Clover's newbie-friendly reading list Real quick glowfic 101 What is glowfic? Glowfic is a genre of webfiction! It’s a cross between a text roleplay and a coauthored story. It started as a collaboration by a couple of writers, Alicorn and Kappa, on dreamwidth; now it has its own website, called “the Constellation.” If you want more information, here's the community guide to glowfic and the wiki glossary. There’s an awful lot of glowfic and no obvious way to tell which things are prerequisite for which other things! Where do I start? If you just want a single generic rec: Start with in color by Alicorn and lintamande. It was the first glowfic I (and a lot of other people) read and requires basically no background. If you want you can read this setting explanation first. If there are specific themes you're interested in reading about, or if you want something pretty short: you can take this uquiz to recommend you a starter glowfic. If you want a list of options: Check out the newbie-friendly reading list on the next page of this guide. What if I want to read things by a specific author, or involving a specific character? You can go to their author page (respectively, character page) on the Constellation and choose from their list of threads or continuities. You can also enter, for example, [author="Alicorn"] into the wiki search bar to find wiki pages for glowfic written by Alicorn. Reading list A list of glowfic I recommend, in what I think is a basically reasonable reading order. Purple = highly recommended Reading time = time it took me to read, for those where I kept track. Spoiler warnings are not thorough. I have basically included spoiler warnings for things I personally would have wanted to be warned about. Nothing listed is more than mildly NSFW. This list was written in 2019-2020. I am not planning to update it. Easy stuff to start with: in color (Sandbox) - Alicorn, lintamande Prerequisites: optionally, this setting description Reading time: ~days Wiki link i've got a list of names (Sandbox) - Alicorn, lintamande Prerequisites: in color; possibly benefits from having read Silmaril first but I didn't and it was fine Reading time: ~days Wiki link with the time that is given us (Continuity) - apprenticebard, lintamande Prerequisites: none Reading time: ~days Moderate spoilers for early Buffy (don't remember if season 1 or 2) I read this before watching Buffy and kinda wished I'd done it in the other order Wiki link while there's still evil afoot (Sandbox) - apprenticebard, lintamande Prerequisites: with the time that is given us Wiki link Where it all began: Luminosity and Radiance (Fanfic) - Alicorn Prerequisites: none (not even Twilight) This is not a glowfic, but it's very good and it's what the foundational glowfic, Effulgence, is based off of Effulgence (Continuity) up to subcontinuity "will you marry me" - Alicorn, Kappa Reading time: a month (it will eat your life) Major spoilers for Ender's Game Wiki link More Effulgence please: catch without release (subcontinuity of Effulgence) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: none Reading time: < an hour like a thief in the day (Sandbox) - Alicorn, lintamande Prerequisites: in color, catch without release Reading time: a couple hours Wiki link in spite of a nail (Sandbox) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: Effulgence up through “they bite” Reading time: ~half an hour Wiki link the prime directive (subcontinuity of Effulgence) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: none Reading time: hours an art project (subcontinuity of Effulgence) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: none Major spoilers for the Vorkosigan Saga up through "Mirror Dance" I am so serious about the spoilers, I delayed reading this until I'd read the Vorkosigan saga and I'm really glad I did things in that order something that i want (subcontinuity of Effulgence) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: none Reading time: hours seidr and spear (subcontinuity of Effulgence) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: none unfashionable tattoo (subcontinuity of Effulgence) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: none Reading time: half an hour? Other early Bell continuities: Incandescence (Continuity) - Aestrix, Alicorn Prerequisites: Effulgence up to “truth be told”, plus “unfashionable tattoo” Reading time: a week Wiki link After you’re done, read this wrap-up post Bluebell Flames (Continuity) - Alicorn, Red Prerequisites: optionally, previous exposure to Bells, e.g. Effulgence Reading time: hours Wiki link Eclipse (Continuity) - Alicorn, Red Prequisites: some of Effulgence (optional, for template background) Reading time: days Wiki link Long Arda continuities: Elentári (subcontinuity of Silmaril) - Alicorn, lintamande Prerequisites: optionally, seidr and spear Reading time: a week This is the first, and best standalone, part of Silmaril; it’s worth reading on its own Silmaril wiki link Silmaril (Continuity) - Alicorn, lintamande Prerequisites: details on wiki page; all are optional Reading time: over a month (it will eat your life) Major spoilers for Puella Magi Madoka Magica in subcontinuity "West" If you plan to read Golarion sandboxes (later in this recommendation list), then I recommend delaying reading the subcontinuity Starstone until after you do that Wiki link if the world can’t be saved i’ll save it anyway (Continuity) - lintamande, swimmer963 Prerequisites: optionally, A Song For Two Voices (Fanfic series by swimmer) ASFTV is very long but also very good; if you care about spoilers it's worth reading that first Wiki link Golarion: ask yourself if you could have predicted this (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: none, but benefits from prior exposure to Feanorians and/or Imrainais, e.g. in color or with the time that is given us Wiki link baubles and bangles (Sandbox) - lintamande, Alicorn Prerequisites: none, but benefits from prior exposure to Feanorians and/or Isama, e.g. in color Wiki link fascinate (Sandbox) - lintamande, Alicorn Prerequisites: none, but benefits from prior exposure to Feanorians and/or Rebecca, e.g. in color Wiki link Starstone (subcontinuity of Silmaril) - lintamande, Alicorn Prerequisites: none Silmaril wiki link only that which they defend (Continuity) - lintamande, swimmer963 Prerequisites: preferably at least one thread with lintamande's adventuring party (e.g. ask yourself if you could have predicted this or Starstone) and exposure to Vanyel and Leareth (e.g. A Song For Two Voices or if the world can’t be saved i’ll save it anyway) Wiki link free will was a mistake (Sandbox) - lintamande, Alicorn, swimmer963 Prerequisites: we know we once were gods (subcontinuity of only that which they defend) Wiki link necessities are free (Sandbox) - lintamande, Alicorn Prerequisites: Ibyabek (short story by Alicorn) and we know we once were gods (subcontinuity of only that which they defend) Wiki link Vampires, demons, and Imrainais: what you are in the dark (Sandbox) - apprenticebard, root Prerequisites: preferably, previous exposure to Imrainai/Karen (e.g. with the time that is given us) and previous exposure to Z (e.g. his Amenta RP blog, industrialbruise.tumblr.com) Reading time: < half an hour Wiki link jealous is the night when the morning comes (Sandbox) - Alicorn, apprenticebard Prerequisites: what you are in the dark, Effulgence up through “raise the stakes,” optionally "Daevinity" (subcontinuity of Incandescence) Reading time: an hour Moderate spoilers for Buffy season 2 Wiki link every breath you take (Sandbox) - Alicorn, apprenticebard Prerequisites: "Daevinity" (subcontinuity of Incandescence) Reading time: an hour or two Wiki link bro you need to stop summoning demons in the frat house (Sandbox) - Alicorn, lintamande Prerequisites: with the time that is given us and optionally "Daevinity" (subcontinuity of Incandescence) Wiki link tough guy talk (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: with the time that is given us Wiki link raises some questions for gary gygax (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: with the time that is given us, and prior familiarity with lintamande's adventuring party, e.g. ask yourself if you could have predicted this or Starstone Wiki link much of the world is lawless and cruel (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: none, but benefits from prior exposure to Feanorians and/or Imrainais (e.g. in color or with the time that is given us) and/or from prior exposure to lintamande's adventuring party (e.g. ask yourself if you could have predicted this or Starstone) Wiki link Desperate Measures (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: much of the world is lawless and cruel Wiki link The diamond queen: you were kind to something once (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: none Wiki link some only had hearts that were brave and true (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: none Wiki link anyone who says differently is selling something (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: while there's still evil afoot Wiki link give me the wretched refuse of your teeming shore (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: while there's still evil afoot Wiki link most foolish of all (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: give me the wretched refuse of your teeming shore and you were kind to something once Wiki link you can’t warm the stars with your hands (Sandbox) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: none, but benefits from prior exposure to Feanorians and/or Imrainais Wiki link origin of the diamond queen (Continuity) - lintamande, apprenticebard Prerequisites: much of the world is lawless and cruel (Korva), some only had hearts that were brave and true (Elizabeth), give me the wretched refuse of your teeming shore (huddled-masses), you were kind to something once (Catherine), and while there's still evil afoot (Slayer Karen) Wiki link Forever is a long, long time: repeat after me (Sandbox) - Aestrix, Alicorn Prerequisites: Queen, Visitor, and Changeling (short stories by Alicorn), and Phixable (subcontinuity of Incandescence) Reading time: ~half an hour? Wiki link exact words (Subcontinuity of Effulgence) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: Effulgence, optionally some previous exposure to the Harmonics setting (e.g. repeat after me) Effulgence wiki link blood sweat tear (Sandbox) - Alicorn, Kappa Prerequisites: Effulgence up through “raise the stakes,” plus “exact words” Reading time: a couple hours Wiki link Fairylights (Continuity) - Alicorn, Red Prerequisites: previous exposure to the Harmonics setting, e.g. repeat after me or exact words (optional, for setting and character background) Reading time: a day or two Wiki link choose wisely (Sandbox) - Alicorn, lintamande Prerequisites: previous exposure to the Harmonics setting, previous exposure to fastfairyland (e.g. you were kind to something once) Wiki link Miscellanea: ademption (Sandbox) - swimmer963, Alicorn Prerequisites: Will (short story by Alicorn) and preferably prior familiarity with Vanyel and Leareth (e.g. A Song For Two Voices or if the world can’t be saved i’ll save it anyway) Wiki link cleanliness is next to godliness (Sandbox) - Alicorn, westwind Prerequisites: in color, familiarity with the Cascadia setting, and optionally the Cascadia RP blogs the-fear-of-childishness.tumblr.com and stitchesinablanket.tumblr.com Reading time: a couple hours Wiki link i don't know how to play this hand (Sandbox) - hearts, westwind Prerequisites: none Major spoilers for The Magnus Archives up to season 3 Wiki link people being fundamentally people (Sandbox) - apprenticebard, westwind Prerequisites: none, but benefits from familiarity with Imrainai (e.g. with the time that is given us) and Lev (e.g. i don't know how to play this hand) Minor spoilers for Good Omens Wiki link complete disrespect of the institutional review board (Sandbox) - Unbitwise, root Prerequisites: none Wiki link