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Contest October-November 2020 Reading Thread

Discussion in 'Fluff and Stories' started by Scalenex, Nov 1, 2020.

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Which story or stories do you like best? (choose up to three)

Poll closed Nov 29, 2020.
  1. Story One: "A Place to Call Home: The Official Trailer"

    3 vote(s)
    21.4%
  2. Story Two: "A Scary Day"

    4 vote(s)
    28.6%
  3. Story Three: "Buried Memories"

    3 vote(s)
    21.4%
  4. Story Four: "Message Begins"

    3 vote(s)
    21.4%
  5. Story Five: "The Path to Salvation"

    10 vote(s)
    71.4%
  6. Story Six: "Letters of the Sea"

    6 vote(s)
    42.9%
  7. Story Seven: "We All Belong Somewhere"

    1 vote(s)
    7.1%
  8. Story Eight: "The Mind of a Huagerdon"

    2 vote(s)
    14.3%
  9. Story Nine: "The Savage Beast"

    6 vote(s)
    42.9%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    You've got a real flair on the digital pictures. I just worried about one story being given an advantage over the others by having your excellent picture promoting it! ........ :eek:
     
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  2. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    Well, that counts as positive review, i suppose...
    In the past, one of my stories was similarly gifted (not so beautifully) but the final result afaik was the same.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2020
  3. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    If I'm honest, I thought @Paul1748's picture was so good I wanted to see what he would come up with for the rest of the stories ;)
     
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  4. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    You are absolutely right.

    If that story wins, the author only wins half the prize money.;)
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2020
  5. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    I cannot really disagree with this, but I'm not going to put pressure on him. 9 stories is not a small number. ;)
     
  6. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    I feel like the actual voting is falling behind though. If I see correctly there have been cast 21 votes what translate into 7 people voting...
    That is even less than the number of authors :eek:

    Please, people, read and vote:rolleyes:

    Grrr, Imrahil
     
  7. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    Honestly mate, we won't be getting anyone apart from the authors voting (and maybe one or two others every so often) until we work out how to expand the competition or the viewership.

    I've been trying to have some ideas along the lines of getting more people to ENTER the contest as there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in non-entrants viewing the stories... :(
     
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  8. Paradoxical Pacifism
    Skink Chief

    Paradoxical Pacifism Well-Known Member

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    The contests could be advertised with a banner on the index page. Some sites that uses XenForo (the forum software that LO has) does this such as Space Battles or Sufficient Velocity

    [​IMG]

    I think LO has done this before albeit with a painting contest.
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2020
  9. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    The curious thing is that apparently not even all the writers vote.
    And by "writers" i mean those ones that are not authors in a specific comp, but were in other ones.
    For example, in the last comp there was not a piece of mine, but i gave my votes... so i'd expect at least 15 voters, even without promotion. But apparently i'm too optimistic.
     
  10. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    You are possibly in a better position to summon each of them to this contest, signore... can you do so?
     
    Imrahil likes this.
  11. Y'ttar Scaletail
    Troglodon

    Y'ttar Scaletail Well-Known Member

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    Y'ttar's reviews (The First Half)


    Story One: Well then. We start off this competition with something completely unexpected, and by the Big Hatted Old One was it good. The author has clearly seen many movie trailers to get the formula down to such a level of perfection. And wowzers, this was such a joy to read that I’m struggling to find any actual flaws to critique...

    Morrig Crowcaller (Knight Azyros of the Astral Templars) : “Whilst I normally prefer the tomb excavation adventures of the likes of the Aelf Aleera Craftiir or the Duardin Indgrim Junsson, the visuals depicted here and it being a love story across this Old World has my interest. I’d definitely watch it! Even if the book was better.”


    Story Two: You would have thought the Old Ones would have invested in stronger shields or broadside weapons for their star temples...though I guess knowledge of activating and using them may have been lost when they left their children behind. Anyhow...this was another very novel take on the theme, the despair towards the end felt very real even with the innocent hope of Fribbet at the end. Perhaps I would have liked to have known what truly befell the temple ship...but I think it is better being unsaid so that the reader can decide for themselves.

    Hissk, Skaven Vampire: “Hissk no-no like scary boom-bang nor-not siren-scream. This story-thing scary. Scent-like Fribb-thing, scent-sounds tasty-good...Hissk hungers...” *Hiss*


    Story Three: When does a person truly die? When they are forgotten. Though those who followed Tallulah may die as she dies, a part of them as well as a part of herself shall continue to live with Mogin. He takes up the torch of their story, what he does with this is now up to him. Perhaps a little bitty to me with the jumps between scenes, this was quite a deep piece with some ideas that I could very much appreciate. So much goes unsaid and yet I wonder if it is better that way.

    Isst, Imp Chef: “Wait a minute! Sacred recipe plaques of Zlatlan?! I guess I’m going on a trip to some jungles then! Hihihihihiheee!”


    Story Four: Another very interesting take on not only style but universe as well. My 40k lore knowledge pales a bit in comparison to my fantasy lore, but I think I got a few references. If I remember correctly Vermillion was the almost legendary level of code mentioned in Gaunt’s Ghosts (quite why such a code clearance would be used here is a little beyond me other than an easter egg.) Anyway, pacing was very strong for a piece that was mostly just two (maybe three) people in a room talking. Whoever wrote this piece clearly loves the 40k universe.

    Cymbry Hazzian, Astropath Transcendant: “That toad psyker gives me the creeps. That level of power to rewrite minds is on a level that I could only dream of. Also, shame on those people abandoning their Astropath! Hmph!”


    Story Five: So the feels train continues to rumble on with the competition. Sure you may all be cold blooded but you definitely have heart. In any case, we get a Sisyphus-esque endeavour by Kadai buoyed on by his intense guilt of getting his charges killed, it’s a seemingly impossible task that is felt tenfold when you learn the truth about Kadai and how much he has actually achieved. Kadai’s thoughts and voice has been written very nicely to befit that of a Krox and I must praise the author for the subtle clues that were only made clear with the twist. Hopefully he will find peace and the little ones will return in some shape or form.

    Necrillach, Necrarch Vampire: “All life hasss a sssoul even if it isss but motesss of energy, I have alwaysss wondered how the sssoulsss of the children of the Old Ones ssshimmer and glow...”
     
  12. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    Scalenex Imparts His Wisdom, somewhat belatedly

    “Story One, A Place to Call Home: The official trailer”: This was very clever and very amusing. The characters were very iconic movie trope characters. Maybe they were too iconic, they felt like tropes rather than people. The characters didn’t really move me emotionally. I guess that's par for the course for Hollywood blockbusters these days. I kept thinking in my mind “Where are the Lizardmen?” and that pulled me out of the narrative though about half way through I figured they would run away to Lustria and I was right.

    Take on Theme: Home is stifling so we are going to desperately look for a home far away.


    “Story Two, A Scary Day”: Another unconventional story. This was very character driven, not event driven despite the framework of a Slann dying and temple ship crashing being a huge event. This had a lot of emotional impact, I really felt Xix, fear, then determination, then desperation then despair. The abrupt transition to the frog creature on the new planet was a risky choice narratively speaking but it paid off reinforcing the melancholy theme. One way to really hammer home sadness and horror is to juxtapose a tiny bit of peace and beauty into the scene. Masterfully done. I was impressed by the economy of words. Definitely a contender for the Scalenex Cup. I cannot really find any fault here. Maybe one thing that could have made this piece slightly better is one more paragraph. It was kind of an abrupt transition from “Got to help” to “nothing I can do.” I would have liked to see a paragraph with increasingly desperate and feeble bargaining on Xix’s part.

    Take on Theme: The loss of the Slann is ruining/changing our home. We must try to rebuild now.


    Story Three, “Buried Memories”: This story had some very good characterization and very thought provoking philosophy. In many ways, this response to the Old One’s machinations is very realistic. The inter-character conversations also felt real as if I was watching two real world humans having a discussion. My misgiving with this is that it seemed more like a philosophical debate than a short story. The pace was slow and I didn’t really detect much in terms of narrative stakes, conflicts overcome, or character growth.

    Take on Theme: The concept of “home” is covered by someone exiled from their home. How do you cope now?


    Story Four, “Message Repeats”: A very 40K story. I cannot really say anything about this piece that @Killer Angel didn’t say already. A great grim dark piece deeply set in 40K lore but I’m not sure it will resonate with the audience here. Everyone dies, but I didn’t empathize with the character enough to give this the Scalenex Cup. I know 40K characters have no hope.

    Take on Theme: Invade another’s home, pay the price.


    Story Five, “The Path to Salvation”: This is probably my favorite piece. Good pacing, great characterization, an interesting take on the theme, evocative imagery and a well-foreshadowed twist ending. Just wow. If I work really hard I can find something to complain about and that is that the name of the piece is not a great fit and it leaves a lot of unanswered questions. I am a super nerd and I want to know if this is the City of Tlax (he City of Ghosts) or not. This is an obvious contender for the Scalenex Cup.

    Take on Theme: This reminds me of a famous horror movie I don’t want spoil. “This house is ours”


    Story Six, “Letters of the Sea”: Dear Terric, I have fallen in love with my mailman and we are getting married. I still wish you well, I’m sure you will be able to find a nice girl after you return from Lustria with all your riches…-Adeline

    There are a lot of journals of doomed Lustrian explorers, but this one hit me in the feels more than any of the previous ones I read. This makes me think of all the soldiers who die in Lustria. All of them have names, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Even though it’s fictional characters, it’s pretty sobering. The Skink sifting through the wreckage was a good framing device. I’m not sure what the skink is trying to do or if they skink understands an iota of the messages. That said, I’m not 100% sure whether or not I like the non-traditional story structure since given that we know the ship is doomed. Given the emotional resonance this is a contender for the Scalenex Cup.

    Take on Theme: I am far away but always thinking of home.


    Story Seven “We all belong somewhere”: The narrative stakes are technically low, but the characterization and imagery is good I am pulled into wanting to know how the interrogation will go. Very good setting descriptions and character description.

    Take on Theme: I carry my sense of home with me.


    Story Eight “The Mind of a Huagerdon”: Interesting protagonist to take. I am a fan of Jack London. Jack London usually third person limited mostly and doesn’t normally go into the minds of wolfs and dogs directly. I’m not sure if that style of storytelling is a brilliant innovation or a lazy workaround. The piece was short and I tend to be favorably biased towards shorter pieces, but this might be too short. I’d like to know how and why the huagerdon is alone in the jungle and would have liked to seen how the Skink was searching for his beloved rover.

    Take on Theme: Home is where the heart is. Home is also where the dog is.


    Story Nine, “The Savage Beast”: The most light-hearted piece in a fairly serious contest (though I think story one is fairly light hearted but only in an ironic tongue and cheek way. It was a breath of fresh air after all the serious pieces in this contest. The names are kind of silly but the story is kind of silly so it works, chillax bro. The story did cover serious things too, brotherhood and loyalty. The author handled tonal shifts pretty well, and that is impressive because tonal shifts are hard. The transitions were a bit abrupt, the jump from dreaming to waking could have been a little clearer and the pace was a little erratic, but not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

    Take on Theme: Home is where I have ties to friends and family.
     
  13. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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  14. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    Ten is good. From now on it can only go better :)
     
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  15. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    Great to see. And that all stories have at least one vote ;)

    Grrr, Imrahil
     
  16. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    I am truly happy for that!
     
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  17. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    Definitely.

    Lots of talent being displayed in the contest.
     
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  18. Paul1748
    Saurus

    Paul1748 Well-Known Member

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    “Blood of my blood, scale of my scale.”

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    :wideyed::wideyed::wideyed::woot: Wow!

    Grrr, Imrahil
     
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  20. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    :woot:
    I offer the community thanks to you :D
     

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