Discussion - February 2011 - 75 Word Challenge

[TheDustyZebra]

Originally Posted by Parson

--- I spend a lot of time at the office etc. but I seem to be falling behind in what I need to accomplish in a week.

I've got a story going which might help you there.

[Parson]

I'll be waiting to see it. Any help is more than welcome.

[Vertigo]

Originally Posted by Parson

Vertigo, I'm not sure what you do, but a parson is like a small business owner. You are never done, but sometimes you quite. The problem is that you can push it the other way and not accomplish enough. --- That's kinda what I've been feeling. --- I spend a lot of time at the office etc. but I seem to be falling behind in what I need to accomplish in a week.

Run my own business (for my sins) Parson. And I can just imagine that your work (at least the office part of that work) would be exactly like running your own business so I fully sympathise!

[springs]

As another self employed, sometimes I dream of someone to do filing.... I'm wondering when the kids get older.....

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Originally Posted by springs1971

As another self employed, sometimes I dream of someone to do filing.... I'm wondering when the kids get older.....

Come on, springs, don't do that to them! I've worked in a family business and it's not a good thing to do to a child...

[springs]

Not even for a serious bribe
Darn
What about the other half ... Hmmmm

[Hex]

What is this fi-ling?

[David Evil Overlord]

I like Terry Pratchett's take on filing in the novel Eric.*

The King of Hell introduces human-style management practices, including filing cabinets.

The confused demons file everything under "P" for People.

*Actually, I like Terry Pratchett's take on almost anything.

[springs]

I have something very similar; they all go under f for floor. To be fair, it is partially the Chrons fault, I kept up very nicely til I decided to write a novel, got here, and lost all semblance of normality from my life.

*I too like Terry's take on almost everything.*

[Parson]

Very funny excursus guys. I can see we are all filed under C for Cronites -- Addicted.

[Perpetual Man]

TSP - The sense that two artificial lifeforms could be more likely to fall in love than two humans is a great idea and presented here with just the right amount of nebulousness that makes the story that much richer. The fact that the female creation is desirable to the storyteller is very telling, does she look human, is there something more to her than just nuts and bolts? Is the storyteller some mechanical fetishist; or perhaps he might not even be human!

Kaladan - Another story that starts off leading you down one path, and for me at least, throws you in another direction by the end. The idea of a man dead in an accident being taken away by death is a solid enough idea, and his need to get back to his family gives it a solid emotional core. The fact that he is prepared to challenge Death himself speaks volumes for his love for his spouse, but the best bit is the twist at the end, in taking his chance for freedom he might just have released a bigger crisis.

Perp - 'Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...' Well maybe not your real name....

Vertigo - This is an entry I had to leave and come back to, it took me a good couple of reads to start to appreciate it. Obviously we have such devotion that the overseeing character is prepared to take a painful his for its loved one. Now, I'm guessing that the central being is a solar entity, possibly the sun, if not a sun god, and it is protecting the jewel in its system wide crown, the Earth. (Now let me have it Vertigo)

Teresa - Crikey what a beautiful, morose and wonderful entry. A world where two lovers who never were come together in the aftermath of a cataclysm, words previously unspoken can now be spoken and unions made, but the poignant bittersweet twist that they can no longer touch is just incredible. Like reading a fine wine!

Parson - In a world where freedom is crushed in a totalitarian regime even the smallest freedoms are hard come by, fraught with risk and danger. For someone to carry out even the smallest show of something outside of the party line is a bravery beyond words and the driving factor must be something special; how perfect that in this instance it would be Faith, it is one of the few things that can so drive the human heart.

Moonbat - This is one of those well thought out, thought provoking pieces that you think about for a while afterwards trying to come to terms with what is being said. Obviously like so many others it is a brilliant piece, depicting a world where the impersonalisation of contact through digital media may well be eating away at the world of physical contact; it is the obsession with the internet and online activities that could well be doing it (he said as he typed notes for the forum).

johnnyjet - Ouch. There is a simple beauty to the opening of this one, a woman who is prepared to kneel before a statue day after day, praying to whatever deity is listening. The fact that no answer is forthcoming is almost part of the piece. The end is truthful for someone bereft of an answer, and the casual nature with which she destroys the effigy is almost chilling.

Aaron Stone - There is so much put into this piece, a counterpoint to how little there actually is that it is hard to know where to begin. A woman of some description prepared to allow her own atrophiment in order to secure her life and that of her brother. Now that is devotion, but the thing that impressed me more than anything in this is the idea of diverse souls in a single body, different ones for different limbs and who knows what else. That is the true genius of this entry, could be the basis of something a lot bigger.

Highlander - Ah all those future possibilities, the way they can change everything from the world around us to relationships. The fact that machines may become so lifelike that it is easy to fall in love with them is fantastic enough, but the truly magical thing is the fact that an accident does not have to mean that it is a love brought to ruin, a good mechanic and the rose petals are falling once again.

[crystal haven]

I have still got the aftermath of a migraine, so haven't been able to comment on individual stories yet, (can't use the computer easily for long) but the standard is amazing.

I am slowly working my way through them all.

[MemoryTale]

I have a very efficient filing system:

If I need it, it gets left on the computer desk.

If I'm going to need it, it gets left on the computer desk.

If I may need it at some point in the future, it gets left at the computer desk.

If it is currently being thrown at my head by an enraged wife, it's time to put it away.

[Vertigo]

Thanks for the review Perp. Yes I was bit worried I had been a little too obscure in this one. But you have pretty much hit the nail on the head. I'll say no more till after voting though!

[Perpetual Man]

Originally Posted by Vertigo

Thanks for the review Perp. Yes I was bit worried I had been a little too obscure in this one. But you have pretty much hit the nail on the head. I'll say no more till after voting though!

Phew! I'm looking forward to that, then.