Once again there were very good pieces. It was very tough to cut down the list, as always.
Full disclaimer: I must say that there was one particular story that had me so completely lost that I couldn't consider it in voting or mentioning--and not because of quality, but simply because I can't tell if it's a masterpiece or ramblings of a fairly large commune of madmen and 2 screaming macaques flinging faeces. I'm looking at you, A. Fare Wells
. Am I too dense to get it? It's very likely. Sorry.
Anyhooo, here are my
favourites and my
votes:
--CC (On the Tempting of a Practitioner of Social Engineering...): It is rather... uncommon, and not easily digested on the first read (or the second, I must admit). This one was such an intricate piece for me that I feel the need to expand: The overwhelming form clashes with the underwhelming (or is it?) conclusion for some delightful sparks that set ablaze the arrogance of science with the tinder of levelheaded hope and unbreaking human spirit (with a hint of very dry and subtle humour maybe?). A game of contrasts at all levels and a very passive-aggressive read. My 4th vote would've gone to this one on style alone.
--Alchemist (What's More Fearsome Than A Snufflemagoo?): Fell in love with it the moment I read it. If I only had one vote to give, it would be for this one. The kiddy-storytelley vibe is done superbly well and the ending blooms just right.
--Void (MMPORG): it touched a tender spot in my heart for all things gaming.
--Victoria Silverwolf (Pipe Dreams): its weirdness was intensified by the writing style, which gave a sparkly dreaminess to the whole thing.
--DG Jones (Roots): took me a while to understand what was going on. Loved it more for it. The ambience is very well set.
--Phyrebrat (What Little Girls Are Made Of): This one is all about the ending. IMO, the best finish of the month, tied with Ursa's.
--Sancho (Saint Peter of Tau Ceti e): this felt to me like the framework for a whole book-worth of fleshy SF. Get on it!
--TDZ (Budding Enterprise): grim context; a very uplifting end. Some environmentalists would outright shed tears with the beauty of this piece (my own lower lip might or might not have quivered ever so slightly
).
--Ursa Major (Decision Tree): hit me out of nowhere. I sense mister Ursa has a flair for dramatic last-minute entrances, rolling under the stone door, grabbing his fallen adventuring hat just before it closes. Anyway, I'm a sucker for this kind of SF. The ending was brilliant (for the story but also for the contest as a whole--a good last story).
