Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
April 2019 Microstory Contest - Comments Only
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I see C. Lloyd is first out of the gate with a good campfire story.
Good one C! Bummer to get all that way to Mars, only to be swallowed by a giant galactic grouper... :)
Mod
By campfire story I mean a story that leaves you hanging in one fashion or another and you can't sleep in your tent thinking about the story. What was it? What did they see? Where did it come from? How long was it there?
Yeah, and after that story, we'll be packing our tents straight down the trail to where there's too much light pollution for the fish to see us, I'd imagine. Brrrrr.Nice writing, C. Lloyd!
Thanks guys. Hard science is fun, but a little terror is also fun. If you've ever seen a Japanese fighting fish take a brine shrimp you'll know what I was going for.
Nice one back atcha, Justin! It's fright-night in the theater-of-the-mind disco!-C
Thanks C!! The word Phobos just screamed something about fear to me. Twenty Kwatloos to anyone who finds the 2010 movie reference. :)
Calling all non-recent contributors. . .Here's your chance to titillate everyone's toenails with your Phobos terror tale of total toe-tag toting trepidation!
It's fright-night in Jot's theater-of-the-mind disco!
Whaaa ha ha ha ha ha
-C
C...what have you been drinking? :) LOL!
Justin, I had a similar reality switch in my "Bill's Plight" microstory a while back. I think good VR will actually make people believe they are there in that future. It could be far scarier than any roller coaster ride. Of course, the two could be combined to cause fatal scaring or serious mental scarring.
Justin wrote: "Thanks C!! The word Phobos just screamed something about fear to me. Twenty Kwatloos to anyone who finds the 2010 movie reference. :)""American bravery? Alive and well. Chinese common sense?" That was actually a book before it was a movie, and it was originally "Russian common sense" in question. Gee...20 Kwatloos doesn't spend like it used to, in the '60's.
Good story. 'Liked the ending.
Kalifer wrote: "Justin, I had a similar reality switch in my "Bill's Plight" microstory a while back. I think good VR will actually make people believe they are there in that future. It could be far scarier than a..."As long as it doesn't make me motion sick... :)
Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Thanks C!! The word Phobos just screamed something about fear to me. Twenty Kwatloos to anyone who finds the 2010 movie reference. :)""American bravery? Alive and well. Chinese com..."
Yes! 20 kwatloos to you! I did change it from Russian to Chinese. I always liked that exchange, and the movie. Thing is, as a kid I saw 2010 before 2001, so some things didn't make sense. When I finally did watch 2001 a lot of things fell into place. Anyway, thanks for the feedback!
Hey C, I hope my review of your story did not seem cheeky. My stories often fall below own hopes for them as well. The challenge of course being to serve a literary wine and steak on a Happy Meal budget. I was just sitting at work with some time on my hands, and I wanted to force myself to do a review and give some genuine feedback since I have not done so for quite a while.
I feel every time I create a story here, it forces me to work my brain to become a better writer. It's like my running. Not every run will be a personal record. Most are just "consistency runs" so I don't get out of shape. But when I do get a PR, it's definitely nice.
I hope you enjoy your cooking class! (says the man who made a double batch of lasagna hamburger helper last night to feed his slavering hordes of children since the head chef was out...)
Best,
Justin
Very well written critique, Justin, and excellent response, C.(The first thing I was reminded of when the giant fish appeared was that scene in "Night Gallery" when they find out there's a giant mouse on the moon gobbling up astronauts. Like a darkly comedic irony.)
Justin wrote: "Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Thanks C!! The word Phobos just screamed something about fear to me. Twenty Kwatloos to anyone who finds the 2010 movie reference. :)""American bravery? Alive and well...."
You're welcome.
I first saw "2001" when it came out in theatres. I was just a child and couldn't make head or tail of it. As a teen, I read Marvel's comic adaptation and that explained it, so I could appreciate it later. It was a beautifully artistic film; almost like an abstract painting, a space-age ballet and opera rolled into one. Masterful use of sound, light and color.
"2010" just did not live up to the legacy in my opinion; not as book or film. Don't even get me started on "2069." Clarke should have left Kubrick's masterpiece alone.
Tom wrote: "You have a talent for metaphor, Justin."Thanks Tom! Much appreciated!
Justin wrote: "Hey C, I hope my review of your story did not seem cheeky. My stories often fall below own hopes for them as well. The challenge of course being to serve a literary wine and steak on a Happy Meal..."
I liked your "biting tale" description for my monster fish story. 'Twas a 2-fer. Nice.
-C
Hey, thanks, Jot. Glad to be back. I forgot how tough it is to edit down to 750 words. The story I posted was originally 1200!
Mine's up and I will now begin reading. Hopefully I can keep up this month.
Mine's up. I tried a few things like getting a Russian accent by dropping to-be verbs and articles where it didn't mess up meaning. Did a little investigation into Russian humor to get the sense of it.
Russia has had much bad luck with Mars so I threw a bit more salt into that wound.
Haven't read your story yet, Kalifer, but your comment reminded me of this terrific resource for writers called the IDEA, or International Dialects in English Archive. It has samples of actual speech from around the world with transcripts and sometimes commentary. It is very useful in evoking a dialect through word choice and syntax.http://www.dialectsarchive.com/globalmap
Kalifer wrote: "Mine's up. I tried a few things like getting a Russian accent by dropping to-be verbs and articles where it didn't mess up meaning. Did a little investigation into Russian humor to get the sense ..."
Good story, Kalifer. Sad, but spectacular. A very inventive idea.
J.F. wrote: "Haven't read your story yet, Kalifer, but your comment reminded me of this terrific resource for writers called the IDEA, or International Dialects in English Archive. It has samples of actual spee..."Another resource for Russian accent: Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, otherwise known as "Moose and Squirrel."
Video demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHqy-...
Tom wrote: "Kalifer wrote: "Mine's up. I tried a few things like getting a Russian accent by dropping to-be verbs and articles where it didn't mess up meaning. Did a little investigation into Russian humor t..."
Yes. They left a bad impression on Mars. : D
Mod
Yee haw, Jot! Wrassle that doggie to the ground and tie it's legs with a fast knot and a grin!
-C
I expect Justin will say this is just one of your everyday, typical space probe punchin' stories. . . : )
J.F. wrote: "Haven't read your story yet, Kalifer, but your comment reminded me of this terrific resource for writers called the IDEA, or International Dialects in English Archive. It has samples of actual spee..."Thanks for the tip. I will use this resource in the future.
Hey Jot,This is just one of your everyday, typical space probe punchin' stories. . .
;)
Mod
Now I just need to find a few minutes to read the others. Good luck to all!
Mine's up. Went a little different direction, so I hope it works. :)
Mod
Jot wrote: "Apologies for the blunt critiques. I'm not the best of readers, due perhaps to my weak eyes and memory, but we are here to learn how different people perceive our work in an effort to sell more boo..."A sharp knife cuts quickest and hurts the least.
Also, "The slow blade penetrates the shield."
Thanks Jot!
Chris wrote: "Mine's up. Went a little different direction, so I hope it works. :)"'Loved it, Chris. Phil Dunphy in outer space. Very nice. Also reminded me of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
Tom wrote: "Chris wrote: "Mine's up. Went a little different direction, so I hope it works. :)"'Loved it, Chris. Phil Dunphy in outer space. Very nice. Also reminded me of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.""
Thanks, Tom! :)
Element: Possible alien ship nearby.