Search found 951 matches

by Megawatts
March 24, 2023, 08:50:11 AM
Forum: March 2023
Topic: The Lincoln Homestead by Robert Pettus
Replies: 1
Views: 1057

Re: The Lincoln Homestead by Robert Pettus

An interesting story that reminded me of other tells with similar themes. Nice into in which my interest in the story was captured, and my interest remained until the end. Too many exclamation marks were used. Cut down on their usage for too many eliminate their effectiveness and they become dull. N...
by Megawatts
November 15, 2022, 10:27:32 AM
Forum: November 2022
Topic: Willful Child by Trish Wilson
Replies: 0
Views: 880

Willful Child by Trish Wilson

Wilson

A very short story and a nice twisted story about angles and devils! To see the world from a devil’s viewpoint is interesting. The daughter takes on the mother’s characteristic — the mother is an angle. The father a demon.

Good job.
by Megawatts
October 21, 2022, 10:15:43 AM
Forum: October 2022
Topic: A Weekend Getaway by Mark Humphries
Replies: 0
Views: 1005

A Weekend Getaway by Mark Humphries

Captivating story and one that held my interest from beginning to end. Love stories about overnight stays at a cabin or hotel and the events surrounding their stay goes terribly wrong! In this case, giant birds as big as a condor attack a couple that is staying overnight in a motel cabin. They fight...
by Megawatts
September 06, 2022, 10:31:25 AM
Forum: September 2022
Topic: The Tale of Ernil by Emma Dainty
Replies: 0
Views: 1411

The Tale of Ernil by Emma Dainty

A tell set in the ‘Sword and Sorcery’ genre, and one the follows within that genre with a student that becomes a swordsman. He beats the goblins that have returned to his village after years of them staying away. All the good points of storytelling and good dialogue that is believable. I never read ...
by Megawatts
September 04, 2022, 09:47:44 AM
Forum: August 2022
Topic: Lunar Roller Coaster by Alan J. Wahnefried
Replies: 0
Views: 1411

Lunar Roller Coaster by Alan J. Wahnefried

Nice start — piqued my interest. We see that Dr. Steinhagen is a hard-headed know-it-all from the beginning who likes to insult others. The story shows how alternate thinking — or thinking outside the box — can save money and even earn money for a cause if administered properly. Watching people be t...
by Megawatts
June 16, 2022, 10:44:11 AM
Forum: June 2022
Topic: Homeward Bound by John E. DeLaughter
Replies: 0
Views: 1741

Homeward Bound by John E. DeLaughter

The first sentence piqued my interest which is essential when writing a story. The first paragraph should grab one’s interests, but I like it better if the first sentence entices the reader first. The remainder of the paragraph of this story explains the situation that Mary was in. ‘Golden path pain...
by Megawatts
June 06, 2022, 10:04:39 AM
Forum: June 2022
Topic: Auntie Brit by J. M. R. Gaines
Replies: 0
Views: 1360

Auntie Brit by J. M. R. Gaines

Nice intro for it got me interested. An old theme: Husband doesn’t get promotion. Jet support at first with the space shuttle, then rocket power to push it into space, interesting piece of technology that I’m sure is being studied. The dialogue was okay and that is what makes up the story. The inter...
by Megawatts
May 12, 2022, 11:00:25 AM
Forum: May 2022
Topic: The May 2022 issue is now live!
Replies: 2
Views: 2083

I Think, Therefore I Am by Geoff Nelder

A futuristic setting with inter-galactic space travel. Rodents, lice and other unwanted passengers present a problem. Also, micrometeorites hit the ship, even in deep space that is a possibility,

Reminds me of surreal stories about space and time travel that I used to read in the 1960s.
by Megawatts
March 30, 2022, 09:06:48 AM
Forum: March 2022
Topic: The March 2022 issue is now live!
Replies: 2
Views: 2743

Embracing Eternity by Charles E.J. Moulton

Poignant intro that makes one feel as if they were there on the couch with her. Susie’s thoughts and feeling, and her remembrance of the past filled the story for beginning to end. Grief is a hard emotion to overcome, and in Susie’s case she managed to live though it and get a second chance at life ...
by Megawatts
March 30, 2022, 09:01:56 AM
Forum: March 2022
Topic: Embracing Eternity by Charles E.J. Moulton
Replies: 0
Views: 1586

Embracing Eternity by Charles E.J. Moulton

Poignant intro that makes one feel as if they were there on the couch with her. Susie’s thoughts and feeling, and her remembrance of the past filled the story from beginning to end. Grief is a hard emotion to overcome, and in Susie’s case she managed to live though it and get a second chance at life...
by Megawatts
March 12, 2022, 09:49:19 AM
Forum: March 2022
Topic: The March 2022 issue is now live!
Replies: 2
Views: 2743

Tears For The Gifted by S. A. Locket

Nice intro. We are introduced to superhuman powers of old such a magic. The Gifted ones can create havoc in this world, and at birth often kill their parent. Ben the most powerful of the Gifted, seems to appoint himself as the overseer of these Gifted Children and manages them the best he can. Ben k...
by Megawatts
March 06, 2022, 10:36:31 AM
Forum: February 2022
Topic: The Freezing by Vismay Harani
Replies: 0
Views: 1976

The Freezing by Vismay Harani

Nice beginning with the introduction of mental snakes. That’s gets one’s attention. A story based on the old ‘nuclear war theme’ that once was so popular—how the survivors of a world-shattering event lived afterward. The main character, Leita, became real to me as I read the story, but the others di...
by Megawatts
March 06, 2022, 10:33:03 AM
Forum: Aphelion 2022
Topic: The Freezing by Vismay Harani
Replies: 0
Views: 1437

The Freezing by Vismay Harani

Nice beginning with the introduction of mental snakes. That’s gets one’s attention. A story based on the old ‘nuclear war theme’ that once was so popular—how the survivors of a world-shattering event lived afterward. The main character, Leita, became real to me as I read the story, but the others di...
by Megawatts
January 11, 2022, 10:26:13 AM
Forum: December 2021/January 2022
Topic: Zoo Ship by K.A. Williams
Replies: 1
Views: 18311

Re: Zoo Ship by K.A. Williams

A Creative story and one that did hold my interest from beginning to end—and I enjoyed it very much! That’s all that a good story can offer. I like the twist about Pete, and I liked the independence of the ship’s computer at the end, for it decided to rebel and think for itself. With the autonomous ...
by Megawatts
December 10, 2021, 11:00:01 AM
Forum: December 2021/January 2022
Topic: Exile by Jakob Angerer
Replies: 1
Views: 2246

Exile by Jakob Angerer

The intro is active in getting one’s attention. A short one here similar to flash fiction. Internal thoughts are the story in this story. What type of punishment given him, the judge mush have known about the creatures that lurked there. I'm assuming a barren planet or possibly some large moon is th...
by Megawatts
November 26, 2021, 10:16:14 AM
Forum: November 2021
Topic: Do Not Cry for Me, for I Am Saved by Cedrick May
Replies: 0
Views: 1824

Do Not Cry for Me, for I Am Saved by Cedrick May

The intro is active in getting one’s attention.

A take on the old vampire theme. Good writing and a nice twist around social issues that have been tackled in the modern world. Once we thought the church the center of all good, now we know better!

A nice read!
by Megawatts
November 20, 2021, 10:25:10 AM
Forum: November 2021
Topic: Always Hungry by Brad Ruxton
Replies: 0
Views: 3176

Always Hungry by Brad Ruxton

Nice into

Good little story bordering on flash fiction. Short-easy read with a twist at the end.
Reminds me of a story about a spider that developed a new method of attracting prey.

The old maiden trapped in a tower theme still has many stories in it.

Nice job!
by Megawatts
November 16, 2021, 02:46:13 PM
Forum: November 2021
Topic: Music Therapy
Replies: 2
Views: 3030

Re: Music Therapy

Nice intro for it got my attention and the remainder of the story kept my attention. Vibroacoustic? Interesting since I was a musician—still sing in a barbershop chorus—and often heard vibrations on windows and fixtures sometime during rehearsal time. Usually, the tubas and base trombones generated ...
by Megawatts
November 12, 2021, 09:30:10 AM
Forum: November 2021
Topic: A Word In Your Ear The Killjoy Effect by Rob Wynne
Replies: 1
Views: 2382

A Word In Your Ear The Killjoy Effect by Rob Wynne

Nice intro! Captured one’s attention. Nice intro! Captured one’s attention. Essays are interesting because they give us an insight into the author’s mind. I liked this one because it gave good food for thought, and had one good axiom: Someone who honestly doesn’t care about something would simply go...
by Megawatts
October 28, 2021, 07:13:47 PM
Forum: October 2021
Topic: Locker 49, or the Volunteers by David Rogers
Replies: 0
Views: 1869

Locker 49, or the Volunteers by David Rogers

A Fibonacci sequence is interesting. I’ve forgotten it, but will look it up again. I believe I had it in a section of Calculus devoted to series, and their use in calculating trig tables. It’s been about fifty years. The story was longer than the usual ones I read. The beginning grabbed my attention...
by Megawatts
October 20, 2021, 10:21:30 AM
Forum: October 2021
Topic: Good Neighbor or Pickle Lotus
Replies: 0
Views: 1864

Good Neighbor or Pickle Lotus

With the good use of sensory input, I could feel the ship, hear the slapping of waves against it and sense the dread that existed there. Very nice indeed!! At pandemic-based story that has many twists and turns as it unfolds throughout the encounter with the ship. Good narration and interesting word...
by Megawatts
October 16, 2021, 09:38:34 AM
Forum: October 2021
Topic: October Swarm
Replies: 1
Views: 2220

Re: October Swarm

I liked it very much, for it held my interest from beginning to end, and the wording used made it easy to follow. Stories like this one are entertaining from the first word to the last. Nice use of language. Very creative theme, one in which I didn’t see coming at the end. Good character development...
by Megawatts
May 11, 2021, 09:20:20 AM
Forum: May 2021
Topic: The Hunting Ground by Benjamin Davison
Replies: 1
Views: 2963

The Hunting Ground by Benjamin Davison

A long description of the setting in this one. The balance between showing and telling is always a problem when writing a story. How much? That depends on the story content, its setting and the characters that will show themselves and interact with one another. If an astronaut is lost on an isolated...
by Megawatts
May 03, 2021, 12:15:27 AM
Forum: Writers Workshop
Topic: I Robot
Replies: 2
Views: 3811

Re: I Robot

I like the way you think!
by Megawatts
May 02, 2021, 09:57:25 AM
Forum: Writers Workshop
Topic: I Robot
Replies: 2
Views: 3811

I Robot

Found an old copy of I Robot and intend to read it again. My first reading was in Vietnam! I know, I'm showing my age, but what the heck--if it wasn't for my age I wouldn't be here now! LOL A little funny on word usage which I do love. I'm wondering what I'll think of it today. I've seen Sofia talk ...
by Megawatts
April 21, 2021, 10:42:34 AM
Forum: Fun and Games
Topic: April Flash Challenge - Of Gods and Men
Replies: 4
Views: 4939

Re: April Flash Challenge - Of Gods and Men

I'll have on ready, God Willing!
by Megawatts
April 18, 2021, 09:58:46 AM
Forum: Fun and Games
Topic: Cryptid Challenge
Replies: 8
Views: 7670

Re: Cryptid Challenge

Got my vote in. One I really like!
by Megawatts
March 24, 2021, 09:20:04 AM
Forum: March 2021
Topic: Shadow in the Dark by Martin Groff
Replies: 0
Views: 2947

Shadow in the Dark by Martin Groff

I like it. Good word choices, great sentences that flowed together which made following the story easy, and, the most important element—the story grabbed and held my attention. The internal monolog gave us a theme that has been the subject of many novels, plays and poems. The great novel Crime and P...
by Megawatts
March 05, 2021, 09:58:53 AM
Forum: Fun and Games
Topic: March 2021 Flash Challenge: Cryptids
Replies: 5
Views: 5585

Re: March 2021 Flash Challenge: Cryptids

I'll get one in! I think I have one around the house, and it hides in closets? Or the basement. And eats the dog food and drinks my wine. lol
by Megawatts
February 25, 2021, 04:31:14 PM
Forum: February 2021
Topic: Children and Fools by Iain Stark
Replies: 0
Views: 3066

Children and Fools by Iain Stark

The story gets my attention in the first sentence. Nice use of words like--–Darra’s voice chimes with pleasure! Darra must be a witch or demon that lives off the life of others. With the reference to ‘inhale’ and ‘cool breath,’ I was reminded of the ‘Steam’ in Stephen King’s novel Doctor Who . I lik...

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