Discussion - December 2011 - 75 Word Challenge

[AMB]

Hope: Thankee kindly.

[Phyrebrat]

Hello,

When I saw the theme for this month I was really pleased (to be honest, I think my actual thought was ‘aaave it!’) but I have to admit that this has been really tough.

I like to get my little piece in early and not think about it again or I tend to become plagued with second-guesses and so forth. This month I have been stumped. The Steampunk bit was fine, the Toy bit was fine, but together they made it really difficult for me, notwithstanding the fact that a character on whom my idea centred had been used by another Chroner so I decided to start from scratch again (I have been sending bad juju to the Chroner in question though haha).

Rather than post my comments piecemeal on the others - and bearing in mind I should have more time to savour reading them this month - I am going to wait till later on when entries have slowed somewhat. I’ve been transfixed reading the ones I have seen up till now and am glad that I am not the only one who has had problems coming up with something.

[Parson]

Phyrebrat -- I see you've caused me a problem. I had been working on my story for about 2 weeks and decided to post and posted right under yours. Of course mine and yours have some of the same characters. Hope you don't mind. Obviously a scheming Scrooge resonated with the both of us.

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but this challenge is so delightful, and since the mods made it so, let it go, let it go, let it go.

[hopewrites]

How sinister Parson!! I giggled with shock.

[Phyrebrat]

Originally Posted by Parson

Phyrebrat -- I see you've caused me a problem.

Parson, I'm sorry . If it is any consolation, that is exactly what happened to me which is why my entry is so 'late' (as far as my plan goes, that is), so I feel your pain!!!

Originally Posted by Parson

Hope you don't mind. Obviously a scheming Scrooge resonated with the both of us.

Of course not, I think it's quite nice actually, and our stories are different, but I'm touched you asked. In any case, I have no authority or intellectual copyright over the old git - We're just similar souls (you and me, not Scrooge and I!).

I edited out Jack the Ripper from mine, too! I felt a bit like George Lucas; revising history and having all these characters figuring anachronistically together.

[JLawrenceDavis]

Both Parson's and Aun Doorback's shorts were good; I got a nice chuckle out of both of them

Originally Posted by Karn Maeshalanadae

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but this challenge is so delightful, and since the mods made it so, let it go, let it go, let it go.

Wasn't sure what you meant until I went back and looked. Your song threw me off lol

[Parson]

Originally Posted by hopewrites

How sinister Parson!! I giggled with shock.

Sinister is not my stock in trade, but I didn't know where else to go with "steam punk."

Originally Posted by Phyrebrat

Of course not, I think it's quite nice actually, and our stories are different, but I'm touched you asked. In any case, I have no authority or intellectual copyright over the old git - We're just similar souls (you and me, not Scrooge and I!).

The soul of a Parson and a "firebrat" that's rather an intriguing possibility.

Originally Posted by JLawrenceDavis

Both Parson's and Aun Doorback's shorts were good; I got a nice chuckle out of both of them

Thanks muchly.

[TheDustyZebra]

Not quite the right place for this, but it's the only place he's likely to see it, so -- happy birthday, Bob S. Sr.! I hope you've gotten a handle on the whole steampunk thing and get us a story soon. And I should probably do the same.

[Perpetual Man]

PM - A great title leads into a story of misdirection and annihilation. There is something in the story that I just can't put my finger on, but I really like. I'm not sure whether there is an off kilter sense of realism - I think there was just something in the way the enemy sing to taunt their foes ring true; and I loved the atomic feel to the explosion, a new type of super cannon.

AMB – This story pulled up such a wonderful little image in my head, that it is hard to discount it. I can just see the Morris Dancers dancing away, and the last line finishes the story so well. Not only is it a testament of skill for the maker, but it is an expression of love that he would make such a great gift.

Quokka – This carries a similar expression of love, but in the opposite direction, for parent rather than child. I particularly liked the mundane feel here; the scavenging of everyday items, gifts and what could be found, to make a surprise for a mother. In this instance something that would not just be a gift but something that would take some of the weight of her shoulders.

JLawrenceDavis – For me this summed up the whole ‘olde worlde’ Christmas feel, that anticipation of children, staring through a toy shop window at the wonders within. And what a toy – the description of the airship was a wonder indeed, you could almost see it and want it for yourself just because of what it was.

Phyrebrat – A rather clever alternate version of A Christmas Carol where Scooge runs wild, becoming a global power that literally stops our world from developing to his own benefit. He actually seems to be a step ahead of everyone, dead and living. You have the feeling that the old boy has everything stitched up to his own advantage quite nicely thank you.

Parson – and Scrooge is taken in the opposite direction in this equally wonderful, if darker tale. There is something quite satisfying in seeing Scrooge taken out by tiny Tim; I mean who would think of that little innocent being such a clever assassin. The use of words quite nicely catches the character of the old miser, and makes the accepting of the gift seem quite logical, driven by greed.

Aun Doorback – Oh, ho! ho! ho! I loved this tale, the whole thing seemed such a great little story to start with. The idea of steam powered toys as the starting point of a revolution was just beautiful. But the insertion of the military mind right at the end, that beautiful, savage and terrifying twist is what made the story shine.

[Hex]

I read Quokka's as rather sinister... but I loved it too. Absolutely one of my favourites this month.

[Perpetual Man]

That's the wonder of these things Hex, they can be read in so many different ways. Until the writer comes along and tells me how wrong I am...

[TheDustyZebra]

Yes, I definitely thought that mother was in big trouble in Quokka's.

[Highlander]

Well, that's my effort up - decided NOT to read any published tales beforehand so hopefully it doesn't plagiarise anyone's story...

Better go and read them now...

[hopewrites]

Highlander I liked yours very much didnt see the end coming at all and when it did I got a fantastic "oh no!" out of it and for some reason wanted to laugh as well.
I must be feeling sinister today