A nice little find this evening… back in November 2006, Wired Magazine published the results of an appeal for some very short SF stories – six word stories to be precise.
The challenge to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from the realms of books, TV, movies, and games was inspired by Ernest Hemingway, who once wrote a story in just six words (“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”). He is said to have called it his best work.
Dozens of writers put their words to paper and while Arthur C. Clarke refused to trim his (“God said, ‘Cancel Program GENESIS.’ The universe ceased to exist.”), the the rest obliged with some concise masterpieces, including Alan Moore (“Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time”), William Shatner (“Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.”), Frank Miller (“With bloody hands, I say good-bye.”), Charles Stross (“Osama’s time machine: President Gore concerned.”) and Orson Scott Card (“The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.”).
(Netfind courtesy of Michael Norwitz: “”Human infertility? Gengineering! Results tasty, too.”)
• Read all the six word stories here on the Wired site.. and perhaps post your own here…
- About the Author
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Science Fiction
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