The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

Click here to see the bracket, which includes all match-up and calendar information in graphic form. I will be updating this as the tournament continues.

Below I also list the match-ups and the calendar. As the tournament proceeds, this is where I'll be placing links to all of the polls for voting. There will be no discussion in this thread. Do all discussing about each competition in the voting poll. For general tournament discussion, please go to the General Discussion thread here.


Mookse Madness Groups

These were organized by a strict system. To get the groups I organized the stories by author's first name and then went down the list -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Once the groups were created, I seeded them by author's birth year. The oldest author on our list? Balzac, who, born in 1799, is our only pre-1800s author. The youngest? Maile Meloy, born in 1972.

Bracket 1: The Nutshell

1. Saki: “The Open Window” (1870)
2. Katherine Mansfield: “The Fly” (1888)
3. Jean Rhys: “La Grosse Fifi” (1890)
4. Vladimir Nabokov: “Signs and Symbols” (1899)
5. Elizabeth Bowen: “The Demon Lover” (1899)
6. Frank O’Connor: “Michael’s Wife” (1903)
7. Julio Cortázar: “The Island at Noon” (1914)
8. John McGahern: “The Beginning of an Idea” (1934)
9. Annie Proulx: “Them Old Cowboy Songs” (1935)
10. Tim O’Brien: “The Things They Carried” (1946)
11. Ian McEwan: “Dead as They Come” (1948)
12. Amy Bloom: “The Story” (1953)
13. Alice Eliot Dark: “In the Gloaming” (?)
14. Louise Erdrich: “Sister Godzilla” (1954)
15. Neil Gaiman: “Shoggoth’s Old Peculiar” (1960)
16. Claire Keegan: “Foster” (1968)

Bracket 2: The Breviloquent

1. Honoré de Balzac: “A Passion in the Desert” (1799)
2. Willa Cather: “Paul’s Case” (1873)
3. Sherwood Anderson: “Death in the Woods” (1876)
4. Franz Kafka: “In the Penal Colony” (1883)
5. Jorge Luis Borges: “The Lottery of Babylon” (1899)
6. Elizabeth Taylor: “A Dedicated Man” (1912)
7. Isaac Asimov: “Nightfall” (1920)
8. Kurt Vonnegut: “Harrison Bergeron” (1922)
9. Alice Munro: “The Bear Came Over the Mountain” (1931)
10. Andre Dubus: “A Father’s Story” (1936)
11. Deborah Eisenberg: “Mermaids” (1945)
12. Tobias Wolf: “In the Garden of the North American Martyrs” (1945)
13. Roald Dahl: “A Man from the South” (1954)
14. George Saunders: “The Semplica-Girl Diaries” (1958)
15. Jhumpa Lahiri: “A Temporary Matter” (1967)
16. Maile Meloy: “Travis, B.” (1972)

Bracket 3: The Petite

1. Edgar Allan Poe: “The Tell-Tale Heart” (1809)
2. Kate Chopin: “A Pair of Silk Stockings” (1850)
3. Guy de Maupassant: “The Necklace” (1850)
4. Isaac Babel: “The Story of My Dovecoat” (1894)
5. William Faulkner: “A Rose for Emily” (1897)
6. Eudora Welty: “Death of a Travelling Salesman” (1909)
7. Robert Aickman: “The Inner Room” (1914)
8. Leonora Carrington: “The Debutante” (1917)
9. Truman Capote: “A Tree of Night” (1924)
10. Alistair MacLeod: “The Boat” (1936)
11. Margaret Atwood: “Rape Fantasies” (1939)
12. Bharati Mukherjee: “The Management of Grief” (1940)
13. Stephen Millhauser: “Eisenheim the Illusionist” (1943)
14. Joy Williams: “The Skater” (1944)
15. Andrea Barrett: “Servants of the Map” (1954)
16. Jill McCorkle: “Intervention” (1958)

Bracket 4: The Laconic

1. Ambrose Bierce: “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (1844)
2. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: “The Yellow Wallpaper” (1860)
3. Jack London: “To Build a Fire” (1876)
4. Katherine Anne Porter: “The Grave” (1890)
5. H.P. Lovecraft: “The Call of Cthulhu” (1890)
6. Tillie Olsen: “I Stand Here Ironing” (1912)
7. Mavis Gallant: “Dede” (1922)
8. Flannery O’Connor: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” (1925)
9. William Trevor: “The Piano Tuner’s Wives” (1928)
10. Ursula K. LeGuin: “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” (1929)
11. Edna O’Brien: “Sister Imelda” (1930)
12. John Gardner: “Redemption” (1933)
13. Joyce Carol Oates: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” (1938)
14. Angela Carter: “The Bloody Chamber” (1940)
15. Roberto Bolaño: “Gomez Palacio” (1953)
16. Lorrie Moore: “People Like That Are the Only People Here” (1957)


Mookse Madness 2018 Calendar

The following is our calendar of events. Last year the matches were open for three days (four at the beginning!), and I felt that was too long; consequently, this year each match will be for two days only! The first round is going to be busy and messy. We have to get through 32 matches as quickly as possible, with four opening each day for over a week. That's why we call this madness! Things will slow down --- a bit -- after that. For the schedule of each and every match, see the full bracket linked to above.

Round 1: 64 Books
-Feb. 26: 1. The Open Window v. 16. Foster
-Feb. 26: 8. Harrison Bergeron v. The Bear Came Over the Mountain
-Feb. 26: 4. The Story of My Dovecoat v. 13. Eisenheim the Illusionist
-Feb. 26: 6. I Stand Here Ironing v. 11. Sister Imelda

-Feb. 27: 7. The Island at Noon v. 10. The Things They Carried
-Feb. 27: 7. Nightfall v. A Father's Story
-Feb. 27: 3. The Necklace v. The Skater
-Feb. 27: 8. A Good Man Is Hard to Find v. 9. The Piano Tuner's Wives

-Feb. 28: 6. Michael's Wife v. 11. Dead as They Come
-Feb. 28: 5. The Lottery of Babylon v. 12. In the Garden of the North American Martyrs
-Feb. 28: 1. The Tell-Tale Heart v. 16. Intervention
-Feb. 28: 2. The Yellow Wallpaper v. 15. Gomez Palacio

-Mar. 1: 5. The Demon Lover v. 12. The Story
-Mar. 1: 3. Death in the Woods v. 14. The Semplica-Girl Diaries
-Mar. 1: 5. A Rose for Emily v. 12. The Management of Grief
-Mar. 1: 5. The Call of Cthulhu v. 12. Redemption

-Mar. 2: 3. La Grosse Fifi v. 14. Sister Godzilla
-Mar. 2: 2. Paul's Case v. 15. A Temporary Matter
-Mar. 2: 7. The Inner Room v. 10. The Boat
-Mar. 2: 3. To Build a Fire v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

-Mar. 3: 8. The Beginning of an Idea v. 9. Them Old Cowboy Songs
-Mar. 3: 6. A Dedicated Man v. 11. Mermaids
-Mar. 3: 2. A Pair of Silk Stockings v. 15. Servants of the Map
-Mar. 3: 7. Dede v. 10. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

-Mar. 4: 2. The Fly v. 15. Shoggoth's Old Peculiar
-Mar. 4: 4. In the Penal Colony v. 13. A Man from the South
-Mar. 4: 6. Death of a Travelling Salesman v. 11. Rape Fantasies
-Mar. 4: 4. The Grave v. 13. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been

-Mar. 5: 4. Signs and Symbols v. 13. In the Gloaming
-Mar. 5: 1. A Passion in the Desert v. 16. Travis, B.
-Mar. 5: 8. The Debutante v. 9. A Tree of Night
-Mar. 5: 1. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge v. 16. People Like That Are the Only People Here

Round 2: 32 Stories. Matches begin on March 8
Round 3: 16 Stories. Matches begin on March 18
Round 4: 8 Stories. Matches begin on March 24
Round 5: 4 Stories. Matches begin on March 30
Round 6: The Finals, The Championship Match: April 4

Round 1 Polls! These open in a few hours and close 48 hours later:

-1. The Open Window v. 16. Foster

-8. Harrison Bergeron v. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

-4. The Story of My Dovecoat v. 13. Eisenheim the Illusionist

-6. I Stand Here Ironing v. 11. Sister Imelda

Next up in Round 1! These open in a few hours and close 48 hours later.

-7. The Island at Noon v. 10. The Things They Carried

-7. Nightfall v. A Father's Story

-3. The Necklace v. The Skater

-8. A Good Man Is Hard to Find v. 9. The Piano Tuner's Wives

Here's what's opening next in Round 1! We've changed the rules so these (and the above) will stay open for three days.

-6. Michael's Wife v. 11. Dead as They Come

-5. The Lottery of Babylon v. 12. In the Garden of the North American Martyrs

-1. The Tell-Tale Heart v. 16. Intervention

-2. The Yellow Wallpaper v. 15. Gomez Palacio

Next!

5. The Demon Lover v. 12. The Story

3. Death in the Woods v. 14. The Semplica-Girl Diaries

5. A Rose for Emily v. 12. The Management of Grief

5. The Call of Cthulhu v. 12. Redemption

We're over halfway done with Group 1!

3. La Grosse Fifi v. 14. Sister Godzilla

2. Paul's Case v. 15. A Temporary Matter

7. The Inner Room v. 10. The Boat

3. To Build a Fire v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

Next for Group 1:

8. The Beginning of an Idea v. 9. Them Old Cowboy Songs

6. A Dedicated Man v. 11. Mermaids

2. A Pair of Silk Stockings v. 15. Servants of the Map

7. Dede v. 10. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

Second to last batch for Round 1!

2. The Fly v. 15. Shoggoth's Old Peculiar

4. In the Penal Colony v. 13. A Man from the South

6. Death of a Travelling Salesman v. 11. Rape Fantasies

4. The Grave v. 13. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been

Last batch for Round 1!

4. Signs and Symbols v. 13. In the Gloaming

1. A Passion in the Desert v. 16. Travis, B.

8. The Debutante v. 9. A Tree of Night

1. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge v. 16. People Like That Are the Only People Here

Now that all of the links for Round 1 are up, this post will include all of the Round 2 matches with dates. I'll update it as the Round 1 results come in. Then, below, I will continue to link to the polls as above.

March 8:
9. Them Old Cowboy Songs v. 16. Foster
2. The Yellow Wallpaper v. 10. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

March 9:
16. Travis, B. v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain
2. Paul's Case v. 10. A Father's Story

March 10:
4. The Story of My Dovecoat v. 12. The Management of Grief
6. Death of a Traveling Salesman v. 14. The Skater

March 11:
11. Dead as They Come v. 3. Le Grosse Fifi
6. I Stand Here Ironing v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

March 12:
6. A Dedicated Man v. 14. The Semplica-Girl Diaries
1. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge v. 9. The Piano Tuner's Wives

March 13:
5. The Demon Lover v. 4. Signs and Symbols
5. The Call of Cthulhu v. 4. The Grave

March 14:
1. The Tale-Tell Heart v. 9. A Tree of Night
10. The Boat v. 2. A Pair of Silk Stockings

March 15:
10. The Things They Carried v. 2. The Fly
5. The Lottery of Babylon v. 4. In the Penal Colony

Yes! Let's get Round 2 underway! Just two matches per day, and some of these won't require rereading.

9. Them Old Cowboy Songs v. 16. Foster

2. The Yellow Wallpaper v. 10. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

More!

16. Travis, B. v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

2. Paul's Case v. 10. A Father's Story

Next!

4. The Story of My Dovecoat v. 12. The Management of Grief

6. Death of a Traveling Salesman v. 14. The Skater

Halfway through Round 2:

11. Dead as They Come v. 3. Le Grosse Fifi

6. I Stand Here Ironing v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

6. A Dedicated Man v. 14. The Semplica-Girl Diaries

1. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge v. 9. The Piano Tuner's Wives

5. The Demon Lover v. 4. Signs and Symbols

5. The Call of Cthulhu v. 4. The Grave

1. The Tale-Tell Heart v. 9. A Tree of Night

10. The Boat v. 2. A Pair of Silk Stockings

Last matches of Round 2!

10. The Things They Carried v. 2. The Fly

5. The Lottery of Babylon v. 4. In the Penal Colony

Round 2 is coming to a close! Here is what's coming for the Sweet Sixteen!

March 18:
2. Paul's Case v. 6. A Dedicated Man
4. The Grave v. 9. The Piano Tuner's Wives

March 19:
4. Signs and Symbols v. 9. Them Old Cowboy Songs
5. The Lottery of Babylon v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

March 20:
1. The Tell-Tale Heart v. 4. The Story of My Dovecote
10. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

March 21:
3. La Grosse Fifi v. 2. The Fly
10. The Boat v. 6. Death of a Traveling Salesman

First from the Sweet Sixteen! These will go live later, but I wanted to get them up now in case I forget as Saturday night with the kids takes its toll!

2. Paul's Case v. 6. A Dedicated Man

4. The Grave v. 9. The Piano Tuner's Wives

4. Signs and Symbols v. 9. Them Old Cowboy Songs

5. The Lottery of Babylon v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

1. The Tell-Tale Heart v. 4. The Story of My Dovecote

10. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

The last of the Sweet Sixteen will go up in a few hours!

2. The Fly v. 3. La Grosse Fifi

6. Death of a Traveling Salesman v. 10. The Boat

Things are beginning to wind down, and the matches are not getting any easier as we are often asked to oust a favorite we'd defended earlier in the tournament. The next round of eight finalists begins on March 24! We'll take these eight matches one at a time, as such:

March 24:
6. A Dedicated Man v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

March 25:
9. The Piano Tuner's Wives v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

March 26:
3. La Grosse Fifi v. 4. Signs and Symbols

March 27:
1. The Tell-Tale Heart v. 10. The Boat

Winners of the next four matches win their quarter of the bracket to go on to the Final Four!

6. A Dedicated Man v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

9. The Piano Tuner's Wives v. 14. The Bloody Chamber

3. La Grosse Fifi v. 4. Signs and Symbols

1. The Tell-Tale Heart v. 10. The Boat

One match is still going, but we've pretty much reached the Final Four! On one side of the bracket, we have two legendary women writers battling it out. On the other, it's looking like it will be two soft-spoken men. The first match begins tonight!

March 30:
3. La Grosse Fifi v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

March 31:
9. The Piano Tuner's Wives v. 10. The Boat

Ack! I was hoping the next round would be Boat vs Fifi and Bear vs Piano. It would have made voting easy. Now I actually have to think about it. Who needs that?

:-)

Here is the first of the final four!

3. La Grosse Fifi v. 9. The Bear Came Over the Mountain

And...

9. The Piano Tuner's Wives v. 10. The Boat

It comes down to this! The final:

La Grosse Fifi v. The Piano Tuner's Wives