You’ve seen the show. You’ve played the games. You probably have a favorite starter sitting in a digital box somewhere. But have you ever stopped to ask how a Charizard actually breathes fire without melting its own throat? Or how a society functions when ten-year-olds are handed sentient WMDs?
Most people just hand-wave the logic. It’s magic, right? "It's a game for kids."
Daystar Eld didn’t buy that.
Back in 2014, he started writing Pokémon Origin of Species, and it quickly became the gold standard for "Rational Fiction." This isn't your typical "Ash Ketchum goes on an adventure" story. It is a massive, sprawling, 100-plus chapter epic that treats the Pokémon world with the terrifying respect it deserves. It treats the monsters like actual apex predators and the humans like scientists trying to survive a world that wants to eat them.
What is Pokémon Origin of Species anyway?
Basically, it’s a retelling of the Red/Blue/Yellow story, but through the lens of hard science and psychology. Red isn’t just a kid who wants to be the "very best." He’s a budding researcher obsessed with understanding the underlying mechanics of his world. Blue isn't just a jerk; he's a tactical genius under immense pressure to uphold a family legacy. Leaf? She's a journalist and activist looking at the ethics of catching wild animals for sport.
The world of Pokémon Origin of Species is dangerous. It’s "actually-get-killed-by-a-Rattata" dangerous.
When a wild Pokémon attacks in this story, it’s a traumatic event. The author uses this to explore real-world concepts like Bayes' Theorem, cognitive biases, and the scientific method. Honestly, you might learn more about how to think clearly from this fanfic than you did in high school.
📖 Related: Why Titanfall 2 Pilot Helmets Are Still the Gold Standard for Sci-Fi Design
The Realism of the "Pocket Monster"
In the games, a Pidgey is a nuisance. In Pokémon Origin of Species, a flock of Pidgey is a coordinated aerial strike team that can blind you and leave you for dead in the tall grass. The story strips away the "video game logic" where you can just walk through a forest unscathed. Here, humans stay in cities because the wilderness is a chaotic death trap.
Think about the biology. Eld goes into depth about how Pokémon might actually function. How do they fit into balls? It’s not just "magic red light." The story posits a high-tech digitization process that has massive implications for physics and teleportation.
Red spends a significant amount of time just trying to figure out if Pokémon are "smart" or if they are just highly reactive biological machines. It’s a nuance that the official media never touches because, frankly, it’s uncomfortable to think about.
Why the Rational Fiction Community Obsesses Over It
Rational fiction is a niche subgenre that prioritizes internal consistency and logical character motivation. If a character is smart, they act smart. If there’s a world-ending threat, the government doesn't just send one teenager to fix it; they mobilize.
Pokémon Origin of Species excels here because it fixes the plot holes we've ignored for thirty years.
For instance:
👉 See also: Sex Fallout New Vegas: Why Obsidian’s Writing Still Outshines Modern RPGs
- Gym Leaders: They aren't just bosses. They are public safety officials and regional defenders. Their job is to manage the local ecosystem and train the next generation of "soldiers" to protect the city from "Storms" (legendary Pokémon events).
- The Pokédex: It isn't a magical book that knows everything. It's a collaborative wiki. Red’s entire journey is fueled by his desire to actually contribute data to it, rather than just checking boxes.
- Death: It's real. People die. Pokémon die. This adds a layer of stakes that makes every battle feel like a high-wire act.
The writing style is dense. Sometimes it feels like a lecture on epistemology. Then, three pages later, you’re reading a pulse-pounding sequence where a wild Onix is leveling a mountain path and the characters are using actual physics to survive the rockslide. It’s a wild mix of "boring" science and "holy crap" action.
The Mystery of Mewtwo and the Psychic Type
One of the most compelling arcs in the story involves the nature of psychic powers. In the anime, psychics just glow blue and move things. In this version, being a "Psychic" or "Channeler" is a documented neurological phenomenon with heavy side effects.
The creation of Mewtwo is treated like the Manhattan Project.
It’s a secret, ethically bankrupt experiment that questions what it means to create life. When the story explores the mind of a psychic, it uses actual psychological theory. It looks at how we perceive reality and how easily that perception can be manipulated. If a Pokémon can change your memories, how do you even know who you are?
A Different Kind of Kanto
The geography remains the same, but the vibe is completely different.
Viridian Forest isn't a three-minute walk; it's a multi-day trek that requires survival gear and constant vigilance. Lavender Town isn't just "spooky"; it's a place of genuine mourning and philosophical debate about the afterlife and the "ghost" energy emitted by certain species.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Disney Infinity Star Wars Starter Pack Still Matters for Collectors in 2026
Daystar Eld (the pseudonym of the author) has been incredibly consistent. He’s been posting chapters for nearly a decade. The community around the story on platforms like Reddit (r/rational) and LessWrong is hyper-active. They debate the math. They argue over Red's decision-making process.
It’s a meta-textual experience. You aren't just reading a story; you’re participating in a giant logic puzzle.
How to Get Started with the Story
If you’re tired of the same old "collect eight badges" loop, this is your antidote. But be warned: it’s long. We’re talking over 700,000 words. That’s longer than the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy.
You can find the story on FanFiction.net, Archive of Our Own (AO3), or the author’s personal website. There is also an excellent podcast version (The Pokémon Origin of Species Audiobook) if you prefer listening while you commute or grind for shinies in Scarlet and Violet.
Key Practical Insights for Readers:
- Don't skip the "boring" parts: The early chapters involve a lot of world-building and "science talk." Stick with it. Those details pay off massively during the major "Boss" encounters later in the story.
- Brush up on your "Thinking 101": The story frequently references Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Knowing the basics of cognitive biases will help you understand Red's internal monologues.
- Check the Progress Reports: The author often posts "Interludes" or meta-commentary explaining why certain scientific choices were made. These are gold for lore nerds.
- Prepare for Tone Shifts: It can move from a cozy campsite discussion to a terrifying natural disaster in a single paragraph.
The Pokémon Origin of Species isn't just a fan project. It’s a reimagining that makes the world of Pokémon feel as vast and terrifying as our own universe. It turns the "monsters" into something we should actually fear—and respect.
Your Next Steps
- Start at Chapter 1: Go to DaystarEld.com to read the official web version which often includes the author's notes and updated revisions.
- Listen to the Podcast: Search for "Pokémon Origin of Species" on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you want a narrated version of the saga.
- Join the Community: Head over to the r/rational subreddit. It’s the primary hub where readers discuss new chapter releases and the underlying logic of the "Redverse."
- Keep a Glossary: You might want to have a tab open for basic scientific terms; the story doesn't dumb things down for the reader.