Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Summary:

Propose one SCP and/or Tale that you would recommend for new or returning users.

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Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Jack Ike 06 Aug 2017 05:27

'I kind of like it as an open forum thread, since that way people can reply to individual recommendation posts.

'This thread is now stickied. May it receive lots of views and responses.'

- Zyn, 2017

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What articles (SCP/Tale/GOI Document) would you recommend to new users, and why?

Rules:

• Each user is only allowed to recommend ONE SCP, ONE Tale and/or ONE GOI Document.
• JUSTIFICATION must be provided — don't just drop a link and leave. Tell us why you would recommend it.
• Users ARE NOT allowed to recommend articles they authored or co-authored. Rewrites (of which recommending users ARE NOT authors or co-authors) are allowed.
• CHECK YOUR RECOMMENDATION HASN'T ALREADY BEEN STATED EARLIER IN THE THREAD. If it has been, post a reply to the original post saying you agree and with your justification.
• Posts SHOULD be made in the following format, or similar.

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Example:

SCP-173: The Statue.
My justification is that this statue is made of concrete, which is an important supporting component in foundations. Therefore, SCP-173 confirms the illuminati as real.

The Death Of Alto Clef, etc.
My justification is that this tale is about the coolest character present in the Foundation, Professor Romulus Prime. He is an important character in modern tales.

Last edited on 20 Sep 2017 01:39 by Jack Ike Show more

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Zyn 11 Aug 2017 08:26

This is not (yet) official or intended to be officially codified and enforced.

This may become endorsed by site staff and/or codified into a page at a later time

I kind of like it as an open forum thread, since that way people can reply to individual recommendation posts.

This thread is now stickied. May it receive lots of views and responses.

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

djkaktus 06 Aug 2017 05:38

SCP-1739 - I maintain that this should be a benchmark for anyone who wants to write here. It's not overly complicated, it doesn't do more than it needs to, and it's incredibly well written.

Kalinin's Proposal - yeah so it's not a true tale. Who cares. In my opinion, it's the best proposal on the site and one of the best series I've read here, ever. There is so much fridge horror here the TV Tropes page should just link to it.

Last edited on 06 Aug 2017 07:21 by djkaktus Show more

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

psul 06 Aug 2017 13:19

1739 is a hell of a benchmark, kaktus! It's not the best writing on the site in terms of the selection of language (although it is still very good in that respect), but it's an incredibly well-constructed skip in terms of pacing and delivery of revelation. I haven't spoken to Chubert about it, but I wonder whether it's the sort of thing that was conceptualised in the opposite order to the way things are revealed as you read?

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

djkaktus 12 Aug 2017 00:49

We talked about it at length on the most recent episode of the Kaktuskast, if that sort of thing interests you. It was a really enlightening look into something I enjoy so much.

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Shaggydredlocks 06 Aug 2017 06:13

SCP: SCP-2935 'O, Death"

Truly, a treat for those both new and old. It seems perfectly suited for those with only cursory knowledge of existing lore/returning users. Couple this with the fact that it is expertly written, with realistic dialogue and characters, a dread-inducing and suspenseful plot, and a harrowing, gut-wrenching conclusion, it goes without saying that this is a must-read.

Tale: If we're going for quality writing, I'd have to throw up We Need To Talk About Fifty-Five. It's the introduction to what is one of the best series this site has. An incredible high-concept with mind-boggling twists and turns; a thrilling series I'd be happy to have representing the kind of place the SCP wiki is.

Last edited on 06 Aug 2017 06:14 by Shaggydredlocks Show more

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

livinginsalt 24 Dec 2017 19:45

As someone who took a break from the site and only recently returned 2935 was amazing. It gave me a real sense of how the writers in the site are maturing. It was one of two (the other being 3001) that made me finally make an account and join the wiki.

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

TheUnknownCrown 03 May 2019 09:52

Can definitely recommend the whole Antimemetics-Devision series.

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Weryllium 06 Aug 2017 08:20

SCP-2380
I highly recommend this article to any aspiring author or curious reader. There's several things it has going for it.

It's a very unique and creative concept, first of all. It's a kidney, rather than the common eyeballs, fingers, hearts, etc. we see here and elsewhere. It uses the often-maligned compulsion effect and gets away with it due to the fun imagery it creates, showing that even the most commonly-spouted slogans can be overruled with enough skill.

It's a short article, which is always nice, and tells a lot in that small space while leaving a lot to the imagination (But not too much). It has no convoluted backstory, GOI/canon linkage, or superfluous interview logs, because it doesn't need any of those to hold its concept up for it.

In my opinion, it's a shining example of what an SCP is at its most fundamental. An entertainingly weird thing, what it does, and how the Foundation deals with it.

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

psul 06 Aug 2017 09:44

Edit: see the edit history of this comment for recommendations for existing / returning users.

What I would recommend to a new user depends a great deal on whether I know them or not. If I know them, I would tailor my choice to whether they want something horror-based or not, whether they're likely to stick with a slightly longer article or something short, how genre-savvy they are etc. There are lots of good starting points (especially in Series I), but this is what I'd suggest for someone I don't know at all, coming in absolutely cold.

SCP-882 - A Machine

This gets the nod over the other contenders (and because 173 had already been taken!) for several reasons. It's relatively short, but it has a supplement to flesh things out and show off more dramatic writing. It is a unique item, and it has correspondingly interesting containment procedures. It is creepy, but not unnecessarily gory. It is self-contained (and doesn't require any background knowledge as to, for example, what an MTF is) but it has several cross-links to take readers further into the database. It's exactly what I'd suggest to draw a hypothetical new reader into this world.

Shadow of a Doubt

For me, this was a no-brainer. It perfectly sets out the Foundation world without the need for any background knowledge, providing an understanding of the shared universe, rather than assuming it (as most tales do). Even SCP-017 is neatly explained in-text. It highlights the human element, setting up characters the reader can invest in. And it creates a marvellous atmosphere of high tension which should leave the reader wanting more. It's really great - you should read it!

Last edited on 10 Aug 2017 07:20 by psul Show more

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

mlister 07 Aug 2017 03:15

SCP-2498: The Rainbow Body
Not the best article for a newbie, but in my opinion, it's perfect for showing off how vast a singular SCP can be. The article explores paratech, alt-history, and religion, all while balancing a detached overview with raw emotion. It's a self-contained story, yet it can serve as a springboard in the Coldest War canon. It's beautiful at times, yet there's an ominous undertone. It's a very personal story, yet it has global implications. I think this SCP shows just how large of a story you can craft while keeping the format perfectly intact.

wowwee-go-kill-ursefl
A bite-sized tale that exemplifies good character, good pacing, and good dialogue without any connections to the greater universe. It shows that there's more to the Foundationverse than the Foundation or even anomalies, and it serves as a springboard to Randomini's Acidverse.

The Conspiracy Of Sigma 3
The Serpent's Hand, being one of the more recognizable GoI's, makes for a perfect introduction to the GoI Format concept. That aside, the article does a good mix of worldbuilding while telling a story, and it ultimately shows another creative way to break the format.

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Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

psul 08 Aug 2017 13:43

I thoroughly agree with you on SCP-2498. I rated it the best entry in the History Contest, and thought it capped off an extended period where minmin was arguably the site MVP (April 2016 to Jan 2017 included SCP-2696 (and particularly the attached documentation), SCP-2747, SCP-2535 and this).

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Scorpion451 07 Aug 2017 03:47

SCP-2447 - Modular Animals
A highly underrated article showing the Foundation doing what it does best: capturing things that make you look up the word "exenterate", and defanging them through a combination of careful experimentation and literal duct tape. The subtle allusions to traits that have been programmed out of these critters and the well done containment log are a clinic in telling stories, implying threat, and inserting a little dark humor between the lines of a document without breaking tone.

Hypervelocity
A brilliant example of embracing the site's potential to plow through genre boundaries like a post-apocalyptic war machine: a character-centric cyberpunk-urban fantasy-noir-action-thriller-heist with rich imagery and a semi-realist anime vibe that fully lives up to its title.

UIU File: 1997-007
A great little article that perfectly sums up the UIU: an organization of competent agents doing their best to uphold the law on both sides of the masquerade… armed with a shoestring budget and an unflappably deadpan approach to the insanity of the SCPverse.

Last edited on 12 Aug 2017 02:44 by Scorpion451 Show more

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Leveritas 08 Aug 2017 13:53

SCP-3008 - A Perfectly Normal, Regular Old IKEA

One of the articles I use as an example when critiquing, specifically on how an SCP can be a story rather than just a document describing an anomalous object. It's an important example on how the format has evolved since we began.

Tale: The Dread Circuses series, because of the interesting perspective from different GOI's and simply because of the sheer writing quality.

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

Modern_Erasmus 08 Aug 2017 14:06

SCP: SCP-2747 Arguably the best use of meta-narrative on the site. Manages to have a great narrative of its own while emulating other famous writers in the list of deleted works. Also some plot elements like project Lucid Chalice were brilliant in and out of universe.

Tale: Resurrection canon One of the longer and more ambitious canons, it gives a great view of a modernized depiction of series 1 characters and tropes. Sadly unfinished, but includes many great moments and smaller scale stories.

GOI Format: KTE-2013-Kapala-Mendes Fantastic article that combines a varied and entertaining plot, great worldbuilding, and a very interesting and threatening concept. Very underrated

Re: Site-Generated Recommended Reading

NatVoltaic 08 Aug 2017 15:07

SCP-1730: What Happened to Site-13?
This SCP is the longest on the site, and is a great example of how to write a good story. This references many other SCPs so it wouldn't be the best first SCP to read. However, I would put it on the list of stuff for new members to read. It does a good job at establishing atmosphere, has fun action, and comes with many memorable moments. I would go into more detail about what this does right, but I'd rather not spoil it. You can take away a lot from what this does right in telling an effective narrative without becoming stale, and reading this would help with that.

Undecided on tale and GoI format choices.

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