Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
* FEBRUARY 2025 SCIENCE FICTION MICROSTORY CONTEST (Comments Only)
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Hysterical, Greg! I really enjoyed every word.
Oh I like it, Greg--"old-fashioned science fiction" in the best sense, and fine timely twists.
I don't read the other stories until mine is up to avoid undue influence (and accidental plagiarism) so I was surprised to see a similar interpretation of the ICE element. It was fun to imagine and write. I got inspiration from the X-Files, a Deep Space Nine episode (Little Green Men) and, of course, the current political insanity. I hope our political audience does not extend beyond our planet. It's embarrassing enough already.
Thanks for the feedback - I often get very little and have no idea how a story lands.
Well done, Jot. Very well-envisioned dystopian scenario. Reminded me a little of Orwell's 1984. The suspense effectively built up to a great climax.
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J.F. - very unusual and original concept. Striking character imagery.
Great stories friends! I do not think I am getting one in this month though, unfortunately.
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Jot wrote: "Given we have only 4 stories, and thus 4 required judges, it would be good for other members to chime with what they feel is the best."Thank you for the critiques, Jot. (That thread has been gathering cobwebs for far too long.)
I've posted my three critiques and hope the other two authors will too.
One general comment - I'm sorry you felt authors expressing their views on current events was destructive to originality or constituted "proselytizing."
How we view the world around us is part of who we are and I for one don't feel an author should feel obligated to self-censor those views or beliefs. The audience may or may not like it, but we certainly have a right to express our views in stories, whether through direct satire or allegory. (The challenge always lies in being subtle...I didn't even try this time.)
It's certainly nothing new - Twilight Zone, Star Trek and Star Wars would all be missing a helluva lot if their respective authors had abstained from expressing their social views in their writing.
And, Jot...while I say this with no disrespect...you've clearly expressed your views on current events in past stories.
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Jot wrote: "It was merely a critique of the quality, I felt, of the stories. This is an open forum and all is more welcome to express their views, political or not. Politically speaking, I am a moderate republ..."Thank you for sharing.
Jot, do you want me to vote even though I didn't do a story this month? Just let me know either way. Thx!
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Definitely Justin and Paula, and anyone else, should vote if they've read all the stories. It would be awesome if they did.This is a reminder that the contest I mentioned a few months back has a deadline of March 7. It's a biennial contest for the NPR program Selected Shorts, where actors read published short stories, including speculative fiction, on the air. With this contest, a listener's previously unpublished story will be chosen for an on-air reading. 750-word limit, $25 per submission, $1000 prize and free writing course.
https://www.symphonyspace.org/selecte...
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Jot wrote: "No theme or genre other than fiction?"Any theme or genre, Jot, including the speculative genres. I recall one time they had Stephen Colbert reading Bradbury's "The Veldt."
Use the word physically or metaphorically.
Element: a thoroughfare.