Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #8

[Perpetual Man]

DthenB – I really liked the way this one was set out, it seemed somehow abstract, in the manner it was presented. As a reader we are dropped in at the deep end, we can tell what is going on, but it is without reference, we have no understanding of why. There is a slight repetition of the question, but other than that we get nothing, just the slow building of a story, of a man betrayed, a man who knows his tormentors are doing themselves. Until the last line and all he knows and what we have been led to believe is rendered moot. It seems that the tormentors were one step ahead after all.

Karn – There is a feeling of emptiness that reaches me from this one, a planet that was once the home of humanity has become empty, maybe not of life but the civilisation that once dominated has gone, headed off to Mars and doing their best to live there. We are never told exactly what happened on Earth, but it is enough to let us know that what we need to. Whatever the reason for leaving Earrth was. It seems to have been serious enough that a mission to the planet is deemed a high risk one, and at the same time it makes you wonder just what was in those crates. The end does indeed imply that Earth is a dangerous place, the crew lost... One of those stories that tells you everything and nothing allowing it to grow and flower within your own imagination.

allmywires – There are some things you should never do. Taking on the queen of the seas is one of them, boasting about how you got the better of her is certainly another. What I really liked about this is the undercurrent of backstory that is only hinted at, but at the same time that is all you need. This mystical being, it seems has merged with a mortal woman. The how whys and wherefores could probably make and epic story in their own right. Instead we see that the merger is more than a one way street, and although she may be held in a human form the queen can reach out in anger... and I would not like to know what happens after the words end.

Perp – Wailing on about whales.

Juliana – Out of the blue, something completely different, almost a contemporary tale with just the hint of the supernatural, a mystery enfolded in a dream. The whole thing works well with a gentleness that seems to capture the reader well. You can almost imagine the dreamer, a recurring vision every night. Not a nightmare, but something romantic and wonderful. How odd it must be then, to see that dream made ‘real’ a photo on canvas. I’d imagine it would be easy to wonder whether you might have seen the picture before somewhere, that it may have influenced your subconscious mind – and then you see the photographer and he sees you...

 

[Juliana]

Thank you very much, Perp!!

 

[Starbeast]

Upon his bruised and battered knees the writer pleaded to the Mods to allow those tortured souls to write that which is already locked within their soul. Inspiring photos depicted before all those which have been drawn to the pen. "Let me release my unknown dreams... Inspire me with visions of pain, suffering, love and hope." Tears ran down his face in anguish, "For without your illustrations I shall be tortured by lost fairy tales which wonder my very essence waiting to escape" he continued staring at fellow writers whom pleaded quietly. "I must write, we must write!" He finished before collapsing upon the cold floor as his pen rolled silently down the silent corridor.

(to say the least I feel the same way )

And the Academy Award goes to Juelz4sure, for Best Performance!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Stormcrow – There is a whole history hidden in these words, a hidden history that has all but been forgotten. With the setup this could have been an epic, a story of those who discover the truth of the world, but in the end it is something a lot more personal. There is a lot that isn’t said in the story, but it leaves it to the imagination, is Pearlman a fallen angel ascending once more, or is he a demon escaping his fate? No matter, it seems as though he is a step ahead of his persecutors. Something I really liked was the use of names, Pearlman, Four Winds, it all felt as though they had import of their own, giving a depth that waiting to be explored.

Warren – An ethereal and magical tale, that allows us to see what is, the boat wreckage lying discarded on a beach – it must be an ingrained thing to see such a thing and wonder just where it came from, what it’s history was and how it came to lie there – and that is something this story delivers. In many ways it does not matter whether this story is a genuine experience or just a vision that catches hold of the watcher and tells of the boats fate. Instead it allows a truth to be told, giving a meaning to something that would otherwise be just driftwood on a sure.

Starbeast – An epic battle for the planet Earth told in 300 words. But not just a simple one, in some ways this is a rip-roaring adventure that if filled with tasty tit-bits. Gods versus devils, and the fall from grace of the human race; a mysterious artefact that may we ll give answers to the hidden past, and forces that control men for their own ends. But we also get to see those that are willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, and that there may well be a reward at hand for those that have some measure of faith.

 

[allmywires]

Thank you Perp as always for your fair and lovely reviews.

 

[Starbeast]

Starbeast – A mysterious artifact.

Thanks Man.

After a bit of thinking, I'll leave the reviewing to you. You are the Master of Reviews after all. I'm done.

Last night I had a wonderful time reading the 300 tales, they are all exciting, unique, imaginative and captivating. I look forward to reading more.

Perhaps some thought has been given to a 300 challenge every other month, but if not, it's cool.

 

[Warren_Paul]

Thanks Perp for the review. I'll wait until after the challenge to comment more.

 

[stormcrow]

Likewise; thanks Perp Man!

Always appeciate your comments! Like WP, I'll say no more for now...

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Right, my story is in. Lord forgive me for plagiarizing the title from a story by one of the top three gods of sci-fi and speculative fiction.

I thought the title was a brilliant allusion.

 

[Glen]

Thank you very much Victoria Silverwolf! That has made my day.

 

[idiot_prince]

i just looked at the picture and wrote what came to mind whenever i overthink things always turn out bad lmao

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks Man.

After a bit of thinking, I'll leave the reviewing to you. You are the Master of Reviews after all. I'm done.
[[/COLOR]

That's a shame SB, I was really enjoying and envying your concise reviews, wondering how I cannot seem to make myself write them as naturally as you do.

I enjoyed them as a wonderful counterpoint to my own and will miss them.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Aber – A masterclass in misdirection this story takes the picture plays with your expectations, and then sets it in an obvious port town, with a lot of references to the sea and ships and the dangers they face, not to mention Andy seemingly dreaming of the sea and travelling on a boat, really setting the reader up for what comes at the end. As I reached that end I actually thought that it was unusual to have something that was seemingly going to be non-genre, and actually wondered where the story was going, so well wrong footed had I been. The pay off was spot on, and not once was it obvious, but worked so well.

Blacula – Well, I think this is going to be one of the hardest comments I’ve ever had to make. I’m going to have to hazard a guess, taking from the story itself and from the writers location that English is not his first language. With that in mind there was a lot to like here, there is an epic feel almost as though a wanderer crosses mountains in a time of war, and comes upon a wreck on the top of a snow encrusted peak. The images that this brings to mind is an epic one, but the story itself speaks of lost souls, of powers bigger than life and beings that are so much more than human. The use of language gives it an ancient feeling, as though it a story being retold, something that has it’s origins in the lost depths of time.

idiot_prince – An excellent story from the second newcomer in a row. The story, of a sailor being shipwrecked is well told, with some excellent imagery and ideas. My feeling is that he is an older traveller, someone who has been around the seas a few times and has learned what he needs to know in order to survive in case of an emergency. It seems to payoff here as he manages to survive the wrecking and aftermath, but the sting in the tale is the end, as he finds that the island he landed on is probably not the best of places. There is very little description of the elf, but cleverly we are given all we need , they are beautiful and ruthless and it seems the sailor’s lucky knife may have helped him while at sea, but becomes impotent when faced by other dangers.

 

[idiot_prince]

thanks for the review was alot harder to fit everything in 300 words than i thought

 

[Abernovo]

Wow, thank you, Perp. Such a lovely review, as always.
I might just print your review and put it on my wall - for motivation.

 

[Perpetual Man]

My pleasure Aber and idiot_prince.

I really was thrown by yours Aber, simply brilliant.

And idiot_prince it is tricky, 300 words sounds like a lot until you start writing. Of course if you want a real challenge you should zip across to this months 75 word challenge and have a go at that!

 

[Starbeast]

That's a shame SB, I was really enjoying and envying your concise reviews, wondering how I cannot seem to make myself write them as naturally as you do.

I enjoyed them as a wonderful counterpoint to my own and will miss them.

I'm stunned. Ok, I'm back to reviewing. I shall return to this thread with words to say to ALL who submit their wonderful tales.

 

[Starbeast]

I'm back, and I'm having fun reading these 300 word tales.


Glen - Humans are now bio-enhanced warriors waging on-going battles to take over the Milky Way galaxy. I love the action sequence at the beginning, and I want to see this made into a movie.

Springs - I always imagined faerie folk as pleasent and harmless beings. Not in this spooky fantasy tale. Beware of the Faerie Boat from the Underworld, because they are coming to get you! Excellent stuff.

Talysia - This a fantastic tale told by a lady on the shore of deadly waters, about the ecological nightmare caused by the slaughter of Leviathans. These incredible, yet beneficial beasts of the sea are destroyed by weapons and magic. Awesome story!

Luiglin - You made my skin crawl with this frightening and shocking tale of the horror of the dead stuck in a hellish limbo. Marvelously written and gripping till the end.

Ratsy - An ancient King returns and rises up to reclaim what is rightfully his land from the people who took it. Once there, they see the settlers have advanced in technology, but that does not alter the King's plan of attack and reclamation. I love it.

 

[stormcrow]

SB - Headlines say:

Beastly reviewer makes stellar return after threatened absence!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Glen: This was extremely vivid and well-written.

springs: Very emotional, with finely drawn characters.

Talysia: A powerful ecological allegory.

Luiglin: An eerie, mythic vision.

ratsy: An open-ended tale that raises many questions.

Mouse: An unusual use of familiar SF/F themes to show us something very different.

juelz4sure: Uses a high fantasy setting to tell a moody, somber story.

Bowler1: Shows us the human side of space fiction.

BigJ: Has the feeling of a folk ballad.

DthenB: An intensely written tale with a biting twist.

Karn Maeshalanadae: A chilling mixture of SF and horror.

allmywires: A mysterious and subtle variation on the pirate story.

Perpetual Man: Captures the mood of a legend of the future.

Juliana: A charming romantic fantasy.

stormcrow: This was very creative, with an effective use of experimental writing techniques.

Warren Paul: A gripping symbolic fantasy.

Starbeast: Notable for its vast sweep and enormous theme.

Abernovo: A captivating character study.

Blacula: Surreal, with some haunting images.

idiot prince: Full of sensory appeal, with an unexpected ending.