Record Crash

Record Crash delves into artificial intelligence, web fiction, fanfiction, TV shows, movies, and video games from various genres, focusing on detailed reviews and analyses. It explores themes like storytelling, character development, and cultural impacts, featuring both original and mainstream content across diverse media formats.

Artificial Intelligence Web Fiction Fanfiction TV Show Reviews Movie Reviews Video Game Reviews Cultural Analysis Storytelling and Narrative Analysis

The hottest Substack posts of Record Crash

And their main takeaways

Reviews for November 2023

58 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
📚 Literature Book Reviews
  1. The Exorcist movie is better than expected, with competent horror.
  2. Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey is less tightly plotted but features creative sets.
  3. The Talos Principle II game has disappointing puzzles compared to the original and lacks plot depth.

Book Review: Almost Nowhere

78 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
📚 Literature Sci-fi Character development
  1. Almost Nowhere is a complex but original sci-fi story with a lot of content to unpack.
  2. The characters in the story are well-developed and engaging, with various personalities and interactions.
  3. The detailed explanations of fake physics and complex concepts could be a bit long, but add depth to the narrative.

Show Review: Person of Interest

19 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture TV shows Review Science fiction Character analysis
  1. The show 'Person of Interest' has a unique premise involving AI and government surveillance.
  2. The show features strong character development and interactions that keep viewers engaged.
  3. Despite some flaws like procedural filler episodes, 'Person of Interest' offers a thought-provoking storyline surrounding Artificial Intelligence.

Reviews for October 2023

39 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
📚 Literature Sci-fi Fantasy Mystery Comedy Drama
  1. Some shows may have aged poorly due to changing cultural norms and evolving tastes.
  2. In fiction, be cautious about adding unnecessary drama or soap opera elements that can detract from the main plot.
  3. Writing pacing is crucial; ensure that the story moves forward without stagnating or becoming repetitive.

Reviews for July 2023

78 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Reviews Movies TV shows
  1. Reviews for July 2023 cover multiple movies, TV shows, video games, and a gen-alpha YouTube show.
  2. The show 'The Sopranos' faced criticism for inconsistent character arcs and episode-level control.
  3. The game 'Ghost Trick' received high praise for its original gameplay and plot twists.
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Reviews for December 2023

19 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
📚 Literature Reviews Fiction Author analysis
  1. The reviews cover a variety of media from TV shows to video games to fan fiction.
  2. The writer is critical of several works, pointing out flaws in storytelling and character development.
  3. There is an emphasis on unique and obscure content, with a mix of humor and detailed analysis.

Reviews for August 2023

58 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
📚 Literature Fanfiction Historical Fiction Short Story
  1. The reviewer was busy this month and couldn't watch many films or serials.
  2. There is a recommended hard sci-fi web serial with minimal details shared to maintain intrigue.
  3. A fanfiction review highlights a humorous Harry Potter fanfic and a quite long historical fiction masquerading as Naruto.

Reviews for September 2023

39 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
📚 Literature Fanfiction Reviews
  1. The reviewer finished watching Seasons 2, 3, and 4 of LOST and might review it later.
  2. Pink Fang fanfiction blends drama and powerwank but takes a sharp turn into darker tones.
  3. The jumpchain story Meandering Through The Megaverse explores different worlds but lacks compelling execution.

Book Review: Mad Investor Chaos and the Woman of Asmodeus

294 implied HN points • 16 Jan 22
  1. Glowfics involve live, public roleplaying on a forum with unique viewpoints and settings.
  2. Mad Investor Chaos features original and alien characters in a story of intrigue and farce.
  3. The story explores themes of corruption, power dynamics, and moral ambiguity within a fantasy setting.

Reviews for June 2023

39 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
📚 Literature Fanfiction Reviews Novels Short Stories Fiction
  1. The reviews for June 2023 cover fics from various fandoms like Homestuck, Worm, and Harry Potter.
  2. Some fics had negative reviews due to lack of narrative, character development, or coherence in time travel plots.
  3. One recommended fic was a well-written original character fic in the Worm fandom with an interesting power and character development.

Reviews for May 2023

39 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
  1. Reviews for May 2023 cover fanfiction stories across different fandoms
  2. The stories include crossovers and self-inserts, with varied writing styles and character developments
  3. Some stories are engaging with strong mystery elements while others fall short, offering a mix of recommended and not-so-recommended reads

Reviews for April 2023

39 implied HN points • 27 May 23
📚 Literature Book Reviews Fanfiction
  1. The author reviews "Project Hail Mary" book and fanfics related to it.
  2. A critique of a Harry Potter fanfic involving Jon Snow and a self-insert character.
  3. Reviews of various other fanfics ranging from Naruto to Harry Potter.

Fic Review: Refuge in Oblivion

19 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📚 Literature Fanfiction Romance Time travel
  1. The fic series, Refuge in Oblivion, is based on Homestuck and follows a complex order of storytelling with multiple works in the series.
  2. The prequel has an interesting plot but lacks character development, while the sequel focuses more on a romance angle.
  3. Stakes in the fics are low and the worldbuilding is weak, making the overall experience disappointing for Homestuck fans.

Fic Review: Bond Breaker

19 implied HN points • 25 Dec 22
  1. Unique story that mixes self-discovery with metafiction elements.
  2. Character Shade goes through various fictional settings, fixing problems and facing meta-antagonists.
  3. The narrative becomes convoluted with corruption, mysterious entities, and shifts in storytelling perspectives.

The Unnatural Selection of Chunky Dogs with DALL·E 2

19 implied HN points • 17 Jul 22
  1. DALL·E 2 has a 'Variations' feature that generates similar images from a square input image.
  2. Exploring extreme variations with DALL·E 2 can lead to uncanny and surreal outputs.
  3. Continuously applying variations on images can create progressively strange and unusual results.

The 2021 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Review

39 implied HN points • 16 Aug 21
  1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a cultural touchstone of the late 90s and 00s, offering insights into fandom subgroups and good fanfiction.
  2. The show's plot involves the life of Buffy Summers, a teenager destined to slay vampires, interwoven with themes of adolescence and self-discovery.
  3. While the show had strengths like witty dialogue and certain characters like Cordelia and Anya, it suffered from inconsistent writing, messy character developments, and a less satisfying conclusion.

Game Review: Pokemon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color)

19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 21
  1. The gameplay loop in Pokemon Trading Card Game is relatively simple but addicting.
  2. The game design includes artificial gates to prevent players from progressing too quickly.
  3. The battles in the game involve strategic turn-based tactics but are hindered by excessive RNG mechanics.

Show Review: Only Murders in the Building

19 implied HN points • 22 Oct 21
  1. The TV show Only Murders in the Building is a cozy, above-average murder mystery with strong characters.
  2. The plot includes clever mysteries, charming visuals, and good music.
  3. There are some weak points in the show, like an artificial plot swerve and some disappointing character decisions.

Book Review: Dracula

19 implied HN points • 08 Sep 21
  1. The plot of Dracula involves an ancient vampire leaving Transylvania to seek fresh blood in London, told through a series of journals and diaries from multiple characters.
  2. Historically, Dracula has some outdated elements like odd spellings, an epistolary format, and questionable gender roles.
  3. Highlights of the book include good horror writing that builds tension effectively, enjoyable characters with unique styles, but drawbacks include transcribed accents, issues with some characters like Renfield, and an anti-climactic ending.

How I Cracked Homestuck's Alchemy with Stable Diffusion and GPT-4

3 HN points • 16 Jun 23
🕹 Technology AI Image Generation Data processing Machine Learning APIs
  1. Homestuck's Alchemy involves combining items using different operations and can create various outcomes, like weapons, outfits, and more.
  2. Using Generative AI models like GPT-3 and GPT-4, along with stable diffusion, can help in automating the process of generating new Homestuck alchemy results.
  3. Building a pipeline with ChatGPT, image generation, and compositing tools can streamline the process of generating text descriptions and corresponding images for Homestuck alchemy creations.

Book Review: Lord of the Mysteries

0 implied HN points • 31 Jul 20
  1. The story Lord of the Mysteries is set in a Victorian-era world with rich world-building and detailed characters.
  2. The style of the story might be challenging due to translation issues and slow pacing, but the foreshadowing and intricate plot make up for it.
  3. The pacing of the story is slow, but everything ties together eventually, making it an addictive read for fans of mystery with a vast scope.

Book Review: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 21
  1. The story follows a man from the 19th century who brings modern knowledge to 6th century England.
  2. The narrative focuses on themes of Enlightenment ideals versus the Establishment, particularly criticizing the Catholic Church and nobility.
  3. The book starts strong with humor and adventure but falters with a disappointing, dark ending that undoes the protagonist's progress.

Book Review: Cockatiel x Chameleon

0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 22
  1. The internet culture and its personalities are portrayed realistically and with humor in the book Cockatiel x Chameleon.
  2. The author creatively navigates between poetic prose and clarity, making the narrative grounded and engaging.
  3. The book maintains a balance in handling sex scenes, ensuring they are relevant, story-driven, and not gratuitous.

Game Review: LOST Via Domus

0 implied HN points • 25 Sep 22
  1. The game review discusses the challenges faced in creating a video game based on the TV show LOST.
  2. The review highlights some positive aspects of the game including fan-service elements and accurate representations of the show's environments.
  3. However, the review ultimately concludes that LOST: Via Domus is a poorly executed game with technical issues, uninteresting gameplay, and a lackluster storyline.

Anime Review: Chobits

0 implied HN points • 30 Oct 21
  1. Chobits, an anime from 2002, failed to stand the test of time due to its pandering to certain desires
  2. The show's middle section lacks character development and meaningful plot, making it mostly filler
  3. Towards the end, the anime introduces more interesting backstories, but it still falls short in addressing deeper themes or ethical questions

Seventeen Fic Reviews: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

0 implied HN points • 01 Oct 21
  1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was part of a big fandom era in the late 90s and early 2000s, with fanfiction gaining popularity.
  2. Fanfiction of Buffy had diverse platforms like Fanfiction.net and personal websites, with ship-exclusive fanfic sites.
  3. Different Buffy fanfics were reviewed, ranging from great crossovers with Star Trek to unreadable ones with chaotic plot devices.

Book Review: Learning to Live with Orcs

0 implied HN points • 03 Aug 20
  1. The book 'Learning to Live with Orcs' is a social science fiction novel by Richard Bartle.
  2. The story explores themes of cultural differences and tolerance through its worldbuilding.
  3. While the book initially presents potential red flags, it subverts expectations and delivers a message about tolerance.

Fic Review: Delenda Est (Harry Potter)

0 implied HN points • 19 May 18
  1. Delenda Est is a 400k-word Harry Potter fanfiction involving time travel and a young Bellatrix Lestrange.
  2. The story features out-of-character but interesting versions of Harry and Bellatrix, with a focus on OC characters and a slow-paced plot.
  3. The plot includes political elements, a unique take on canon characters, and some original scenes, but is critiqued for slow pacing and an anticlimactic ending.

Show Review: LOST — The Other Generation

0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
  1. The fan-created sequel to LOST, called 'The Other Generation,' follows the original characters' descendants and new characters in an extensive story spanning multiple decades.
  2. The plot involves complex elements like time travel, meteor strikes, and ancient civilizations, bringing in supernatural elements and complex sci-fi twists.
  3. The script delves into intricate character backstories, introduces new mysteries, and ends with dramatic confrontations between characters, all in a long, complicated narrative.