DISCUSSION THREAD -- MARCH 2023 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

[paranoid marvin]

Thankyou, as always, to Victoria and Parson for their well considered reviews of our stories.

I'm sorry to hear that you missed out this month Christine Wheelwright, as your entries are consistently of a high standard and enjoyable to read.

Chrispenycate, I hope all works out for the best with your visual issues; please don't feel that you need to read through screens of text to vote this month.

And thanks to THX1138, BT Jones for the shortlistings

My shortlist includes

Phyrebat - a well told story (as always) that reminds us that what we desire may not turn out the way we expect

Bowler1 - an interesting story that there can sometimes be an unwanted third option when we desire death or glory.

Far Stranger - your user name could also be the title of your story! Strange, imaginative and very creepy (all in a good way!). You very almost got my vote.

But that goes to Guttersnipe, whose story reminds us that the one thing that misery desires above all others is company.

 

[Lawrence Twiddy]

Shortlist:

The Death of Ageing by @Phyrebrat
Empty by @Luiglin
Culling the Herd by @BT Jones
Reunion by @Daysman

Winner:

A Reason to Live by @BigJ

 

[Lawrence Twiddy]

Thank you @Artoriarius for the vote and @johnnyjet for the mention. Both appreciated.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

I enjoyed reading the entries this month (fewer than usual but no lack of quality). The following get mentions:

@Victoria Silverwolf
@THX1138
@Cat's Cradle
@therapist (a perpetual favorite)
@Bren G

That left two absolutely outstanding stories, either of which would be deserving of the vote:

Firstly, I loved @Phyrebrat 's story of a decrepit old man, decaying and corrupt in both body and soul, apparently unable to shuffle off this mortal coil. But enough of Rupert Murdoch.

Instead I gave my vote to @Daysman (another perpetual favorite) for a stylishly-written and thought-provoking piece. It makes me think about mankind's ever increasing technology and how it might allow us to survive disaster, even thrive in the face of disaster. And it makes me wonder if that is a good thing.

 

[Yozh]

midlist:
@Victoria Silverwolf This was a bit of fun!
@Guttersnipe Nice twist on the theme.
@Luiglin Another fun and unexpected take on the theme
@BigJ Well done dialog
@mosaix Really like this twist!
@Bowler1 A second chance you do not hope for
@Bren G Escaping a bad relationship

The two I had the hardest time choosing between:

@Phyrebrat Beautiful prose. Put me in mind of "Island of the Immortals," one of my favorite stories by Ursula LeGuin.

@emrosenagel Got my vote though. A beautiful and satisfyingly complete tale for 75 words.

 

[Hugh]

OK, I voted for @Victoria Silverwolf 's The Best of All Possible Worlds.

Close runner up: @Phyrebrat 's The Death of Ageing

For a while I wavered between the two.

Here are others that caught my eye for one reason or another:
in no significant order...
@chrispenycate
@AnRoinnUltra
@Guttersnipe
@Ursa major
@johnnyjet
@Astro Pen
@C.Robin
@Daysman

 

[Far Stranger]

Just voted for @Guttersnipe.

Tales by @therapist and @Christine Wheelwright I really rated too.

 

[nixie]

Was torn between @Victoria Silverwolf and @Phyrebrat, finally went for @Phyrebrat.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Caught for time this vote so will write out the shortlist later in the week but voted for Parole Violation by @Peter V . I thought it hit something in the self destructive nature of humans, and the way that people can (consciously or unconsciously) throw away second chances. Plenty of other great stories in there too, well done all and thanks to the mods & reviewers

 

[Ursa major]

finally went for @Phyrebrat.

Understandable (by going for the throat, I assume)... but to whom did you give your vote...?

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, JS Wiig.

 

[Parson]

Shortlisted these stories because:

The Best of All Possible Worlds by @Victoria Silverwolf because it was so spot on and made me laugh.

Emergency Procedure by @Cat's Cradle because it seems so relevant in a post-Christian world.

Continue? by @Troyzan787 because it was such a clever idea.

Member Benefits by @mosaix because this was the best surprise ending among the stories.

The old astronaut, the Cosmos, and the moon-eyed child by @emrosenagel because I'm a sucker for wonderful surprise endings.

The Death of Ageing by @Phyrebrat because of its beautiful prose expressing a profound thought.

Daisy Deschain of Gilead by @Lawrence Twiddy because it was so gritty, realistic, and memorable.

----
I don't know, but this might have been the highest average quality of stories we've ever had. It was rare that I consigned a story to non-shortlist land because of some weakness in the writing or theme, but rather mostly because the story didn't grab me.

Second runner-up: The Best of All Possible Worlds by @Victoria Silverwolf

Runner-up: The old astronaut, the Cosmos, and the moon-eyed child by @emrosenagel

Vote: The Death of Ageing by @Phyrebrat.

 

[Parson]

When I voted I noticed that I was given the wonderful gift of a vote by @Bowler1. Thanks so much! It was greatly appreciated.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I see a white van pulling up outside your property, two men exit one is pushing a chair with straps the other is carrying what looks like a straitjacket.

Coming to take you away

 

[Karn's Return]

Will I try next month?


I don't know. Depends on the mood I'm in, I suppose. Will have to see what the theme will be. XD

 

[Snicklefritz]

Voted for Best of All Possible Worlds such a crisp twist, Victoria Silverwolf

Short listed:

Love Unrequited Peter V

Parole Violation Bre G

 

[THX1138]

Curtsey of @Snicklefritz (I hope you don't mind Snicklefritz)

Voted for Best of All Possible Worlds such a crisp twist, Victoria Silverwolf

Short listed:

Love Unrequited Peter V

Parole Violation Bre G

 

[THX1138]

Thanks for the mentions @C.Robin and @Christine Wheelwright!

 

[Peter V]

Thanks for the mentions @ C.Robin and @ THX1138 and for voting for my entry @ AnRoinnUltra and @ Bren G

The moment I read the first entry, I knew it would take some beating. In fact to be fair, I felt immediately beaten and honestly did not think I would be entering this month. I guess that ultimately I had a stab because I just can't help myself.

In fairness, other entries have matched the quality of Victoria's entry, so it was not quite the straightforward instawin I was expecting...

Contenders
@ Victoria Silverwolf - I mean, come on... as if the punchline isn't worthy of a win, the rest of the tale is perfectly written.
@ Cat's Cradle honestly, this isn't just my penchant for androids and their use as a literary tool to reflect on humanity (or lack of it) but here is another fantastic last line.
@ C.Robin something about this really tickled me right from the off and I am still here hoping that our protagonist made that perfect brew. I hope so.
@ Phyrebrat Poignant and elegant, with another powerful finale.

Ultimately, I stuck with Victoria's feminist tour de force.

 

[Hugh]

The moment I read the first entry, I knew it would take some beating. In fact to be fair, I felt immediately beaten and honestly did not think I would be entering this month.

Exactly why I never read other people's entries before I post mine....