Discussion thread -- March 2017 75-word Writing Challenge

[David Evil Overlord]

P.S. There is something I will explain, after the voting, of course.

 

[Luiglin]

On

I did vote - for DEO - and my shortlist consisted of:- Cory Swanson Victoria Silverwolf Parson mosaix saulfan and David Evil Overlord.

But you're right, reverend - 23 votes at the beginning of the last day, even with two non-submitters voting already, missing (if my table's correct:- Aine, Andrew Lambert, Appello, Ashleyne, AstroZon, Coast, Cory Swanson, Culhwch, EPT Henry, HazelRah, Heijan Xavier, Ihe, johnnyjet, Justin Swanton, LittleStar, Luiglin, Mad Alice, Mr Orange, NbDawn, Phyrebrat, ratsy, Shyrka, The Judge, TheDustyZebra and Ursa major. That's a lot, even if some of the names are recognisable as last second plungers.

Thank you Cathbad and Starbeast for the mentions.

On two day training course. Will vote tonight when brain less addled.

 

[johnnyjet]

My Long List was very long! So here is my Short List and ***** Favorite *****:

If at First … - Perpetual Man
***** Panacea – Talysia *****
Belittled - Dave Barsby
It's a Living - Victoria Silverwolf
The Huǒxīng Settlement - AstroZon
A Master's Peace - hopewrites
Farmville World 2025 - Stable
The Lichens of Xaxia IV - Hugh
The Alien Will See You Now, Sir - mosaix
Licence to Kill - Peter V
Force Times Distance = - chrispenycate
The Reclamator's Burden - Shyrka
A Mother's Work - saulfan
Scars - ratsy
A Bit of Patchwork - Vaz
What a Piece of Work … - The Judge
Die Glocke - Phyrebrat

 

[Vaz]

Thank you, Sir Jet for the kind mention.

 

[Mr Orange]

shortlist, *finalistlist* and <votegetterlist>:

If at First... -- Perpetual Man
BLINK -- Luiglin
Belittled -- Dave Barsby
Behold the Works of God -- Cory Swanson
*It's a Living -- Victoria Silverwolf*
The Huǒxīng Settlement -- AstroZon
Should I Stay, or Should I go? -- Starbeast
Farmville World 2025 -- Stable
The Alien Will See You Now, Sir. -- mosaix
*Licence to Kill -- Peter V*
The Reclamator’s Burden -- Shyrka
Little Wonder -- David Evil Overlord
When you assume… -- TheDustyZebra
<A Bit of Patchwork -- Vaz>

Edit: also, thanks to @Stable for the mention!

 

[Parson]

@chrispenycate ... thanks for the mention.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Shortlist, Favourites, Vote*

Hugh
Justin Swanton
Mosaix
Peter V
Saulfan
Littlestar
TDZ
Vaz
TJ
Aine*

It was a tough call between Aine and Vaz, but the line about fireflies in Aine's was just too evocative to pass on.

pH

 

[Vaz]

Many thanks pH for the favourite listing.

Cheers for the Vote Mister Orange.

 

[Talysia]

I never thought I'd get a vote - thank you so much, johnnyjet!

 

[Luiglin]

I went for @The Judge backstabbing sneakily evil ... I like it

 

[Andrew Lambert]

My top three were @Dave Barsby, @Victoria Silverwolf and @RJM Corbet .
My vote goes to @Dave Barsby -

 

[Ashleyne]

Thanks to Stable and Cc for the mentions!

My shortlist is:

Johnnyjet's Working on a Chain Gang

Starbeast's Should I Stay or Should I go?

Mosaic's The Aliens Will See You Now, Sir

ratsy's Scars

I voted for David Barsby's Belittled.

 

[Parson]

I'm stunned and elated. I looked over to see how the voting was going (still a lot of people who haven't voted) and lo and behold, I have a vote!!! Thanks Hugh, made my day!

 

[Hugh]

Yes I voted for you Parson. I couldn't resist your last line and made you my clear winner.

Others that caught my eye:
Ashleyne
Calliopenjo
Dave Barsby
Mosaix
Peter V
Mr Orange

But really, all the stories impressed me and I feel a little awkward not listing everyone.


And many many many thanks to Wruter, Stable, Cat's Cradle, Johnnyjet, and Phyrebrat for the encouraging mentions.

 

[The Judge]

I know senility is fast approaching, but I don't think there has ever been so many stories in a 75 worder that I've simply not understood, even on a third and fourth reading. Regrettably, that means they're out of the running as far as my shortlisting is concerned. And that shortlist, after chopping off several that were only-just-misses, is:

Aine -- The Last Job
Ihe -- No Dull Boys
johnnyjet -- Working on a Chain Gang
nixie -- Job of a Lifetime
ratsy -- Scars
Saulfan – A Mother’s Work
Shyrka -- The Reclamator's Burden
TDZ -- When You Assume...
Wruter -- Full-Time Barbarian Hero Required
​

I especially liked Ihe's and ratsy's stories which acted in counterpoint to each other, but when it came to it, I wanted something a bit different, which led me to a story with work that was definitely out of the ordinary, even for fantasy and science fiction -- Shyrka's Reclamator, where work brings the burden of taking the life unlived from dying children.

Many not-at-all poisonous consomme thanks for the mentions/shortlistings Cathbad, Talysia, Parson, johnnyjet and Phyrebrat, and enormous banquetting feast (without the elfbane) thanks for the lovely votes Cat's Cradle (thanks so much for the lovely praise!) and Luiglin (yep, just the kind of thing to appeal to a Dark Lord's biographer!). Oh, and I've got a stealth vote from Suzanne! Thank you!

 

[Justin Swanton]

Shortlist, Favourites, Vote*

Hugh
Justin Swanton
Mosaix
Peter V
Saulfan
Littlestar
TDZ
Vaz
TJ
Aine*

It was a tough call between Aine and Vaz, but the line about fireflies in Aine's was just too evocative to pass on.

pH

Ta for the vote!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Many not-at-all poisonous consomme thanks for the mentions/shortlistings ... Phyrebrat...

I'm not one for consomme and wonder if I might have the moules?

pH

 

[The Judge]

Well, if you insist, but you're not having pommes frites with them. It's banquetting fare here, with elegance and finesse, not pub grub. Take the cutlery in order, from outside inwards, use the napkin, and don't drink from the small bowl of water with the lemon slice in it.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Quick note to @Andrew Lambert ... Hey Andrew - you posted just above that your vote went to Dave Barsby, but then the vote was never placed. There's still time! (As votes are precious, I just thought I'd mention that, for Dave's sake.)

 

[Andrew Lambert]

Thanks, CC - done! First time voting on this and didn't realise the was a separate voting thread.