Discussion thread - SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE August 2013

I'm with you Victoria, this genre really excites me. It's one of the main reasons I read SF. There's already some excellent stories up. I'll have to take the challenge of staying away from dystopia.
 
Tywin -- Every civilized society must face the problem of the violent predators who inhabit it. From execution to exile, from incarceration to indoctrination, all methods have been tried. But what if the cure is worse than the disease? And what if the cure fails? "I was cured all right," says Alex in A Clockwork Orange; but was he?

Mith -- Modern biological technology offers many benefits to humanity, but forces us to make many difficult choices. Abortion, contraception, in vitro fertilization, and other medical issues are subjects of heated debate. How far will this progress? What bioethical issues will tomorrow bring?

springs -- As Emily Dickinson pointed out, "The Heart asks Pleasure - first - /And then - Excuse from Pain - "; but would we really wish such a thing upon ourselves? Physical pain serves as a warning system, so that we avoid dangers. Is it possible that emotional pain is as terrible and as valuable a gift?

Abernovo -- The child wishes for the half-hidden adventures of adulthood. The adult must ensure that the child does not rush blindly into maturity, but only when mature enough to act with wisdom and caution. How long the wait seems to the eager youth!

Bowler1 -- Among the many functions of the stories we tell each other is to warn against dangers. From the child of ancient times who learns that the woods are full of wild beasts, to the modern youngster who must understand that not all adults are benign, the Cautionary Tale has a long and honorable history, and will no doubt continue in the future.

ratsy -- Despite humanity's hunger for freedom, justice, and equality, it seems inevitable that there will be the Haves and the Have-Nots. Often the Have-Nots are literally unseen by the Haves; but what if the Have-Nots make themselves visible?

Venusian Broon -- Since the earliest legends of golems and homunculi, human beings have been fascinated by the possibility of creating other thinking beings who are not human. Whether through black magic or artificial intelligence, we seek to confront the Other in order to understand ourselves better, as if we were peering into a cracked and warped mirror in search of the truth.

Karn Maeshalanadae -- A debate currently raging in the headlines of the "Free World" concerns the balance between fredom and security. Must they always be opposed? Was Benjamin Franklin correct to warn us that "those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"? Are the dangers of a global village with deadly technology available to all enough to justify increased surveillance?
 
Thanks for the review, Victoria. Much appreciated. :)
 
Surprised you got all that out of mine, Victoria. There wasn't meant to be that kind of debate in the story itself at all-I got my idea from the dystopian books I read through high school, in which case, there is no freedom at all.
 
Luiglin -- One of the ironies of technological progress is how quickly the marvelous can become the mundane. For many of us, the daily commute, by automobile or by public transport, is a boring waste of time, as we speed over the land at a rate which would have amazed our ancestors. Flight, the magical dream of humanity for millenia, is a nightmare of tedium. No doubt tomorrow's wonders will become dreary annoyances the day after tomorrow.
 
RoninJedi84 -- The tale of Job reminds us how fragile our lives are, no matter how fortunate we may consider ourselves. The seemingly meaningless misfortunes of life force us to ask many profound questions. Is our faith being tested? Are we manipulated by forces we cannot understand? There are no easy answers.
 
Hex -- The class system within a society determines how persons at different levels will interact officially. Like the unseen portion of an iceberg, however, there are always hidden, often illegal, interactions where the rules change. There were always be those who are drawn to the danger of these underground transactions, despite the risk.
 
Victoria: What happened? All of a sudden "pithy" reviews became downright insightful and almost as long as the 75 word wonder.

:D Loving it!:D
 
Perhaps part of it was Perp's announcement of his leave of absence, Parson?


I'm truly surprised at what she said about mine. Flattered a bit, but surprised all the same. I didn't think there was any debate between freedom and security within mine-it was meant to be complete loss of freedom under the shabby guise of security.
 
Could be. We'll have to wait to hear from her.
 
Part of the reason for the change in my comments was, indeed, as a tribute to Perpetual Man. It also seemed to me that it would make more sense for me to offer what might be considered meditations upon the themes revealed in these brief stories rather than to attempt true literary reviews.
 
Dream Walker -- One of the most remarkable developments in human society, lost in the mists of prehistory, is the domestication of animals. Even more extraordinary than the taming of animals for meat, milk, fur, and transportation is the taming of animals for companionship. Perhaps this is the result of slow changes within humans and other animals, and perhaps other forms of domestication will appear in the future.
 
Glen -- Debate rages over the sustainability of an economic system dependent on continual growth. Are there limits to the resources required for economic development? If so, can the rate of growth be slowed, or is it already too late to avoid the final crash?
 
stormcrow -- As human beings in "developed" parts of the world become more and more dependent on technology, they risk losing contact with nature. Soon images and simulations of the natural world seem real. Can we learn to act as a part of nature, without sacrificing the advantages of technology?

David Evil Overlord -- Biological science offers more control over the other species with whom we share the planet. This carries a great responsibility. How are we to relate to other animals as objects of ethical concern? Does it depend on their level of sentience, or their ability to suffer?
 
Cheers all.

I like the theme.

Glen, you are completely right that the best SF is SSF. Not that I don't love a good space opera now and then, but this is different.
Nice list too, but I wish some Sherman Alexie had been added. I highly recommend his stuff.

Victoria, very glad to see you adding more in depth reviews. Thank you.

Mine's up and I'm pretty happy with it, not that I ever have a clue concerning whether others will like a certain piece or not. :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
chrispenycate October 2018 seventy-five word discussion thread Writing Challenges 335
Ursa major Discussion thread -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE May 2014 Writing Challenges 339
Hex Discussion Thread -- Seventy-five word writing challenge -- February 2014 Writing Challenges 299
Ursa major Discussion Thread -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- January 2014 Writing Challenges 360
Culhwch Discussion Thread -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- December 2013 Writing Challenges 303

Similar threads


Back
Top