December 2020 - Science Fiction Microstory Contest (Comments Only)

[Alina]

Theme: a mind-altering substance or technology
Elements to include: a grandma or a grandpa, an unusual pet.

[Jot]

I think I lived that story last night.

[Alina]

Tell us more :D

[Tom]

Welcome back, C. I've missed you.

[Justin]

C!!! So glad you're back! Funny story! I'm thinking about the punk rocker on the bus in Star Trek IV. LOL!

Tom, great visuals!

[C.]

Thanks Tom and Justin.

Story is just more of the same ol' crap.

Good to be back! Have been on a special project for the last few months designing and building a solid cherry liquor cabinet that's C-worthy. When you hit the switch, the liquor deploys. Waaa ha ha ha.

-C

[Jot]

Welcome back, C. I think I need one of those cabinets. For now, I'll stick with the Guiness.

Last day today at IHS Markit, so for the next year, and hopefully beyond, I'm back to being self-employed. So much work to do...

[Tom]

Jot wrote: "Welcome back, C. I think I need one of those cabinets. For now, I'll stick with the Guiness.

Last day today at IHS Markit, so for the next year, and hopefully beyond, I'm back to being self-employ..."

Best of luck, Jot.

[Tom]

C. wrote: "Thanks Tom and Justin.

Story is just more of the same ol' crap.

Good to be back! Have been on a special project for the last few months designing and building a solid cherry liquor cabinet that's..."

'Sounds like there's a story there in itself, C.

[Tom]

Justin wrote: "C!!! So glad you're back! Funny story! I'm thinking about the punk rocker on the bus in Star Trek IV. LOL!

Tom, great visuals!"
Thanks, Justin.

[Jeremy]

Got one in. Two months in a row!

Hope Mattel doesn't sue me.

[Justin]

Funny one Jeremy!

[Jeremy]

Thanks Justin!

[Tom]

Excellent story, Alina.

[Jeremy]

I agree!

[Alina]

Thank you, guys :) I liked your stories, too. And C's as well. I'll try to write some thoughtful comments for all of them in the critique thread later.

[Tom]

Good one, Chris. Loved the atmosphere.

[Alina]

Yes, very interesting :)

[Chris]

Tom wrote: "Good one, Chris. Loved the atmosphere."

Thanks, Tom. I appreciate it. :)

[Justin]

Great story Chris, fantastic!

[Chris]

Justin wrote: "Great story Chris, fantastic!"

Thanks, Justin! I'm glad you liked it. :)

[Tom]

My sister recently shared these videos with me. 'Thought I'd pass them along - interesting to any science fiction writer, I think:

https://www.google.com/search?q=alien...

[Jot]

I watched the first one. Very useful as a sci-fi writer to better understand how alien species might vary on another world, but over all, I found it a little boring. Will give another episode a try...

[Paula]

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

[Chris]

Paula wrote: "Sweet story, Chris, especially the first half, which is enthralling."

Thanks so much, Paula. I'm happy you liked it. :)

[Kalifer]

Mine's up! Don't quite know how to classify this one.

[Tom]

Kalifer wrote: "Mine's up! Don't quite know how to classify this one."

Existential comedy?

I liked it. 'Reminded me a bit of a Marvel graphic novel in which Howard the Duck has a conversation with God. "I fooled 'em... They didn't consider evolution!"

[Kalifer]

I love the category, Existential Comedy. I'll take it.

[C.]

Funny story, Kalifer!

I know lots of 'Talk to God' jokes, but have not seen very many Sci Fi stories that go there.

Your story works on many levels, from belly laugh to existential revelation.

-C

[Kalifer]

Thanks, C. Had fun writing it.

[Jot]

Mine's finally up. Perhaps I should have waited for the 21st, when we all celebrate the return of light. Seems ironic that, in 2020, we have what people are calling the return of the Star of Bethlehem in the joining of Jupiter and Saturn, closest union in 400 years, on the day of the Solstice. Enjoy and find celebration in each day.

[Tom]

Beautiful story, Jot. A poem for the apocalypse.

[Jot]

Thanks Tom. Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.

[C.]

Great story, Jot.

I see you're exercising your inner poet--beautiful stuff. Reminded me of the ironic image of Emperor Nero watching Rome burn.

You got the horror of a caldera eruption just right, and in only 750 words!

The holidays are kind of sucky this year.

-C

[Jot]

Certainly a bad year and an isolating holiday season, but I'm hoping the drug companies are right about the effectiveness of the vaccine.

On a side note, make sure to check out the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn early tomorrow night. Some are calling this the return of the Star of Bethlehem. Think we would need Venus to be a part of that to be true, but since this is the closest the two planets have been inline in 400 years and to have it happen on the Winter Solstice, is strange indeed.

[Alina]

Nice story, Jot!

[Jot]

Thanks!

[Tom]

Beautifully written, Justin. Dream-like flow.

[Greg]

Got a working toilet, a shower and a sink. Not necessarily in the same room. Time for Story Time.

Mine up!

[Jot]

Nice

[Alina]

So many good stories, it was hard to choose :)

[Justin]

Tom wrote: "Beautifully written, Justin. Dream-like flow."

Thanks Tom, much appreciated!

[C.]

Happy Ka-Punkt Sha Wohk Sleh, everyone!

That's either Mandarin Chinese, me after 5 whiskeys, or Klingon. I forget which.

-C

[Paula]

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!

[Justin]

Merry Christmas to you all! I'm thankful to be a part of such a talented group of writers!

I wish you all a special day with family and friends, and better things in 2021!

[Tom]

Thank you, Justin. The best to you and yours.

[Alina]

All the best to all of you, stay happy and healthy <3

[Justin]

Chris would you like to come up with a theme and I'll provide the required elements? Just let me know!

[Chris]

Congrats Justin! Great story! I'm happy to leave this months theme and elements up to you.

[Justin]

Thanks Chris! January theme and required elements have been posted. Good luck writing and best wishes for 2021!