Discussion -- 75 Word Challenge -- July

[TomS]

Justice.....now there's a heck of a thing. Heheheheheheheheh....

 

[r_j_dando]

Interesting challenge this month (although they all have been since I started)...spent a couple of days playing around with my first idea, and then a completely different tack jumped out at me and demanded to be written. Think I might have accidentally written a humourous piece this month! ;-)

Now I can go and read the rest of them...

 

[allmywires]

Damn, I missed a typo in mine. Vicious, not viscous. That's what happens when you write in 5 minutes...

 

[Perpetual Man]

Nixie – There was a lilting haunted nature to this one as though we were looking through the mists at something that might have happened, the very nature of what a myth should be. God’s debating and ruling upon the nature of those that they have raised high, and prepared to strike to bring those they favoured low once again.

Grimbear – A beautiful poem, a tribute to love that can never be. To me it seemed as though there was more romance in this than some people manage to squeeze into whole novels. Steeped as it was in Welsh mythology, it gave itself a depth that prose may well have failed to deliver. I note with some interest that these clever poets seem to squeeze so much more into their vers, without making them feel rushed.

Stevietee – What a kick in the teeth! A man hung for crimes he did not commit, and the legend that builds around his lynching seems almost perfect for the theme, but the rug is really pulled from under the readers feet when it becomes apparent that the man was in fact guilty after all, and his victim is who haunts the branches and roots of the tree. Simply brilliant.

Hex – Following a beautifully worded opening line we have a great story, that is a bit like a mad chase, a dance through words that delivers on every level. The personality of the soldier is ugly, portrayed so well in a few words as he delights in chasing after a weak kid. Seeing the sword at the end made me smile, especially after my entry last month.

Springs – It starts with something that seems like a race, but it rapidly becomes grimmer. There is very little definition, but it does not matter, the words we are given are just the perfect amount to allow us to clothe them in depth and fill out the full story. A land curse by a perceived cheat, and a curse that runs on through the years, to the present day. It’s enough to make you weep.

PM – Well blimey, every month another brilliant poem, and every month as impossible as it seems the poem is just as good or better. A fitting tribute to Robin Hood, although he probably would not see it that way considering the outcome. In a few short words we have twists and turns making you think the hooded man may well escape once again. But this time there is not such luck.

DEO – Something a little different, perhaps a modern legend using the modern iconic figures, that of the superheroes. In fact the legend thing is sold quite well, there really is the feel of an epic underneath the surface and we are lucky enough to see the end of it. Once again it is what not is said that comes to mind. They may well have fought to save their world, but did the so called heroes do more damage than good? And how would the common people see it?

Teresa – Brilliant once again. The level of these stories just does not seem to falter. In many ways this is little more than a simple story, it reads that way, but there is so much more to it, and it comes together almost perfectly at the end. A wise king indeed. It reminds me of one of my favourite historical legends, concerning the death of Richard I.

I can see that, to paraphrase Jaws, when the competition closes this month, I’m going to need a bigger shortlist.

 

[Hex]

Thanks for the lovely review, Perp. It may have been inspired by... well, let's say an amazing entry from last month.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks for the lovely review, Perp. I'll stick up more about the myth at the end - it's pretty obscure. TY

 

[Hex]

See, I reckoned it was based on: "whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ulster, so shall he be made the king" and the red hand.

 

[nixie]

Thanks Pep..

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

See, I reckoned it was based on: "whosoever's hand is the first to touch the shore of Ulster, so shall he be made the king" and the red hand.

I thought it was the Red Hand of Ulster too.

 

[stevietee]

Thanks for the kind words Perp Man

I thought it was the Red Hand of Ulster too.

I'd never heard of this, but now it makes perfect sense! Good piece Springs!

 

[MemoryTale]

Got mine up, had the idea and couldn't resist, though doubltess some will say I should have

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm not really allowed to comment, so I'll just say the lady in Scotland is, it seems, familiar with it. Thanks, Stevie; yours is really good. They all are - I'm with Perp, a long short list already!

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks Perp!

 

[RcGrant]

Hi Perp. Just wanted to say thank you for the review -- I appreciate it.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks for the review, Perp.

I'll say more, but only after voting closes.

 

[RcGrant]

Johnny Jet -- LOVE the premise of your story. Definitely original.

 

[johnnyjet]

Thanks for the nice comments, Rc. The visual image came in a flash. Must have been something I ate.

Now that I've posted my story (earlier than usual), I began reading the other entries. Again I'm blown away by the level of writing and the wealth of unique ideas! Building my short list rapidly.

 

[Abernovo]

That's mine in, so I can read the others now. I've been deliberately avoiding reading other entries so far.

I really missed not having internet and being unable to take part last month.

Right, now to go and look at that 300 worder. Heh, first thing I thought was Jules Verne's Columbiad space gun. Classic reading from my childhood.

 

[jimness]

Hey all, I've recently discovered this forum and have posted my first challenge entry, so I thought I'd introduce myself!

There. Consider myself introduced.

 

[Abernovo]

Welcome to the Chrons, jimness. Nice entry in the challenge.

There is an introductions sub-forum if you ever want to tell us more about yourself. Anyway, please stick around and join in the fun.