FEBRUARY 2026 SCIENCE FICTION MICROSTORY CONTEST (Comments & Critiques only) > Likes and Comments
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Got mine in. Inspiration hit early and hard. Hard to write for an hour at 3 AM to get it out my head.I also realized it could one of three stories about a detective/FBI agent. The are always other possibilities....
Well designed setting. Good action scene. Very Hollywood. Would've worked well on DS9.(Daystrom award? Is there a copyright issue there?)
Got a story in!Yay!
New Year - New Me and all that.
It was actually inspired by yet ANOTHER "your information was found in a data breach" letter I received. Over the years I've entered my information everywhere without thinking about it.
My info is all over the dark web, has been for years.
So a little bit of scifi inspired by how stupid we as humans can be hahaha!
Welcome back, Carrie -Excellent concept and story-telling. An inventive vision rivaling Bradbury.
Wow, good stories and you guys are early this month.
Jack, great choice of theme and elements--eliciting LOTS of cool characters, felt characters, real senses of place, and often humor.Tom--sharp and powerful and well paced!
Greg--the complexity of plot and concepts works though at moments can lose one briefly; really nice work, and, agreed, can be a basis for a series. Carrie--terrific--feels all too real as the AI/identity-chomper invades her and takes her in and turns her empty and refills her how he/it does; nice job! Jeremy, nicely carved recreation of the protagonist's thoughts, sharply showing the contrasting realism of the "everyday" woman's-making-nicey-conversation (and the protatonist-writer's frustration) vs. the "futuristic" space terminal/action; very cool.
Wow, what a great group of stories so far. Very vivid. Outstanding!
Paula wrote: "Jack, great choice of theme and elements--eliciting LOTS of cool characters, felt characters, real senses of place, and often humor.Tom--sharp and powerful and well paced!
Greg--the complexity o..."
Thank you for your feedback, Paula - much appreciated.
Justin wrote: "Wow, what a great group of stories so far. Very vivid. Outstanding!"Thank you, Justin. 'Hope to see one of yours this month.
Well, mine's up. Struggled with time this month, so it almost didn't happen. Hope you all like it. :)
Chris wrote: "Well, mine's up. Struggled with time this month, so it almost didn't happen. Hope you all like it. :)"I did. Excellent narrative and alien detail. Intriguing concept and the right blend of humor and horror. My compliments.
Marvelous atmosphere and setting, Justin. Speaking as a Bogie fan, I think it was artfully and beautifully designed. The mood and style were spot-on. (Though, I was shocked there was no gambling going on.)
Adding a few more feedback comments--Chris, nice work. Your story draws one in, starting from those casual-ordinary-nearfunny bits of station conversation ("I'll take the phlam" "With or without scales?") and proceeding, step by )inexorable step, closer and closer in to the characters and to the finally fated horror and tragedy--by which time we know the characters enough--in particular, know the student enough, and that he would have rather been sacrificed than what occurs--so that we care.
Jot, fascinating contrast between the interpersonal detail and playfulness of the drag setting and the fast-moving, rushed (almost too rushed, perhaps, to easily follow) action of the attack sequence. I'm curious, too--is the line “Eros’ path was not completely set yet" actually meant to refer to both the asteroid and the sexuality? Nicely done.
Justin, fine evocation of Casablanca, both in the details and atmosphere AND in the language, style, and tone--very well paced and polished. And Ms. Duboise's character fits well. The story works; still, you maybe can do another story, with both her and your protagonist more filled-out as *your* characters, separated a bit more into rounded character-people distinct from the movie's; you, for sure, can achieve this, so we can know these people more. (I don't want to push this, though, as it is also fine as written!)
The messaging feature seems to be disabled now. Please send your votes to author.jotrussell@gmail.com
Thank you Tom and Paula for your kind comments! I have found it hard to write these days, both in motivation and ideas, but I really wanted to get a story in. After getting my protagonist settled in the lounge on Five Points Station, the rest seemed to flow naturally after that, especially after I decided to riff on Casablanca. It was certainly easier to NOT name the thing that was lost, but to form the story around it and leave you wondering what "It" is. The "Staggering Nag" is a pub I've used in one other story, and for my next book of sci-fi short stories, I want them to be like stories people are sitting around telling each other in the pub.Anyway, I'm so glad you enjoyed my story!
Tom wrote: "Marvelous atmosphere and setting, Justin. Speaking as a Bogie fan, I think it was artfully and beautifully designed. The mood and style were spot-on. (Though, I was shocked there was no gambling go..."I'm sure there is gambling at the "Staggering Nag"... Your winnings sir...
Tom wrote: "Chris wrote: "Well, mine's up. Struggled with time this month, so it almost didn't happen. Hope you all like it. :)"I did. Excellent narrative and alien detail. Intriguing concept and the right b..."
Thanks Tom, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
Paula wrote: "Adding a few more feedback comments--Chris, nice work. Your story draws one in, starting from those casual-ordinary-nearfunny bits of station conversation ("I'll take the phlam" "With or without ..."
Paula, thanks so much for your brief critique. I'm glad you enjoyed the concept of my story! :)
Still need votes from Carrie and Paula. Please send your votes to author.jotrussell@gmail.com
Good ones this month. It was a difficult choice.
Just waiting on Paula, or anyone else that might choose to vote.
New prompt is up. I posted it from my phone and now I can't edit the title to match the others. I'll do so when I get on my laptop today!
Element: A cafe or bar and something lost