Paula’s Comments (group member since Oct 28, 2015)

Paula’s comments from the Science Fiction Microstory Contest group.

Yeah, Kalifer, this country--and the world--would be better off had Trump not been president. Even so, since reading 1984 and the 1950s(?) sf novel Squares of the City, years ago, I've some skepticism re any film or vid put out by political partisans of any sort--including the vid/s of the folks running and rampaging through the Capitol.

I rather like the theme--am hoping to get the time to write a wee story to it.
FTM, as long as this stays generally a writing group, I see no problem with people discussing politics here. Like, when people here discuss complex details of professional work in computer tech, for instance, I simply skip over the discussion; and presumably those not wanting to read political posts can skip those.
Also, having been in the group during the period when some of us either left the group or thought of doing so, let me clarify--the problem(s) had, fortunately, nothing to do with political discussions/issues.

Wonderful theme and parameter, Kalifer and Alina!

Congratulations, Kalifer, and Alina.

So sorry to hear of your loss, Jot.

Kalifer wrote: "My story is up.

Just to make sure I don't start one of these rampant rumors that might stir up a Luddite rebellion, the poem in my story was not authored by an AI. That's all we would need to add..."
What makes you think they haven't, Kalifer? Tried to contact a human at Customer Service anywhere, recent years?

The late 1960s were a time of societal opening and rising hopes, for many of us and in many--hardly all!--countries, mostly in parts of the Americas and Europe; in the U.S., at least, it's been downhill, economically and in terms of any sort of existential hopes, since the early '70s, or so it seems anyhow.
One fine piece of news--the US Post Office has announced it is putting out, in its Author Series, a new stamp honoring Ursula K. Le Guin.

Especially if still in communication with glitchlings.

Thanks, Greg!

It's very very very much worth buying, folks.

I've bought one, Jeremy!

Readers of course vary in their aesthetic preferences, but certainly we would not wish all the stories here to be written in the same style--e.g., the concise and story/plot-driven Hemingwayesque style. For this reason, contests selecting outside judges usually try for persons interested in a wide range of styles and open to many viewpoints.

Interesting stories, guys.
I'd like to see more of the old-timer's story in yours, Justin--he'd make a good novella prtotagonist--lots more to be said of/from him--intriguing.
Fascinating--and frightening--concept, Chris!

Very well written stories, all!
Sorry, I've had a client's project taking up much time the past two weeks, hadn't time to do a careful read and vote among the very fine works; from what I've seen, though, they are outstanding.
Wishing you each a healthy and safe holiday and New Year!

Sweet story, Chris, especially the first half, which is enthralling.

C. wrote: "I tweaked it. It's better.

Thanks Paula!!!"
Thank *you*, C. Glad if my suggestion was helpful to you.

C. wrote: "Thank you, Paula.

I appreciate your ideas and suggestions. There's no doubt this little tale could use some sophisticated depuration, and of that, you are the queen bee.

-C"
"depuration"--? arggh, the critic is shown to have a (yoicks) vocabulary limit. Anyhow, thanks for the kind response, C.

Jeremy, great re stories both this month and last month!
I loved this month's story; it had me grinning the whole way. Then I got to the "in surprise" (and the somewhat overly common "spat out . . ." to show surprise) in the last next-to-last paragraph and had the (somewhat over-commonplace, but applicable here) standard-critic's-criticisms "show, don't tell" and "Don't tell the readers what you've just shown to them!" And then the last paragraph/sentence may have been a tiny bit too expected--but more likely this comes of my limitations, as my response was no longer fresh after all that critiquing I'd been doing during the just-previous paragraph, LOL. In any case, another super story, Jeremy. Your sense of style, your wit, your pacing, and your fascinating characters and sophisticated modes of characterization are terrific.

Excellent story, C.--superb pacing and dialogue, and a great character in the tall punker alien. I think you could cut down (by 1 or 2 at most) the back-and-forth rounds; more important, tighten (combine?) the last two paragraphs and give that ending a sharp (though mysterious/ambiguous is fine here!) tone of some underlying, not stated menace. It's a grabber.

Interesting story, Alina, and a spectacular ending. Looking forward to reading more of your work.

This is so cool, Justin! I shall be letting people know of it; remind me on FB and I'll share it onto my page there. Congratulations on getting this book out!