This month's stories were amazing. It's gonna be hard deciding which to shortlist and vote for. Here are my thoughts/reviews:
The Milk of Freedom (A Modern Fairy Dairy Tale) by Cats Cradle – Written in the style of a charming political soliloquy that 'milks' the audience. This tale could possibly be a prophecy of the future. One day, other species could rise up and fight for their rights, and so they should.
WITH A WHIMPER NOT A BANG by Jo Zebedee – The author took me on a vivid downward spiral. The imagery within this piece dragged me in to a fantastical mirror, reflecting the effects of drug abuse. A chilling depiction of how addiction can take over one's life; a life where nothing matters but the vice.
Whisper in the Wind by Juliana – Little details kept me intrigued as I joined the character's journey, ending on a reveal which I found was dark, yet comforting.
The Airplaneby Denise Tanaka – A humorously written example of what can happen when you don't think things through properly. Try too hard to be what you're not, and you may end up trapped in a life you never truly wanted.
Passage by Willwallace – A story exploring the begging and ending of the oldest religions. Makes me wonder of all the tradition and knowledge that must've been lost as apekind slowly evolved into humankind. An interesting look at how what was once popular can be rendered redundant.
Driving Into Darkness by Starbeast – An action-packed story about a fearless individual. The cold narration made the chilling content all the more powerful.
The Survivor by Victoria Silverwolf – A thrilling story of survival, showing how isolation can bring people together.
The Ace by Tywin - The author sent me on a whirlwind of an adventure by vividly capturing the power of a child's imagination.
Skylarking by telford - An exhilarating aerial battle. History is creatively mixed within the comedic banter of the two characters. A story which show the effects of underestimating your enemy.
A Gift of Yesterday by jastius – The author concocted an imaginary tradition that took me to a place where chilling events are not only seen as acceptable, but normal also.
Economy by Cascade – A story of hope slowly fading away as children cope with the loss of those in authority. The innocent youth of the main character mixed with mysterious events gave a spooky feel.
How the Other Side Dies and Lives by LittleStar – Filled with horrific details and set in a horrific world, this story made me feel the characters' bitterness and fear. Those seen as less than human are treated no better than cattle.
Too Late by Ratsy – The author depicts how human instinct can sometimes be useless in the face of danger. A story portraying how regret always comes when it's too late.
New Flock by Remedy – With clever references to one of the most known bible stories, a government conspiracy is uncovered. One small voice can inspire the millions to rise up against ruthless giants.
Beyond by Luiglin – When the Gods come to visit, Tartak acts on the opportunity to walk amongst them. Those seen as godly can sometimes be more human than we realise.
The Heraldby Phrebrat – The authors sails us through the world like an ever blowing gust of wind, spreading the message of peace across civilisation.
The Spark of Consciousness by TitaniumTi – A scary story of how unpredictable a global catastrophe could be. Sometimes, the most curious things can be born through chaos.
Planes and Trains by holland – Riding a horse and cart was once the main way of getting about, but is now seen as a rare treat that not everyone experiences in this day and age. A interesting look at how airplanes could also be discarded and forgotten in favour of more efficient technology in the future.
A Day In The Life of A Dragon Keeper by Karn Meashalanadea – Kevin stares danger in the face without batting an eyelid, in this heroic tale, filled with excitingly imaginative fantasy.
After The Crash by Alchemist – A clever tale with subtle anthropomorphic quirks. The reader benefits from this tale's re-readability factor.
A Reminder of Guilt by Perpetual Man – A story that reminded me of how important it is to show respect by holding devastating events in our memories, no matter how much we'd rather forget them.
An udderly unbelievable lesson (I'm not kidding) by Moonbat – This tale is filled with philosophical humour. Misdirection proceeded the last line, amplifying the comedy and making me giggle.
Kerry Buchanon – An evil plan is put into action in this thrilling sci-fi adventure, taking the reader on a roller-coaster ride, ending on a devilishly funny pun.
The Last Flight of AIbel 7 by johnnyjet – No matter how old you are, no one wants to end up a broken down old wreck, to damaged to join in as the world moves on. Who wouldn't take the chance to relive their glory days.
Mettle Over Mind by Marmalade – Magical details bring this story to life. After being prodded and condescended, Sen gets the last laugh.
Derelict by Glen – This strange tale blurred the lines of reality, taking me into the mind of a character conflicted with his own existence.
The Return by Crystal haven – The character wakes and has to piece together the events of a catastrophe. A fuzzy memory adds fear to this story. That fear is cranked up when the character realises they're a long, long way away from home.
Learning Curve by Mosiax – A story displaying how unusual and intriguing human behaviour might appear when viewed from a being outside our species.
Things that die hard by Venusian Broon – The innocent curiously of a child is humorously portrayed. I like the idea of gremlins ruining our appliances and causing mischief; it'd be nice to have someone to blame when technical issues occur.
The Ballad of Failing Tours by Chrispenycate– A poetic story which left me with a feeling of melancholy. A tribute to the amazing things that can be experienced because of airplanes. The world slips into an almost vegetative state when tourism declines and the planes are left decomposing, grounded on their overgrown runways.
Tempus Fugit by The Judge – The author took me on an A-to-Z adventure to witness an attempt at correcting some of the worst atrocities in history. Does anyone have the right to change history, though? The effects could be unpredictable. It's better the devil you know.
Through a Glass, Darkly by TheDustyZebra – The legends and myths of the Bermuda triangle are used to describe the possibilities of recent and historical events involving missing air-crafts.
Burning Devotion - A religious symbol is cleverly twisted to tell a story of how non-conformity can cause one's piers to shun them.
Last Stand by Culwhch – Filled with explosive sci-fi action. A hero gives the ultimate sacrifice in a last ditch attempt to destroy the invaders.
I'm gonna take some time to think before voting.