What seemed like a passing asteroid could actually be visitors from another planet. Can humanity, with the help of AGI, figure out how to communicate with them in time?
A gripping story that exposes our core humanity in the lead up to and aftermath of a global collapse. We feel the desperation of seeking purpose in a world where every need is provided, curiosity that challenges the mesmerizing lure of stagnation, the utter futility of a military-industrial response, the life-blood in the stories we tell, the bones of survival.
Action Items!
1. Record it and post online (X, YouTube, Apple/Google/Spotify). Get people listening.
2. Find another contest. Send this story to 20 options. 100 options. Get it OUT there. Get people who love sci fi (contest judges : ) reading it.
3. Talk with your local librarian. Do they have ideas? Do a story reading at the local library. Set up a tour to do readings across Australia and incorporate those stops into a family trip.
Thanks Dawn! This really made my day :) I will definitely look into those options - though maybe not all at once. It means a lot to know that it resonates with you. ❤️
I’m late to reading this, but I hope a belated comment will be somehow useful to you. This reads very well indeed, better for me than the Kyron chapters I’d looked at before. You intersperse narration and dialogue very well, conveying a convincing atmosphere in each of the situations you describe. I was wondering after reading awhile where this was going, and was then arrested by the reveal of Aggy’s first level of involvement in the events. The second reveal seemed a bit less convincing to me, but completed the story nicely. My only reservation was from the impression (perhaps wrongly) that the text was transcription from something that different characters had written in an old-fashioned paper and pen notebook. But the length of that text seemed excessive for what capacity a notebook might have and the time that someone might take over such a recording task. I wonder if the story might concentrate its power by being compressed somewhat? As I say, your writing conveys atmosphere and events very well, which provides its own pleasures, but that also dilutes the pace and urgency of the development. This particularly so in the first half. It all ramps up when the drones emerge from the ship and start to do their thing on the ground. HTH, P.
I was riveted! The story is amazing, the text is excellent. My mind and eyes raced through with excitement! What happens next?!!!
…after reading earlier comments:
Ok, so funny! I used the same word as Dawn to describe my reaction. Because it IS RIVETING! Perfect adjective for this story!
Wow Brenda, that's made me all warm and fuzzy. So glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for letting me know, it really means a lot.
Reread this morning.
Just brilliant — again. Really. I couldn’t stop.
A gripping story that exposes our core humanity in the lead up to and aftermath of a global collapse. We feel the desperation of seeking purpose in a world where every need is provided, curiosity that challenges the mesmerizing lure of stagnation, the utter futility of a military-industrial response, the life-blood in the stories we tell, the bones of survival.
Action Items!
1. Record it and post online (X, YouTube, Apple/Google/Spotify). Get people listening.
2. Find another contest. Send this story to 20 options. 100 options. Get it OUT there. Get people who love sci fi (contest judges : ) reading it.
3. Talk with your local librarian. Do they have ideas? Do a story reading at the local library. Set up a tour to do readings across Australia and incorporate those stops into a family trip.
4. Offer an in-person reading/Q&A with uni writing classes. You could do this on zoom for universities all over the world. Check this one out — https://sfcenter.ku.edu. And this one https://sites.krieger.jhu.edu/world-science-fiction/.
It’s SO good Shoni. Relatable. Believable.
And the topic is HOT. Right now. If you can get it in people’s minds they will share it.
Contests
* https://fabledplanet.com/20-contests-for-science-fiction-and-fantasy-writers/
* https://fosteryourwriting.com/2023/06/03/sci-fi-and-fantasy-writing-contests/
Thanks Dawn! This really made my day :) I will definitely look into those options - though maybe not all at once. It means a lot to know that it resonates with you. ❤️
Great ideas! I would love to see this story hitting a huge audience!
Oh my god. Shoni, this was riveting.
Thanks Dawn, you're really filling my bucket right now 😊. Really appreciate your support more than you know!
I’m late to reading this, but I hope a belated comment will be somehow useful to you. This reads very well indeed, better for me than the Kyron chapters I’d looked at before. You intersperse narration and dialogue very well, conveying a convincing atmosphere in each of the situations you describe. I was wondering after reading awhile where this was going, and was then arrested by the reveal of Aggy’s first level of involvement in the events. The second reveal seemed a bit less convincing to me, but completed the story nicely. My only reservation was from the impression (perhaps wrongly) that the text was transcription from something that different characters had written in an old-fashioned paper and pen notebook. But the length of that text seemed excessive for what capacity a notebook might have and the time that someone might take over such a recording task. I wonder if the story might concentrate its power by being compressed somewhat? As I say, your writing conveys atmosphere and events very well, which provides its own pleasures, but that also dilutes the pace and urgency of the development. This particularly so in the first half. It all ramps up when the drones emerge from the ship and start to do their thing on the ground. HTH, P.