Discussion Thread -- OCTOBER 2020 -- 300 Word Writing Challenge (#39)

[Ursa major]

There are three and three-quarter hours in which to post your entry (if you haven't already done so).


Chop! Chop! for those who still haven't got their word count below 300....

 

[The Judge]

Well, after several days of trying to get a story from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the Flying Dutchman, ghost ships in general, smugglers, lightships, fireships, and the Spanish Armada, with a grand total of zilch, I've gone with Plan Z. Sorry about that.

 

[Ursa major]

I've gone with Plan Z

Plan Z being "hitting" the Djinn bottle, it seems...


...and we haven't even entered Lockdown, Part the Second yet....

​

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Jo Zebedee: In this account of loss and the gestures we must make to honor those who are gone, we find a gentle reminder that not everything disappears, even if only in memory. The ambiguous nature of the ending allows the reader to interpret what lies beyond in any appropriate manner.

M. Robert Gibson: A slowly building sense of uneasiness is found in this science fiction tale of possession and loss of identity. The seemingly peaceful setting provides the necessary contrast to make the resolution truly chilling.

The Judge: Perfectly capturing the voice of the thousand nights and a night, the author creates a richly imagined world of magic and miracle. The final scene brings us back to the real world again, causing us to ponder who it is who truly commands us.

 

[Ursa major]

​

The challenge is now closed and so the voting is open.

To cast your THREE votes, use the link below.

Please vote for your top THREE choices; note that all three votes must be cast AT THE SAME TIME to count.​

​

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Votes go to Luiglin for creation of a haunting mood, to chrispenycate for expertly crafted poetry, and to The Judge for fine writing.

 

[Parson]

@scarpelius .... Two peas in a pod boat .... A story about two people or a story about multiple personalities, either way it takes two to make a team.

@chrispenycate .... This be the verse you grave .... A verse that lifts up the blessed calm but also the ennui of a peace without anyone the victor.

@Jo Zebedee .... ADAM’S REST .... Where is the line between sweetly eerie and seriously spooky? Only Adam knows.

@M. Robert Gibson .... Around The Galaxy In Eighty Years .... A story to force the question of who is in control and what just happened?

@The Judge .... A Djinn’s Lament .... There are masters and there are task masters. This poor djinn has the latter, rather than the former. He is busy hatching Plan Z.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Peter V and Luiglin, both very well written and intriguing stories. Ursa, very much in the style of Douglas Adams (which is the greatest compliment I can give) and a fine addendum to his work.

There are many other great entries, but these 3 stood out and get my vote.

 

[Rafellin]

Interesting and poetic mix this quarter. However, there were some stand-outs for me -

1: Peter V
2: Capricorn42
3: Danny McG

Honourable mention: johnnyjet

 

[Provincial]

Well, after several days of trying to get a story from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the Flying Dutchman, ghost ships in general, smugglers, lightships, fireships, and the Spanish Armada, with a grand total of zilch, I've gone with Plan Z. Sorry about that.

Plan Z worked nicely.

 

[scarpelius]

@Ursa major
Somehow my story got an unwanted xxx in the poll.
Can that be fixed?
I don't want someone being disappointed it is not xxx at all.

 

[Ursa major]

I don't want someone being disappointed it is not xxx at all.

In SFF it may not only be one's disbelief that ends up (or not) being suspended....


*cough*

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, paranoid marvin.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

These entries floated my boat
Just Beneath The Surface… - @mosaix
Fruits de Mer - @Peter V
Island of the Silver Ship - @Starbeast
An Editorial Change - @Ursa major
A Djinn’s Lament - @The Judge

But these sailed away with my votes
My Mommy’s a Mermaid - @Wayne Mack
Clearance - @Rafellin
A Sailor's Story - @paranoid marvin

And thanks to @Parson and @Victoria Silverwolf for the marvellous reviews. I'm always impressed how the entries can be summed up in so few words

 

[paranoid marvin]

Wow a vote - thanks M.Robert Gibson

 

[Peter V]

Thank you for the vote @ paranoid marvin and @ Rafellin - extremely pleasing in the face of such outstanding competition.

and I am pleased I floated your boat @ M. Robert Gibson

My shortlist is anything but short at the moment and I have a feeling that actually narrowing it down to a final three is going to prove very challenging.

 

[BT Jones]

What an astonishingly good round. Such diversity and, naturally, subversion of the tranquility implied by the image. So many good stories, cracking ideas and immaculate craft.

Long List

• @Wayne Mack
• @Rafellin
• @Astro Pen
• @Ashleyne
• @paranoid marvin
• @Guttersnipe
• @Provincial
• @Cat's Cradle
• @Daysman
• @johnnyjet
• @Peter V
• @Jo Zebedee
• @M. Robert Gibson
• @The Judge

Short List

• @Victoria Silverwolf – Sun-soaked Mediterranean romance meets cold war horror.
• @Perpetual Man – A glorious ecological tale after my own heart.
• @Ursa major – Just genius! This is the kind of entry that has me cursing my own lack of imagination!

Votes

• @Luiglin – Simply masterful on so many levels.
• @Elckerlyc – Such a wonderful idea, so brilliantly written.
• @Phyrebrat – Astonishingly beautifully and poignant.

I can see this being a 3-way tie!

And thanks to @Provincial for the stealth vote!

 

[Provincial]

Thanks to @wagtail for the stealth vote, greatly appreciated!

 

[Danny McG]

Whoa, my haiku got a vote, cheers Rafellin.

(In a newbie type error I only cast one vote, too late to be fixed - silly old fool!)

 

[Peter V]

Whoa, my haiku got a vote, cheers Rafellin.

(In a newbie type error I only cast one vote, too late to be fixed - silly old fool!)

Quality over quantity my friend