View unanswered posts | View active topics
| Author |
Message |
|
Pete
|
 Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 2:38 pm |
|
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:15 pm
Posts: 3021
|
|
I still haven't started reading these, but in the meantime, congratulations to Jim, most definitely.
|
|
| Top |
|
 |
|
categardner
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:51 am |
|
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:52 am
Posts: 51
Location: Liverpool
|
I shall catch up eventually...
Creepy poem, Alison 
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Pete
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:40 am |
|
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:15 pm
Posts: 3021
|
Next batch:-
13th - Michael Collins
14th - Aliya Whiteley
15th - Morag Lewis
16th - Thomas Jordan
And that's all we've got, so eight more people needed to make the 24th, failing which I start looking for stories online.
Oh, and if anyone has sent me something but hasn't seen their name appear, please write again as I understand the whitenoise@ttapress.com address wasn't working while the site was experiencing problems last week.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Michael S Collins
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:46 pm |
|
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:34 pm
Posts: 8
Location: United Kingdom
|
|
It is an honour to be back in the Calender again this year. (And amazing to see young Tom in it too, well deserved.)
I look forward to reading the many amazing stories selected for this years Calender in a day or two when a few pesky deadlines have been dealt with. I can hardly wait, some good writers have been showcased already!
Best wishes everyone,
Michael
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Pete
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:21 am |
|
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:15 pm
Posts: 3021
|
|
Right, starting to work my way back, reading one current and one previous per day - not quite the way Advent Calendars are supposed to be approached, but hey.
Loved "And For My Next Trick" by David McGroarty - I thought I knew where it was going, but something else entirely. Great idea and beautifully written.
"Pain Killer" by Anthony Watson was another good one, especially effective for the way in which the 'enemy' and situation is never pinned down, and the surprise nature of the 'pain killer'.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Ray
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:40 am |
|
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:06 pm
Posts: 996
Location: Portsmouth
|
|
Really enjoying these. I particularly liked venturing into the pine forest with Michael Kelly, and I'm with Pete regarding Next Trick, full of surprises and with only a teaser amount of character - I'd like to know so much more
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Victoria
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:48 pm |
|
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 5:39 pm
Posts: 3
|
|
Just got my login, so it’s a bit late but thank you to everyone who commented on my story on day 2. Much appreciated.
I’ve really enjoyed all the stories and poems so far. I especially enjoyed Bob Lock’s ‘The Hundred Year Climax’. I thought it was really well conceived. Brilliant opening and excellent dialogue.
Also enjoyed the story by D.F. Lewis for similar reasons. The word play was particularly excellent.
And I really enjoyed ‘Sanctuary’. I liked the bigger story it alluded to.
Still got a couple more to go until I’m caught up. I still don’t have internet at home, so I’ve had a weekend of withdrawal symptoms!
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Bob Lock
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:57 pm |
|
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:00 am
Posts: 643
Location: Swansea
|
|
Jim's 'Three Wise Men' was a bloody good laugh. I especially liked the footnote: 'This papyrus has been carefully scanned for viruses and sprayed with toad spit and viper venom. This seems to work better than Norton' priceless! (Oh and hearty congrats BTW!)
Michael's 'Pines' was so atmospheric, the visuals, the sounds and the smells all evoked a feeling of sadness and desolation.
Anthony's story 'Pain Killer' made me feel as if I was one of the soon-to-be-victims of The Thing, trapped out in the middle of nowhere with who knows what horror sneaking up on you... brr!
I thought David's 'And For My Next Trick' was a clever little tale which had me guessing up until the end, I've always wondered about doves... now I know...
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Michael S Collins
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:40 pm |
|
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:34 pm
Posts: 8
Location: United Kingdom
|
Right, time to start giving these a shot.
First up is Ray Cluley, who I remember from last year. I came in expecting the same "sinking feeling" I described last year. But what did we get? At parts sinister and dark, other times depressing and mournful, Turtledove walked the line between being quite sad and quite unsettling. There's the hint of quite a nasty villain hiding away there, but to say more would be to spoil. Very good and odd opening line, really makes the reader want to find out whats going on! And I wont say you describe the cold very well, but I will say I have just had to turn the heating on full blast. It's become bloody freezing all of a sudden. 
2nd December story is from VH Leslie, who I don't believe I ever read anything from before, so this'll be blind to any of her previous tropes and successes. (Sorry about that!) First off, I love the title. In the Bleak Midwinter. It's a very first story in a Mary Danby edited Christmas anthology type title. (People still appreciate Danby, yes? I mean that as a compliment!) I can point out the exact moment where I began to hide under the duvet: "It was so easy before to be rid of them". I wrote a story of snowmen once, but I can safely say this is a far superior one here.
*shudders*
I'm off to hide with the gerbils again. Shall read more later.
Bloody good opening two stories. At the very early reading, this years could even top last years very high standard.
Best wishes
Michael
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Ray
|
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:40 am |
|
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:06 pm
Posts: 996
Location: Portsmouth
|
Wow, thanks! 
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Ali_L
|
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 am |
|
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:29 am
Posts: 568
Location: wakefield
|
|
Congrats Jim, and thanks Cate!
Just read 'And For My Next Trick' - absolutely wonderful. Loved it.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Pete
|
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:50 pm |
|
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:15 pm
Posts: 3021
|
|
Just read Michael's "Practice Makes Perfect", the tale of a 'method actor' who takes things just a little bit too far, though how much is 'real' and how much 'imagination' we are left to guess. What made it especially appealing was the wry humour, as with the butler with attitude and lines like 'The stage is the life...'
Also read Mike's "Pine", which was laden with sadness, and beautifully written, the winter setting brought to bitter life. The title I'm guessing was a play on words, and I liked the references to 'white noise' and 'black static', while red coated Gillian on the pond put me in mind of "Don't Look Now". A modern ghost story, where you're never actually sure if there is a ghost or simply a phantom fashioned out of tears and regret. Great stuff.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
davidmcgroarty
|
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:30 pm |
|
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 7:10 pm
Posts: 24
Location: London
|
|
Gosh - thanks, all!
I'm a little behind but I'm really enjoying these so far. What a treat!
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
categardner
|
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:00 am |
|
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:52 am
Posts: 51
Location: Liverpool
|
|
Apparently I'm reading them back to front now... Loved, loved, loved Aliya's story. Bloody awesome.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Bob Lock
|
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:01 am |
|
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:00 am
Posts: 643
Location: Swansea
|
Michael's 'Practice Makes Perfect' takes method acting to the extreme! This surreal little story had me guessing right up until the end. Nicely done 
One Christmas morning I remember waking to find my faithful old teddy missing. Reading Ailya's 'The Red Man' just brought those memories back and a shiver ran through me. I miss that teddy and okay I was 36 at the time of his disappearance but I'm a slow developer...
Great story Ailya, I enjoyed it
|
|
| Top |
|
|
Who is online |
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest |
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Members
Groups
Register
User Control Panel
Login
