Discussion thread - SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE August 2013

[Parson]

Judge -- that sounds like a slight exaggeration on a true event?

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

The Judge -- Among the many hazards that people must face, one of the most common is dealing with our fellow humans. Even if we avoid the truly dangerous among us, daily interactions can be fraught with peril. Jean-Paul Sarte declares that "Hell is other people."

Ursa major -- Civilization depends on some sort of economic system, in order for labor and goods to be exchanged in a way which results in benefits to at least some of the parties involved. Unfortunately, the love of money is the root of all evil.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Phyrebrat -- Many heroic figures have risked their lives in order to protect the liberty of others. The consequences of granting this liberty are not always clear.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

paranoid marvin -- Deep within the human mind there lurks the fear of the Other. No doubt this was an important survival trait in ancient times. Now, in a world where the destructive capability of technology is almost beyond imagining, this fear threatens the entire species.

 

[Ursa major]

The Challenge thread is now closed to new entries.

And the poll is up here:

Poll - August 75-Word Challenge​

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Unlike a few of the previous contests, there was no clear winner this time. I had to go over all the stories twice. Almost every one could have won a place on the short list, and nearly all of them could have gotten a vote. However, I must pick something.

Short List

Tywin
springs
Luiglin
Glen
jastius
SleepyDormouse
chrispenycate
Lenny
Parson

What decided my final vote was plausibility. The piece I selected had an extra touch of realism that I enjoyed. My vote goes to:

"CURTAINS" by johnnyjet

 

[Starbeast]

Starbeast: Thanks for this "Nightmarish good stuff"

Absolutely. You took me be surprise Parson.

Change
(part nine)​

TheDustyZebra - Law is what keeps relative order in society, but extreme law can warp everything into the realm of ridiculousness. And in this case, you're out of order, and this whole trial is out of order! The verdict on this story is, excellent execution.

Reiver33 - When the rulers of huge nations wish to extend their ways of life, forcibly upon smaller nations, then it is occupation, followed by absorbtion. And sadly, nothing is left of the original people and their culture. A shocking tale which resonates with fact. Good, and scary.

Boneman - Whoa, I am caught of guard with this weird science tale about an artificial intellengent wallet. Marvelously written in the persective of the money holder, who narrates this humorous story. Awesome. Say Boneman, got change for a dollar?

The Judge - Journey many fathoms into the depths of madness at the aquatic bottom of the world. Join the crew as they slowly loose their minds and commit disturbing acts of insanity. This is a very fiendish offering that will bite into your brain. Wet, and wonderfully creepy.

Ursa Major - In the future, the overseeres of religion maintain control with extreme measures that will indeed test your faith. Money can change even the beliefs of those who are in the highest authority of a religion too. I suppose the Senators will spend, and pay later. Devilishly good.

Phyrebrat - Alright, a "ray gun" zinger at the end of this science fiction action tale. Gather your courage, then strap on your space pistol and read a fine galatic story that blasts it's way forward with liberation. You left me wanting more zap and story. Well done.

Paranoid Marvin - Surprise, surprise! I was expecting poem, but you dazzled me with a stunning sci-fi drama about two survivors on Earth. And in the end, both opponents want to finish what was started, but it's the savageness of humankind that's still apart of us mortals that surfaces. But, will the outcome change what humans are? Good stuff.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'll give Ursa a special mention for inducing a groan in the last line.

My shortlist were:
Stormcrow
Dreamwalker and
Reiver33

I went for Stormcrow's.

 

[The Judge]

Judge -- that sounds like a slight exaggeration on a true event?

Not far off...

 

[Glen]

Hell’s bells. What a nerve-racking month for me. Getting to choose the theme and genre is, I think, not much of a prize for getting the most votes. I reckon those with the least votes should have to fight it out and the first to fall should have to choose.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading the stories. And here are some of the most notable for me.

springs - global take on being granted wishes, the hubris of accepting such an offer and expecting not to mess it up, and the inevitable failure of a committee decision
Bowler1 - imagine looking back to the impossible luxury we take for granted today.
Venusian Broom - Love the comedy of robots with OCD. but loved more the idea of giving them flaws to improve their experience.
Victoria Silverwolf - a lot of complex societal change included in this 75 wd package.
Hex - hard-edged, cyberpunk, twist in the tale.
Glen - normally this guy cracks me up, but in this month’s maudlin tale he can’t even decide if “long-haul” should be hyphenated or not. Nil points!
stormcrow - gets this months Bradbury-Dahl-esque award for a nostalgic reminiscence with a rug-pulled-from-under-you unexpected-ending.
TacticalLoco - wins the Raymond-Chandler-esque award for punchy, hard-nosed pulp-fiction.
johnnyjet - it’s curtains for society, but there are still good people about, despite the heartache of the old.
Perpetual Man - excellent evocation of time and place, and a clear voice pulled together with font size and colour! Bravo!
BigJ - feelings...nothing more than feelings...
SleepyDormouse - be careful what you wish for.
mosaix - lol
The Judge - Pressure growing in an hilarious black comedy.

Themes of the month: class differences, losing touch with our ‘feelings’, and the reminder that one should never discuss religion or politics in either a pub or an on-line forum.

As Victoria Silverwolf (thanks for the mention!) said, it was a hard choice this month, and I too had to do a bit of re-reading. I voted for a story that I thought had great atmosphere and nailed the theme: stormcrow.

 

[Boneman]

It's not -- but your title is priceless.

Thank you!!! Came to me, just as I finished editing 108 words down to 75!

Boneman -- The traveller who becomes a stranger in a strange land is often bewildered by a sense of culture shock. No less troubled is the person who is isolated from changes in society over time, and who must face the challenges of future shock.

Many thanks Victoria - brilliant take on what I'd actually written, which adds so much more...

Boneman - Whoa, I am caught of guard with this weird science tale about an artificial intellengent wallet. Marvelously written in the persective of the money holder, who narrates this humorous story. Awesome. Say Boneman, got change for a dollar?

I got two bits, is that enough? Many thanks, Starbeast!

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the mini-reviews, VS and Starbeast, although I don't think either of you quite hit the nail on the head.


Thanks for the groan, Springs.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the mention Glen.

Not sure whether I will get a chance to read through everything before voting, so might be the first month I miss the vote.

Things decidedly not good at my end at the moment, but will try and read them in the gaps as I find them.

 

[I_Voyager]

So, now, do we discuss the voting process? Sorry, I'm new to the communal effort.

At the moment I'm debating between: Thanks for the Memories, The Apostate, Classes are Grate, Healthy Small Talk and Anything you say.

I really liked all of these stories. Thanks for the memory is a clever and amoral look at the future of software. The end made me chuckle.

The Apostate is about regulated human behaviour and slaughtered ingenuity. I like the pace of it, gives you the taste of uprising and freedom, followed by a crushing defeat.

Classes are Grate is really awesome, the guy finds the secretly-dropped E-reader from the world above the grate which'll teach him how to read. The tone is achieved once he reads Revolution.

But Healthy Small Talk is an interesting look at the potential of brain-tech interface in a world of easy data mining and wifi. All are tech-themes I enjoy exploring with my own creative mind.

Anything You Say is a fun play with the concept of fairness, reminding us that to everything is applied a law of scales, and applying a law of scales is to me one of the most important things to consider in life and literature.

r. For no other reason than to waste your time by reading 'r' and a sentence of explanation for the use of 'r'.

What's your internal debate?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

We might pop a shortlist and reasons, others just vote, whatever suits best.

Glen, Victoria, thanks for the mentions.

Perp, sounds horrid. Thinking about you. *hugs*

 

[stormcrow]

<dreaming?>

Springs & Glen: Thank You both so much for your votes - a very pleasant surprise, that!
Glen - thanks also for your comments; very much appreciated. Extra-nice to have you think that for a challenge you set!


<awake>

The best to you Perp.

 

[Tywin]

Thanks for the shortlist Victoria!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Perp, sounds horrid. Thinking about you. *hugs*

Thanks Springs, and stormcrow,obviously not wanting to derail the thread too much, but following the earlier post, my father-in-law passed away this afternoon, bringing peace after a few horrendous weeks.

Next few weeks are going to be sorting things out, then hopefully get back to normal with comments and the like.

 

[Starbeast]

I got two bits, is that enough? Many thanks, Starbeast!

Sorry, you'll need eight bits. But you got my vote though, for the wallet that wanted big change and only recieved coinage.

Thanks for the mini-reviews, VS and Starbeast, although I don't think either of you quite hit the nail on the head.

Yeah, I knew I was missing something I couldn't identify. But after this voting is over, you'll probably explain it has something to do with the Arthur Legend or something. My 1977 Collegiate Dictionary was no help. Phooey!

Next few weeks are going to be sorting things out, then hopefully get back to normal with comments and the like.

Take all the time in the world my friend. My prayers are with you and your family.

Short List​

Tywin - Springs - Abernovo - Venusian Broon - Karn Maeshalanadae -
Luiglin - RoninJedi84 - Hex - Stormcrow - David Evil Overlord - TacticalLoco - Perpetual Man - J Riff - BigJ - Alex, The G and T - Culhwch - Mosaix - Lenny - Paranoid Marvin​

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks for the shortlisting, starbeast...