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best of the /boot/ - recommended reading

By afterpaste
Created: 2021-10-05 18:36:45
Updated: 2022-11-05 03:54:58
Expiry: Never

2013-2018 Legacy boot: ( Pioneers of living bootlegs )
Broken Anon A trip through many often unexplored mixed emotions and views, teetering between grim and heart melting, the slow subtle changes make Vanadise the 1st bootleg that could make a change for the better, even to the most jaded or hateful. There are many bootlegs that can be waifus, but this one is a daughteru.
Damaged Goods A sci-fi story that set the idea of explorations of Hassenfelds and other bootlegs into darker concepts while still maintaining the feels that the general is so good at.
Half-Assed and Bootlegged A short comfy green that hits all the right notes of /bootleg/ while mixing Hassenfeld ponies and playing with expectations
De-Meaning the Six (1)
2018-2022 Classic boot: ( !warning! feels zone of defects )
Rare The masterpiece that hit with a nuclear force and set the tone of /bootleg/ for years enough to become a general, showing us you don't need long stories to leave an impact. Still to this day considered a must read and the most popular cap.
Twibot The first romance of the thread after Rare transformed bootleg from one offs into a niche general, and a powerful green about overcoming barriers, not judging a book by its cover thats beyond your control.
Apuljyak The old longest running green and a great adventure story at that, you can tell a lot of research went into this setting with added twists and turns. Apul carried classic bootleg interest after the feels faded
Rambo Fast Very well written and extremely good at making you empathize with the main character, you'll wish this wasn't unfinished
Twill Shorts Recaptured the heartstrings that Rare pulled on, but without it all being soul-crushing. Representing the light at the end of the tunnel for the unwanted and a small return to OG bootleg that predated the general.
Carpathia Unlike any other and at creating that unsettling but depressing atmosphere and the short lived creepy cheerfulness of Derby we rarely see
Workshop This short stood out as the first multi-boot green that took place in high sci-fi setting and was a good glimpse into an optimistic take on the choices on how to live with fakes with no regrets
Sunshine (S)miles Miles was among the first to show 1st impressions matter, but not as much as second chances. In a way the proto-patches with much of the same sweetness, crushing on Anon, and a sense of a bigger world.
Jolly Twinkles Jolly is set in a unique situation of Anon losing his old job and building a new future. Though short the worldbuilding is enough to easily be expanded onto a full story
Hope A peek into what it's like to be a powerless little keychain pony
2019-2020 Revived boot: ( Purity, lighthearted or cozy )
Minky Natural characterization of Marble, and one of the comfiest greens the thread has ever had giving Anon an upgrade in life from the start. A different kind of escapism with an unexpected guest is what some of us needs most... a new friend.
Jacky (1) Excels at what many struggle with, the natural way it makes them seem more like real people. Bucked the trends of the thread and a favorite outside the general, however it's long and meandering with major plot points sprinkled between lots of casual downtime
Zooma
House of Boots Funny but charming series of skits that embraces the silly side, and some fresh air into what used to be a heavy general. This was unappreciated until the full string of shorts was recently put together and nailing how Anons feel about them as part of the family
Patches Patches was very ambitious with a full cast of bootlegs including Racer. These aren't the low-tech bootlegs of yesteryear, but high end Ponycoms. Charming and cute, bringing a big role swap with a very forward bootleg. - inspired Blotches as a direct side-story in the same setting
Missie Pie A change of pace for something deeper and realistic, these are worn but compelling characters. It makes even more of an impact which they are based off, Pinkie but leaves bittersweet with just a small window of time. Read Jacky part 4 before, and Angel Cake's Quest after for the Missie Trilogy
Flutterlime Amidst an setting of a toyshop was Limeshy, who shifted away from the trend of 'inferior' by being the fakie, infact she's even more bold than the pony shes based off of. Flutterlime is a pleasant reminder that feels aren't necessary to write bootlegs people like
Freedom & Commie A flash in the pan of comedic brilliance that reset bootleg onto a lighter track, and the first to play with the idea of living toys.
2019-... Spooky boot: ( Halloween'd up boots, things get weird and wild but not always dark )
Forever
Week of Terror
My Little Demon
Photo Finished (α) Photo is unlike any other bootleg (for now...) that brings a creeping dread and questioning sanity. Introducing the idea that bootlegs can even be vessels. The anti-raggie, it's not clear what Photo is, friend or foe or if shes dangerous to Anon or good for him.
Tinny the tinfoil conspiracy pony Hilarious nonsense that throws everything at the wall and the old limitations of the thread out the window and pulling it off with flying colors.
Nightmare Rare Anon's life hasn't been the same since opening a portal to Hell for his waifu, but there are special rules that can not be broken without punishment
2020-... New boot: ( )
Condense
Midnight (1)

It's Always Sunny in Fillydelphia (By Anon)

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Dollar Tree Poney (By Anon)

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Freedom & Commie (By Anon)

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Snootle Saturn and Star (By Anon)

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Rare shorts (By Anons)

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