Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #6

[Jo Zebedee]

Jonny jet and Crystal, thanks for the mentions.

 

[Hex]

Wow... you guys -- thank you so so SO much for the votes and the mentions. I had to climb a tree to get a signal and things are a bit precarious up here so I'll thank everyone properly when I get back to civilisation.

(there's a smell of burning -- anyone else notice that? is it the incandescence...?)

 

[Abernovo]

Thanks for the shortlisting, crystal haven.

Climbing trees for reception. Now that's dedication (or something ) to the Chrons, Hex.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the short listing Crystal!

 

[kshRox]

The Church of the Final Absolution:

The stacks belched continuous billowing clouds of putrid smoke into the tired, depressed air surrounding the cities, towns and villages. It feels eerie to see them idle, just as it did when they first began appearing. Long lines of the faithful waiting their turn to be raptured but we’ve got them on the run now.

The Others, cannot impose violence upon another species. They can however, convince another intelligent species to request they be ‘raptured’; nice euphemism for murdered and burned.
I wonder how long they spent studying our culture to prepare their deception. First they appeared as angels to an enlightened few, the Pope, The Mormon Prophet, Various Islamic Imams and Hasidic Jews, the Baha’i; they promised peace and a world Messiah.

Then they sent messengers who appeared to be family members who had died to influential families and world leaders with a message borrowed from Christianity, The Rapture was now. They called themselves the Priests of the Ultimate Authority and promised those who believed would be allowed to participate in a ritual to either translate them directly to the next cycle of spiritual evolution or be resurrected in perfected bodies on Earth to help complete the work of the Messiah.

They were clones of course. Constructed and programmed with genetic material provided from the original during the ritual. The underground started once the Temples of Absolution started springing up and it was realized the believers were being murdered by the 10s of thousands daily. Once a Priest was captured to provide proof of cloning the movement grew like wildfire.

They’re on the run now. In a moment I’ll get up and rejoin my unit. I look down at the dark arterial blood seeping from under the makeshift bandage. Just one more moment to rest here . . .

 

[kshRox]

I saw the picture and didn't realize it was for last month so wrote the story above. Once it was written, didn't want to just throw it away.

 

[Grimbear]

It's a good story - very dark and an excellent idea. Thanks for posting it - was glad to read it kshRox.

It'll probably get moved, but you could post it in the critiques thread once you had 30 posts.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

For future reference (should it be needed), we prefer to post the stories that weren't posted during the contest after the voting is over. It's less confusing for the voters, so they don't go scrolling through the challenge thread again and again looking for that story they liked but which seems to have disappeared ...

 

[Lilmizflashythang]

Voted for Hex. It was the only story that caught my eye this time.

 

[Starbeast]

Top Three
_________________________________________________​

David Evil Overlord - Karn Maeshalanadae - Stormcrow​

Runners Up for Top Three
_______________________________________________________​

Perpetual Man - Kiffinyjean - Chrispenycate - JoanDrake​

Short List
________________________________________________________​

Springs
Allmywires
Reiver33
RcGrant
Stevietee
Brev
Paranoid Marvin
Johnnyjet
Flugel Meister
Hex
Ratsy
Luiglin
Abernovo
Glen
Alchemist
Scott R. Forshaw
Phyrebrat
Crystal Haven
Mouse
Boneman
Culhwch
Moonbat
Gary Compton
Mosaix


And thank you Perpetual Man for another great review. Great job everyone!​

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Grizz, Kylara, Starbeast, the votes were an unexpected honor.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the short listing SB!

 

[Glen]

Thanks to all, great stories. Who knew that sepia picture of somwheer oop north would generate such a landslide of short story magnificence.

My favourites were as follows, with my vote signified by the triple asterisk of acclaim.

• springs, REFUSING THE ROAD TO HEAVEN: strong atmosphere, some ambiguity about the story that I like. The chimney in that picture - it's quite darkly evocative. Had to look up "Sobibor".
• *** t edgerton, WHAT THE THUNDER SAID: another strong atmosphere with rich, trippy language - "She was snow and white steel and blood". Again there's a bit of ambiguity that I like.
• allymwires, The Tower: Sad, stark, spare.
• reiver33, Look Back In Auger: proper sci-fi! Had to look up "Auger" (proper pun!)
• RcGrant, The Age of the Innocents: fresh, clear, bright with detail.
• paranoid marvin, Sweet Revenge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGor7ZyCawI , favourite line "cake-makers aren't to be trifled with".
• Hex, The Dream Factory: Beautiful. Let me be clear - beautiful. ...but the closed mill did make me think of Monty Python...
• Denise Tanaka, Doubt: The line "Clouds unraveled in a sky like faded blue jeans" is marvellous.
• Glen, Life Goes On: OMG! A tour de force! Unputdownable! Changes the way I think and feel about everything.
• Kiffinyjean, Aiding and Abetting a Satyr: lol.
• *** StilLearning, The ghost of the valley..." #@*&%*$ brilliant.
• *** crystal haven, The price of success: wow. "A needle in a haystack now".

Thanks springs for the vote. You have impeccable taste :0)

 

[Abernovo]

Thanks for the shortlisting, Starbeast.

 

[crystal haven]

Starbeast, thank you for the shortlisting. It’s really appreciated.

Glen, thank you very much for your vote and your really lovely comment. I’m so thrilled.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Phoenixthewriter and Starbeast, thank you so much for the votes.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Starbeast, thank you for the long listing, and Glen, thanks for the mention.

 

[stormcrow]

Starbeast - Thank You heaps for the vote! That's another day made!

Ok - I've voted. My votes went to:

springs
Johnnyjet
Abernovo

..and my not-so-shortlisters were:

David Evil Overlord
Teresa
Reiver33
Hex
Phyrebrat
Mouse
StilLearning
The Judge
Mosaix

Great month all round!

 

[Abernovo]

Thank you for the vote, stormcrow! You just made my day.

Dancing around the room, getting strange looks from the dogs!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

And mine, Stormcrow, thanks. In my case it's the kids thinking I'm mad...