Folly's Challenge by our own aTOMic :-)

[duchess of malfi]

I started reading Folly's Challenge, a short story collection by one of our members this morning.

The stories include:
Folly's Challenge
Circumstance
Farewell
Squeeze Play
The Fall
Threadbear
Bishop's Prophecy
Dead of the Dark
From the Jaws of Peril
Midway


So far I am finding the stories an interesting mixture of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Threadbear is a horror story (in a science fiction setting) that actually reminds me quite a bit of a very vivid and horrible nightmare I once had (thanks, Tom, I might not be able to go to sleep tonight ).

I am currently in the middle of Bishop's Prophecy which reminds me a bit of the Star Trek universe, a bit like the Chonicles of Thomas Covenant, yet remains its own story.

[dANdeLION]

You are very perceptive, dutchess. It reads like Star Trek because originally Tom planned it to be a Star Trek Voyager story, with Bishop being Paris.

[aTOMiC]

I started reading Folly's Challenge, a short story collection by one of our members this morning.

The stories include:
Folly's Challenge
Circumstance
Farewell
Squeeze Play
The Fall
Threadbear
Bishop's Prophecy
Dead of the Dark
From the Jaws of Peril
Midway


So far I am finding the stories an interesting mixture of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Threadbear is a horror story (in a science fiction setting) that actually reminds me quite a bit of a very vivid and horrible nightmare I once had (thanks, Tom, I might not be able to go to sleep tonight ).

I am currently in the middle of Bishop's Prophecy which reminds me a bit of the Star Trek universe, a bit like the Chonicles of Thomas Covenant, yet remains its own story.

Sorry that Threadbear may have conjured up icky memories, Duchess. Its an icky story to be sure. I think I liked it better when it was half as long and there was no mention of the sci fi aspect outside of grizzly occurances in the old west. I just thought the tale would mesh better with the others.
My daughter says that she enjoyed The Fall much better when it was only 3 paragraphs and was more mysterious. All in all I think things turned out okay.
Your observations on Bishop's Prophecy are dead on. As dAN says I did originally intend it to be a Star Trek Voyager fan fic. Now all my secrets are out.

[duchess of malfi]

Heh. I liked The Fall because it was so mysterious and atmospheric. I had been wishing it was longer.

[aTOMiC]

Heh. I liked The Fall because it was so mysterious and atmospheric. I had been wishing it was longer.

I suppose there is a chance for a longer re telling of the story. Its just the sort of 3 paragraph short story Hollywood would love to stretch into a 2 hour feature. I imagine a 6 year old Drew Barrymore as the little girl.

[duchess of malfi]

Did you grow up watching classic Trek? You seem to have captured the spirit of it quite well in your stories...better, in fact, than the script writers of many of the movies and later series.

[dANdeLION]

Oh, yeah. I never even bothered going to his house if Star Trek was on. He was addicted, and still is, as far as I can tell. I think he has all the episodes, which he got by taping them off the television. DO you know how hard it is to get ALL of them that way? You have to be a bloody zealot doing it that way. Of course, nobody knew we would be able buy the dvd collection in 2005.....Still, my professional opinion is that Tom is

[[Syl]]

I am currently in the middle of Bishop's Prophecy which reminds me a bit of the Star Trek universe, a bit like the Chonicles of Thomas Covenant, yet remains its own story.

Yep, good story. Can't wait to read the rest of them.

[aTOMiC]

Did you grow up watching classic Trek? You seem to have captured the spirit of it quite well in your stories...better, in fact, than the script writers of many of the movies and later series.

Thank you Duchess.
Dan is correct when he points out I have spent many hours watching Star Trek. I think Enterprise is the first example of the franchise that I didn't fully embrace. Now that its gone I'm sure I'll miss it. But thats why I buy dvds.
I've written a few genuine Star Trek fan fictions. The one I enjoyed the most was written when Voyager was at its peak. I managed to place the Original series Enterprise and Voyager together against the now fully evolved and very angry V'ger entitiy.

[aTOMiC]

I am currently in the middle of Bishop's Prophecy which reminds me a bit of the Star Trek universe, a bit like the Chonicles of Thomas Covenant, yet remains its own story.

Yep, good story. Can't wait to read the rest of them.

That reminds me Syl. I need to purchase a few books and get them out to the members that helped me with the first version of the book. I'll try to round them up soon and send PM's to everyone to get their mailing addresses.