What do you think?
Rate this book
Ponies
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.
10 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2010
About the author
Kij Johnson
105 books461 followersKij 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 final judge for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award.
Johnson is the author of three novels and more than 38 short works of fiction. She is best known for her adaptations of Heian-era Japanese myths. She won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short story of 1994 for her novelette in Asimov's, "Fox Magic." In 2001, she won the International Association for the Fantastic in the Art's Crawford Award for best new fantasy novelist of the year. In 2009, she won the World Fantasy Award for "26 Monkeys, Also The Abyss," which was also a finalist for the Hugo and Nebula awards. She won the 2010 Nebula Award for "Spar" and the 2011 Nebula Award for "Ponies," which is also a finalist for the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. Her short story "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change" was a finalist for the 2007 Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and World Fantasy awards. Johnson was also a finalist for the 2004 World Fantasy Award for her novel Fudoki, which was declared one of the best SF/F novels of 2003 by Publishers Weekly.
Johnson is the author of three novels and more than 38 short works of fiction. She is best known for her adaptations of Heian-era Japanese myths. She won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short story of 1994 for her novelette in Asimov's, "Fox Magic." In 2001, she won the International Association for the Fantastic in the Art's Crawford Award for best new fantasy novelist of the year. In 2009, she won the World Fantasy Award for "26 Monkeys, Also The Abyss," which was also a finalist for the Hugo and Nebula awards. She won the 2010 Nebula Award for "Spar" and the 2011 Nebula Award for "Ponies," which is also a finalist for the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. Her short story "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change" was a finalist for the 2007 Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and World Fantasy awards. Johnson was also a finalist for the 2004 World Fantasy Award for her novel Fudoki, which was declared one of the best SF/F novels of 2003 by Publishers Weekly.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
January 11, 2016
This little short story keeps popping up in my feed where my friends are all reading it. I'm nosey so I head over to Tor.com to check out what they are reading. You can follow the lemming trail here if you want to read it. (you know you do)
I will say I'm usually kinda meh about short stories. They never give me enough meat to chew and I'm a chubby girl so that usually just makes me kinda ragey. And hungry.
This story kinda mashes together a warped version of My Little Pony and Mean Girls.
TheOtherGirls outside are listening to an iPod plugged into speakers and playing Wii tennis and watching the Ponies play HideAndSeek and Who’sPrettiest and ThisIsTheBestGame. They are all there, SecondGirl and SuckUpGirl and EveryoneLikesHerGirl and the rest. Barbara only speaks when she thinks she’ll get it right.
Then after I finished reading it I sat and realized something. This dang little story that I read in less than ten minutes made me think and have some feelings.
My friend Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ review is here. She writes a really thought out review, instead of using pretty pictures like I do. Go check it out.
I will say I'm usually kinda meh about short stories. They never give me enough meat to chew and I'm a chubby girl so that usually just makes me kinda ragey. And hungry.
This story kinda mashes together a warped version of My Little Pony and Mean Girls.
TheOtherGirls outside are listening to an iPod plugged into speakers and playing Wii tennis and watching the Ponies play HideAndSeek and Who’sPrettiest and ThisIsTheBestGame. They are all there, SecondGirl and SuckUpGirl and EveryoneLikesHerGirl and the rest. Barbara only speaks when she thinks she’ll get it right.
Then after I finished reading it I sat and realized something. This dang little story that I read in less than ten minutes made me think and have some feelings.
My friend Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ review is here. She writes a really thought out review, instead of using pretty pictures like I do. Go check it out.
February 25, 2011
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 ponies. That about sums it up. And thanks to Stephen for making me aware of it. Thank you! Everyone MUST read it.
Yes, it's disturbing. Another one of those books that is a spoonful of Meth disguised as a spoonful of sugar. It will take you to places you've never dreamed of and hopefully never will. And that is something that I always look for in a story.
Kids are brats!
But I think that we've established that kids can be jerks. However, if you are going to kill a pony or a unicorn - at least, put the meat to good use...
Just kidding, kids!! Please don't kill your ponies and/or unicorns, if you are lucky enough to be in the presence of such awesomeness!
It has been a well known fact for quite some time that girls are mean. I never thought that they would go so far as to hurt a pony, but it seems that nothing is sacred to the little brats. Not in the pursuit of popularity, at least.
Now, we also know that a mean girl can even corrupt a PONY and turn then into murdering maniacs, just at the bat of an eyelash.
I have certainly known girls like this in my life. Even so-called friends are ready to throw you to killer ponies if it means being accepted by someone else. It is all too unfortunate. Maybe if little girls were forced to read this story, they would think twice about being cruel. Somehow, I doubt it though.
Like I said before, this is a MUST read.
You can read this story for FREE: HERE.
All in all. It is an amazing allegory. And so so worth your time. Some will regret reading it, but I really believe that most will be able to fully appreciate it.
I will leave you with this simple thought: Please be kind to your Ponies and/or Unicorns. What have they ever done except for be made of awesome?!
Awesome and hugs, dreams, wishes, happiness, and so on and so forth:
Oh! And superglue, apparently. Who knew?
If you need something to cheer you up afterward (and trust me, you will) - you can always just google "Custom My Little Pony". There are hundreds, maybe thousands!
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 ponies. That about sums it up. And thanks to Stephen for making me aware of it. Thank you! Everyone MUST read it.
Yes, it's disturbing. Another one of those books that is a spoonful of Meth disguised as a spoonful of sugar. It will take you to places you've never dreamed of and hopefully never will. And that is something that I always look for in a story.
Kids are brats!
But I think that we've established that kids can be jerks. However, if you are going to kill a pony or a unicorn - at least, put the meat to good use...
Just kidding, kids!! Please don't kill your ponies and/or unicorns, if you are lucky enough to be in the presence of such awesomeness!
It has been a well known fact for quite some time that girls are mean. I never thought that they would go so far as to hurt a pony, but it seems that nothing is sacred to the little brats. Not in the pursuit of popularity, at least.
Now, we also know that a mean girl can even corrupt a PONY and turn then into murdering maniacs, just at the bat of an eyelash.
I have certainly known girls like this in my life. Even so-called friends are ready to throw you to killer ponies if it means being accepted by someone else. It is all too unfortunate. Maybe if little girls were forced to read this story, they would think twice about being cruel. Somehow, I doubt it though.
Like I said before, this is a MUST read.
You can read this story for FREE: HERE.
All in all. It is an amazing allegory. And so so worth your time. Some will regret reading it, but I really believe that most will be able to fully appreciate it.
I will leave you with this simple thought: Please be kind to your Ponies and/or Unicorns. What have they ever done except for be made of awesome?!
Awesome and hugs, dreams, wishes, happiness, and so on and so forth:
Oh! And superglue, apparently. Who knew?
If you need something to cheer you up afterward (and trust me, you will) - you can always just google "Custom My Little Pony". There are hundreds, maybe thousands!
June 10, 2011
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.
Beautiful, sad, haunting, memorable and brilliant. This is a story you should definitely read. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!
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 cutting-out party with TheOtherGirls! If we like you, and if your Pony does okay, we’ll let you hang out with us.The rest of this short, powerful, UNFORGETTABLE story shows in the starkest of terms the things that people will do to “fit in” or be popular.
Beautiful, sad, haunting, memorable and brilliant. This is a story you should definitely read. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!
December 11, 2019
in case you can't see how cool that cover is:
this is a short story i read ages ago, but never reviewed, and the big gaping blank lack-of-review in a column of reviewed books was irritating me. so here we are.
this is like the cute anime version of Cat's Eye.
it is about peer pressure, mean adolescent girls, sacrifices, and conformity.
in this story, little girls all come with corresponding girl-sized talking ponies, complete with wings and a horn. they go everywhere together, and friendships blossom until the time comes in every girl-and-pony’s life to attend a “cutting-out party.” this will establish their place in the larger community of girls-and-ponies, but it requires a sacrifice to fit in,
"If we like you, and if your Pony does okay, we'll let you hang out with us."
Sunny says, "I can't wait to have friends!"
oh, so desperate to be part of the cool crowd.
but in order to fit in, the pony of each little girl must choose to give up two of the following: their horn, their wings, or their voice. most ponies choose to keep their voice, and barbara’s pony sunny is no different. communication is more important to ponies than self-defense or flight (escape), and probably also to the girls themselves, although Barbara only speaks when she thinks she’ll get it right, so the girls already choosing to make sacrifices of themselves without the corresponding ceremony.
however, there is a horrible surprise that no one tells little girls.
mean girls, why are you so mean? a lot of it has to do with this sense of absent parents/supervision, and how kids will regress to their primal lord-of-the-flies selves without structure
She has a mother who's a pediatrician and a father who's a cardiologist and a small barn and giant trees shading the grass where the Ponies are playing games.
parents are absent in this story, and as important to the little girls as trees or barns. completely inconsequential.
and the final blow – the final horrible twist. well.
kids, and ponies, can be so cruel…
link to read it yourself:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
this is a short story i read ages ago, but never reviewed, and the big gaping blank lack-of-review in a column of reviewed books was irritating me. so here we are.
this is like the cute anime version of Cat's Eye.
it is about peer pressure, mean adolescent girls, sacrifices, and conformity.
in this story, little girls all come with corresponding girl-sized talking ponies, complete with wings and a horn. they go everywhere together, and friendships blossom until the time comes in every girl-and-pony’s life to attend a “cutting-out party.” this will establish their place in the larger community of girls-and-ponies, but it requires a sacrifice to fit in,
"If we like you, and if your Pony does okay, we'll let you hang out with us."
Sunny says, "I can't wait to have friends!"
oh, so desperate to be part of the cool crowd.
but in order to fit in, the pony of each little girl must choose to give up two of the following: their horn, their wings, or their voice. most ponies choose to keep their voice, and barbara’s pony sunny is no different. communication is more important to ponies than self-defense or flight (escape), and probably also to the girls themselves, although Barbara only speaks when she thinks she’ll get it right, so the girls already choosing to make sacrifices of themselves without the corresponding ceremony.
however, there is a horrible surprise that no one tells little girls.
mean girls, why are you so mean? a lot of it has to do with this sense of absent parents/supervision, and how kids will regress to their primal lord-of-the-flies selves without structure
She has a mother who's a pediatrician and a father who's a cardiologist and a small barn and giant trees shading the grass where the Ponies are playing games.
parents are absent in this story, and as important to the little girls as trees or barns. completely inconsequential.
and the final blow – the final horrible twist. well.
kids, and ponies, can be so cruel…
link to read it yourself:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
January 16, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“Why are you here? You’re not OneOfUs. You don’t have a pony.”
Our story begins a little something like this . . .
Okay, maybe not - but sorta. TopGirl is having a pony party and she has invitedTina Barbara to come. Barbara LOVES playing ponies and her pony is just as excited to be invited to go play with TheOtherGirls' ponies. Barbara and her pony know what is expected in order to attend . . .
But realize it's well worth it in order to be friends with all of TheOtherGirls and are sure it's going to be a magical fun time . . .
And it is!!!!
Well, for a little while.
Ponies has the "trainwreck" factor which means EVERYONE has read or is planning on reading it. At 10 pages and me with 15 minutes to kill it was the perfect choice. I'd normally give something like this 3 Stars due to my own issues with not enjoying the super short shorts, but I dreamed about ponies last night *shudder* so it gets 4. Thanks Shelby for providing me with nightmares my brain never could have conjured up on its own.
Want to attend this twisted little party too? You can find your RSVP card here: http://www.tor.com/2010/11/17/ponies/
“Why are you here? You’re not OneOfUs. You don’t have a pony.”
Our story begins a little something like this . . .
Okay, maybe not - but sorta. TopGirl is having a pony party and she has invited
But realize it's well worth it in order to be friends with all of TheOtherGirls and are sure it's going to be a magical fun time . . .
And it is!!!!
Well, for a little while.
Ponies has the "trainwreck" factor which means EVERYONE has read or is planning on reading it. At 10 pages and me with 15 minutes to kill it was the perfect choice. I'd normally give something like this 3 Stars due to my own issues with not enjoying the super short shorts, but I dreamed about ponies last night *shudder* so it gets 4. Thanks Shelby for providing me with nightmares my brain never could have conjured up on its own.
Want to attend this twisted little party too? You can find your RSVP card here: http://www.tor.com/2010/11/17/ponies/
January 4, 2016
Review first posted at www.fantasyliterature.com:
In Kij Johnson’s “Ponies,” winner of the 2010 Nebula short story award, all the girls have cute pet Ponies: short, fat, and brightly colored in various rainbow hues. The Ponies have small round-tipped unicorn horns and fluffy little wings, and they can talk.
But to be friends with TheOtherGirls, each girl must bring her Pony to a “cutting-out party” where the Pony must give up two of the three: its horn, its wings, or its voice. Barbara and her Pony Sunny are excited when they’re invited to a cutting-out party so they can finally be part of the group, but the reality of the party is far worse than they imagined.
Kij Johnson weaves together the contrasting threads of cartoon fantasy ― the Ponies are (intentionally, I think it’s safe to assume) reminiscent of the ponies in My Little Pony, and they bleed cotton-candy scented blood ― and the everyday horror of girls’ cruelty and cliquishness. The story is simple and straightforward, an allegory that is not subtle in the least. For example, “TheOtherGirls” have only names like TopGirl and SuckupGirl, and the Ponies’ games include Who’sPrettiest.
“Ponies” packs an effective and highly disturbing punch. I just would have appreciated it more if it hadn't felt so much like a sledgehammer to the gut. I like my message fiction with a little more subtlety.
Free online at Tor.com
In Kij Johnson’s “Ponies,” winner of the 2010 Nebula short story award, all the girls have cute pet Ponies: short, fat, and brightly colored in various rainbow hues. The Ponies have small round-tipped unicorn horns and fluffy little wings, and they can talk.
But to be friends with TheOtherGirls, each girl must bring her Pony to a “cutting-out party” where the Pony must give up two of the three: its horn, its wings, or its voice. Barbara and her Pony Sunny are excited when they’re invited to a cutting-out party so they can finally be part of the group, but the reality of the party is far worse than they imagined.
Kij Johnson weaves together the contrasting threads of cartoon fantasy ― the Ponies are (intentionally, I think it’s safe to assume) reminiscent of the ponies in My Little Pony, and they bleed cotton-candy scented blood ― and the everyday horror of girls’ cruelty and cliquishness. The story is simple and straightforward, an allegory that is not subtle in the least. For example, “TheOtherGirls” have only names like TopGirl and SuckupGirl, and the Ponies’ games include Who’sPrettiest.
“Ponies” packs an effective and highly disturbing punch. I just would have appreciated it more if it hadn't felt so much like a sledgehammer to the gut. I like my message fiction with a little more subtlety.
Free online at Tor.com
May 6, 2015
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.
This story can be read for free at Tor.com.
November 15, 2015
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?
December 15, 2019
as a project separate-from-but-similar to my december short story advent calendar, i am listening to a bunch of these FREE audio shorts from nightfire, and the name of this secondary project is MEET YOUR OWN DAMN READING CHALLENGE, KAREN, YOU SLOW-ASS READER!
anyway, this story is one that i'd read before, but remember enjoying more than three-stars' worth, no matter what my old review has to say about it. i give it four this time, because it's damn good, whether you read it for free or listen to it for free. i'll reprint the old review here, which you can read or not, but i'm afraid there will be no audio version of my review. for the story, though, you have options:
FREE FOR YOUR EARS:
https://play.google.com/store/audiobo...
FREE FOR YOUR EYES:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
OLD REVIEW BEGINS...NOW:
in case you can't see how cool that cover is:
this is a short story i read ages ago, but never reviewed, and the big gaping blank lack-of-review in a column of reviewed books was irritating me. so here we are.
this is like the cute anime version of Cat's Eye.
it is about peer pressure, mean adolescent girls, sacrifices, and conformity.
in this story, little girls all come with corresponding girl-sized talking ponies, complete with wings and a horn. they go everywhere together, and friendships blossom until the time comes in every girl-and-pony’s life to attend a “cutting-out party.” this will establish their place in the larger community of girls-and-ponies, but it requires a sacrifice to fit in,
"If we like you, and if your Pony does okay, we'll let you hang out with us."
Sunny says, "I can't wait to have friends!"
oh, so desperate to be part of the cool crowd.
but in order to fit in, the pony of each little girl must choose to give up two of the following: their horn, their wings, or their voice. most ponies choose to keep their voice, and barbara’s pony sunny is no different. communication is more important to ponies than self-defense or flight (escape), and probably also to the girls themselves, although Barbara only speaks when she thinks she’ll get it right, so the girls already choosing to make sacrifices of themselves without the corresponding ceremony.
however, there is a horrible surprise that no one tells little girls.
mean girls, why are you so mean? a lot of it has to do with this sense of absent parents/supervision, and how kids will regress to their primal lord-of-the-flies selves without structure
She has a mother who's a pediatrician and a father who's a cardiologist and a small barn and giant trees shading the grass where the Ponies are playing games.
parents are absent in this story, and as important to the little girls as trees or barns. completely inconsequential.
and the final blow – the final horrible twist. well.
kids, and ponies, can be so cruel…
link to read it yourself:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
come to my blog!
anyway, this story is one that i'd read before, but remember enjoying more than three-stars' worth, no matter what my old review has to say about it. i give it four this time, because it's damn good, whether you read it for free or listen to it for free. i'll reprint the old review here, which you can read or not, but i'm afraid there will be no audio version of my review. for the story, though, you have options:
FREE FOR YOUR EARS:
https://play.google.com/store/audiobo...
FREE FOR YOUR EYES:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
OLD REVIEW BEGINS...NOW:
in case you can't see how cool that cover is:
this is a short story i read ages ago, but never reviewed, and the big gaping blank lack-of-review in a column of reviewed books was irritating me. so here we are.
this is like the cute anime version of Cat's Eye.
it is about peer pressure, mean adolescent girls, sacrifices, and conformity.
in this story, little girls all come with corresponding girl-sized talking ponies, complete with wings and a horn. they go everywhere together, and friendships blossom until the time comes in every girl-and-pony’s life to attend a “cutting-out party.” this will establish their place in the larger community of girls-and-ponies, but it requires a sacrifice to fit in,
"If we like you, and if your Pony does okay, we'll let you hang out with us."
Sunny says, "I can't wait to have friends!"
oh, so desperate to be part of the cool crowd.
but in order to fit in, the pony of each little girl must choose to give up two of the following: their horn, their wings, or their voice. most ponies choose to keep their voice, and barbara’s pony sunny is no different. communication is more important to ponies than self-defense or flight (escape), and probably also to the girls themselves, although Barbara only speaks when she thinks she’ll get it right, so the girls already choosing to make sacrifices of themselves without the corresponding ceremony.
however, there is a horrible surprise that no one tells little girls.
mean girls, why are you so mean? a lot of it has to do with this sense of absent parents/supervision, and how kids will regress to their primal lord-of-the-flies selves without structure
She has a mother who's a pediatrician and a father who's a cardiologist and a small barn and giant trees shading the grass where the Ponies are playing games.
parents are absent in this story, and as important to the little girls as trees or barns. completely inconsequential.
and the final blow – the final horrible twist. well.
kids, and ponies, can be so cruel…
link to read it yourself:
http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
come to my blog!
January 11, 2016
Very short but disturbing story about what young girls will do to fit in. The story is sad and mean and made me a bit sick to my stomach after giving it some thought. It also paints the sad picture that no matter how hard you try to fit in, you still never quite fit in. You'll just keep getting asked to do more and more to prove your worth to the group.
December 4, 2014
This is a highly disturbing and extremely short story that completely took me by surprise. Seriously. I think I need a day or two to mull over what it is that I just read. Whew.
-----------------------
Ok, two days later and I think I can finally organize my thoughts cohesively enough for a review. I loved this story. And if it had been longer than three pages, it would get a five star from me. This story explores a whole lotta dark stuff here. Mean girls. The loss of innocence. Conformity. Self-image. Mean girls. Suppression of individuality. Mean girls. Did I mention mean girls?
Our protagonist Barbara receives an invitation for her and her pony, Sunny,to go to a "cutting out" party. Only girls who go can hang out with the other girls and their ponies. But in order to do this, you have to be the same as TheOtherGirls like SecondGirl and SuckUpGirl and EveryoneLikesHerGirl. And if you get accepted you play fun games like Wii Tennis and Who's Prettiest? and ThisIsTheBestGame. And drink coke zero and diet red bull and be like everyone else. Who wouldn't want that? Even if it comes with an itsy bitsy little sacrifice.
I was actually just today thinking about a time in my life when I gave something up for someone whom I thought was worth it. And in doing so, I sacrificed a big part of who I am, and lost a piece of me that completely changed my core. Luckily I was able to move on and find it again, but sometimes that just doesn't work out. This extremely short story was so brilliantly written and is the perfect allegory for so many situations. Not only for the young 'uns out there (I was in my mid-twenties when the event described above occurred) but for those in all walks of life. I loved the imagery/symbolism of unicorns to represent innocence/virginity/virtue and the end haunted me more than any Stephen King book ever has. Excellent read. 4.5 stars.
Read it here: http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
-----------------------
Ok, two days later and I think I can finally organize my thoughts cohesively enough for a review. I loved this story. And if it had been longer than three pages, it would get a five star from me. This story explores a whole lotta dark stuff here. Mean girls. The loss of innocence. Conformity. Self-image. Mean girls. Suppression of individuality. Mean girls. Did I mention mean girls?
Our protagonist Barbara receives an invitation for her and her pony, Sunny,to go to a "cutting out" party. Only girls who go can hang out with the other girls and their ponies. But in order to do this, you have to be the same as TheOtherGirls like SecondGirl and SuckUpGirl and EveryoneLikesHerGirl. And if you get accepted you play fun games like Wii Tennis and Who's Prettiest? and ThisIsTheBestGame. And drink coke zero and diet red bull and be like everyone else. Who wouldn't want that? Even if it comes with an itsy bitsy little sacrifice.
I was actually just today thinking about a time in my life when I gave something up for someone whom I thought was worth it. And in doing so, I sacrificed a big part of who I am, and lost a piece of me that completely changed my core. Luckily I was able to move on and find it again, but sometimes that just doesn't work out. This extremely short story was so brilliantly written and is the perfect allegory for so many situations. Not only for the young 'uns out there (I was in my mid-twenties when the event described above occurred) but for those in all walks of life. I loved the imagery/symbolism of unicorns to represent innocence/virginity/virtue and the end haunted me more than any Stephen King book ever has. Excellent read. 4.5 stars.
Read it here: http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/11/po...
January 22, 2018
What was that?
It's just so... horrible. How can children be so mean? How can ponies be so mean?
The free will is not real.
Ponies makes me think of The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. Why the cruelty?
I know this story got the 2010 Nebula Award for Short story, and it's obviously well-written (therefore the 3 stars)... but I simply hate the gratuitous cruelty (of both the girls and the ponies). Can society actually breed such creatures?
If you wish to read Ponies, you can do so on Tor.com.
It's just so... horrible. How can children be so mean? How can ponies be so mean?
The free will is not real.
Ponies makes me think of The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. Why the cruelty?
I know this story got the 2010 Nebula Award for Short story, and it's obviously well-written (therefore the 3 stars)... but I simply hate the gratuitous cruelty (of both the girls and the ponies). Can society actually breed such creatures?
If you wish to read Ponies, you can do so on Tor.com.
June 22, 2019
Well that was grim and sad. Worth reading for sure. Wow. 😢
February 23, 2016
A cruel little story. In extremely terse prose and with great economy of words, Kij Johnson makes a devastating statement about conformance and the cruelty of children.
Girls have ponies with wings, horns and vocal chords. The pony has to sacrifice two of its specialities if its girl has to fit in with the group - and many of them gladly do that. Only thing is, there is a fine print to the contract which is not revealed until it's too late.
Children are innately cruel - compassion is a learned virtue. In this story, in a world without parents or even names for the girls (other than the protagonist), that cruelty is given free rein.
This is really a fable. Though it packs a tremendous punch theme-wise, there is no subtlety. 3 stars.
Girls have ponies with wings, horns and vocal chords. The pony has to sacrifice two of its specialities if its girl has to fit in with the group - and many of them gladly do that. Only thing is, there is a fine print to the contract which is not revealed until it's too late.
Children are innately cruel - compassion is a learned virtue. In this story, in a world without parents or even names for the girls (other than the protagonist), that cruelty is given free rein.
This is really a fable. Though it packs a tremendous punch theme-wise, there is no subtlety. 3 stars.
January 14, 2016
Hmmm... well think I'm beginning to understand why I really don't fit in.
The story is a godawful, gendered bullshit lacking any subtlety. I never had any of these thoughts as a child. Frankly, being alone is way better than listening to or humoring stupid, which is what these girls are. I'm not depressed or sad after reading this; I find the whole thing serves up exactly what's deserved.
The story is a godawful, gendered bullshit lacking any subtlety. I never had any of these thoughts as a child. Frankly, being alone is way better than listening to or humoring stupid, which is what these girls are. I'm not depressed or sad after reading this; I find the whole thing serves up exactly what's deserved.
The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself. ~~Rita Mae Brown
April 19, 2015
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.
November 13, 2015
Didn't love it. The metaphor was as remarkably un-subtle as a metaphor can possibly be. (I know there is an actual word for un-subtle but it escapes me at the moment.)
May 23, 2016
So twisted, so disturbing.
I hate you, mean girls.
Now I will never look at ponies the same way again.
You can find it here
March 7, 2011
Ahh, this reminds me of my good ole days as a unicorn slaughterer.
Shelved as 'it-s-not-you-it-s-me'
February 5, 2016I don't need to re-visit my childhood, and my memories of grade school. It sucked, it's over, and there's no power that could make me go back.
I'm off to think happy thoughts.
I'm off to think happy thoughts.
June 17, 2011
Fascinating and disturbing short story, brilliantly crafted.
October 2, 2014
Well that was a gruesome little read.
This is "Mean Girls" meets My Little Pony...plus nightmares.
Like this....:
Sunny is a beautiful pony and Barbara is her bestest friend. However, Barbara wants to be part of TheOtherGirls and as is tradition has to make a choice.
Girls are MEAN!
That cover is wonderful, gruesome and sad.
Thanks, Karen, for pointing out that this was free :)
September 1, 2021
What a messed up little story. I vaguely remember reading this years ago and thinking it was a bit dark and creepy. On rereading....it still is.
It's a story of a girl and her pony, and the sacrifices we make to fit in. Except these sacrifices involve chopping off limbs. It's not all fun being a kid with a pretty pony.
It's a story of a girl and her pony, and the sacrifices we make to fit in. Except these sacrifices involve chopping off limbs. It's not all fun being a kid with a pretty pony.
October 2, 2022
You should be informed that these horror authors will ruin everything sparkly and beautiful for you if you're a horror fan. Many thanks, Kji..
February 26, 2011
First: DON'T HURT THE PONIES, LITTLE GIRLS!!! Or I will sick a chimera or a dementor or something much worse on you.
Second: I really hate it that this short story is so true to life that I can imagine little girls hurting each other's ponies or hurting their own for the sake of popularity. I really hate it. And, while I don't think the ways of girls and popularity will be changing anytime soon, I have to hope that the good will outweigh the bad.The sad thing is that I think they would be doing worse than maiming or killing each other's ponies in real life, though. . .
Third: HOW COULD YOU HURT A PONY AGAIN? YOU MEAN, HEARTLESS LITTLE GIRLS!!
Fourth: Sadly, ponies here are a good allegory for what girls -- no, scratch that -- what anyone would do for the sake of popularity, especially in the tumultuous time of adolescence. It's a bit like the 'if everyone else is doing it, then so should I' syndrome. In this short story, little girls 'fit in' by doing a initiation involving their beloved Ponies -- and the results are bloody. It will give you the heebie-jeebies to read it, but can you really deny that people can be this bloodthirsty about popularity in the real world? How do you think the term cut-throat came about? Don't be naive. But make sure to be better.
Fifth: If you love ponies or animals in general, then maybe you should think twice about reading this. . .
Sixth: If I lived in this crazy short story, I would want a Pony with weaponry (to defend itself) or an outrageous appearance where it would not be bothered by the other Ponies. Here's the perfect one for me:
What? I like Edward Scissorhands!
Seventh: All crazinessand pony massacres aside, Ponies (which should have been subtitled Popularity Kills) needs to be read to be believed. The question: do you dare?
Second: I really hate it that this short story is so true to life that I can imagine little girls hurting each other's ponies or hurting their own for the sake of popularity. I really hate it. And, while I don't think the ways of girls and popularity will be changing anytime soon, I have to hope that the good will outweigh the bad.
Third: HOW COULD YOU HURT A PONY AGAIN? YOU MEAN, HEARTLESS LITTLE GIRLS!!
Fourth: Sadly, ponies here are a good allegory for what girls -- no, scratch that -- what anyone would do for the sake of popularity, especially in the tumultuous time of adolescence. It's a bit like the 'if everyone else is doing it, then so should I' syndrome. In this short story, little girls 'fit in' by doing a initiation involving their beloved Ponies -- and the results are bloody. It will give you the heebie-jeebies to read it, but can you really deny that people can be this bloodthirsty about popularity in the real world? How do you think the term cut-throat came about? Don't be naive. But make sure to be better.
Fifth: If you love ponies or animals in general, then maybe you should think twice about reading this. . .
Sixth: If I lived in this crazy short story, I would want a Pony with weaponry (to defend itself) or an outrageous appearance where it would not be bothered by the other Ponies. Here's the perfect one for me:
What? I like Edward Scissorhands!
Seventh: All craziness
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2011
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 week I was contacted by a long in the past classmate (who has supposedly invented cheese swizzles on a stick now hot & selling fast in the USA - shade's of Lisa Kudrow's "I invented post it's") to attend the high school reunion.
Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion
They have had several reunions over the years - I attended only one, and did not think I would ever attend another. You either bend yourself out of shape or cut off your wings and voice like in
Ponies to belong or you don't and you end up like Heather Mooney played by Janeane Garofalo in R & M's High School Reunion.
the bad-tempered, angry-at-life pessimist Heather Mooney
We didn't have a end of school formal due to some wild shennagians that upset the nuns. So Miss Future Cheese Swizzle on a Stick organised a non-authorised one but only invited those that "fit" the mold. I only heard about the formal this week (thanks to the wonders of Facebook) and discovered so far about 1/4 of the girls were not invited. It makes me want to puke.
ps the 4 stars are not because I like Ponies but because it vividly portrayed something vile.
Mean Girls comes to mind
Ironic to read this today as earlier this week I was contacted by a long in the past classmate (who has supposedly invented cheese swizzles on a stick now hot & selling fast in the USA - shade's of Lisa Kudrow's "I invented post it's") to attend the high school reunion.
Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion
They have had several reunions over the years - I attended only one, and did not think I would ever attend another. You either bend yourself out of shape or cut off your wings and voice like in
Ponies to belong or you don't and you end up like Heather Mooney played by Janeane Garofalo in R & M's High School Reunion.
the bad-tempered, angry-at-life pessimist Heather Mooney
We didn't have a end of school formal due to some wild shennagians that upset the nuns. So Miss Future Cheese Swizzle on a Stick organised a non-authorised one but only invited those that "fit" the mold. I only heard about the formal this week (thanks to the wonders of Facebook) and discovered so far about 1/4 of the girls were not invited. It makes me want to puke.
ps the 4 stars are not because I like Ponies but because it vividly portrayed something vile.
March 8, 2011
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 standards; but, if the truth be told, many adults too) will go to in a desperate hunger for validation by peer-group acceptance and approval, lengths that include cruelty and betrayal of real friendships in the pursuit of false ones; at the sick viciousness that lies at the heart of the clique mentality of trying to build yourself up in your own and others' estimation by putting somebody else down; and at the degree to which even victims can be willing turn on other victims just to get that crumb of approval from their "superior" abusers. And it's a look at what happens when you throw away your heart and your conscience in order to set some person or in-group up as an idol that can tell you what to do and how to think. For certain, it isn't a "feel-good" story; it's a feel-BAD story, in spades, which will break your heart, make you angry, and maybe even make you cry. Sometimes that's what we need to get moral lessons to stay with us. This one's going to stay with me, for a long, long time.
September 12, 2011
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 like a totally ludicrous concept and yet manages to tap into something recognisable. Fear. Friendship. Bitchy girls, and the normal girls who want to be friends with the bitchy girls.
I regret reading it, in a way, but in others, it is just THAT. GOOD.
I don't know whether to recommend it. Let me tell you: for a very short story with Candy Fairy Princess ponies (unicorns?), this book is far more brutal than I was expecting. Comparable to "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.
"You don't have a pony."
And I want to cry all over again.
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 like a totally ludicrous concept and yet manages to tap into something recognisable. Fear. Friendship. Bitchy girls, and the normal girls who want to be friends with the bitchy girls.
I regret reading it, in a way, but in others, it is just THAT. GOOD.
I don't know whether to recommend it. Let me tell you: for a very short story with Candy Fairy Princess ponies (unicorns?), this book is far more brutal than I was expecting. Comparable to "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.
"You don't have a pony."
And I want to cry all over again.
November 24, 2015
Shit, what the hell I have just read?! This shit is so realistic and accurate. Actually, how accurate it is scared the hell out of me.
Themes: Betrayal, friendship, wanting to fit in.
Story: Really twisted but sweet...in a way.
“This is the way it’s always been, as long as there have been Ponies. All ponies have wings. All Ponies have horns. All Ponies can talk. Then all Ponies go to a cutting-out party, and they give up two of the three, because that’s what has to happen if a girl is going to fit in with TheOtherGirls. Barbara’s never seen a Pony that still had her horn or wings after her cutting-out party’’
What I feel after reading it: Sick, sad and depressed. I didnt expect such a brief story to be so disturbing and twisted. Gives a really great social commentary about popularity and how some people give up things they shouldnt to fit in and then it comes back to bite them in their asses.
March 7, 2011
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews