Discussion Thread -- March 2016 75-word Writing Challenge

[Cat's Cradle]

So many good stories this month. My list was ridiculously long...it was over 20, and it was painful getting down that low, so I've decided to list just my top ten stories for the month...to keep things manageable. Here we go:

semi-finalsts: Ashleyne (amazing first line!), J5V, Mr. Orange, DG Jones

finalists: Victoria, Robert, Bowler1, Sigfrid, Juliana, DG

Vote: from a great group of stories, I picked Robert's lovely tale...I wish I had written this one!
Good luck, everyone, in the voting! CC

edit: Wow! A vote! I truly appreciate it Parson, thank you! And thank you Glen, for the listing!

eidt 2: I've just realized that DG has taken two of my ten listing positions! I will add Ajid in then, as a semi-finalist!

 

[Dan Jones]

Some really good stories this month, a universe of imagination!

My short list:

Victoria
Shyrka
Robert Mackay
Sigrid von Shrink
Culhwch
Juliana
VB
Bob Senior
Ratsy
TJ

Tough one to pick a winner out of that little lot, I can tell you. I don't always go for the comedy entries, but VB's and Bob Senior's stories both stood out.

VB's was arguably better written, but Bob had a (literally) killer last line, and did get quite a big, audible cackle out of me, so I feel it's only right that the vote goes to Bob Senior.

 

[Venusian Broon]

My Long-range scanner detected the following enticing worlds:

Vaz, Robert Mackay, Uruss, Cascade, johnnyjet, Glen, LittleStar, Tim James, mosaix, Ursa Major

I did a more thorough investigation of the following planets as they seemed almost right:

Bowler1, chrispenycate, willwallace, Alex Darion, StilLearning, Juliana, Phyrebrat, DG Jones, reiver33

And I was about to give my vote of 'best colony' to The Judge...but Culhwch nipped in as the destination of choice.


Thanks so much for the mentions so far from everyone, for my little tale of bare faced cheek, and I was thrilled to see that @Clockworkbot had decided to land on my world in stealth mode. Wait till you see the moon rising in the dawn light - brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'waking up at the crack of dawn.'

 

[Dan Jones]

VB, your story certainly carried more than a whiff of some Super Tenants-charged Scottish insouciance.

 

[Bowler1]

I have had a flu/cold since December and cannot shake it off no matter what. I don't go anywhere with tissue for my runny nose.
Thank you Starbeast for a vote and of course the kind mentions.

 

[Juliana]

Get well wishes for all the coughs-and-sneezes folk! And Bob, hope you shake that nasty pneumonia soon.

Thanks for the mentions/listings VB, DG, CC, Mr Orange and TDZ.

 

[Vaz]

Many thanks for the mention VB

 

[Zoe Mackay]

My shortlist:

Tim Murray
Culhwch
Juliana
DG Jones
TDZ
The Judge

And I voted for TDZ, because of the "As you know, Bob" joke, and because of the sheer oddity of the story.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh, goodness, another crazy person here? Thank you very much, Robert -- my day is made again! But it's a different day, so that's ok.

 

[johnnyjet]

After producing a 33 story long list, I finally reduced it to a Top Ten Short List and a winner:

My Short List and **** Favorite ****

**** Traveler's Tales - Victoria Silverwolf ****
Symphony from a New World - Robert MacKay
Population - One - Bowler1
The Fate of Mankind - Alex Darion
Lightspeed Hopes – Ihe
Captain of the Sole – HazelRah
Whale Song – Juliana
Jaesoph's Fable – Phyrebrat
Genesis – ratsy
... That Hasn’t Such People In ’t - The Judge

 

[willwallace]

Thanks to TDZ and VB for the mentions.

 

[The Judge]

As ever a few stories which to me didn't hit the genre or theme, and even more as ever, a good number I didn't understand. A short short list as I've got to get ready to Maigret:

Clockworkbot -- Maiden Orbit
Culhwch -- Homecoming
Mr Orange -- A Muse Bouche
Robert Mackay -- Symphony for a New World
Venusian Broon -- New moon rising
willwallace -- Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

And my vote went to Robert.


Votes are obviously like new worlds for me this month -- so near in some cases, yet still too far... But a great many shifting-tectonic-plate earthquake thanks for the mentions and shortlists pam, Alex, Juliana, TDZ (thought I'd get you with the title!), DGJ, VB (*plans diabolical diabolics for Cul for snatching the vote*), Robert and johnnyjet.

 

[Ursa major]

Here are the decisions of the Ursa jury. People who think they're far-fetched, or wondering what planet the jury lives on, are probably taking this months theme and genre too seriously:

Honourable Mentions:

• Traveler's Tales by Victoria Silverwolf
• Homecoming by Culhwch
• It's Not Child's Play... by mosaix
• Genesis by ratsy

Runners Up:

• A man of God (or Vice Versa) by Cascade
• First rung of the ladder.... by StilLearning
• New moon rising. by Venusian Broon

Winner:

• Population - One by Bowler1

(In the above, each category is ordered by time of posting.)

 

[Calliopenjo]

First, let me say congratulations to Bowler1 for winning this month's theme.

I would like to thank everyone for reading my story.

Last, I would like to apologize for not getting the remaining stories read and summarized. I wasn't even able to create the short list.

 

[Ashleyne]

Thanks to Parson and CC for the mentions!!!
My shortlust is: Droflet, Bowler1, willwallace and Tim James.

My vote goes to Robert Mackay.

 

[Juliana]

Thanks for the listing, Robert M and JJ.

 

[Bowler1]

Well done Robert - the winner.

Thank you Ursa for my final vote, much appreciated.

After all the excitement I would go lie down in a darkened room, but for some reason, I can't find any - all the lightbulbs have been changed!

 

[Ursa major]

The voting is still open, you know (because the challenges operate on GMT, not BST).

 

[Ursa major]

The poll is now closed, and we have a winner:

Congratulations, Robert Mackay!​

​

 

[Juliana]

Congratulations Robert! Well done.