![Science Fiction Short Story Contest Img [#2168400]
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Thanks for the ride and for all the short stories! Unfortunately, I find myself quite burned out lately - with writing, and also with reviewing. Unfortunately, I feel the need to close up shop this month. Whether you have contributed stories to the contest or simply watched and read - thank you for the support! But I feel like I have not been giving this my best lately, and what one does should be done with heart. I won't say goodbye because I am not leaving writing.com. But I will say to you all: fare well for now.
February Prompt: Chemical Attraction
February: Winner:
February Entries
"The Love Room Test" [GC]
"Love Trips" [18+]
"Cupid's Kiss" [13+]
January Winner:
January Entries:
"Return of the Ancestors" [13+]
"Just Over Two Hundred Years Ago" [18+]
"Contested Territories" [18+]
December Winner:
I cheated a bit and ran over the word limit. :)
December Entries:
"The Man in the Ice" [13+]
"Nothing But Ice" [18+]
Judging ▼
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and good fiction means different things to different people. Therefore, it's only fair to explain what good science fiction means from the perspective of the contest.
First, science fiction is fiction, with all the elements of fiction. It should have compelling characters, who act and drive events - or witness them. In speculative fiction, the characters may be human beings, animals, robots, civilizations, or entire worlds. Characters provide perspective and connect written events to our own feelings and experiences. Good fiction uses real and expressive characters to connect speculative ideas to us, the readers.
Characters in a story experience change. They do not exit a work as they begin. Sometimes that change is a struggle, and sometimes a moment of beauty. In science fiction, the agents that cause this change are those we experience daily - but also forces too strange or too large for us to encounter in our own lives. Science fiction is speculative fiction, the story of how a new technology or circumstance that is actually possible might play out in our own lives if let in. Sometimes, science fiction incorporates elements of the fantastic, but the best science fiction does not. It does not cheat but tells us what might be possible somewhere, somewhen, that might move us, that we might learn from.
Therefore, in judging a science fiction contest, I am looking for:
1. Expressive and readable writing, with passable grammar.
2. A plot. There should be a progression or conflict that is resolved within the length of the story. Ambiguous or implied resolutions may work but should be considered a risk.
3. Meaningful characters. It is through empathy with groups or individuals that we are connected to ideas in speculative fiction, and it's through seeing their effect on people that we best understand them.
4. An interesting speculative premise - time travel, new technology, aliens, new physics, robots, AI, genetic engineering, monsters, etc.
5. An interesting setting
6. Science. In science fiction, it's best if the speculative premise is actually possible, and even better if there is some scientific support for the possibility
That said, many of the stories I've enjoyed the most or learned the most from have been surprises. I've enjoyed the contest entries so far, and am looking forward to great things to come!
Donations:
48K GPs: Jeffhans  -- Thanks for your support!
10K GPs + banner sponsorship: eyestar~  -- Thanks so much for the support and for linking me up with A E Willcox  . The banner is awesome!
50K GPs - Sum1 🛥  -- Thank you to a sci-fi fan!
385K GPs - Anonymous. Thanks so much for supporting the contest!
50K GPS - Bob'n Around  Thank you so much for supporting the continuation of the contest!
50K GPS - D. Reed Whittaker  Thanks so much for your donation!
10K GPS - Kellie Burke  Thanks for your support!
15K+ GPS - brokenpen Thanks so much!
50K GPS - Nixie 🐱  I much appreciate the support!
100K GPS - jdennis  Thanks for your sponsorship!
50K GPS - My Sox Rox  Thanks for your help!
(Current Sci-FI Contest account: ~580K, so good for some time - will consider upping the prize)
Contest Archives ▼
November Winner
November Entries:
" Solomon's Country"  [ 13+]
" Future Robots"  [ 18+]
" Fhalinit"  [ 18+]
September Winner:
It seems the prompt was a bit of a curveball. I saw a lot of writing I liked, but the one that best satisfied the prompt was:
September Entries
" The Storm from Atlantis"  [ 13+]
" A Time Too Far"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
" Nothing To Sneeze At"  [ 13+]
" Atmospheric Disturbance"  [ 18+]
" Her Fear of Storms"  [ 18+]
August Winners!
August Entries:
" PERFECTION"  [ 18+]
" Winds on Europa"  [ 13+]
" I Only Date Astronauts"  [ 13+]
" Science Fiction Contest - August"  [ 18+]
" All Alone in the Universe"  [ 18+]
" The Technology Division"  [ E]
" Being Human"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
July was a difficult month to judge with multiple strong entries: I changed my mind more than once about which to award the victory. Thanks for some good writing!
July Winner:
July Entries
" Mons Olympus Explodes"  [ 13+]
" Life's A Blast"  [ 13+]
" July Entry - The Beginning Of The End"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
" Sky Explosions"  [ 18+]
June Winner:
June Entries
" June Entry - The Light of Home"  [ ASR]
" New Eden"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
" Invalid Item"
" SpaceStorms Can Be Created"  [ 18+]
" Fly-by"  [ 13+]
May Prompt - Mad Science
May Winner:
| | Mad Science (13+) WON: Madness is usually packaged in reasonable behavior. There will always be subscribers. #2249703 by LightinMind   |
May Entries:
" Mad Science"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
" Help Wanted"  [ E]
" Everyone Was Going Mad About Science"  [ 18+]
April Winner:
April Entries:
" Invalid Item"
" War with the Giants"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
" A Different Kind of Growth"  [ 18+]
April's prompt (Growth):
" Unnatural Growth"  [ 13+]
March WInner:
March Entries:
" Invalid Item"
" Spring"  [ 13+]
" Natural Immunity"  [ ASR]
" tabby's horror."  [ 18+]
" A Journey into Spring"  [ 13+]
February Winnner:
February Entries
" Space Pizza"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
" Lasers* Lost In Space"  [ 18+]
" Invalid Item"
January Winner
January Entries:
" A Sunny Day in Space"  [ 13+]
" Green Australia Superpower"  [ E]
December Winner:
December Entries:
" Visitors"  [ 13+]
" Crystal Futures"  [ ASR]
November Winner:
November Entries:
" Invalid Item"
" Blood Red Moon & Defense Grid 2.0.1"  [ 13+]
" 2034"  [ 13+]
" TOGETHER SEPARATELY "  [ ASR]
October Entry:
The prompt for September was "Harvest"! In honor of the upcoming changing of the seasons, I'd like to dedicate this edition of the contest to those gathering tomatoes, corn, apples, pumpkins, schmeat - or perhaps something far darker in import.
"A Lost Harvest" [13+]
Congratulations to September's Winner:
And runners-up:
2nd Place:
3rd Place:
September Entries
" New World Harvest"  [ 18+]
" Invalid Item"
" Harvest"  [ 13+]
" Gardening tricks"  [ 13+]
" Entrance Fee"  [ 13+]
" Mercy in the Wastes"  [ 18+]
" An Alien's Love"  [ E]
" Where the grass grew tall [238] 960words"  [ 18+]
" The Taming of the Groo"  [ 13+]
August Entry
July Winner!
July Entries: Radiation Edition
" Climate Refugees"  [ 18+]
" Sunburnt"  [ E]
June Winner (Hope Edition):
|  | Haven (18+) A man travels to an island in a post-apocalyptic world. #2225280 by BrokenPen   |
June Entries:
" A tree grows in Mali"  [ E]
" Haven"  [ 18+]
" OHO - The Great HOPE"  [ E]
May Winner:
May Entries (We Make Great Pets Edition):
" SPAQUAR"  [ E]
" Into The Blue"  [ 13+]
" Arbiters"  [ 13+]
April Winner!
| | Glint (13+) When Bridget sees an opportunity to help her ailing friends, she takes it. #2220725 by Bilal Latif   |
April Entries (Social Distancing Edition):
" No One Lives There"  [ E]
" Invalid Item"
" Glint"  [ 13+]
March Entries (Future Inequality Edition):
February Winner
February 2020 Entries (Transhumanism Edition):
" Moral Imperative"  [ 13+]
" The Protector"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
The Science Fiction Short Story Contest was participating in Schnujo's Contest Challenge for January. If you have a moment, go ahead and take a gander, and consider jumping in:
Announcing the January winner!
This month the competition was especially fierce, but I also wanted to highlight two runners-up, both great reads:
Thanks so much for the response this month!
January 2020 Entries
" Invalid Item"
" Your Life in Images"  [ 18+]
" Bench, Brenda Bench"  [ E]
" Detecting the Detective"  [ ASR]
" Vegas Skin"  [ 18+]
" My Old House"  [ E]
" Invalid Item"
" The Arabella Complication"  [ 18+]
" The Human Element"  [ 18+]
" Traitor"  [ 13+]
" Invalid Item"
December Winner:
December Entries:
" Holiday"  [ E]
" Invalid Item"
November Winner
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2206455 by Not Available. |
November Entries
" Q and A"  [ E]
" Invalid Item"
October Winner:
A truly chilling winner:
An exceptionally haunting runner-up:
|  | Harvest (18+) Ignorance is bliss for farmers on a remote base controlled by the mysterious Keepers. #2202762 by BrokenPen   |
October Entries (Halloween Edition):
" Invalid Item"
" Harvest"  [ 18+]
" Proxy"  [ 18+]
" Invalid Item"
September Winner!
I normally list runners-up, but I'd have to list almost everyone this time. Thank you for a really enjoyable round of entries. I recommend passers-by check them all out.
September Entries (First Encounters):
"Invalid Item"
"The Fourth Child" [E]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Grandpa's First Contact" [E]
August Winner!
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2198043 by Not Available. |
August Entries
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"The Return" [E]
July Winner!
For its depiction of the interplay of the appearance of "care" with callousness:
| | The Alien (GC) Greg is terrified and trying to escape to a safer planet, but can he make it out alive? #2196318 by Joel_Shmoel   |
Runners up:
A truly creative and descriptive peace about night and day in a strange world:
He may have run into her car, but when science and magic meet, he'll never know what hit him:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2196433 by Not Available. |
July Entries:
"Kiss It Off" [18+]
"A Day In The Life" [13+]
"Invalid Item"
"The Alien" [GC]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
June Entry:
Since there's only one entry, there's no contest per se., but enjoy the read!
May Winner!
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2190531 by Not Available. |
May Entries:
"Repelling The Invaders" [13+]
"Invalid Item"
"A Mind for Sale" [18+]
"Invalid Item"
April Winner:
This entry in the contest made time travel new again:
A strong runner-up illustrating the peril of a reckless mind:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2189272 by Not Available. |
April Entries:
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Foresight" [13+]
March Winner:
Congratulations to this exciting and imaginitive piece!
March Entries:
"The Spiter War" [13+]
"Invalid Item"
For reference:
"Samantha" [ASR]
February Winner!
Runner-up: |  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2182955 by Not Available. |
February Entries (Judging in progress)
"Honor among thieves" [18+]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Space Wolves" [18+]
"Invalid Item"
January Winner!
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2181113 by Not Available. |
January Entries
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
December Winner!
This imaginative and detailed hard sci-fi piece was cold and yet creepy:
This runner-up was even more colorful and dark as December:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2178406 by Not Available. |
December Entries:
"Ghost in the Machine" [18+]
"The HealX" [18+]
"Invalid Item"
November Winners:
Judging was especially difficult this month, and I'm left with the feeling I've left some really good writing under-rewarded. Still, I've awarded two winners this time around:
For its evocative concept and juxtaposition of emotions:
For its lovely humanization of the Robots:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2175138 by Not Available. |
With a strong Runner-Up:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2173991 by Not Available. |
November Entries:
"Robotics and the Future" [E]
"Invalid Item"
"I, Man" [18+]
"A Death in the House" [13+]
"Franklin" [E]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Henry the Eighth." [18+]
I can't enter my own contest, but if you want to see an example of where my own mind went, you can have a gander:
October Winner:
All three entries were very good, and the judging was difficult, but in the end, I found this combination of fantasy, science fiction, and story-telling edged out the win:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2172603 by Not Available. |
October Entries:
"Invalid Item"
"The Carbon Farmer" [E]
"Invalid Item"
September Winners!
With its clever dialogue, original concept, and fun and quirky style, Genipher's entry took the contest:
Runners-up:
This rather Whovian piece captures my imagination:
"Invalid Item"
Even in the far future, there are strange creatures and unexplored frontiers:
"Invalid Item"
September Entries:
"Invalid Item"
"The Takeover" [13+]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"The Interpreter " [18+]
August Winners:
Lovely and campy, this was just what the prompt asked for:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2167023 by Not Available. |
A wonderful story about growing up and moving beyond makes a good runner-up:
August Entries:
"Magic Beyond the Mountain" [13+]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
July Winner(s) 2018
Strange at first read, this one won me over with its creativity and feel:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2164008 by Not Available. |
Runners Up:
Leave something behind?
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2164668 by Not Available. |
Or perhaps, nothing at all?
July Entries 2018:
"The final frontier" [ASR]
"The Capella Star System Run " [18+]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
June Entry and Winner 2018:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2160722 by Not Available. |
May Winner 2018:
These seem to be getting harder and harder to judge, but this entry spoke to me, especially the ending:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2159714 by Not Available. |
Runners Up:
This had a lively tone and feel:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2158262 by Not Available. |
This rather disturbing partnership is surely memorable:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2158382 by Not Available. |
And this shouldn't be missed, by virtue of sheer cuteness if nothing else:
May Entries:
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"The Implant" [E]
"Robotic Love " [E]
"Invalid Item"
April Winner 2018
There were some dark, powerful entries this month, but this gritty and coherent piece took the prize:
| | Matilda (18+) Scavenging the wasteland, Max and Spell stumble into the territory of a fearsome cult. #2155953 by James Heyward   |
April Entries
"The Hill" [E]
"The Threat" [13+]
"Matilda" [18+]
March Winner 2018
As usual, judging was difficult, and all three entries were clever, creative, and well-written. Still, this piece edged out the win:
March Entries
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Man's Best Friend" [13+]
February Winner 2018
Thanks for all the entries. All were excellent, making this a tough choice to make. Still, this story won me over with its roguish charm:
|  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2148872 by Not Available. |
Runners Up:
This one is too fun to miss:
And another well-deserved example of comeuppance: |  | Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2148593 by Not Available. |
February Entries:
"The Transnian Contract" [13+]
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"Invalid Item"
"One Man's Junk" [13+]
"Hope for the Universe" [13+]
January winner 2018:
While both entries were evocative, this piece on time travel edged out the win:
January Entries:
"Invalid Item"
"Déjà Vu" [13+]
December Winner 2017:
All entries were a joy to read. However, I don't want to burn through those GPs too quickly! In recognition of its excellent use of the prompt, solid writing, and compelling setting, I'm going to award the December prize to:
"Invalid Item"
Honorable Mentions:
Most comedic: "Dear Diary" [E]
Great plot, setting, and use of prompt: "Captain Blainst's Decision" [E]
December Entries:
"Invalid Item"
"Dear Diary" [E]
"The Mysterious Planet" [E]
"Captain Blainst's Decision" [E]
November Winner 2017:
This was a difficult decision, as I had to choose among craft, emotional impact, and a number of other factors. However, in the end, I chose this entry because of its timely nature and how it touched me:
"Grief" [E]
Despite the difficulty of judging among the creative pieces offered, all of which were a pleasure to read, these were my favorites among the runners-up:
"The Junkyard" [E]
"Android" [13+]
November Entries:
"The Junkyard" [E]
"Grief" [E]
"Through her eyes" [ASR]
"Take Pride in Yourself" [13+]
"Android" [13+]
"Portal Team 9: New World" [13+]
"Skinless Aliens" [18+]
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