David Evil Overlord
Censored Member
Thanks for the mentions, Bowler and Abernovo. 
Discussion Thread -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- December 2013
- Thread starter Culhwch
- Start date
Thank you very much for the vote, Aber!
AnyaKimlin
Confuddled
I don't have time for a shortlist this week but I gave my vote to Perp - his elicited the strongest emotional reaction as I read the stories.
Thanks for the mentions Aber and Remedy and lots of thanks for the vote, Tywin, it brightened a tough day!
Interesting takes on an interesting topic!
Short list:
Ratsy -- "Never Lose Faith"
RoniJedi84 -- "Ye of Little Faith"
Juliana --- "Leap of Faith"
Infamous List:
Pyan --- "Per Fides Ad Astra" An awful, awful, pun
Culhwch -- "Eulogy" How can a Parson vote for a story whose moral is "Faith will be the death of you?"
Contender's List:
Victoria Silverwolf --- Ceremony --- "A brilliantly realized world and the faith that keeps the people sane."
The Judge --- We Can Believe It for You --- I loved the person deciding to go "all in" for belief.
Dusty Zebra --- "I'll Be Home" --- Shows a faith that believes in a good plan even against the current contemporary evidence.
To decide between Victoria and Dusty was an awful choice to make. In the end I went for Dusty Zebra because her story spoke of the actions of faith in a language I could understand.
Short list:
Ratsy -- "Never Lose Faith"
RoniJedi84 -- "Ye of Little Faith"
Juliana --- "Leap of Faith"
Infamous List:
Pyan --- "Per Fides Ad Astra" An awful, awful, pun
Culhwch -- "Eulogy" How can a Parson vote for a story whose moral is "Faith will be the death of you?"
Contender's List:
Victoria Silverwolf --- Ceremony --- "A brilliantly realized world and the faith that keeps the people sane."
The Judge --- We Can Believe It for You --- I loved the person deciding to go "all in" for belief.
Dusty Zebra --- "I'll Be Home" --- Shows a faith that believes in a good plan even against the current contemporary evidence.
To decide between Victoria and Dusty was an awful choice to make. In the end I went for Dusty Zebra because her story spoke of the actions of faith in a language I could understand.
Thank you for the short list, Parson!
Wow, a vote! Thanks, Parson! A lovely after-Christmas present.
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2006
- Messages
- 6,381
Santa followed the tracks through the snow. It was cold but he did not notice. It might be said that had been born to the cold. It was what he was. Only it wasn't. He stopped and frowned remembering things that he had not thought about in a long time. Things that had become little more than legends, stories to be told around a fireplace.
tinkerdan – Sometime when you lose things that mean the most to you, you have to remember the good times, and just believe that they are in a better place. The belief in things youi cannot see is the most important thing – because that is faith.
Why he was thinking of such things, he did not know, it reminded him of what he was. How people believed in him, even when so many could not see... But then...
Mirannan – A good point was faith being something that could not be quantified by an absolute truth. If anything could be proved, even that actually confirmed what people believed, it was no longer an act of faith but a certainty did that remove the faith aspect. Could it even undermine something like me?
He wondered. His was a special compact. Across the world people talked of him at this time of year, they gave him strength and purpose, they dressed like him and perpetrated his truth, that he was, and that kept hiim strong, that and the children...
Alc. - When you see the wonder on the face of a five year old at two in the morning, shouting “He's been!” is it any wonder that those more jaded might want to grab hold of a more innocent time, might desperately want to believe in something that brings happiness. In desperate, hard times what could be more wonderful.
It did not matter where the belief in him came from all that mattered was that people did, that fed him, kept him strong. But was it always him?
Bob – Sometimes there is a strength that comes from elsewhere, be it something supernatural or in hidden codes, magic or programming, even a flaw can lead to strength. Something that is well passed its time might find a strength to carry on...
With the thoughts rattling around his head he continued to plunge through the Arctic snow. 'I have never thought of things like this in the longest of times. Was there something going on inside of him? Was there something at his core that he could not recall that was trying to come to the surface? A niggling doubt...
Tugudjynglbawls was beginning to wish that he had not stolen the sack, but then what more could he have done. He was beginning to realise that all the others, they were all pliant creatures, for all their jolly personalities, they were little more than unchanging components in a great machine...
mosaix – Faith in others is important. Can you trust those you see, can you judge a book by it's cover? It is always good to give people the benefit of the doubt, have faith that they will not turn out to be scum of the Earth, but if you are ready you might be able to deal with them in inventive manners.
At least that was what the elf had come to think. People were not always what they appeared. And he was seeing that in the man he had called boss for such a long time. No one else saw it of course. He was the jolly chap in red, but there was soething they were all missing, even if he could not put his finger on it.
HB – It seemed as though some people without faith become desperate to believe in something... in anything and will take extraordinary measures to find that which they believe they need no matter what the cost.
And that is what it is like for us, he thought, the great polar bears head twisting to look at a crimson shape coming through the snow behind him. You have to believe in the goodness of everyone around you, and not to think about the consequences of betrayal.
TJ – Sometimes believing in anything, craving that belief is better than not having anything no matter what the cost, and even when you can choose in what you believe it might be for what it can bring you, rather than the belief itself...
Tugudjynglbawls twisted fast and brought a clubbing paw down, smashing Santa down into the snow. The big man raised himself up, and glared at the beast from beneath furrowed brows.
Ursa – Temptation, it can cause you to do the craziness of things, even if the end goal is dubious, the fact that the possible prize might be worth the risk means that people are prepared to gamble everything despite the odds. Sometimes that gamble pays off. Sometimes it doesn't.
“You've gone too far,” St. Nicholas told his wayward elf, but at the same time something was feeling familiar, weaker too. In that moment the bear attacked again. It was a beast that he should have no problem dealing with, but somehow it was almost as though the elf was more powerful....
Reiver – Sometimes there is the feeling that if there is the possibility of a better life, no matter how great the risk is to achieve, then it is a risk worth taking no matter what the cost…. That everything will turn out for the best is pure faith.
It was almost as though he was reaching for something, even though he did not know what it was. It just felt right. The more he thought about it the more he realised how strange it was. In doing what he had been it went against everything he had lived by. Yet he had done it and it had felt right.
TDZ – Sometimes people will do anything for their family. They will take on any hardship, face death, perhaps even die to make sure that the ones they love survive, have a better life, and in return they have faith that their family will exceed all expectations. Some though are doomed to disappointment.
Santa rose, and threw a wild punch. It seemed impossible that he might miss, and yet somehow he did, while the bear move faster and faster with each passing moment. A claw here, a bit there, and Kris Kringle seemed ready to fall. I was once something else he remembered… and elf who thought things were not quite right…
PM – Sometimes realities diverge, a single moment can change anything. In one reality one man has enough faith in a find to follow him on an epic adventure with towels and not panicking. In another that belief does not exist, so a lie in and destruction at the hands of bad poetry spouting aliens making an intergalactic bypass ensues.
He managed to grab a paw, holding it above his head. Trust your path, he thought, your fate and something clicked into place. A long time ago he had been something else, something who had dreamed of making things greater.
“You win!” he gasped, “But be prepared…” He let go and the bear lunged out clubbing an old man in a red suit to the ground.
Slowly the bear transformed. But not into the elf he had been, but rather an old man in a red suit, with a bushy white beard and a twinkle in his eye. It seemed somehow brighter, redder than the one lying in the snow. Newer.
Even as memory of his old life faded away, the former elf turned on his heel and walked back the way he had come. It was Christmas and there was a lot that needed to be done.
“Ho ho ho,” he chuckled, “Merry Christmas!”
tinkerdan – Sometime when you lose things that mean the most to you, you have to remember the good times, and just believe that they are in a better place. The belief in things youi cannot see is the most important thing – because that is faith.
Why he was thinking of such things, he did not know, it reminded him of what he was. How people believed in him, even when so many could not see... But then...
Mirannan – A good point was faith being something that could not be quantified by an absolute truth. If anything could be proved, even that actually confirmed what people believed, it was no longer an act of faith but a certainty did that remove the faith aspect. Could it even undermine something like me?
He wondered. His was a special compact. Across the world people talked of him at this time of year, they gave him strength and purpose, they dressed like him and perpetrated his truth, that he was, and that kept hiim strong, that and the children...
Alc. - When you see the wonder on the face of a five year old at two in the morning, shouting “He's been!” is it any wonder that those more jaded might want to grab hold of a more innocent time, might desperately want to believe in something that brings happiness. In desperate, hard times what could be more wonderful.
It did not matter where the belief in him came from all that mattered was that people did, that fed him, kept him strong. But was it always him?
Bob – Sometimes there is a strength that comes from elsewhere, be it something supernatural or in hidden codes, magic or programming, even a flaw can lead to strength. Something that is well passed its time might find a strength to carry on...
With the thoughts rattling around his head he continued to plunge through the Arctic snow. 'I have never thought of things like this in the longest of times. Was there something going on inside of him? Was there something at his core that he could not recall that was trying to come to the surface? A niggling doubt...
Tugudjynglbawls was beginning to wish that he had not stolen the sack, but then what more could he have done. He was beginning to realise that all the others, they were all pliant creatures, for all their jolly personalities, they were little more than unchanging components in a great machine...
mosaix – Faith in others is important. Can you trust those you see, can you judge a book by it's cover? It is always good to give people the benefit of the doubt, have faith that they will not turn out to be scum of the Earth, but if you are ready you might be able to deal with them in inventive manners.
At least that was what the elf had come to think. People were not always what they appeared. And he was seeing that in the man he had called boss for such a long time. No one else saw it of course. He was the jolly chap in red, but there was soething they were all missing, even if he could not put his finger on it.
HB – It seemed as though some people without faith become desperate to believe in something... in anything and will take extraordinary measures to find that which they believe they need no matter what the cost.
And that is what it is like for us, he thought, the great polar bears head twisting to look at a crimson shape coming through the snow behind him. You have to believe in the goodness of everyone around you, and not to think about the consequences of betrayal.
TJ – Sometimes believing in anything, craving that belief is better than not having anything no matter what the cost, and even when you can choose in what you believe it might be for what it can bring you, rather than the belief itself...
Tugudjynglbawls twisted fast and brought a clubbing paw down, smashing Santa down into the snow. The big man raised himself up, and glared at the beast from beneath furrowed brows.
Ursa – Temptation, it can cause you to do the craziness of things, even if the end goal is dubious, the fact that the possible prize might be worth the risk means that people are prepared to gamble everything despite the odds. Sometimes that gamble pays off. Sometimes it doesn't.
“You've gone too far,” St. Nicholas told his wayward elf, but at the same time something was feeling familiar, weaker too. In that moment the bear attacked again. It was a beast that he should have no problem dealing with, but somehow it was almost as though the elf was more powerful....
Reiver – Sometimes there is the feeling that if there is the possibility of a better life, no matter how great the risk is to achieve, then it is a risk worth taking no matter what the cost…. That everything will turn out for the best is pure faith.
It was almost as though he was reaching for something, even though he did not know what it was. It just felt right. The more he thought about it the more he realised how strange it was. In doing what he had been it went against everything he had lived by. Yet he had done it and it had felt right.
TDZ – Sometimes people will do anything for their family. They will take on any hardship, face death, perhaps even die to make sure that the ones they love survive, have a better life, and in return they have faith that their family will exceed all expectations. Some though are doomed to disappointment.
Santa rose, and threw a wild punch. It seemed impossible that he might miss, and yet somehow he did, while the bear move faster and faster with each passing moment. A claw here, a bit there, and Kris Kringle seemed ready to fall. I was once something else he remembered… and elf who thought things were not quite right…
PM – Sometimes realities diverge, a single moment can change anything. In one reality one man has enough faith in a find to follow him on an epic adventure with towels and not panicking. In another that belief does not exist, so a lie in and destruction at the hands of bad poetry spouting aliens making an intergalactic bypass ensues.
He managed to grab a paw, holding it above his head. Trust your path, he thought, your fate and something clicked into place. A long time ago he had been something else, something who had dreamed of making things greater.
“You win!” he gasped, “But be prepared…” He let go and the bear lunged out clubbing an old man in a red suit to the ground.
Slowly the bear transformed. But not into the elf he had been, but rather an old man in a red suit, with a bushy white beard and a twinkle in his eye. It seemed somehow brighter, redder than the one lying in the snow. Newer.
Even as memory of his old life faded away, the former elf turned on his heel and walked back the way he had come. It was Christmas and there was a lot that needed to be done.
“Ho ho ho,” he chuckled, “Merry Christmas!”
johnnyjet
Western PA High Tech Country Boy
Merry Christmas to all!
Another excellent collection of stories, each a unique gem. Again a tough decision, but here is my short list:
1. springs – The Time-Travel Conundrum
2. Bowler1 – A Broken Faith
3. Starbeast – It’s a Wonderful Life on Moonbase Alpha
4. Victoria Silverwolf – Ceremony
5. Tywin – The Mail
6. Parson – A Step of Faith
7. Abernova – Keeping the Spirit Alive
8. Phyrebrat – Missy’s Last Day Out
9. tinkerdan – The Guide
10. Bob Senior – Crusader
11. mosaix – … Just Another Victim
12. The Judge – We Can Believe It For You Wholesale
And my favorite is Victoria's powerful tale. Thanks to Victoria for the short listing and especially to Remedy & SevenStars for the votes! Awesome to be among such talent.
Another excellent collection of stories, each a unique gem. Again a tough decision, but here is my short list:
1. springs – The Time-Travel Conundrum
2. Bowler1 – A Broken Faith
3. Starbeast – It’s a Wonderful Life on Moonbase Alpha
4. Victoria Silverwolf – Ceremony
5. Tywin – The Mail
6. Parson – A Step of Faith
7. Abernova – Keeping the Spirit Alive
8. Phyrebrat – Missy’s Last Day Out
9. tinkerdan – The Guide
10. Bob Senior – Crusader
11. mosaix – … Just Another Victim
12. The Judge – We Can Believe It For You Wholesale
And my favorite is Victoria's powerful tale. Thanks to Victoria for the short listing and especially to Remedy & SevenStars for the votes! Awesome to be among such talent.
I wasn't going to do a short-list because it fell heavily into the too hard box.
However:
Boneman, Pyan, Tywin, Culhwch, Mirannan and Alchemist.
It's getting soooo hard to do this but Juliana won the vote by a nose.
Nicely done everyone.
However:
Boneman, Pyan, Tywin, Culhwch, Mirannan and Alchemist.
It's getting soooo hard to do this but Juliana won the vote by a nose.
Nicely done everyone.
Boneman
Well-Known Member
Okay, my shortlist etc. I'm at my folks in Bournemouth and on the iPad so my typing may be a little hammer-thumbed and full of typos. I do feel dumb on these challenges because sometims I don't get the stories; whether this is to do with a prerequisite understanding of exisiting published stories, or not, the effect is the same...on top of that, some I did not understand how the faith theme came in...
Thank yous, first, then:-
Thank you to Remedy and Johnnyjet for the shortlisting; it means a lot to me because sci fi doesn't come easy. Even though I absolutely love reading and watching it. Thanks also to Victoria Silverwolf, Starbeast and a welcome-back and thanks to Perp for his wonderful comments and accompanying story-weaving.
Shortlist:
Springs: It's a shame that you've all had a profound effect on my writing. I always favoured the bitternesses, as opposed to the sweetnesses, of life, but positive stories like this have had an impact on my misanthropy and I feel far more able to appreciate the happy tales. I liked this one because I have been lucky enough to have taught savants and autistic young people over the years and been blown away by their approach to life. This really representative of my experience inasmuch as somme kids really have this no nonsense approach to problems and dilemmas. I like the names of the children, and I like the background set up which gives so much info without seeming like it's giving a lot.
Bowler1: Nannybot is back again and this time she's/it's got a different task, slaughtering different humans. Well, that's my take on in, notwithstanding what I said above in Springs' shortlist comment I like the fact that Nannybot is aware of the myth and still focuses on keeping her charge happy. And of course, as always, it is presented in your inimitable style.
Roninjedi84: The standout part of this for me is the thought of the utter blackness being permeaed by a booming voice saying 'Let there be light.' And even with the Sci-fiery of the set up, I like the use of Angelic names for the engineers along with the reference to a boss that is full of His own faith
Mischov: Miniature humanoids can be so compellingly creepy. The black-skinned wrinklies from Communion, the Oompa Lumpas from the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The kids from The Breed, and that awful red midget from Don't Look Now. Creepy elves are a great idea, and the recycling of the human body is a nasty, and fascinating one.
Juliana: Another optimistic tale about the human spirit - and the alien one. It's a really nice tale with a rather (for me) petrifying premise. Whenever I see or read about people making those leaps through space it makes my stomach roll. I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to do it. In my mind these two enemies end up firm friends and introduce a peace treaty. Happy Christmas!
Monsterchic: What an ace to have up your sleeve; indispensability to civilisation. But we're not just presented with ours, but another civilisation. Whether that is in another dimension, spirit, or simply another planet is not elucidated and it gives a great opportunity for speculation. Actually, it may not even include humans at all. Another nice story ending on a hopeful note.
Tywin: Anyone who has been awaiting anything in the post can empathise with the MC in this one. How heartbreaking; clearly his ex partner is[/is] a monster. How awful to be stranded so far from the one thing you love, and not even be able to contact them. I've felt similar things in my life regarding the other half, a back issue of Starburst, or a nic-nac from e-Bay. I imagine that is nothing compared to my son or daughter. A nice bitter tale (heheh back into my comfort zone) with the nagging thought that maybe the MC is deluded, not full of faith which makes the tension even better.
Culhwch: A great no-nonsense extermination of the human race. I always feel a little let down when I read or watch apocalypse/end-of-world stories that resolve in the 11th hour with some hero saving the day. I like the irrevocable edge to this tale, and I love the alien polemic on faith in the opening. I'm ashamed to say that I tend to agree with the being's assessment of faith's responsibility for bloody wars. Without a doubt this is my clear winner and vote.
Alchemist: In the advent of amazing science fiction/fact-leaps in our technology, there's a very scary possibility that faith's validity and belief will become as outdated as the combustion engine. How this plays out will remain to be seen, but I doubt it will be far from this tale. We have such a capacity for cynical exploitation of each other, this is fun but probably prophetic entry
The Judge: another cynical yet optimistic take on future products. It makes me wonder - is there any difference in a faith that is based on spirit, as opposed to one that is engineered? Iff the faithful doesn't know of the difference, would he or she be any worse off? There is a lovely struggle between the peddler and the customer, the latter of which comes across as beatific already.
In the end it came down to The Judge, Alchemist & Culhwch as my top three, but Culhwch's no-nonsense andd erudite dialogue had me fromm the opening. So...
I vote for Culhwch's bleak extermination of humanity.
pH
Thank yous, first, then:-
Thank you to Remedy and Johnnyjet for the shortlisting; it means a lot to me because sci fi doesn't come easy. Even though I absolutely love reading and watching it. Thanks also to Victoria Silverwolf, Starbeast and a welcome-back and thanks to Perp for his wonderful comments and accompanying story-weaving.
Shortlist:
Springs: It's a shame that you've all had a profound effect on my writing
. I always favoured the bitternesses, as opposed to the sweetnesses, of life, but positive stories like this have had an impact on my misanthropy and I feel far more able to appreciate the happy tales. I liked this one because I have been lucky enough to have taught savants and autistic young people over the years and been blown away by their approach to life. This really representative of my experience inasmuch as somme kids really have this no nonsense approach to problems and dilemmas. I like the names of the children, and I like the background set up which gives so much info without seeming like it's giving a lot.Bowler1: Nannybot is back again and this time she's/it's got a different task, slaughtering different humans. Well, that's my take on in, notwithstanding what I said above in Springs' shortlist comment
I like the fact that Nannybot is aware of the myth and still focuses on keeping her charge happy. And of course, as always, it is presented in your inimitable style.Roninjedi84: The standout part of this for me is the thought of the utter blackness being permeaed by a booming voice saying 'Let there be light.' And even with the Sci-fiery of the set up, I like the use of Angelic names for the engineers along with the reference to a boss that is full of His own faith
Mischov: Miniature humanoids can be so compellingly creepy. The black-skinned wrinklies from Communion, the Oompa Lumpas from the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The kids from The Breed, and that awful red midget from Don't Look Now. Creepy elves are a great idea, and the recycling of the human body is a nasty, and fascinating one.
Juliana: Another optimistic tale about the human spirit - and the alien one. It's a really nice tale with a rather (for me) petrifying premise. Whenever I see or read about people making those leaps through space it makes my stomach roll. I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to do it. In my mind these two enemies end up firm friends and introduce a peace treaty. Happy Christmas!
Monsterchic: What an ace to have up your sleeve; indispensability to civilisation. But we're not just presented with ours, but another civilisation. Whether that is in another dimension, spirit, or simply another planet is not elucidated and it gives a great opportunity for speculation. Actually, it may not even include humans at all. Another nice story ending on a hopeful note.
Tywin: Anyone who has been awaiting anything in the post can empathise with the MC in this one. How heartbreaking; clearly his ex partner is[/is] a monster. How awful to be stranded so far from the one thing you love, and not even be able to contact them. I've felt similar things in my life regarding the other half, a back issue of Starburst, or a nic-nac from e-Bay. I imagine that is nothing compared to my son or daughter. A nice bitter tale (heheh back into my comfort zone) with the nagging thought that maybe the MC is deluded, not full of faith which makes the tension even better.
Culhwch: A great no-nonsense extermination of the human race. I always feel a little let down when I read or watch apocalypse/end-of-world stories that resolve in the 11th hour with some hero saving the day. I like the irrevocable edge to this tale, and I love the alien polemic on faith in the opening. I'm ashamed to say that I tend to agree with the being's assessment of faith's responsibility for bloody wars. Without a doubt this is my clear winner and vote.
Alchemist: In the advent of amazing science fiction/fact-leaps in our technology, there's a very scary possibility that faith's validity and belief will become as outdated as the combustion engine. How this plays out will remain to be seen, but I doubt it will be far from this tale. We have such a capacity for cynical exploitation of each other, this is fun but probably prophetic entry
The Judge: another cynical yet optimistic take on future products. It makes me wonder - is there any difference in a faith that is based on spirit, as opposed to one that is engineered? Iff the faithful doesn't know of the difference, would he or she be any worse off? There is a lovely struggle between the peddler and the customer, the latter of which comes across as beatific already.
In the end it came down to The Judge, Alchemist & Culhwch as my top three, but Culhwch's no-nonsense andd erudite dialogue had me fromm the opening. So...
I vote for Culhwch's bleak extermination of humanity.
pH
Thanks for the mention, Johnnyjet and the mention and mini-review, Phyre.
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- Mar 9, 2007
- Messages
- 6,384
Thanks for the reviews Perp, Victoria and SB.
TDZ, what a great tale - winner!
TDZ, what a great tale - winner!
Thank you for the short listing and the review, Phyre!
Starbeast
Benevolent Galaxy Being
Thanks for the mini-review, Starbeast.
You are very welcome Ursa Major.
Thanks Johnnyjet, you made my day by putting me on your short list.
You are immensely welcome Phyrebrat.
Thanks for the reviews Perp, Victoria and SB.
You're mighty welcome Paranoid Marvin.
I'm having a difficult time narrowing my list into something short. Plus I'm having a tough time choosing a winner.
I've read and stared at the stories for over an hour and a half, and all I'm getting is a headache.
I'll try again tomorrow. I'm taking a break.
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