Author
Topic: OSC's six word sci-fi story
vwiggin
Member
Member # 926
posted October 25, 2006 09:21 AM
From Wired The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly. - Orson Scott Card Please, this is everything, I swear. - Orson Scott Card I saw, darling, but do lie. - Orson Scott Card Some of my other favorites: I’m dead. I’ve missed you. Kiss … ? - Neil Gaiman Kirby had never eaten toes before. - Kevin Smith Easy. Just touch the match to - Ursula K. Le Guin Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so. - Joss Whedon Will this do (lazy writer asked)? - Ken MacLeod Sorry if this has been posted. -
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Stone_Wolf_
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Member # 8299
posted October 25, 2006 09:41 AM
Steve ignores editor's word limit and - Steven Meretzky Dorothy: "F**k it, I'll stay here." - Steven Meretzky Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer? - Eileen Gunn From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings. - Gregory Maguire Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth. - Vernor Vinge It cost too much, staying human. - Bruce Sterling We went solar; sun went nova. - Ken MacLeod K.I.A. Baghdad, Aged 18 - Closed Casket - Richard K. Morgan Heaven falls. Details at eleven. - Robert Jordan Life unfair, death impartial. - Stone_Wolf_
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Omega M.
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Member # 7924
posted October 25, 2006 09:42 AM
quote: Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") and is said to have called it his best work. In my opinion, that's not a story, it's a suggestive image. Whenever a writer says that something that short is one of the greatest things ever written (or at least that he/she has written), I wonder if he/she is just rationalizing not being able to come up with something of decent length (e.g., when Gertrude Stein said of her "a rose is a rose is a rose" that it marked the first time in a few hundred years that a rose was really present in English literature). I did find most of the six-word "stories" vivid and memorable for what they were. I was surprised to see a bunch by Steve Meretzky in there (scroll to the bottom). (Steve Meretzky wrote Planetfall and other classic text adventure computer games.)
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Alcon
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Member # 6645
posted October 25, 2006 10:21 AM
Leia: "Baby's yours." Luke: "Bad news…" - Steven Meretzky
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jehovoid
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Member # 2014
posted October 25, 2006 10:26 AM
They don't all follow the "beginning/middle/end" prescription. But hey, let them eat cake.
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Shmuel
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Member # 7586
posted October 25, 2006 10:55 AM
quote: Originally posted by Omega M.:In my opinion, that's not a story, it's a suggestive image. Whenever a writer says that something that short is one of the greatest things ever written (or at least that he/she has written), I wonder if he/she is just rationalizing not being able to come up with something of decent length (e.g., when Gertrude Stein said of her "a rose is a rose is a rose" that it marked the first time in a few hundred years that a rose was really present in English literature). Given how many longer works both Hemingway and Stein came up with, I find it hard to believe that would be the reason. (For my part, I'd say that writing short is much harder than writing long. The toughest part of writing isn't finding things to put in, it's taking things out. At least in my experience.)
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katharina
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Member # 827
posted October 25, 2006 11:08 AM
Of those posted, Card and Whedon's are the best.
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Katarain
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Member # 6659
posted October 25, 2006 11:14 AM
I saw, darling, but do lie. - Orson Scott Card I don't get it...
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Dan_raven
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Member # 3383
posted October 25, 2006 11:17 AM
"The hero saves the day, almost." Dan Raven. (Kat, someone got caught red handed beaking her darling's heart)
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Teshi
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Member # 5024
posted October 25, 2006 11:24 AM
quote: Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time - Alan Moore
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Dan_raven
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Member # 3383
posted October 25, 2006 11:53 AM
These are fun: "Look, a Time Machine!" "Where?" "Yesterday." Leia's furry son was not Han's. John F. Kennedy, time traveling suicide.
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Teshi
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Member # 5024
posted October 25, 2006 11:57 AM
Hah, I like the last one of yours, Dan.
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katharina
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Member # 827
posted October 25, 2006 11:59 AM
Please forgive my refusal to forget. --- He mistook her repugnance for indifference.
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Dan_raven
Member
Member # 3383
posted October 25, 2006 12:37 PM
Hamlet--To be or? Fate--Not! God loved everyone, but Herbert Gumbleschnitzle The vulcan cried as logic died. Sherlock, "School of vandals? Elementary Watson"
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Shepherd
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Member # 7380
posted October 25, 2006 12:48 PM
From the minds of Shepherd and crystal-city: Trees standing tall, strong, then him. If only happy endings, would stay. Steaming bowls, howling winds, where's Uncle? Man on dog is pretty weird. Riding cheetah, seeking castle, guessed movie?
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katharina
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Member # 827
posted October 25, 2006 12:50 PM
Their deaths annoyed her more than him.
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Dan_raven
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Member # 3383
posted October 25, 2006 12:59 PM
One word too many. You lose. "Anchorman murdered. Film at eleven. ? AAAaahhhhh!!!"
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Alcon
Member
Member # 6645
posted October 25, 2006 01:03 PM
I love David Brin's. And Joss Whedon's is hilarious. quote: Temporal recursion. I'm dad and mom? - David Brin quote: New genes demand expression -- third eye. - Greg Bear *note to self: read more Greg Bear*
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A Rat Named Dog
Member
Member # 699
posted October 25, 2006 01:23 PM
A few I wrote and attributed to others: "Evil is coming! Let's fight pointlessly." — George R. R. Martin Nine books to make dragons mate? — Robin Hobb "It wasn't a game? I'm horrible." — Orson Scott Card
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lem
Member
Member # 6914
posted October 25, 2006 02:13 PM
I wonder if this 6 word short story thing is inspired by, "We came, we saw, we conquered." That is my favorite 6 word story, and I think it has all the elements of a basic story.
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katharina
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Member # 827
posted October 25, 2006 02:14 PM
She forgot that she should grieve.
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Bokonon
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Member # 480
posted October 25, 2006 02:32 PM
"Deja vu, dear." "Cripes, Not again!"
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MyrddinFyre
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Member # 2576
posted October 25, 2006 02:43 PM
These are great. And hard. I'mma try to think of some.
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BlackBlade
Member
Member # 8376
posted October 25, 2006 02:48 PM
My own, from OSC literature: "A child with powers? How Original!" "Dysfunctional family background, still wants kids" to Mr. Card, keep giving us more books!
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MrSquicky
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Member # 1802
posted October 25, 2006 02:50 PM
Knife-edge bad place for dancing. Oracle: "Oedipus, your will be done."
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MrSquicky
Member
Member # 1802
posted October 25, 2006 02:59 PM
Intergalactic spiders live in our sun. Mars mission six weeks too late. Chef's specialty is chicken ala regrets. The bullet not fired is sacred. Oh crap! Robots have feelings too. Armagheddon suprisingly good time for clog-dancing.
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Dan_raven
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Member # 3383
posted October 25, 2006 03:05 PM
Died October 31, 2006, 2008, 1745
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Puppy
Member
Member # 6721
posted October 25, 2006 03:08 PM
More six-word versions of Orson Scott Card novels. See if you can name the books 1. They mutilate, but plant no trees. 2. The alien calls, my will fails. 3. My body disgusts me. Die, Anderson! 4. What is Old Slavonic for "bitch"? 5. Hate the haunting, love the ghost. 6. Pain has returned. Let me explain. 7. I married Joseph Smith. You too? 8. Computer's busted. Time for a war. 9. CENSORED! That book's not out yet. 10. Someone screwed with my songbird's brain.
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katharina
Member
Member # 827
posted October 25, 2006 03:10 PM
Mom, a major's here for you.
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Lisa
Member
Member # 8384
posted October 25, 2006 03:34 PM
1. Speaker for the dead 2. Wyrms 3. Ender's Shadow 4. Shadow of the Giant? 5. Homebody 6. Hart's Hunt? 7. Woman of Destiny/Saints 8. Ender's Game? 9. Empire 10. Songmaster
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Lisa
Member
Member # 8384
posted October 25, 2006 03:36 PM
quote: Originally posted by lem: I wonder if this 6 word short story thing is inspired by, "We came, we saw, we conquered." That is my favorite 6 word story, and I think it has all the elements of a basic story. I thought it was "I came, I saw, I conquered", no? And the original is only 3 words. The shortest science fiction story I ever saw was only 3 words, actually. It was called "The Sign at the End of the Universe", and it consisted of the words "This End Up" printed upside-down.
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TheTick
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Member # 2883
posted October 25, 2006 03:37 PM
6 is Worthing Saga.
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ElJay
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Member # 6358
posted October 25, 2006 03:37 PM
6. is The Worthing Saga.
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TheTick
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Member # 2883
posted October 25, 2006 03:40 PM
Beat ya. And check that out, blazed right past 5000. Hmm.
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Dan_raven
Member
Member # 3383
posted October 25, 2006 03:48 PM
My bullet lodged between his hearts. Lightening danced on his left shoulder. Her voice cracked stone and hearts She lied. He died. She cried. Cupid slept. Destined love died unborn.
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Puppy
Member
Member # 6721
posted October 25, 2006 03:49 PM
You guys are still missing #8 and #3, I believe ...
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katharina
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Member # 827
posted October 25, 2006 03:51 PM
8. Children of the Mind
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Puppy
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Member # 6721
posted October 25, 2006 03:52 PM
Nope. Though to be fair, my dad missed that one, too Must not be clear enough.
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BannaOj
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Member # 3206
posted October 25, 2006 03:54 PM
#8, pick your book from the Homecoming series... probably the second. (I think it's obvious just can't remember precisely which book...)
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Puppy
Member
Member # 6721
posted October 25, 2006 03:57 PM
Actually, yeah, it could be either of the first two. I was thinking of Memory of Earth , though, where the idea of a busted computer leading to war was introduced.
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Puppy
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Member # 6721
posted October 25, 2006 03:58 PM
The Ender series isn't the only one with people named Anderson.
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BannaOj
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Member # 3206
posted October 25, 2006 03:59 PM
Yeah but wasn't #2 (of homecoming series) where they actually started fighting on a more global scale? (I can't keep those titles straight for some reason) [ October 25, 2006, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
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BannaOj
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Member # 3206
posted October 25, 2006 04:01 PM
re: #3 You've got to have the character die before the story is over.... are you sure we are talking about your dad's books? AJ
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Puppy
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Member # 6721
posted October 25, 2006 04:01 PM
Sure, but my point is that #3 is not a book from the Enderverse.
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katharina
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Member # 827
posted October 25, 2006 04:04 PM
quote: Though to be fair, my dad missed that one, too *laugh* That is heartening.
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