which, this probably should have a Human tag so it's searchable in the archive.

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    5. That was very interesting. Very well written for sure. I think I'm going to have to keep an eye out for this one.

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    6. Looks promising.... Will report back later

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    7. Read the first of nine chapters and it so far is a really good read and has me hooked to say the least!

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    8. I've been reading this. It's pretty good so far, if you're into the whole sociology thing. Which I am.

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    9. Hmm. The thinking man's pony.
      I should enjoy this but we'll see.
      I think I would be more comfortable with the ponies having a sociological take on our world with more than just one human as reference considering that humanity's greatest strength is diversity and our greatest weakness is ignorance.

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    10. so is this really incomplete or is the tag wrong?

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    11. Wow, that was satisfyingly deep for a change. I think something like this has been what I've always been looking for in HiE fics. I can't wait for more.

      Though I have a feeling this one will have a lot of very long waits for this one :(

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    13. An interesting description, not sure if I'm going to read it for pleasure or try to grade it for a Philosophy Thesis. Try something that's mysterious and might hook the reader. Just a friendly thought.

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    14. It's very well written, but I have some trouble with the Equestria philosophy it espouses.

      Conflict is neither unknown nor unimaginable to ponies. Even attempts at lethal conflict, to use Daring Do's adventure as an example, are understood. Unless you want to claim the spiked sand trap was somehow intended to be less than deadly.

      Even several older examples still prove this point. Rainbow is willing, even eager, to use force to remove the sleeping dragon. She advocates action and the moment she's given the chance, kicks it in the face.

      Hell, they tell stories about Nightmare Moon eating up little ponies on Nightmare Night. Yes, they aren't serious, but you can't tell a scary story about something you can't even fathom.

      I'm not saying Equestria isn't peaceful, but it is not a shining utopia either. There's a lot more evidence to support my position but this comment is too long already.

      TL:DR A good story, but the basis is weak.

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    15. Having read the first chapter, I would recommend skipping this story and reading Article 2 instead.

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    16. @Sebiale

      Well as long as you don't have an irrational hatred of HiE stories you should read Article 2. Hell Article 2 should be required reading. I don't think it's THAT bad though.

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    17. It's stories like these that make me want to live in Equestria... Looking at this world, and seeing what Equestria has to offer, it'd be an easy choice to make.

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    18. Very interesting. Just read the 3ed chapter as of now.

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    19. I'm afraid this story lost me after the first several paragraphs. All the complex sentences become numbing. It doesn't help that nothing particularly interesting is happening.

      I skimmed through the rest of the chapter and the next, but didn't see any real reason to continue. Even if the idea is philosophical fireworks rather than exciting storytelling, the story needs more up-front reward for the reader.

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    20. @BeastialPony Ah, sociology. As we 'pure' scientists say, the most useless of all majors! I scoff at sociology! Scoff scoff scoff! And philosophy! Ugh! A sitting around wondering "Why is there air?" all day! >:D

      The only remotely philosophical question I'm interested in is why is it always soldiers who seem to end up in Equestria? Or wizards? What about us scientists?! WE'RE the ones constantly pushing the boundaries of the known! If anyone is going to rip open a tunnel to another dimension or travel to another planet, it's gonna be us! We'll also likely inadvertantly blow everything up... but it's not our fault! Things like that just happen! How was I to know the thing was an antimatter containment... I mean... oh look at that! A distraction! >____>

      Ah, I suppose we mega-geniuses get a raw deal in fiction because we'd react so logically and analytically upon discovering this fascinating new world that there wouldn't be any conflict to resolve. We'd be all like "Live long and propser" (Vulcan hand greeting). Not "OMG TALKING PONY THINGS THAT ARE MUST HAVE BE DEMONS!!! I R SHOOT DEM WIF MAH GUN!!"

      We'd be rather perplexed by magic being real, which woud require us to toss out pretty much everything we know about relativity and quantum mechanics. The 'laws' we cling to would be merely 'guidelines' for the 'normal' world, which magic could merrily trapse around whenever desired.

      Unless it was an EEEEEEEVIL scientist! Though that would make it pretty hard to turn him into a likeable protagonist. Then it'd end up being a typical 'humans are bad' fic.

      No, the scientist in Equestria would have to be there by some accident, and end up being important to helping stop an antagonist. I mean, I suppose one could write a story about a scientist having a 300 page dissertation with Twilight and Celestia about the inner workings of magical energy and how it relates to scientific principles. But I think everyponies' eyes would end up catatonic after the first 30 pages of equations.

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    21. An incredibly interesting read. Really delves into the morals of each society and their differences, both physically and mentally.
      Hope to read new chapters soon.

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    22. @Alondro

      If you're looking for a scientist in Equestria there is "The God Particle"

      http://www.fimfiction.net/story/5676/The-God-Particle

      It's a pretty ok read. I take some issues with it but I think it's the best in what you're looking for so far.

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    23. It was alrIght, and I can appreciate the Pilisophical aspects of it. However, I would like to point out that no modern soldier would ever have shoulder-length hair, as you described. As a military brony myself, this bothered me.

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    24. I've read it, and I can't help but be afraid of what Fluttershy's reaction will be when Twilight finally works up the nerve to explain their new friend to her.

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    25. Definitely one of the better Human-in-Equestria fics I've seen, looking forward to moar.

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    26. I felt the last few chapters were a bit weak but 13 seems to have gotten your groove back. Neat place to leave off at.

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    27. 'Daring Do and the Domain of the Gemstone Horn'?
      Brilliant Indiana Jones reference xD
      Once again, more solid chapters for a solid story

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    28. ...Whoa. Chapter 14 is pretty heavy. I might actually have to reread it a few times in order to process everything.

      I don't know if you read these comments, Zurock, but excellent story so far. I really appreciate the sociological and philosophical perspectives of this fanfic.

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    29. @Alondro

      There is a HiE story about a scientist called "The God Particle". I didn't finish it though because I thought the human was a bit condescending and unlikeable.

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    30. @Benschachar Oh! Well then it was a perfectly realistic story! We scientists are usually condescending and unlikeable!

      Take me for instance. When I was a young scientist, I was VERY conceited!

      But that has all changed now that I am perfect! >;3

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    31. Did anyone notice 95% of all HiE fics are males?
      Just a thought.

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    32. @Ethan

      And usually under 30. Probably stems from most of the writers being from the same category. I'm at least happy this one isn't about a male, brony, high school/college student though. Dear Celestia we have enough of those stories already.

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    33. Oh wow, I remember when this first had come out. Seeing it again is a bit weird, but welcome! The philosophical tone of it seems to make it a good read all on its own.

      (I haven't seen a Blogger-comment post in a while either)

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    34. It's not over yet. Just the end of the first part. Looking forward to the next.

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    35. Was kinda wondering why it noted an epilogue as the story barely felt started. Yet it's only the end of part 1 of x. So far it's been an interesting read.

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    36. I find it quite enjoyable and slightly disturbing. Excellent philosophical points even if the ideologies may appear to be slightly more extreme than in reality.

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    38. Oh thank god, there's gonna be more. I can't wait!

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