Already people are voting and for the second month running I've had to rush to finish my comments, so here they are:
Chris – The first thing that springs to mind for Chris’ entry this month is thought provoking. A different perspective of creation and the creator. I’m not sure whether he comes across as slightly arrogant, or just honest. As he is omnipotent I’m going to have to go with the latter I suppose. Really enjoyed it, another incredible entry.
Grizzgreen711 – What I enjoyed most about this one was the way my perspective of the story changed each time I read a bit more, the blanks being filled in word by word. As my interpretation changed so too did my appreciation of the tale. For me at least it could be taken in a number of different ways, but ultimately it seems to be a story of ones devotion to duty, or family and sometimes that can be a worse conflict than anything else.
Stormfeather – What can be stronger than devotion of a mother for her child, something that is told perfectly here, but the need is even greater for the child is special. I thought the maternal sacrifice was strong enough in its own right, but the last line clinched it, giving the little twist that these tales sometimes bring.
Chaoticheart – Yet another spot on depiction of the theme. Here we have that inner strength that only can be given by some emotion greater than all others. Call it love, call it devotion, it does not matter, it is the force that will drive a hero on, to success or failure, forcing him to take another step no matter what the cost.
Slindeman – A whole key moment of history, it would seem, squeezed into so few words. A really clever first entry, as we see what looks to be a rather uncommon accident, but in fact looks to be the incredible chance meeting of two beings who might actually change the world. (Loved the Analog magazines reference!)
Bob – Well, whut more need tuh be said about this little mastahpiece. Ah lurved it from t’moment ah first set eyes on it, a simple tale of the dead hangin’ around aftah death ‘cos it be what they’d always done. Course I’m spectin’ that the old spellchecker, well I guess that thought it were being seriously mussed wit.
TDZ – What another great entry from the dusty one. And it really is, someone prepared to put up with anything, and use whatever materials are at hand (quite literally) to get a story told, no matter what the cost or discomfort. It reads like a slow escalation as step by step things get worse but the writer just keeps going...
Cul – Once again, despite protests to the contrary Cul gives us a cracking story. A hunter of some description prepared to do his terminal job, no matter what is thrown at him. The realisation that this time his foe has taken on the form of a child is very telling, but not as much as his willingness to kill it. It did make me wonder though how he would react if it was really a child... (a story for another time perhaps)
Ursa – as always clever and entertaining. There are some wonderful ideas here, well more truths I suppose; people clinging onto their past is some kind of pride, while it is easy to see that to alien eyes we must be a very strange species. The whole thing is given a deliciously sinister twist with the ending. No half measures eh? The end is nigh....
TJ – Ah once again we have the love of a mother for her offspring, once again a uniquely given form. Of course there is something a little scarier in this one. A mother that loves her child so much and has the power to do something about it so that she never has to let him go, because even if he leaves she has the means to bring him back...
Olive Sky – Not only is the last entry this month from a newcomer, not only does it set the new record for entries in a month, but it is a wonderful piece of poetry that crams so much into it, it is easy to interpret it one way and then another each time I read it, from a child being born to a spirit leaving the world, and all the bits in between it is a remarkable first attempt at the 75 word challenge, and a fitting ending to one of the best months of entries so far.
