Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
JUNE - 2020 - MICROSTORY CONTEST (COMMENTS ONLY)
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Jack wrote: "Holy shit! Dean's back! Welcome."Thanks, Jack. I haven't really gone anywhere, just got pulled away by life and other things. As a former soldier, I felt particularly attached to this theme.
Dean wrote: Thanks, Jack. I haven't really gone anywhere, just got pulled away by life and other things. As a former soldier, I felt particularly attached to this..."
That I understand. I've been missing a lot myself. Timely theme for me. I do a lot of volunteer work here in Colorado with veterans and the homeless. A buddy of mine is former Air Force and he gets out to the graves of our fallen soldiers regularly, in particular the kids who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the things we do is clean up the grave site, put in a flag and flowers and say a few words. Usually, I take a photo and Tony delivers it to the family. It's a simple thing, but it means the world to the families involved.
My brother is former Delta Force and Homeland Security. He suffers from PTSD and a few other things now. So, I like to think by doing my part here someone in Virginia might do something for him.
My most recent novel, Purple Hearted Man, is the story of a war vet who suffers from PTSD and a psychotic break.
Glad you wrote a story. I will read it soon.
Thanks, but gonna have to go back and edit the hell out of it. I went WAY over the word limit and I'd like it to at least be eligible. I will post the edited version once Jot deletes the current one.
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Mine's up. I wanted to post a picture of a nasty looking chihuahua but it's more complicated than I thought. I'd have to put it on a web page and put html here to reference it. Too much trouble for a joke.
Mine's up. I missed last month, so I'm doing this one earlier. While I am working from home and should have about 90 minutes more a day to work with, I've been busier than I ever have been.
I was forced to write a hymn version of the Prayer of Saint Francis 33 times when I was in grade school. I also wanted to have a soldier say it as he prepared for battle.
Greg wrote: "Mine's up. I missed last month, so I'm doing this one earlier. While I am working from home and should have about 90 minutes more a day to work with, I've been busier than I ever have been.
I w..."
Well, no one ever forced me to read Trumbo's book Johnny Got His Gun, Greg, but you've captured a great deal of the same, or similar, essence in your fine story. Could've been any war, any time, and yet very specific, and well into the character. Nice.
Great stories. Moving stories. Nice work all!!
Thanks, Justin. 'Hope you have time for one this month.
Kalifer wrote: "Mine's up. I wanted to post a picture of a nasty looking chihuahua but it's more complicated than I thought. I'd have to put it on a web page and put html here to reference it. Too much trouble for..."Simplest way is to replace your picture with that of the Chihuaua in your Goodreads account. But that may cause other issues. And I'd miss the hat. : )
-C
Paula wrote: "Well, no one ever forced me to read Trumbo's book Johnny Got His Gun" “Johnny Got His Gun” looks like a good story. I was heading in the opposite direction – the artificial body is perfectly functional but his mind is going, he knows it and doesn't want to live through it.
I was excluded from a longitudinal Alzheimer’s study because my ‘cognitive function was outside the target range.’ While conversing with the intake person, they confirmed that Alzheimer’s patients are not typically aware of their own impairment because of how the disease works but said I had enough cognitive reserve and mental self-awareness that if I were afflicted would know what was happening to me long before those around me would. This became the inspiration for the story. Let’s hope it never becomes a reality.
I read Flowers for Algernon when I was in grade school and thought it one of the saddest books I read. Now, it seems like a terrifying ending.
I revised my story, a sentence in and a few words out, to clarify the concept of the perfect body and failing mind. Since it was a comment and not a critique, I hope that doesn't break any rules.
(Thanks, Paula)
Another of your very recent stories to soar above the Brilliant range, Marianne. Wonderful.
Thanks, Paula. Pain and anxiety have their uses, I suppose.
Marianne wrote: "Thanks, Paula. Pain and anxiety have their uses, I suppose."I hear ya.
An intriguing cross-section of perspectives in the stories. My family in the military present a bizarre kaleidoscope of experiences. But my story references a little of a documentary I watched while home alone as a teenager. I believe it was called "All You Need is Love." Harrowing and horrific.
Must have been quite a documentary, J.J. And in your story, quite the wise grandmother-professor. Nice work on her part--fine story on your part.
Justin, I find your story very emotionally evocative and it resonated with a piece of mine. I'm including the link to the pastebin page, is you'd like to read it.https://pastebin.com/11NEuD55
Dean
That's a great story Dean, thank you for sharing it with me. I'm glad you enjoyed mine!
Greg, I meant my first comment to you here strictly as praise. That you were referring to mind, not body, failing was clear. I like your slight revision to the tale, though--nice work. "Flowers for Algernon" frightened me, too, the first time I read it--the part where he sees what is going to happen, what is happening. . .
I posted a story but I don't expect anyone to vote for it as it's only loosely inspired by the prompts and is overlong by about 300 words (I've already cut about 400 words). But having written it, I figured I'd post it anyway.
It’s been awhile but I got something up this month. Hope all are well.
I wanted to mention, before mention of the book gets lost here, that Jack's novel Purple-Hearted Man, works as a deeply felt vision of, and tribute to, the experience of those war-wounded who came back shattered from US wars in western Asia/Middle East.
Paula wrote: "I wanted to mention, before mention of the book gets lost here, that Jack's novel Purple-Hearted Man, works as a deeply felt vision of, and tribute to, the experience of those war-wounded who came ..."And it's narrated by a really swell guy... LOL! :)
Paula wrote: "I wanted to mention, before mention of the book gets lost here, that Jack's novel Purple-Hearted Man, works as a deeply felt vision of, and tribute to, the experience of those war-wounded who came ..."Thanks, Paula.
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It was a good turn out this month :)
Someone mentioned "Johnny Got His Gun" and now I'm craving hamburger sandwiches. I should re-read it and study how Trumbo's descriptive writing of the hamburger stand could stay with me since high school.
J.F. wrote: "Someone mentioned "Johnny Got His Gun" and now I'm craving hamburger sandwiches. I should re-read it and study how Trumbo's descriptive writing of the hamburger stand could stay with me since high ..."lol. I can't remember the hamburger stand at all--must be from waiting to read it in college.
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Baby Steps
Five, Redux
The Swap
Every Crab Fine Dey Home
Paula wrote: "J.F. wrote: "Someone mentioned "Johnny Got His Gun" and now I'm craving hamburger sandwiches. I should re-read it and study how Trumbo's descriptive writing of the hamburger stand could stay with m..."I re-read that section, only 2-3 paragraphs, but beautifully written and now I understand why it stuck with me. Trumbo captured the smell of onions, the taste of sweet mustard, the heat of the stand's flame, all without being showy. But the hero recalls it fondly because he brought them for dinner on Saturdays and it was just him and his parents, and it made him feel grown up. I had a similar experience as a kid and its among my fondest memories so the scene stuck with me and I never realized why until now.
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Required elements:
1) Veteran families
2) Honoring the fallen