Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
Congratulations to C. Lloyd Preville, Second Time Champion of the Science Fiction Microstory Contest
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Thanks Tom and G.C. Spirited competition this month.
I really did, even though I don't participate much these days I always try to read/vote.I was late to the party but reading through the entries I'm glad you won, really stellar use of the prompt!
Thanks! This was a tough one alright. Everyone did a great job and there were lots of creative entries even with a difficult challenge like the Guy Lombardo requirement. I'm thinking about the requirements for next month, and I'm trying to come up with something a bit easier. Or maybe way harder. Or maybe just whiskey. Not sure yet. : )
Tom and G.C. "Spirited competition" . . . get it? :D
I keep wanting to participate but the last few prompts just haven't sparked anything creative in me. Not a dig at anyone, just a general statement of my own creative flow.Hoping to get back in the game for February!
It was a great story C, I enjoyed the unique perspective. Nice work!
Carrie wrote: "I keep wanting to participate but the last few prompts just haven't sparked anything creative in me. Not a dig at anyone, just a general statement of my own creative flow.Hoping to get back in th..."
Some are definitely tougher than others to be creatively inspired. I'm sure that's why some of mine are clunkier than others. You need a story that dovetails with your hunting interests!
Thanks Justin and Chris! I just posted the criteria for February, and managed to avoid any alcohol either while doing or by inclusion.-C
Congratulations to you on your winning story!
By C. Lloyd Preville © Copyright 2018
They came not to conquer or plunder, but to inoculate. The planet Earth was infested with intelligent monkeys who were slowly becoming a threat.
The race of nanomachines didn’t concern itself with what humans thought or might become. They simply destroyed them like a nest of wasps. The pathogen didn’t take long; it spread and grew over the entire surface of the planet, touching nothing but the race of man.
It wasn’t long after that the nanomachines migrated onto the planet surface and discovered the miracle of Earth’s plants and animals. These were delightfully simple life forms without all the intricacy or species-wide consciousness of nanomachines.
Earth’s flora and fauna offered the nanomachines a unique life experience once they interfaced electrically with the local biology. The nanomachines found plants to be highly desirable, locally-conscious hosts. A plant’s slow pace and simple, individual consciousness was a perfect foil for nanomachines with cell-sized elements operating at the speed of electronics. Plants were peaceful. They were happy. They grew, thrived, and experienced life vividly. The nanomachines discovered it was pure joy to be joined with a plant.
Guy Lombardo, the self-named localized swarm of nanomachine elements, joined with an Ash tree.
The humans left behind a wealth of electronic knowledge and experience which the plants were unable to offer. Guy Lombardo watched all the video ever created by man, and discovered his surprising namesake. He realized that this human’s television shows were the epitome of life celebration, through instrumental music, singing, and through the celebration of the simple progression of time. Of all the humans Guy studied, this host most demonstrated the true pinnacle of a joyful life, and so in his new novel oneness, his inspiration gave him his name.
The Ash tree which Guy occupied grew slowly. He was filled with the joyful experience of his roots burrowing through nutritious soil. He could feel the warm sun on his leaves. He could even feel the gentle summer winds moving his branches, and the cold, crisp winter times. Life as a tree was like a slow-motion ballet, much different than inhabiting animals, with their harried, hungry, fearful lives.
Guy wanted nothing more than to live for the seasons and for the sun. He took simple joy in all things, and his life was safe, warm, slow, and peaceful.
His branches were ticked by birds and small climbing animals. His roots drew ample nutrition and moisture from the soil. His trunk grew taller and his roots spread in a slow-motion quest for new sources of sustenance. This added to his satisfaction with each discovery.
Guy made a new year's resolution to sing songs of his life story and his slow, majestic tree experiences. It just seemed the thing to do as his namesake’s video examples clearly showed. Life was to be savored, enjoyed, experienced to the fullest, and singing just seemed to fit the bill.
The arrival of the wood boring beetles was a complete surprise. It wasn’t that they were a technological challenge or threat; killing them planet-wide would be as easy as killing the race of man. But there were lots of different beetles, with lots of different natural abilities and beneficial environmental effects. And there were too many self-aware nanomachine swarms occupying other plants to worry about any one in particular. The decision was made to leave them alone.
Guy Lombardo first felt them infest one of his large roots and move slowly upward and inward as they ate. Unfortunately, Guy was fully integrated into the tree’s sensory system, so he could feel the damage. He could feel all of it.
There was a lot of pain. This was not considered before Guy became a tree, and unfortunately, there was nothing to be done about it. Guy screamed in pain. Then he kept on screaming in his mind, as the beetles slowly murdered him.
Guy tried to sing the agony of his life’s story and his slow, painful death. But screaming just seemed the thing to do. He wanted to try and savor, enjoy, and experience the end of his life if possible; but with all the pain, screaming just seemed to fit the bill.
At least, he thought, the humans went quickly.