• OCTOBER 2026 SCIENCE FICTION MICROSTORY CONTEST (Comments/Critiques Only) > Likes and Comments

Theme: Solving a crime (or a mystery)

Elements: Forensic technology (alien or Human)
A song lyric as the title or in the title

If anyone's interested, my first book dropped on Amazon today. Nelson Sheffler Saves The World is available on Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. :)

Is the first in the saga? Google AI says it's written by Dr. Nance. What is your Ph.D. in?

It is the first in its series. Sadly, I do not have a PhD, just a DC.

Congratulations, Chris.

Thanks, Tom!

Mine's up -

https://www.google.com/search?q=song+...

Chris wrote: "If anyone's interested, my first book dropped on Amazon today. Nelson Sheffler Saves The World is available on Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. :)"

Just ordered the paperback! I look forward to reading it! I've been trying to read physical books more so I can detach from my phone. I'll leave a review. Congrats Chris!

Justin wrote: "Chris wrote: "If anyone's interested, my first book dropped on Amazon today. Nelson Sheffler Saves The World is available on Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. :)"

Just ordered the paperback! I loo..."

Awesome. Thanks, Justin! If you like it, be sure to leave a nice review! :)

Chris wrote: "Justin wrote: "Chris wrote: "If anyone's interested, my first book dropped on Amazon today. Nelson Sheffler Saves The World is available on Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. :)"

Just ordered the p..."

Just got it and I look forward to reading it. Of course I'll put a nice review!

Justin wrote: "Chris wrote: "Justin wrote: "Chris wrote: "If anyone's interested, my first book dropped on Amazon today. Nelson Sheffler Saves The World is available on Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. :)"

Just..."

Thanks, Justin! I really appreciate it. I know it's not a super sophisticated science fiction novel, more of a YA scifi adventure, but I hope you enjoy it! :)

Excellent story, Jot -

Potent, stirring imagery and a disturbing vision of chaos. Great mystery and most of all - I felt I was there.

Thanks for the tour of Louvre. Well done.

Thanks, Tom! AI helped with the research

Got mine up. This has been a busy year: 3 funerals and 2 weddings and 4/5 of that is happening this month. Also, two conventions and a gifted-student conference. So, I was worried about getting a story in.

This one was written in a booth at the Gifted Association of Missouri's annual conference. They had a science lab next to the room where I gave my presentation. After I finished, this just came together.

In case anyone is wondering, I had to change the title of my story after I posted it because I had forgotten about the song lyric requirement. The original title, "Chronovision", is actually the title of a song but, unfortunately, it's an instrumental. But don't think my title choice is random. It actually relates to the story more than may seem obvious.

Both good mysteries with well-constructed technical premises. Good Agatha Christy vibes.

Bit light on character interaction and emotion, but of course that's to be expected in short stories with detective POV.

Mines up. I'm not much of a crime story writer, but hope this one will do.

Same.

I spent the day working on mine. I did run it through Claude for proofreading and grammatical errors. So full disclosure there.
And it did pick up on one thing that didn't make sense so I rewrote it a little bit based on its suggestion.

I try to stay away from AI as much as possible with my stories, but I must admit, it's like having your own personal editor.

Chris wrote: "Mines up. I'm not much of a crime story writer, but hope this one will do."

It does. Not really a crime story, but a visually vivid reawakening. You really put the reader in the POV.

Carrie wrote: "Same.

I spent the day working on mine. I did run it through Claude for proofreading and grammatical errors. So full disclosure there.
And it did pick up on one thing that didn't make sense so I r..."

The lure of tech. (Serpent in Eden?)

The detail was great and the concept very eerie and haunting. Bit hard to follow, though.

Tom wrote: "Chris wrote: "Mines up. I'm not much of a crime story writer, but hope this one will do."

It does. Not really a crime story, but a visually vivid reawakening. You really put the reader in the POV."

Thanks, Tom! :)

Nice crop of stories! All of them very interesting and well done! I'd say I was too busy to do mine, but Greg would have me beat. LOL! Honestly, I think my Muse took a vacation...

The vote was a tough choice this month.

The votes are in, including Justin's. Thanks again for voting. I'll hold off on the results Monday morning to see if any other member wants to vote.

Congratulations on your win, Jot! Well done!

Yes, great story!

Thanks!