Stars Above Discussion Thread

HOW COULD YOU BETRAY MY FEELINGS, FRINGE-CHAN-SAMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! I AM ETERNALLY PLUNGED INTO DESPAIR BY THIS TERRIBLE NEWS! O MONSTROUS, O ACCURSED, HORRIBLE! A PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR KNEECAPS! TT_TT

...kidding, kidding. Take you time. Better a late chapter than a rushed one.

Also, you have a Stars Above Homura Tumblr? Cool.

Though... I have slightly mixed feelings about Homura's answer. On the one hand, the whole "people kept alive with body parts ripped off" horror trope has been done enough that it didn't have that much impact at first, especially given Homura's rather impersonal description of it. My initial thought was that you'd be better off adding more details to make it really hit home.

But then Fridge Brilliance (maybe unintentional?) kicked in: Homura probably described it in such an impersonal way because she really doesn't want to remember details like their faces and the looks in their eyes and that little kid with half his head gone who looked barely older than Tatsuya and... something like that, am I right?

I'm probably overthinking it. Anyway, I like it better now than when I first read it.

The image I had in mind wasn't as much "parts of people ripped off" as "parts of people spread all over the Lair"... while still attached to said people, if only by nerves or tendons or some such thing. As well as several people still alive, but little more than parts of skulls or torsoes. Then again, I wanted to leave some of the horror up to the imagination, where it was certain to be more gruesome. Anyway.

After taking a week off, I feel my batteries are sufficiently recharged. I'm getting back to work on 29 tomorrow... wish me luck.

edited 6th Jan '14 11:09:31 PM by FringeBenefits

Chapter 29 is at page 17 and counting.

Feeling crappy due to a lingering cough, but I'm gonna try to put in a push to get it done either today or this weekend.

Progress report: I'm up to page 22.5 and counting, and I'm giving myself motivation by forcing myself not to play my new copy of Madoka Magica Battle Pentagram until I finish the chapter.

Also, I met someone on Tumblr whose favorite character is Nico and who is well-versed in playing as her, so I've enlisted his help to finish Pioneer. That probably won't be done until after Chapter 29 is posted, of course, but I thought it was worth sharing anyway.

In unrelated news, Happiness Charge Precure starts next weekend, and ZOMG I CAN'T WAIT ALL THE CURE DESIGNS ARE SO GODDAMN ADORABLE. As in, "actually giving Cure Peace some serious competition" adorable.

And the Sailor Moon reboot, while unfortunately delayed yet again, finally has some confirmed goddamn staff names behind it (writers, a director, producer, etc.), which is more concrete news than there's been on it other than "it's still coming, honest" since it was announced, so that along with Venus being next in line for Figuarts release makes me a happy fanboy indeed.

Is chapter 29 going to be the last chapter, or will there be an epilogue/sequel/multiple endings/unlimited rice pudding/whatever after this?

The way things look right now, 29 is almost certainly going to be the last chapter.

I have considered splitting it into two a few times, so that I would have an even 30 chapters... but frankly, the only place I could really put the cutoff would have my readers screaming blue murder at me until the second part was finished. (Screaming at me more than they do already, I mean...)

Make it 30 chapters, because OCD. But man, those are some great news

edited 25th Jan '14 9:20:30 PM by rareitor

OH GOD WHY AM I A CAR!? - Forzare

UPDATE: Page 33.5 and counting. I think I'm at at least the halfway point now. (Apart from writer's block, personal issues, and the flu/bronchitis, are you getting the picture why this is taking so long now?)

Anyway... I chose tonight to give another progress report because I just finished writing a scene I've had in mind for ages. Like, I've had this particular scene pictured in pretty much exactly this form since before I started writing Chapter 1. And holy hell, I'm proud of it. REALLY proud. It's impossible to explain why without spoiling everything, but it's an "Oh, HELL yes!" moment (fist pump optional, but recommended) for me, one I wrote with a great big happy grin on my face, one that I dearly hope inspires the same reaction or better in the readers, you guys of course included. Look out for it... it should probably be obvious which scene I'm referring to. Hints will be provided later should you need them. XD

I don't think it'll be too much longer now. Finishing this part has got me fired up, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

edited 30th Jan '14 8:12:00 PM by FringeBenefits

And now Happiness Charge Precure is finally here.

ZOMG CURE FORTUNE. SO BADASS. VERY AWESOME. MUCH WOW.

COULD SHE BE THE LONG-AWAITED WAIFU #4? STAY TUNED...

Page 38 and counting. Progress has been slow this week, but still progress.

After discussing things with SPB, my editor/proofreader/sounding board, I'm now seriously considering splitting this monster up into three, possibly four or more chapters when it's finished, and uploading them all at once. It may make up for the long-ass wait... not to mention it may round out to 34 chapter in all, like I originally intended (34 cantos in each part of The Divine Comedy, after all...)

Also, holy shit Kill la Kill. If you're not watching it yet, or have stopped watching it for some reason... START THAT SHIT BACK UP.

Page 42 and counting.

After some input from my readers, I've definitely decided to split the last chapter up into multiple chapters and stagger posting them. So, the much-shorter Chapter 29 will be up tonight or possibly tomorrow, depending on how it goes for the rest of the afternoon/evening. Expect 30 and beyond over the next week or so. My new goal for completion is to have it all done by February 22nd... which is Homura's birthday in fanon.

Either way, there WILL be an update within 24 hours of this post. START THE COUNTDOWN.

ALSO IMPORTANT: After a long and distinguished period of fanservice, Makoto Nanaya has officially been promoted from First Honorary Waifu to WAIFU #4. Cure Fortune's / Iona Hikawa's Waifu status has now been bumped up to First Honorary for the time being, with a possible promotion to WAIFU #5 dependent on when she next appears, and how awesome she is when she does.

edited 13th Feb '14 1:12:14 PM by FringeBenefits

-click-

COUNTDOWN IS ON! [counting intensifies]

OH GOD WHY AM I A CAR!? - Forzare

SEE? SEE?! FOR ONCE I CAME THROUGH.

IT'S HERE, IT'S FINALLY HERE.

Chapter 29 is now up.

Now, after all this struggle and effort and crap I've gone through since the last update, I'm sure to get some REVIEWS and FEEDBACK, right...?

-insert the Akira "NEEEEEEEEEE...?!" face here until I find a decent screencap-

edited 13th Feb '14 5:09:55 PM by FringeBenefits

Chapter 28:

Chapter 29:

Chapter 30:

Chapter 32:

Chapter 33:

-placeholder-

edited 2nd Mar '14 2:48:08 PM by rareitor

OH GOD WHY AM I A CAR!? - Forzare

I meant what I said
And I said what I meant
A Fringey is faithful
An estimated 60 to 65 percent!

Chapter 30 is now up. Hold onto your hats. Hats! Hats! HOLD!

edited 14th Feb '14 2:25:00 PM by FringeBenefits

Chapter 31. This chapter has the scene I was referring to a few posts back, the one that I've had in mind since before the story even started. It should be immediately obvious which scene I mean... if you don't pump your fist and go "Oh, HELL YES!" when you come across it, I'm officially worried about you.

Chapter 32 is in progress. I just need to get a few things worked out with it, and by tomorrow I should have it done and posted.

Chapter 32 is now up.

I think I may take a break tomorrow, to collect my thoughts for the last two chapters. I still plan on having this thing finished by next weekend, though... my target date is still February 22nd.

Sadly, I might not make my target date for tonight. Been at a convention this weekend that, while a total blast, has seriously cut into my writing time.

I may have 33 put up by midnight if I barrel through the rest of the chapter, but it's looking unlikely. Ah well.

SO. Con was fun. Details will follow once I get the next chapter posted.

AND SPEAKING OF WHICH... it's at page 9 and counting, and I think I'm nearing a good cutoff point to lead into the 34th and final chapter. PREPARE THY COMMENTS, BITCHES.

Finished Chapter 33. I'm just waiting on my proofreader's input... it'll likely be posted later tonight.

Hopefully after that I should have the bulk review done for ya.

OH GOD WHY AM I A CAR!? - Forzare

Slight delay due to my editor/proofreader visiting his family, the selfish jerk. XP 33 is still coming soon, don't worry. I'll drag his ass to a desktop if I have to.

Chapter 33 is up.

One more to go... I can hardly believe it.

So, as for the sequel... "Stars Above 2: Electric Purgatorio"?

Also, rest assured that I'm still following and enjoying the story, despite my total lack of comments or reviews. (Sorry! Grad school has been busy.)

LESS SKOOL, MOAR REVIEWS, DAMMIT. GET YOUR GODDAMN PRIORITIES IN ORDER.

Anyway, if there is a sequel, I'm likely not going to be the one to write it. Anyone who wants to pick it up from where the last chapter leaves off is more than welcome to do so, but I'm satisfied with the ending as I've envisioned it.

Pioneer is going to be another matter... Part 2, whenever it gets written, is going to serve as a coda for the whole blanket SA series. At least, that's what I desperately hope it'll be seen as. Part of me is worried it'll be taken as a desperate attempt to extend the story a little longer past its natural conclusion. Shit, that would be bad. I should avoid that.

Anyway. Page 2 (4 counting an extended Author's note) and counting. I'm working on it more tonight, inspiration permitting, but I figured I'd update you guys during a good stopping point.

Also: Kill la Kill, HOLY FUCKING SHIT. Even if it is made by the same people, I can't believe there's now a show that measures up to or arguably even exceeds the insanity and awesomeness of Gurren Lagann. As of the last few episodes, it's now on my all-time favorite anime list, and if it keeps up in the final five episodes like it has been in the past twenty-one, it'll be a definite fixture in my Top Five. Hiroyuki Imaishi is a genius. A demented, totally crazy, brilliant genius.

edited 8th Mar '14 2:20:18 PM by FringeBenefits