Fanfic Recs / Kerbal Space Program

Proof that the remaining ten percent is worth firing yourself into space with a barely functional pile of explosives for.

Kerbal Space Program has a small but quite active fanfiction community, mostly centred on the official forums.

Examples

First Flight, by KSK

• Recommended by: Jake^note Full disclosure: I wrote The Next Frontier, which is kind of set in the same universe., Tropers/Mcnickel
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Before the Space Program, before Mainsails and Mun rovers, before there was even such a thing as a probe core, there was just a group of friends with a shared dream who refused to let that dream go. This is part of their story.
  • A sort of prequel to the currently rather barebones "plot" of the game proper, which gives the Kerbals a unique history and culture and turns the usual portrayal of their space program on its head by playing their shortage of funds and amateur status for drama instead of comedy; after all, MacGyvering a fully functional spaceflight capability out of scrap metal in your spare time is actually kind of badass!
  • Now has a tropes page!
• Pairing(s): n/a
• Tags: n/a

The Next Frontier, by Jake

• Recommended by Sithking Zero, Tropers/Mcnickel
• Crossover between Kerbal Space Program and [REDACTED] Firefly post Big Damn Movie.
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Kerbals, having stretched their arms across their entire system, now set sail for the stars. But upon finding a star system with dozens of worlds and hundreds of moons, first contact looks a lot messier than anyone could have predicted...
• Fan Sequel to "First Flight" (takes place in the same universe but in the future), with great buildup, characters, and with all of the sense of wonder that characterized the prequel.
• Pairings: None
• Tags: None.

It's Hardly Rocket Science, by these guys

• Recommended by: Jake
• Status: Dead
• Synopsis: Gag-a-day webcomic lampshading and parodying various KSP memes, quirks and odd game mechanics. Might just possibly be developing an actual story arc as of the latest strip...
• Pairing(s): None, though not for lack of trying on Jeb's part!
• Tags: n/a

The Grand Tour: Voyage To The Planets, by czokletmuss

• Recommended by: Too Many Ideas
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Jebediah Kerman is teaming up with his old crew from the infamous Jool moon tour to go on a grand tour, visiting every planet and every moon in the Kerbal solar system. Of course, things go horribly wrong.
• Pairings: None
• Tags: N/A

Kerbal by (Nassault)

• Recommended by: Tesseract732
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A short machinima film. While most of the Kerbal Space Program has its eyes on space, Scott Kerman dreams of exploring the south pole of Planet Kerbin. This film is like many of Nassault's machinimas in that it has a hypnotic, 2001: A Space Odyssey feel. It's short on dialogue and rich in awesome music. Watch it for the line "Don't worry. Jeb taught me this."
• Pairings: None.
• Tags: N/A

A Jool Oddyseyby Kuzzter

• Recommended by: Superstrijder15
• Status: WIP, but it's 3rd in a trilogy so far
• Synopsis: A whole group of guys, many of whom we know from the missions to Duna and Eve in the last comic series, are now trying to do the Jool-5 challenge. Little do they know that this time there is company in the skies...
• pairings: 'Duna: Ore bust' and Eve: Order Zero tell earliest tales of our inspiring heroes.

Kerbals at War and Kerbals at War 2 by (SqueegyMackoy)

• Recommended by: Bassoe
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A pair of machinima devoted to turning formerly peaceful space exploration into full blown interplanetary war.
• Pairings: None.
• Tags: N/A