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Postcards From Mars
A collection of illustrated micro-fiction.During MarsCon 2023 the three Moms of the Apocalypse handed out images to anyone who wanted to enter the contest. The rules were write down a complete story in fifty words, and then send it to us. These are the winners of that challenge!
77 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2023
12 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Cedar Sanderson
128 books61 followersAuthor, illustrator, perennially inquisitive. Urban fantasy with pixies, cozy supernatural sleuthing, & sci-fi twists. Books & art at http://cedarwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 5, 2023
For a bit of background not included here or in my Amazon review (just submitted, not yet published), fee free to check out my blog post review at Papa Pat Rambles.
Drive-by reviews of small writings follow, but the artwork is something not to be missed.
Verdict, by Christopher R. DiNote. If you go to the rescue of a fool, you will only have to do it again.
The March of the Hare, by Jolie LaChance. Who knows what lurks in the hearts of Alice’s co-stars?
The Wedding of Sir Fluffykins, by Karina Fabian. Much can be said for arranged marriages of state.
Fred and the Barnacle, by Rick Cartwright. Parasite or symbiote, some things just go together. Other things? Not so much.
The Root of the Matter, by Rob Howell. Hard-boiled detective prose notwithstanding, the author deserves the carp!
Leo the Bunny Test the Hot Box, by Kortnee Bryant. One little mistake, and it’s the sixties all over again.
Baby Warrior, by Clair W. Kiernan. Yes, I’m a monster. But I’m YOUR monster.
Restaurant Critic, by Sherri Mines. You knew it was a tough job when you took it.
Callback, by Sam Robb. It’s method acting. I THINK it’s acting. ("Funny, how? I AMUSE you?)
Spirit Delivery, by Evan DeShais. “Did I do it good? Did I? Did I? Did I? I hope I did good!”
The Fae-chi, by Sandra Medlock. They grow SO fast! Sometimes you wish…
The Paper Swans of Ellendell, by Jimmie Bise, Jr. Poetry and beauty, and lethal capability.
Back From the Ballgame, by Caroline Furlong. Parenting cannot be accomplished without joyful sacrifice.
Another, by Liska McCabe. We do our duty; we grow; do we change?
The Mission, by Jennifer Cameron. A journey of a thousand miles better begin with one trip to the bathroom.
Day 4, by Nick Larda. Where else are you going to be able to see something like this?
An Evil Path, by James Bellinger. Don’t leave home without… never mind. Just, don’t leave home.
Not a Feature, by Dorothy Grant. “I’m a smashed bug on the windshield of your heart…”
Peace Goes On, by Brian Cameron. They made a desert, and called it Las Vegas. Later, that is.
Business Expectations, by Sanford Begley. To the untrained eye, she seemed to be a nice person.
A Note to Novablanca, by ZM Renick. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. (And I think this is maybe The Perfect, The Ideal, manifestation of the form. YMMV)
Puppet in the Stars, by C. V. Walter. Don’t try to bluff an old person. They will kill you, just to avoid the hassle.
Drive-by reviews of small writings follow, but the artwork is something not to be missed.
Verdict, by Christopher R. DiNote. If you go to the rescue of a fool, you will only have to do it again.
The March of the Hare, by Jolie LaChance. Who knows what lurks in the hearts of Alice’s co-stars?
The Wedding of Sir Fluffykins, by Karina Fabian. Much can be said for arranged marriages of state.
Fred and the Barnacle, by Rick Cartwright. Parasite or symbiote, some things just go together. Other things? Not so much.
The Root of the Matter, by Rob Howell. Hard-boiled detective prose notwithstanding, the author deserves the carp!
Leo the Bunny Test the Hot Box, by Kortnee Bryant. One little mistake, and it’s the sixties all over again.
Baby Warrior, by Clair W. Kiernan. Yes, I’m a monster. But I’m YOUR monster.
Restaurant Critic, by Sherri Mines. You knew it was a tough job when you took it.
Callback, by Sam Robb. It’s method acting. I THINK it’s acting. ("Funny, how? I AMUSE you?)
Spirit Delivery, by Evan DeShais. “Did I do it good? Did I? Did I? Did I? I hope I did good!”
The Fae-chi, by Sandra Medlock. They grow SO fast! Sometimes you wish…
The Paper Swans of Ellendell, by Jimmie Bise, Jr. Poetry and beauty, and lethal capability.
Back From the Ballgame, by Caroline Furlong. Parenting cannot be accomplished without joyful sacrifice.
Another, by Liska McCabe. We do our duty; we grow; do we change?
The Mission, by Jennifer Cameron. A journey of a thousand miles better begin with one trip to the bathroom.
Day 4, by Nick Larda. Where else are you going to be able to see something like this?
An Evil Path, by James Bellinger. Don’t leave home without… never mind. Just, don’t leave home.
Not a Feature, by Dorothy Grant. “I’m a smashed bug on the windshield of your heart…”
Peace Goes On, by Brian Cameron. They made a desert, and called it Las Vegas. Later, that is.
Business Expectations, by Sanford Begley. To the untrained eye, she seemed to be a nice person.
A Note to Novablanca, by ZM Renick. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. (And I think this is maybe The Perfect, The Ideal, manifestation of the form. YMMV)
Puppet in the Stars, by C. V. Walter. Don’t try to bluff an old person. They will kill you, just to avoid the hassle.
May 25, 2023
The idea is simple: plug prompts into MidJourney and let the AI create art. Print that art onto postcards and invite people to write a complete story about the image in 50 words or less. It's an interesting experiment, but the results were just unsatisfying.
The issue with this idea is that none of the stories are engaging. The characters aren't relatable. The plots are non-existent. Instead these are vignettes of cats in top hats, mid-century cola commercials, and snippets of cyberpunk science fiction. Some of the entries might be great starters for longer novellas. However, none of them were really memorable for me. The best part of the book is looking at the pictures, which were generated by artificial intelligence.
The issue with this idea is that none of the stories are engaging. The characters aren't relatable. The plots are non-existent. Instead these are vignettes of cats in top hats, mid-century cola commercials, and snippets of cyberpunk science fiction. Some of the entries might be great starters for longer novellas. However, none of them were really memorable for me. The best part of the book is looking at the pictures, which were generated by artificial intelligence.
October 10, 2023
Another book in the series. There are 20 stories based on an A.I. produced image. The writer is limited to 50 words or less and it's amazing how good a job the writers did under such strong limitiation of words.
There's an Alice-in-Wonderland piece of art and a cute tabby cat wearing a hat.
There's another section with more images and a space for people to write their own stories.
The artwork is ranges from really good to amazing.
There's an Alice-in-Wonderland piece of art and a cute tabby cat wearing a hat.
There's another section with more images and a space for people to write their own stories.
The artwork is ranges from really good to amazing.
February 21, 2023
An interesting concept
The book is an interesting concept. The author was given a picture then had to write 50 words to go with the picture. Great fun! Most of them could be the opening paragraphs to a new short story or book.
The book is an interesting concept. The author was given a picture then had to write 50 words to go with the picture. Great fun! Most of them could be the opening paragraphs to a new short story or book.
February 27, 2023
Great micro fiction anthology
The postcard-sized stories are like tiny appetizers perfectly framed by the illustrations. I admit some of the stories simply whetted my appetite for more, while several were a little nightmarish. All in all, Postcards is fun.
The postcard-sized stories are like tiny appetizers perfectly framed by the illustrations. I admit some of the stories simply whetted my appetite for more, while several were a little nightmarish. All in all, Postcards is fun.
July 10, 2023
Short and sweet
These postcard stories are perfect tidbits to blast through when I didn't have the time to start a deep dive into another book.
They will make for a great coffee table book! The artwork and the amazing micro stories can be quickly consumed and discussed.
These postcard stories are perfect tidbits to blast through when I didn't have the time to start a deep dive into another book.
They will make for a great coffee table book! The artwork and the amazing micro stories can be quickly consumed and discussed.
Read
February 24, 2023Beautiful, fun
The idea was i teresting, the execution is going to force me to order a physical copy for me, and my want to be writer daughter!
The idea was i teresting, the execution is going to force me to order a physical copy for me, and my want to be writer daughter!
September 14, 2023
Interesting Concept
Complete stories that could fit on the back of a postcard.
If you a looking for a quick read I recommend.
Complete stories that could fit on the back of a postcard.
If you a looking for a quick read I recommend.
October 3, 2023
Bite-sized art!
I love the Postcard Stories anthologies. They're the dim sum of speculative fiction! I wish that some of these tidbits could lead to novels someday....
I love the Postcard Stories anthologies. They're the dim sum of speculative fiction! I wish that some of these tidbits could lead to novels someday....
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews