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Traditions
An Elan short story.
(First published in Triumph Over Tragedy: an Anthology for the Victims of Hurricane Sandy.)
(First published in Triumph Over Tragedy: an Anthology for the Victims of Hurricane Sandy.)
Unknown Binding
About the author
Michael J. Sullivan
84 books96.1k followersThe next Kickstarter has launched! It's doing well (#1 most backed and #2 most funded of all live fiction projects. It's for the first book of a new series in the Elan Saga. Check out the project by clicking on here.
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations and 6 Amazon Editor's Picks.
My current released books:
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I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations and 6 Amazon Editor's Picks.
My current released books:
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 12, 2020
1.5/5 stars
I've always thought MJS's best strength in his characterization, so naturally I am of the opinion that short stories, which don't usually allow for much character growth, are not his forte. I understand what he's trying to do with this story, but I didn't find it particularly compelling, nor did it add much to the world of Elan.
I've always thought MJS's best strength in his characterization, so naturally I am of the opinion that short stories, which don't usually allow for much character growth, are not his forte. I understand what he's trying to do with this story, but I didn't find it particularly compelling, nor did it add much to the world of Elan.
February 6, 2022
What a curious coincidence! Immediately after finishing “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” I picked up “Traditions”.
Written in Michael’s world of Elan, it features Annie, a girl who’s about to be sacrificed to a monster for the continued well-being of her village.
Presented by her boyfriend with an opportunity to flee together, she rejects his plan but decides not to play by the age-old rules but to try and determine her own fate.
Thus, she walks up to the lair of the monster and confronts it. The monster, an old, basically invalid dragon tries to talk her out of killing him by presenting the possible catastrophic consequences if it becomes known that the dragon “protecting” the village is gone. That all the sacrifices for a very long time have been for nought.
In contrast to the people of Omelas, Annie decides not to play by the rules: She does not accept the potential consequences as a given. She does not sacrifice herself for the greater good.
Instead, she changes the rules and when she leaves the cave, a new dawn is rising. Let’s not accept rules just because they are rules. Let us question the rules, let us change them together instead of complacently accepting the torment of others.
Let us also not become complicit as Le Guin in Omelas by stating “rules are rules”. We make the damn rules and, if need be, we can bend or even break them.
Three out of five stars.
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Written in Michael’s world of Elan, it features Annie, a girl who’s about to be sacrificed to a monster for the continued well-being of her village.
Presented by her boyfriend with an opportunity to flee together, she rejects his plan but decides not to play by the age-old rules but to try and determine her own fate.
Thus, she walks up to the lair of the monster and confronts it. The monster, an old, basically invalid dragon tries to talk her out of killing him by presenting the possible catastrophic consequences if it becomes known that the dragon “protecting” the village is gone. That all the sacrifices for a very long time have been for nought.
In contrast to the people of Omelas, Annie decides not to play by the rules: She does not accept the potential consequences as a given. She does not sacrifice herself for the greater good.
Instead, she changes the rules and when she leaves the cave, a new dawn is rising. Let’s not accept rules just because they are rules. Let us question the rules, let us change them together instead of complacently accepting the torment of others.
Let us also not become complicit as Le Guin in Omelas by stating “rules are rules”. We make the damn rules and, if need be, we can bend or even break them.
Three out of five stars.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2025
Still better than Drumindor
May 3, 2020
This was a compelling take on Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, set in the world of Elan.
September 17, 2021
It's only 11 pages long, but it certainly makes its point. Makes you think. Makes you wonder what would happen next. All the marks of a good short story.
January 16, 2025
Short story from the world of Elan that leaves you thinking... Review to follow.
November 5, 2025
Fun short story! I was routing for the main character straight away.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews