Brev – A story that sets itself apart from humanity by showing the point of view from something that is more than human (or less), and how love or lust is seen through inhuman eyes. The construction is handled very well, and it leaves you wrongfooted until just before the end. You really see the main character as some kind of hunter, not realising that it is all a game between two lovers; what you think is a hunter hunting a monster, is something more, and the companion is the victim… really enjoyed it.
PM – Like being slapped in the face by Ken Dodd this story made me smile as the days of my youth came back to life. I really loved the presentation, a form of documentary that tells a story that could almost be considered serious, except when you actually read it, making the absurd real just in the moments you read the words. When you finish you look back and think for a moment what a serious tale it has been until you actually think about the content. It is only then you cannot help but smile.
johnnyjet – This another one of those stories that cleverly squeezes so much into it that it is hard to believe that there are only 300 words. Not only do we have the basic idea of an Earth conquered by aliens who use simulacra of the dear departed to spy upon the living; but there are the throwaway lines that give it so much depth – the description of the alien base, the names of the aliens, the interaction of the two conquered species, the fact we do not see the overlords… excellent.
Flugel Meister – I’m not sure whether I truly got this story, but if my interpretation is right then as far as I am concerned it is a work of genius – but I’m not sure |I should put my interpretation down in case it ruins it for every one else… or then again maybe I’m just being dense and everyone will get it anyway. But a troll wandering in the day, bringing a small level of fear, but more curiosity from the locals, I mean why would something change its habits? The answer is a lot more than just food, but not only is an almost hearth-warming solution, but is a testament to the reduced intellect of trolls too.
Hex – When I started to read this one I did not like it, not because it was bad but because it was so sad. Someone prepared to sell their memories, not only of life but of a true love is heartbreaking, even if the selling is a necessity brought on by encroaching destitution. But… it is the end that turns the whole thing on its head and turns it into a magnificent triumph, a celebration and confirmation of the power of love. There are two in a relationship, and in the strongest, even at the worst of times one can carry the other.
Ratsy – Ahh, a tale of a broken Earth, post apocalyptic perhaps but more by supernatural means than the bomb – or maybe not, who knows how stories might grow about the end of the world when you are looking back from the other side. But in many ways this is irrelevant, what is important here is the heavy weight on the heart and soul of the seeker, as he carries on across the world trying to find the one sign of hope that he and his forefathers have long been seeking. The resolution of that quest looks like a failure, but as he starts to dig you cannot help but feel the hope.
Luiglin – This is a story close to the way I thought about going with mine, so of course I’m going to like it, but other than stepping through the portal the idea goes into a totally different direction. There is much that can be said of yearning of another time and place, another world, and the curiosity that comes with seeing such a place would be enough to overwhelm the least curious of souls. Of course you always have to aware of the negative connotations of stepping into another world. The consequences here are almost certainly terminal in nature, and should stand as a warning to all.
Abernovo – Another tale with a warning, this time about the perils of overconfidence. In a world where something dark has escaped from the depths, has become a threat to all that lives nearby, the obvious answer is to employ a professional who knows how to deal with such things. I think what I enjoyed most about this, is the fact that our protagonist sits there and tells us just how dangerous a demon can be, then opens the door to it unarmed. Perfect.
