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191st out of 223 books
—
233 voters
Ponies
by
Kij Johnson
If you want to be friends with TheOtherGirls, you're going to have to give something up; this is the way it's always been, as long as there have been Ponies.
Kindle Edition, 3 pages
Published
February 1st 2011
by Tor Books
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722)
Nov 09, 2011
Bonnie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People fond of bloody unicorns?
Shelves:
anthologies-and-short-stories
Uh ... what the hell did I just read?
This was like Mean Girls and My Little Pony on crack. With unicorns. And bloody body parts. But it's okay, because the blood smells like cotton candy.
..Excuse me, what?
This was like Mean Girls and My Little Pony on crack. With unicorns. And bloody body parts. But it's okay, because the blood smells like cotton candy.
..Excuse me, what?
23 likes · like · see review
view all 12 comments
WEEEEE I'M A PONY!! YAY I CAN FLY AND STAB PEOPLE WITH MY HORN! LET'S MAKE FRIENDS. YAAAY, FRIENDS! WAIT, NOOOOO, DON'T DO THAT. THAT HURTS, FRIENDS. DON'T KILL ME!! AHHHHHHHHHHH! I'M A PONY! WHO WANTS TO HURT A PONY?! NOOOOOOOOO!!
Interested? I thought so.
This short story is exactly that - short. But EVER so insightful. It is remarkable how something so short can be so insightful. It will literally take you like 2 seconds to read, but you will not be able to stop thinking about it.
Kids who hurt...more
Interested? I thought so.
This short story is exactly that - short. But EVER so insightful. It is remarkable how something so short can be so insightful. It will literally take you like 2 seconds to read, but you will not be able to stop thinking about it.
Kids who hurt...more
50 likes · like · see review
This very short and dark story about a group of girls and beautiful, bright, colorful ponies explores the terrible consequences of not thinking for oneself and reminds me of one of the reasons I hated my childhood. It made me angry, made me sad, and broke my heart. Quite a feat for just 3 pages. Thanks to Stephen for bringing this one to my attention. This story can be read for free at Tor.com.
14 likes · like · see review
WARNING: This 3 page story can cause WRENCHED HEART, EMOTIONAL DEVASTATION and may leave you quivering on the floor like a jello mold in a wind storm.
I read this story back in February on www.tor.com and I STILL can’t stop thinking about it. It absolutely chewed me up. A little girl (Barbara) and her magical pony (Sunny) receive the following invitation from the “IT crowd” of popular girls.
I read this story back in February on www.tor.com and I STILL can’t stop thinking about it. It absolutely chewed me up. A little girl (Barbara) and her magical pony (Sunny) receive the following invitation from the “IT crowd” of popular girls.
You and your Pony ___[and Sunny’s name is handwritten here, in puffy letters]___ are invited to a cutti...more
32 likes · like · see review
Thanks to Nancyfor posting about this one. I would never have known about it otherwise. This story can be read for free at Tor.com It's a very short read and like Nancy it made me angry and confirmed AGAIN much that I had thought about "fitting in" while growing up and about the nature of "girlfriends" and their groups of friends. It's also a sad reflection of what in general folk do to each other to be eligible join "the group".
Mean Girls comes to mind
Ironic to read this today as earlier this...more
Mean Girls comes to mind
Ironic to read this today as earlier this...more
8 likes · like · see review
This is a story about growing up and desperately wanting to fit in, and
I can't really say why this story made me think of this, and I know that this probably isn't the message that the author was trying to send out there, but as soon as I read this story I started thinking about Female Genital Circumcision. FGC has been practiced for centuries in western and southern Asia, the Middle East and large areas of Africa, generally as one element of the rite of passage preparing young girls for womanho...more
I can't really say why this story made me think of this, and I know that this probably isn't the message that the author was trying to send out there, but as soon as I read this story I started thinking about Female Genital Circumcision. FGC has been practiced for centuries in western and southern Asia, the Middle East and large areas of Africa, generally as one element of the rite of passage preparing young girls for womanho...more
6 likes · like · see review
Feb 25, 2011
Jillian -always aspiring-
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Nobody? Anybody? I am left conflicted.
Recommended to Jillian -always aspiring- by:
Lyndsey
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
7 likes · like · see review
I want to cry.
I want to be sick.
I just...
Well, I sort of want to scream at Kij Johnson. Not because "Ponies" is bad but because it's just so good.
It's unbearably good. My stomach actually hurts. And it's so short - my GR friend, Flann, made a comment on my review about, by the time she'd left her comment, I'd have finished. And I had! (Goodreads magic!)
Visceral. It's the best kind of sci-fi, the stuff that is so rare (especially now, to sound like a kids-these-days whiner): it takes what sounds...more
I want to be sick.
I just...
Well, I sort of want to scream at Kij Johnson. Not because "Ponies" is bad but because it's just so good.
It's unbearably good. My stomach actually hurts. And it's so short - my GR friend, Flann, made a comment on my review about, by the time she'd left her comment, I'd have finished. And I had! (Goodreads magic!)
Visceral. It's the best kind of sci-fi, the stuff that is so rare (especially now, to sound like a kids-these-days whiner): it takes what sounds...more
7 likes · like · see review
What I learned from this story: Peer pressure is a bitch.
5 likes · like · see review
I can see why this is up for a Nebula. Fantastic, dark short about peer pressure, the loss of innocence, about killing the child inside so one can become a proper adult. Stephen King recently wrote an article fearing the short story was dead as a form. Examples such as this one are evidence that perhaps the short story is not dead yet.
7 likes · like · see review
Love the ending ;) I don't think my childhood was as drastic :P (and I don't mean cutting off your pet's bodyparts ), but it definitely says a lot about how shitty it can be ;)
This story perfectly shows how people(kids and teens) will do anything to be accepted in society. They will do anything, sad but true.
4 likes · like · see review
Spooky! But sadly, all too true.
Actually it is very good story about the pressure to lose one's imagination, among other things.
Actually it is very good story about the pressure to lose one's imagination, among other things.
My little pony, my little pony, I comb and brush her hair...
This is so twisted! What impresses me the most about this short, short story is that it delivers such a bang in so few words. The closest I can come to describing how it made me feel is how I felt after reading Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" -- high praise indeed. Don't miss this one! Story can be found here.
This is so twisted! What impresses me the most about this short, short story is that it delivers such a bang in so few words. The closest I can come to describing how it made me feel is how I felt after reading Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" -- high praise indeed. Don't miss this one! Story can be found here.
Feb 13, 2012
John
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommended to John by:
Alyx Dellamonica
Shelves:
fantasy,
literature
Heavy handed preaching from the pulpet, this letter to the editor attempts to say something about female adolescence, growing up and fitting in.
Summary: Every girl has a pony. Every pony has three fantastic traits. Every girl must sacrifice two of the three traits as the girl grows up. In this story, TheOtherGirls that the FMC wants to hang out with make her give up all three traits and in the end the Pony dies. Then, because she doesn't have a pony, TheOtherGirls reject her.
The story can be sum...more
Summary: Every girl has a pony. Every pony has three fantastic traits. Every girl must sacrifice two of the three traits as the girl grows up. In this story, TheOtherGirls that the FMC wants to hang out with make her give up all three traits and in the end the Pony dies. Then, because she doesn't have a pony, TheOtherGirls reject her.
The story can be sum...more
Read it here. It's short and free.
Seriously. Um... how is one supposed to rate this story?
I'd recommend this for stupid people. But then again, they probably wouldn't understand the social commentary.
So I didn't like it. Because how can you like it? But I don't want to give it one star because it was very good. It wasn't perfect - it's hard to make a short story perfect - but it is still damn good. A great idea executed in a very fine way. The writing was fine as well, no issues there.
But still,...more
Seriously. Um... how is one supposed to rate this story?
I'd recommend this for stupid people. But then again, they probably wouldn't understand the social commentary.
So I didn't like it. Because how can you like it? But I don't want to give it one star because it was very good. It wasn't perfect - it's hard to make a short story perfect - but it is still damn good. A great idea executed in a very fine way. The writing was fine as well, no issues there.
But still,...more
The story is available here. Go read, I'll wait -- it'll take you less than four minutes.
Yeah, I need someone to explain to me what's so brilliant about this. Because it's being talked about like it's this amazing, groundbreaking thing, and I'm reading a controlled and perfectly constructed but ultimately shallow parable about dreams and fitting in.
I mean, it's very well done, obviously -- the archetypal TopGirl and everyoneLikesHerGirl, the cartoonishly nauseating violence. That moment where th...more
Yeah, I need someone to explain to me what's so brilliant about this. Because it's being talked about like it's this amazing, groundbreaking thing, and I'm reading a controlled and perfectly constructed but ultimately shallow parable about dreams and fitting in.
I mean, it's very well done, obviously -- the archetypal TopGirl and everyoneLikesHerGirl, the cartoonishly nauseating violence. That moment where th...more
3 likes · like · see review
Mar 07, 2011
Werner
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone tempted to do things to fit into a clique
Recommended to Werner by:
My Goodreads friend Jim
Shelves:
fantasy
This isn't really a book; it's a short story, available online or via an e-reader. Because it's very short (about three pages), I made an exception to my usual practice and read it online. At first glance, it's a story about teen girls, perhaps 14-15, and their pet magical unicorn ponies, cute creatures with wings who can fly and talk. But be warned --there's absolutely nothing cute or heartwarming about it. It's an unsparing look at the lengths people (especially pubescent kids with unformed st...more
This Nebula award nominated short story pushes some readers' buttons and they light up. Not mine. Maybe your's?
Want to weigh in on this one? Take my gendered reading poll.
Still eager for more? Take the generations poll.
It will be interesting to see how tween readers and guys respond to this contemporary dark fairy tale. I will try it out on some and let you know how it goes. The saving grace: It is short and to-the-point, though not sweet.
MY RATING versus The TWEENs (a quick avg rating of th...more
Want to weigh in on this one? Take my gendered reading poll.
Still eager for more? Take the generations poll.
It will be interesting to see how tween readers and guys respond to this contemporary dark fairy tale. I will try it out on some and let you know how it goes. The saving grace: It is short and to-the-point, though not sweet.
MY RATING versus The TWEENs (a quick avg rating of th...more
3 likes · like · see review
Although this was a very short short story, it was more impactful than some full length books that I've read. There is a huge amount of meaning crammed into this little tale, all of which hit the reader in layer after layer of horribleness.
This story was extremely well written, concise, and definitely drives the point home, but gosh, I hated it. The meaning that can be pulled out of the story varies from reader to reader - each I think can identify with the story in different ways. Reading revi...more
This story was extremely well written, concise, and definitely drives the point home, but gosh, I hated it. The meaning that can be pulled out of the story varies from reader to reader - each I think can identify with the story in different ways. Reading revi...more
Okay I gave up. I saw everyone reviewing this and it was like a second long so I decided to give into peer pressure even though it sounded retarded.
It was pretty weird and disturbing...
But other than that, it's kind of a dramatized look into the lengths people will go to in order to fit in with other people. So that was pretty interesting.
If you have a minute, why not, I suppose? Still pretty weird though.
It was pretty weird and disturbing...
But other than that, it's kind of a dramatized look into the lengths people will go to in order to fit in with other people. So that was pretty interesting.
If you have a minute, why not, I suppose? Still pretty weird though.
Apr 15, 2013
Amy Awesome
added it
This story isn't bad, not at all. What we've got here is My Little Pony meets Saw, the really short, and quite malicious story of how far one will go to fit into society.
Now, imagine your best friend is a talking unicorn with wings. Add some machetes. Horsey parts are flying everywhere. Blood with the sweetness of a candy addict. There's literally sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows, only this time it's not a song from the 60's, rather Hannibal Lecter doing his thing to a bunch of pretty ponies....more
Now, imagine your best friend is a talking unicorn with wings. Add some machetes. Horsey parts are flying everywhere. Blood with the sweetness of a candy addict. There's literally sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows, only this time it's not a song from the 60's, rather Hannibal Lecter doing his thing to a bunch of pretty ponies....more
OH. MY. GOD.
Too many memories flooding back to me . . .
I have no words for this little story.
It haunted me.
It shocked me.
It perplexed me.
It depressed me.
It punched me . . . straight to my mind.
How can a simple story like this one made me have so many emotions? This was cruel. Those characters were mean! Like those bitches in elementary school!!("Oh, Merary, get over it . . ." SHUT UP!!)
"You want to join us? Then give up everything for us! Just kidding!! Since you don't have anything anymore, yo...more
Too many memories flooding back to me . . .
I have no words for this little story.
It haunted me.
It shocked me.
It perplexed me.
It depressed me.
It punched me . . . straight to my mind.
How can a simple story like this one made me have so many emotions? This was cruel. Those characters were mean! Like those bitches in elementary school!!("Oh, Merary, get over it . . ." SHUT UP!!)
"You want to join us? Then give up everything for us! Just kidding!! Since you don't have anything anymore, yo...more
Fantasy/Parable. Available for download here.
My favorite part of this short story is the unexpected way violence is portrayed. I expected blood, but it was painless and pink and cotton candy scented, like cutting into a My Little Pony. The rest of the story is, if not predictable -- it wasn't long enough for me to start thinking about how it would end -- at least unsurprising.
I liked the meta touches. TopGirl and TheOtherGirls are like MadLibs, you just fill in your own blanks because something...more
My favorite part of this short story is the unexpected way violence is portrayed. I expected blood, but it was painless and pink and cotton candy scented, like cutting into a My Little Pony. The rest of the story is, if not predictable -- it wasn't long enough for me to start thinking about how it would end -- at least unsurprising.
I liked the meta touches. TopGirl and TheOtherGirls are like MadLibs, you just fill in your own blanks because something...more
This is a very short story. Insightful. Beautiful. Cruel. So is life, though.
Friendship is Magic. You must not cut the magic. You must nourish it.
Ако искате да го прочетете, открих превод тук: Кончета, от Кидж Джонсън
And for a little smile:
Friendship is Magic. You must not cut the magic. You must nourish it.
Ако искате да го прочетете, открих превод тук: Кончета, от Кидж Джонсън
And for a little smile:
I just copied and pasted my comment on Stephen Sullivan's review. :)
This may be relatively spoilerific, but the story IS only a couple pages long anyway:
Wow, I just read this. My wife's reading a book about communism in China and that's exactly what this story reminds me of. Instead of building people up, it's all about tearing people down.
Also reminds me of the short story by Kurt Vonnegut, Harrison Bergeron, where after the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the constitution, all Americans...more
This may be relatively spoilerific, but the story IS only a couple pages long anyway:
Wow, I just read this. My wife's reading a book about communism in China and that's exactly what this story reminds me of. Instead of building people up, it's all about tearing people down.
Also reminds me of the short story by Kurt Vonnegut, Harrison Bergeron, where after the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the constitution, all Americans...more
4 likes · like · see review
As illustrated before me, this story takes five minutes to read.
It was fantastic.
This short story does everything one could hope for in a quick read. It elicits a strong emotional response of sadness coupled with a comprehension of the cruelties that can be encountered in childhood.
Though I will point out that it seems a bit Hollywood at its core. I say this under the premise that this paints an unfair picture of the price to be popular. You don't have to give up your soul to join the popular c...more
It was fantastic.
This short story does everything one could hope for in a quick read. It elicits a strong emotional response of sadness coupled with a comprehension of the cruelties that can be encountered in childhood.
Though I will point out that it seems a bit Hollywood at its core. I say this under the premise that this paints an unfair picture of the price to be popular. You don't have to give up your soul to join the popular c...more
2 likes · like · see review
This review is going to be very short as I just want to get the word out about this fantastic story. I read this short story thinking it would be a My Little Pony fan fiction. I was very very very wrong. I should have looked at the cover illustration more closely. This short story does have colorful ponies with wings and horns but it is very disturbing. After reading this I only had one thing to say: "What did I just read?"
After clearing my head of the colorful bloody ponies I could find the mes...more
After clearing my head of the colorful bloody ponies I could find the mes...more
Okay, first of all just let me say: creepy
the cover, the story, all creepy! It is also really good. It's a great metaphor of how children act in groups( although my brother didn't get it, he didn't get the "big deal of a girl loosing her pony") It's made even creepier though by how easily this is accepted by the other girls and that taking a ponies wings,horn, and voice away is accepted by everyone as "good and normal".I like how the author made everything seem magical and perfect.Everything see...more
the cover, the story, all creepy! It is also really good. It's a great metaphor of how children act in groups( although my brother didn't get it, he didn't get the "big deal of a girl loosing her pony") It's made even creepier though by how easily this is accepted by the other girls and that taking a ponies wings,horn, and voice away is accepted by everyone as "good and normal".I like how the author made everything seem magical and perfect.Everything see...more
I don't understand what the big deal is about this story. I mean, first off: it's well-written and engaging, definitely worth a read (especially because reading it will take you about 15 minutes). However: hugo material? Er, not really. The story is about the cruelty of children, and the price of fitting in--so nothing that hasn't been written about many, many times before. And I feel like it doesn't really bring anything more than the standard "kids are mean, conformity is bad" to this, nothing...more
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Kij Johnson is an American writer of fantasy. She has worked extensively in publishing: managing editor for Tor Books and Wizards of the Coast/TSR, collections editor for Dark Horse Comics, project manager working on the Microsoft Reader, and managing editor of Real Networks. She is Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, and serves as a fina...more
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