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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. Purple = highly recommended Spoiler warnings are not thorough. I have basically included spoiler warnings for things I personally would have wanted to be warned about.
Easy stuff to start with:
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
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
  • 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
    • Major spoilers for Puella Magi Madoka Magica in subcontinuity "West"
    • If you plan to read Osirion 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 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:

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