DISCUSSION -- August 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

[Dan Jones]

You got the country right for mine (well, kinda) but the wrong conflict...

Dang

 

[Vaz]

Vote goes to Cascade. Great story.

Honourable mentions. Alchemist, Chrispenycate & Cats Cradle

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

This curious object, donated by Culhwch, appears to be some kind of astrolabe. In any case, it tells a powerful story of the struggles of scientific discovery. It makes an interesting contrast with this prophecy in verse, courtesy of Phyrebrat, which shows us that there may be more mystical ways to the truth.

Closer to our own time, TheDustyZebra shows us how individual persons of conscience can exist in times which have gone mad. There is tragic irony in the fact that it stands next to a contribution from BrisGirl, with shows us the madness of an individual, and how fate may sometimes favor the wicked.

In this yellowed playbill, preserved through the agency of mosaix, we witness the tragic fate of a great leader. It seems fitting that it shares space from a display millennia older, which also tells us of one who was destined to be slain.

Let us lighten the mood a bit. Over here we have an old pulp magazine. Concealed behind the gaudy colors of its colors is the record of a correspondence between writer and editor, saved from oblivion by Moonbat, which reveals a not entirely serious bit of literary history.

This dazzling array of precious stones, generously supplied by Ursa major, depicts events from the past which time has rendered the stuff of romance. I'm sure they did not seem that way to those involved in them.

It seems appropriate to end today's visit the same way we began it, with an astronomical instrument. This item, a gift from StilLearning, shows us science turning the tables on superstition.

I hope you have enjoyed the few days you have been able to spend with us. If you will be so kind, please fill out this sheet, listing your favorite items, and casting a vote for the one you like best. Thank you.

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Short List

alchemist

ratsy

TitaniumTi

willwallace

Robert Mackay

TheDustyZebra

Special Award of Merit for Literary Pastiches

DG Jones

Tim James

Void

VOTE

"Manifest Destiny" by Cat's Cradle

 

[Ihe]

For my taste, I'll say this month's contest has had more hit'n'misses than usual in either genre or theme (mine partially included), even though the literary quality of every piece was as high as it always is. But although I liked some runners-up, not all had clearly defined genre and theme. So, for my selection, I've picked quality, ofc, but also strictly considered stories with clear connections to theme and genre proposed.

-Longlist: Jo Zebedee, Luiglin (I'm not sure if I should mention Luiglin's. Too much fantasy involved, but I couldn't ignore that great last line), Droflet, TitaniumTi, Culhwch

-Shortlist: KyleAW, johnnyjet, StilLearning

My vote went to alchemist. 'Order No. 227' captured genre and theme perfectly. Simple, well executed, and with a touch of karmic flavour to boost.

 

[Luiglin]

Thanks Ihe. However, I'd still argue that mine is in fact quite possibly historical fact. Unless someone else was around at the time of the explosion that caused the Chicxulub Crater and the Cretaceous - Paleogene extinction event then my account is entirely valid as a hypothesis.

Said with tongue so far into cheek that is wagging out of my ear.

 

[TitaniumTi]

I love historical fiction that either tempts me to learn more about an event or presents a different aspect of a known event.

I really liked:
Minted by Jo Zebedee - beautifully written.
A friend In need by ratsy - more fiction than history, but it presents such an original and poignant variation on the Camelot legend.
Legisavior by Grimward - why we should care about democracy.
Untitled by KyleAW - why we should grieve about the absence of democracy.
The White Flower of House Tyrrell by DG Jones - I loved the lyrical writing. I failed to fully appreciate the story, I think, because of gaps in my knowledge of history.
Yurt Licit by Chrispenycate - another story I failed to fully appreciate? I loved the last line.
Taking the reins by Tim James - perfectly captured the voice of The Canterbury Tales.
The Heretic's Trial by Culhwch - grand dialogue.
Burning Bread by Phyrebrat - a gem.
Starr Chamber by TDZ - another story with individuals to care about, caught up in the sweep of history.

I almost voted for: 96 by Cascade, for the juxtaposition of carnival expectation and cruel reality, and for conveying a sense of helplessness in the face of disaster.

My vote goes to: The importance of emperors - or a squaddie's priorities by Kerrybuchanan. The protagonists' voices were so convincing. It made me laugh.

 

[LittleStar]

I couldn't make a short list this month, I really enjoyed each story for asking me think hard and ask the questions needed to place them in the correct times, like a little mini quiz game alog side the challenge, and I loved it

I will just mention @farntfar for making me laugh, probably a little too much, with your 'double ug' line.

But my vote goes to ratsy this month. This stayed with me from first reading, and I think this is a brilliant twist on the tale, that humanises the characters and story so much more than most portrayals, and in just 75 words. Well done


EDIT: Thanks very much, Cascade, for the vote. Woot!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Lots I like. Some, sadly, I didn't get (but think that might be pot and kettle...) Shortlist - Anya, Telford, Brian Rodgers and Phyre. My vote went to Cascade, though - very nicely nuanced (wonder if our non-UK friends will get the reference?)

 

[Juliana]

Cascade, though - very nicely nuanced (wonder if our non-UK friends will get the reference?)

Yeah, I wondered about that. Having a football-mad husband who works in sports TV and a father-in-law who's a football historian, I know all about it. But not sure how much those from other countries would know about it apart from the sports buffs? (was my fave story)

 

[ratsy]

Thanks for the mentions DG Jones, Victoria, and titanium!

And thank you so much LittleStar, that makes my day!

 

[Dan Jones]

Thank you Victoria, for my special award for Literary Merit! Do I get a trophy?

And thanks to TitaniumTi for the mention. I confess, I went wilfully obscure and self indulgent this month. But I regret nothing!

 

[Cascade]

I had lots of fun reading and choosing this month.

I voted for Littlestar. I noticed TitaniumTi's comment about liking historical fiction that sparks interest and reasearch and with a fairly close tussle between four or five stories on my shortlist, the fact that this one sent me to wikipedia and I wasted 45 minutes reading up on swiss folk lore and history seemed a strong reason to give it the vote.

The other Author's on my shortlist were Anyakimlin, TitaniumTi, Mosaix, Juliana, Moonbat.

 

[KyleAW]

I have to say, as my first time entry I'm elated to be shortlisted by people and even have a vote to my name . Can't wait for the next

 

[Droflet]

I really wasn't expecting anything this month, so extra thanks to DG, Ihe and Jo for the mentions.
My favorites out of a lot of favorites: Farntfar, CC, Ratsy, Mr O, Kyle, Luiglin, Will, Dusty and Moonbat. And the gold goes to Cascade. You got me where it counts. Nicely done everyone.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

My shortlist is, as usual, quite long. I did prune, but couldn't get it down any further:

farntfar
Alc
CC
ratsy
Brian Rogers
TitaniumTi
Juliana
Perp (aka Tim)
Phyrebrat
TDZ

Two stories tied for me, and it was with great reluctance that I left Robert Mackay's Et in Arcadia Ergo behind. I don't usually enjoy poetry much, but Chrispy's last line did it for me and he got the vote with Yurt Licit.

 

[BrisGirl]

My vote goes to: The importance of emperors - or a squaddie's priorities by Kerrybuchanan.

This one was my 2nd favourite. If TheDustyZebra hadn't come along, Kerry would probably have received my vote. It's a simple idea that's been nicely executed. Around 75 words was probably the perfect length.

 

[alchemist]

I didn't really come up with a shortlist this month, but Cascade got my vote by a length. It may have helped that I was very familiar with the setting, but it nailed theme and genre and the last line perfectly conveyed confusion, helplessness, and the breakdown in authority. In second place came Kerry for her Monty Pythonesque depiction of a nefarious act.

Thanks to those who mentioned/shortlisted mine, and especially big thanks to Ihe for the vote!

 

[TitaniumTi]

Thank you for the listings, Victoria, Ihe, Cascade and KerryBuchanan.

But I regret nothing!

Good! I don't understand all the nuances of your entry, but I think it is beautiful.

My vote went to Cascade, though - very nicely nuanced (wonder if our non-UK friends will get the reference?)

I'm not British and not a sports fan, but the images from the Hillsborough and Bradford City disasters have haunted me.

 

[KyleAW]

Yay for my second vote, happy Kyle is happy

Thank you @Tim James

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I was chatting with a local writing group last night and was talking about the challenges and how they teach editing skills and how it was possible to tell a story in 75 words, and I read Cascade's to them - they thought it was very good. So, you've had a public reading