As mentioned in the 75 word challenge, my time is being eroded at the moment, so the comments are not as long as normal for the 300 worder, but still with the basic tenant of being positive.
Luiglin - What on earth have I stumbled into? Even with the crazy words there is the sense of something wonderful, eccentric and oh so English in this brilliant opening story. The final sentence is a beautifully written piece that ties it all up so perfectly. A reminder to fetter their imaginations and not run free with their creativity and invention, when that is what they really want/need to do.
Springs – Following a taste of England we get Ireland next, and a second high class entry. Aliens wanting an artefact. A pair of boots. Airline intractability. The end of the world. There are some great parts throughout this entry, but the feeling of the living world shrinking as the plague spreads works well; the line about the sheep is beautiful and the line about even the locals not finding the village is a classic.
Scott – It is a fascinating question – if it was possible would we bring loved ones back from the grave? Quite possibly, but then, what if there were a horrific downside, could we live with the terrible consequences? And even seeing what happened to the others, no matter how monstrous, would we yield to our own desires and temptations. A magnificent idea, that is loaded with questions, and presented perfectly.
Bowler – This almost feels like a snatch of a mundane existence. A simple man leading a simple life. The extraordinary comes from the opening, he is on another world. But the story told is nothing special, a snapshot of a simple life, but it never gets boring and tells a tale that could well be everyday. A man surviving. The damage done to important clothing, and the punishment meted out. Most importantly for me? The very human moment when his resolve nearly fails him and he almost lets the dog in.