DISCUSSION THREAD -- October 2022 -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #47

It was tough choosing this time around, really liked:

The Witness by @Rafellin Great opening and setup
Maldor's Tower by @Victoria Silverwolf ....for the top quality descriptions
Sugar-Sugar's Needle Enigma by @Parson - Thought it had a nice build up to the twist
The Travels Of Sir Reginald Rigmarole, part 94! by @Dan Jones Naked screaming is nothing when you've scraped a dictator's bunions
Buster saved the day by @mosaix Ruff
Choice by @Talk Anderson Thought it had a nice dialogue introduction as a hook
The Launch by @Astro Pen - great build up and twist
For Your Own Good by @Stable Thought it was a good solid story

Ended up voting for:
A Wrecker's Lament by @paranoid marvin Thought it was a great little morality tale wrapped up in a ghost story.
The First Lighthouse of Lost Earth by @BT Jones - Another piece of old school SF, liked the way the character descriptions were neatly thrown in '...thinker, blinker, calculator.' Job done in three words.
They're Never Gonna Believe This by @Elckerlyc Had a fifties SF feel to it, but I've never seen the whole advertising twist thing done like this -good fun.

Well done all, thanks for the stories (and to the reviewers and behind the scenes organizers)(y)
 
Well, the everyone's creative juices were certainly flowing this month. One of the most enjoyable 300's to read that I can remember.
@Christine Wheelwright, @Guttersnipe, @Daysman, @AnRoinnUltra, @BigJ, @Peter V, @Astro Pen. @Elckerlyc, and @M. Robert Gibson all made my shortlist.
And it was very hard to pick 3 votes out of my top six.

I so very nearly voted for @paranoid marvin's haunting nautical tale, @Luiglin's hilarious goblin estate agent story, and @The Judge's moving tale of love and loss.

In the end, I voted for @Rafellin's engrossing sci-fi chiller, @mosaix's sweet and amusing invasion-foiling dog story, and @Victoria Silverwolf's ominous and truly spellbinding fantasy.
 
Thankyou so much sule, Wayne Mack, AnRoinnUltra and Christine Wheelwright for your votes, and thanks also to BT Jones for the shortlisting.

I agree that this month there are so many quality entries.

My shortlist:

Phyrebat - I always stand in admiration at the consistent quality of your writing. It is always a joy to read, and feels that there are hidden depths and secrets just waiting to be explored and discovered.

Daysman - I really liked your interpretation of the picture, and this was compelling, mysterious story that raised more questions than it answered.

Christine Wheelwright - I think it always helps when the first entry of the month sets the standard, and this story set the bar high. I really enjoyed your fairytale style story, which had a wonderfully wicked last line.

My winners:

AnRoinnUltra - I always enjoy the inventiveness of your stories and dynamic dialogue. I always find tall tales fun to listen to, and your story did not disappoint me

The Judge - This was almost a tale of two halves, well of two thirds and one third. I thought that the twist was marvellously set up, and very effectively delivered.

Ursa - A classic tale told in a fun way, full of puns and hidden meaning. I really enjoyed this story, and thought it was a great way to round off this month's Challenge.
 
paranoid marvin said:
Phyrebat - I always stand in admiration at the consistent quality of your writing. It is always a joy to read, and feels that there are hidden depths and secrets just waiting to be explored and discovered.
Click to expand...
Had to post early to reply to this as it’s so complimentary. Thank you, from one M R James fan to another.
 
My Short Long List and *** Top Three ***:

The Lady of the Light - Christine Wheelwright
The Witness – Rafellin
The Woman Who Looked Death in the Eye – Guttersnipe
*** A Wrecker's Lament - paranoid marvin ***
*** Malador's Tower - Victoria Silverwolf ***
Aphids - Cat's Cradle
The Sentinel - Jo Zebedee
The First Lighthouse of Lost Earth - BT Jones
The Fitzgerald Contract – Daysman
*** Beach Music – Phyrebrat ***
Morning Star – BigJ
The night of harrowing – Vrlass
Siren - Peter V
The Matryoshka TARDIS Syndrome - Perpetual Man
To the Lighthouse - The Judge
 
This picture has really produced a dazzling variety of stories. I'm finding it very difficult to rank one above the other. Each has something to offer, but is it more than the next? I'm not sure.

Enough dithering! I'm off to read, contemplate, and vote.

---------

Shortlisted *Votes
*Maladore's Tower by @Victoria Silverwolf because of the haunting setting and the chilling conclusion.

*The Fitzgerald Contract by @Daysman because in a batch of original stories this was an unprecedented idea.

Buster Saves the Day by @mosaix because this sounds like a wonderfully perfect cartoon for a 10 year old.

The Launch by @Astro Pen because it sounds like something that a clever kid would say rather than admit she's wrong.

*Champagne Cork by @Swank because it bordered on being hard SF, while being an utterly fanciful tale.
 
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