Discussion -- 75 Word Challenge -- July

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Perpetual Man said:
Lilmizflashythang – Perhaps one of the more simple entries of the month, but one that catches the theme perfectly. Perhaps one of the strongest truths that there is, and I cannot think of a more profound sense of justice. In many ways it could well be a case of getting just what you deserve.
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Thank you Perp. I actually wasn't going to post. Glad I did though.
 
Perpetual Man said:
Kaufmannp – Something that starts off on the cosmic level and then imossiblym grows either bigger. Beyond reality three figures sit in judgement of mankind and find it wanting. What is exceptionally fascinating and well thought out is the fact that man is not judged on his own merits, it is the effect he has on those around him, if he, as a species, is capable of bringing down all others with him, perhaps it is best to remove him from the equation.



QUOTE]

Thank you Perp! I'm coming to very much enjoy rummaging through the submissions every month, maybe next time I'll try my hand at the 300 word contest!
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Yes - I really couldn't see Prometheus being much mates with anyone from his own mythology, so I imported Loki. I could work up a backstory to explain it and post that after the voting closes, if you like?
 
Many thanks, Perp - that's exactly what I was trying to convey! The inspiration was somewhere between Neil Gaiman and Mervyn Peake, if that makes sense. I'm looking forward to getting more involved with this writing malarkey; maybe now's the time to have a look at that 300-word challenge...
 
Decided to sidetrack from writing my usual poetry this evening and write one based on this...wrote it on the fly and it landed at 75 words...so I felt I had to post it, terrible as it is, would have loved to explore it more, may drag it back and expand it into a fully fledged *cough* epic poem *cough* on the other hand I may just flesh the idea out and add it to my pile, an epic may be too much, don't want to get too carried away!

Ah just went back and started reading them...I think voting will be impossible, there are so many I love, good job I have an age to whittle down...
 
Abernovo said:
Great, Starbeast. Your entries never fail to make me smile.
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Thanks Abernovo. I reworked my entry a few times until I was satisfied. I like your tale Trickster Trap, skimming money does happen. In an odd coincidence, your last date in the story, "June 7th", that's my birthday.

I'd like to comment on every story, but, Perpetual Man, is the Man. I like reading his reviews.

Hats off to Gary Compton for submitting a tale first.
 
Hello,

I've been tied up in Brixton working on a dance celebration for which I was commissioned by Lambeth Borough to celebrate 50 years of Jamaican independence, so I've been off the boards for over a week!

I had my idea early on in the month and played with it half-heartedly a few times until I posted the opening to a short story in Critiques. The feedback I got there made me reset and rework my entire 75 entry. Great timing for me actually as I was able to put the advice I got there into practice (which I hope I got right).

There are two particular entries for me so far that are going to cause me much wailing and gnashing of teeth deciding which to vote for. Can someone please post a new story to break this stalemate? :D

pH
 
Well, that's my tuppensworth posted - now I'd better read the rest to make sure it hasn't been done already! ...
 
Where oh where has this month gone?

Managed to come up with an entry but I wish I had more time!

And oh dear, there's still a 300 worder. Argh.
 
Scott – This is one of my favourite types of story. It starts off as coming across as something a little serious, then turns into something a little more humorous by the end. But better still it is based on a genuine and popular myth, which it conveys perfectly without any hard definition, but we still know exactly who the characters are.

HB – This is one of those that people were talking about and I had to hold on to my curiosity until I was ready. It is one of those that I can see how clever it is, how well constructed and I have to admit to being stunned at the use of words and how well they were put together. A masterclass in creativity perhaps, that hits the nail right on the head. Rap is not something that ever appealed to me, but in the written word you can still appreciate the skill.

Flugel Meister – The story is a pure one, that takes the reader in a different direction. Sometimes the idea of justice is so straightforward that it is almost black and white, other times it gets a little blurry. This is not really the case here, but there is a wonderful moment here where we see a deeper look at justice a substitute. If the true guilty party is let go free, a form of substitution takes place, where instead of going after the killer Mary goes after the one who let the killer go. I’m not sure where the myth/legend fits in, but then I’m not going to catch them all!

Icyphoenix – Back to the old gods, and yet another wonderful twist on the justice theme. It seems that even gods look back at golden days and think that they are better than where they are now. Not really surprising then that one of them at least might see justice in taking a step or two that goes against the wishes of their superior in order to bring back those halcyon days of old, no matter how violent they might be.

Starbeast – How can anyone squeeze so much into so little space. This is like a hyperactive slap to the face that just keeps slapping, as one iconic thing surges out of the words and vanishes to be replaced with another. As always very entertaining and guaranteed to raise a smile on this comment givers face.

Chris – As always Chris’ entries make my mind spin, but I really like the feeling of this one, that if the gods are running wild and unchecked who is there to punish them? Of course it is the very things that seem so beneath them that should be watched, as it is they that will pass out justice. The construction as always is wonderful, and the rhyming worked magnificently.

Brev – Then out of the blue came something completely different, that worked excellently. A computer hacker so clever and daring that he had passed into legend, seems to pass into a legendary setting when his most powerful viral creation goes live. Really fresh and enjoyable.

Stil Learning – Every now and then one of these stories will spark something in me, almost like an inspiration point and I’ll get an idea for a bigger story, maybe nothing like the original, and then get all jealous because I did not come up with it out of the blue – this is one such case. That in this instance, the mixing of pantheons, gives the feeling of all the gods getting together once in a while and seeing how things are going. Better yet it’s nice to see Prometheus get away with it for once. Pity about the vulture though...

RJM – I’m not sure that I fully appreciate this story, but the thing that struck me on first reading was the emotion that came with it. Thick and palpable without being over the top, a I felt the sense of loss and grief that seemed to come with the story. Someone trapped forever in a moment and living it again and again. Really liked the opening description as well.

Kylara – I’ve heard the statement that gods place dice with the lives of men, and although on first reading it might well seem that this is an example of that, there is more to it than that. Almost as though there is more than random chance with these die, that perhaps in the way they roll things might be changed for the better. Or is it just lucky justice? Could they have just as easily rolled the other way?

Phyrebrat – This was one of those that I liked a lot on first reading, then it grew with each reading. A woman who pays her way by telling fortunes at a fayre – but she is a hoax practically telling the punters whatever she wants to, is visited by someone who teaches her that there is more to what she does than lies. But of course a true seer is normally blind, and the blinding portion of the story is painful to read. Good stuff (even if I won’t be using olive oil for a while)

Highlander – really nice to see the Egyptian pantheon get their noses (peaks, snouts) into the challenge. I like the humour at the end, gentle and almost terrifying that even passing the first test might not be enough, that there are many more until justice may be reached.

Phoenix – What can I say about this one? I loved the idea of the great British myths at war with one another, one perhaps slightly not as successful of as the other. Arthur and Hood are so ingrained in my upbringing that it is easy to forget that the Arthurian legends seems to be just a little bit more popular than Robin Hood. Here the hooded man strikes a balance. Made me smile.

TSP – Justice in it’s purest form. When I was reading it there was no doubt in my mind where the tale was going and how it was going to end. The voices were spot on, I felt the one with the sword was harsh and would not be swayed and he wasn’t. Justice at the point of a sword, whether it was fair or not, it was the way it was going to go from the moment the monster begged for its life.


Woooooosh! And I've caught up! Don't think I will be for long, but I got there in the end.

What's that TSP? There's a 300 worder???

I'll see your Argh and raise you an AAAARRRRRGGGGHHH!
 
Perpetual Man said:
Brev – Then out of the blue came something completely different, that worked excellently. A computer hacker so clever and daring that he had passed into legend, seems to pass into a legendary setting when his most powerful viral creation goes live. Really fresh and enjoyable.


Woooooosh! And I've caught up! Don't think I will be for long, but I got there in the end.
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Your phenomenal efforts are, as ever, greatly appreciated, and gratefully received.:)

It's another month of high standards and mind-blowing diversity. I wonder if anyone would guess the 'Brief' by reading the stories alone...?
 
Thanks, Perp, as always. I've been checking in every day in anticipation of your reviews. They really are one of the main things that make the 75 word challenge so highly addictive, not to mention exciting, and I thoroughly enjoy reading them through. I truly appreciate all the hard work you put in. In fact, will someone please give the guy a medal, damn it! He deserves it. :D

I raise a glass; to Perp. :)
 
Thanks Scott, it is always nice to be so appreciated. l really do enjoy writing the comments, but have been a but pushed this month!

As to the question of a medal-well gosh! If we are not careful a long dormant thread might reappear. :)
 
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