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

[Bowler1]

Mentions to JojnnyJet, AKnot, Paul 3 Menzies, Mosaix, The Judge and The Bear.

Therapist for me, which I liked. It felt very similar to Judge's entry, but I can only vote once so the chase is on with these two.

A big thanks to Robert M Gibson for my vote. I though I had the killer last line this month, but it's on to next month for me now to go again.

 

[emrosenagel]

My vote: Alexander by @therapist (I need some of that potion please!)

Shortlist: The Vivisectionists in the Fog by @Cat's Cradle, The Lamplighter (or, The Not-So-Little Match Girl) by @The Judge and The Sylph Employed by @Ursa major

Great stories all around! (and thank you for the mention @Starbeast!)

 

[sule]

Honorable Mentions:
La Belle Époque by Victoria Silverwolf
Alexander by therapist
The Fiend of Whitechapel by M. Robert Gibson

Vote:
Better the Devil you don't know by AnRoinnUltra

 

[Ursa major]

Toss up between @M. Robert Gibson @Daysman and @Ursa major …

Many, many thanks for the vote, JS Wiig.

And thanks for the mention, @emrosenagel.

 

[Elckerlyc]

Reading all these fine stories made one thing clear to me; the definition of what makes a story Gaslight remains obscured by mists and twilight. The stories went far and wide. Which in itself was fine, but made me decide to not let it decide my vote. This time only.
I think people just took the risk of applying their (preferred) definition.
Anyhow, shortlisted and vote:

A game of global domination - @Luiglin
Jack the Rippers last night, a sad tale of Mutilation and Suffering - @Bowler1
Alexander - @therapist
I Only Bet on Certainties - @mosaix
The Sylph Employed… - @Ursa major

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the shortlisting, @Elckerlyc.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thankyou Parson and Aknot for your votes, you've made me smile. Thankyou also johnnyjet, M.Robert Gibson, Starbeast and StillLearning for your shortlisting.

it's looking like it's going to be another close run thing between the leaders this month, good luck to you both with excellent entries.

Thanks also Victoria and Parson for you observant commentaries, and I think a special mention to Peter V for a thoughtful choice of genre.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Thanks very much for the vote, @StilLearning!

 

[Luiglin]

Top three for me...

• @paranoid marvin - I do like seeing alternative sides of well known tales
• @Rjalex - really liked the last line
• @emrosenagel - I could see this being expanded into a intriguing short story

And the tick of the radio button goes to @emrosenagel. I could see this work in the style of the old Victorian periodicals

 

[The Judge]

A number of stories I thought didn't hit the genre this month, though as it was a little unusual that's perhaps not surprising, but also a few that to my mind missed the theme, which I didn't expect, and as ever some that I didn't understand, even on a second and third read.

Anyhow, my shortlist:

Bowler1 -- Jack the Rippers last night, a sad tale of Mutilation and Suffering​

Bren G -- Reckless Embrace​

Cat's Cradle -- The Vivisectionists in the Fog​

Elckerlyc -- A Harrowing Experience in the Hailed Thames Tunnel (London, 1848)​

M. Robert Gibson -- The Fiend of Whitechapel​

paranoid marvin -- Mrs Hyde​

Peter V -- A Dutchman in London​

Ursa major -- The Sylph Employed​

​

I was a tad worried I'd included so many Ripper-like pieces, but they adhered so closely to theme and genre it was perhaps inevitable, but my vote goes to something less gory, as I loved Ursa's Sherlockian story as soon as I read it. (Though I'm desperate to know if I've missed a pun in the title!)


Many matchgirl lamplighting thanks for the lovely mentions/shortlistings THX1138, Starbeast, StilLearning, Bowler and emrosenagel, and even more dragon-breath lamp-lit thanks for the wonderful votes Hugh and johnnyjet!

Oh my lord, I've just seen I've got a load of ninja votes! So many, many very secret lamplighting thanks for the secret votes nixie, Chris p, CC, Peter V and Artoriarius!

 

[Simbelmynë]

There were a good few stylishly written pieces and clever twists or concepts. I thought the most tightly woven or enjoyable were:

Portrait of Demeter - @emrosenagel
Alexander - @therapist
Mrs Hyde - @paranoid marvin

Nice work!

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, TJ.

(Though I'm desperate to know if I've missed a pun in the title!)

You'll have to wait for the poll to close before I reveal anything about the title (or the rest of my entry, for that matter...).

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Well done, everyone - really good stories this month.
I voted earlier, so I won't be changing the totals now. I'll mention there were several entries I really enjoyed that I just couldn't be certain hit the genre, so I left them off my lists... I think that's the fairest thing, since meeting the genre and theme are a big part of the Challenge, but apologies to those several members and their fine entries if I missed something.
Here is my shortlist, and vote:

Shortlist:
Victoria Silverwolf, Simbelmynë, JS Wiig, emrosenagel, Starbeast, Christine Wheelwright, Parson, Ursa major

Vote:
I was very fond of TJ's entry, The Lamplighter (Or, The Not-So-Little Match Girl), and voted there.

Huge thanks to: @THX1138, @paranoid marvin, @Christine Wheelwright, @emrosenagel, and @The Judge for the listings.

Looks to be a close one. Good luck to our front-runners, CC

 

[emrosenagel]

Thanks so much for the votes @Luiglin and @Simbelmynë! Much appreciated And thank you for the shortlisting @Cat's Cradle!

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, @Daysman.

 

[Ursa major]

​

We have a winner:

Congratulations, therapist!​

​

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Many congratulations!

 

[BigJ]

Congratulations @therapist on a well deserved victory! It was tops for me as soon as I read it.

Thanks to @Starbeast for the mention for my story and keeping me from pulling a double zero.

I had hoped my drunken muse spouting off synonyms of risk when pressed for a story would have sufficed as a, perhaps sideways, execution of the theme but I can't exactly fault anyone for thinking that argument a little thin. As for genre, I got nothin'.

And I don't say it every month, but I do always look forward to reading the reviews from @Parson and @Victoria Silverwolf, many thanks to both of you.

 

[THX1138]

Congratulations @therapist !
And congratulations to @The Judge for a very close second place.
Well done to both of you!

 

[emrosenagel]

Congrats @therapist! I really enjoyed your story