7 March 2014

Published March 5, 2014 by rochellewisoff

WELCOME TO FRIDAY FICTIONEERS!

Seize the opportunity to free your muse and allow her take you on a magic carpet ride. 

Henry David Thoreau said it best.

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

THE CHALLENGE:

Write a one hundred word story that has a beginning, middle and end. (No one will be ostracized for going a few words over the count.)

THE KEY:

MAKE. EVERY. WORD. COUNT.

THE RULES:

  • Copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the tab following the photo prompt. It’s the little white box to the left with the blue froggy guy. Click on it and follow directions. This is the best way to get the most reads and comments.
  • MAKE SURE YOUR LINK IS SPECIFIC TO YOUR FLASH. 
  • While our name implies “fiction only” it’s perfectly Kosher to write a non-fiction piece as long as it meets the challenge of being a complete story in 100 words.
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TO THOSE WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION (MYSELF INCLUDED): While WIKIPEDIA is usually a decent source of information, it’s not always reliable one. As a rule, I use it as a jumping off point to other research threads. It’s a good rule of thumb to use more than one source. I speak from experience when I say that a simple 100 word story can bring serious repercussions. 

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  • Shalom,

              Rochelle  

Copyright - Danny Bowman

Copyright – Danny Bowman

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Genre: Science Fiction

Word Count: 100

GORT! KLAATU BARADA NIKTO!

            My brother has always had a vivid imagination and a penchant for fabricating tall tales. This time I thought he’d gone too far.

            “Too many sci-fi comics, kiddo,” I said. “If there were aliens on the summit, it would be all over the news.”

            “I saw their spaceship land. They’ve set up weapons of mass destruction.”

            “They’ve got cyclotrons?”

            At his insistence, we hiked to the site. I expected to have the last laugh. But now my hearts stand still as I watch the two-legged creatures in shiny suits lumber about their craft.

            “Perhaps they come in peace,” I whisper.

And Just for Fun:

           * Hint: It’s not a typo. *

167 comments on “7 March 2014

    • I was completely thrown by this prompt and then I did some research on the volcano itself. It’s fascinating! Did you know that the lava flow from this volcano is sometimes natrocarbonite lava which means it can flow like a whitewater stream! (It is the only volcano that erupts with this sort of lava.) Also most newly solidified lava is black and contains crystals which sparkle in the sunlight.
      I freaking love this prompt!
      p.s.
      I managed to work none of this into my actual entry which is somewhat disappointing. However I think I might do a post about the volcano itself. Sometimes I think I’m too geeky for my own good but oh well.

      Thank you for the wonderful prompt.

      Like

  • I could feel your heart stop when you saw them. No worries.They probably just need to borrow some sugar…na-nu na-nu.

    Like

  • Excellent story, Rochelle! I love a good sci-fi tale. The original The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of my favorite movies. I wrote a paper about it for a film class in college. Gort is the best robot alien, ever. Perhaps your aliens have come to Earth to teach us a lesson just as Klaatu and Gort did. 🙂

    Like

  • Dear Rochelle

    Quite a different genre for you, well done for setting the scene so well. I thought at first that ‘hearts’ was a typo, then realised the invaders were human!!

    Take care
    Dee

    Like

  • We don’t come in peace nearly often enough, although we’ve come to pieces much too often.
    An enjoyable departure from your “usual” stories. And don’t smack me; “usual’s” not meant in a negative way.

    janet

    Like

    • Dear Janet,

      No need to duck. I took that as a compliment. It was fun to branch out into something different. I see that you understood just who the aliens are. 😉 We have met the enemy and he is us.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • Love how the skeptic was wrong this time! By the way…”The Day the Earth Stood Still” is SUCH a good movie! (my wife and I love a good cheesy film – if you feel the same, check out “Metal Shifters” – or in some markets, the title of that was “Iron Invader”)

    Like

  • I watched the movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” just about a year ago when I found it online on an old movie site. I used to love those old sci-fi movies. In fact, I still like them much better than the new ones. But when your post came up in my WP Reader, the only picture it showed was the one from the movie. I thought that was the picture for this week’s story, and the wheels started turning. Oh, well, back to the drawing board.

    Oh — and by the way — I do like your story this week. I could see those two-legged creatures in shiny suits “lumbering” around their craft — right out of the 1950’s sci-fi. Perfect!

    Like

  • Oooh, I love a story that makes you wonder whose point of view you’re looking through. Are we talking about aliens seeing humans? Humans seeing aliens? At first I immediately took it from a human’s point of view, but on a second read I was really wondering if that was what I was really reading. Cool!

    Like

  • Amazing! And Army of Darkness for the win, darling! Have you seen the wretched remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still with Keanu Reeves? Do you think the casting director just asked them to find the most robotic actor possible, and William Shatner was unavailable?

    Like

    • Dear Helena,

      I’ve found that, for the most part, remakes are pointless and lack the freshness of the original. I agree, you can’t get much more robotic than Shatner.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • I like it. This time it’s the perspective of the aliens seeing us arrive. Nice switcheroo. Trouble for the aliens is, we come in peace, but soon their culture will be obliterated by MacDonalds and Starbucks stands all over the place. And comes the specter of consumerism. Poor aliens! Great story, Rochelle!

    Like

    • Dear KZ,

      That’s one of the great things about Friday Fictioneers. There’s always room for experimentation. It was fun to write. Glad you caught the subtle twist. Shows you have a keen eye, m’dear.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

    • Dear Sandra,

      If you catch who the two-legged creatures in shiny suits are you’ll know for certain they never come in peace.

      Every so often it’s good to try something new. Shades of The Twilight Zone and 1950’s sci fi flicks. Thank you.

      Shalom,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • I love it, Rochelle. Big sci-fi fan here. You brought a great sense of place to the story.

    Is the title the secret command that stops the robot from decimating Earth?

    Like

  • Rochelle- This was terrific. I fear little brother may be more right then any of us hope if they have weapons of mass destruction. As i read I wondered if Dad was home building mash potato mountains. I know different movie but love the sci-fi theme.

    Like

  • I loooooved this all the way from the title, through the little surprise in the penultimate paragraph, to the video treats at the end. Brilliant 🙂

    Peace and love,
    A widely smiling two-legged creature

    Like

  • Great to know our kind is feared everywhere,lol!Two-legged are the worst I guess ;-)Loved the kid brother’s character too Rochelle-reminded me of RK.Narayan’s story -can’t remember the name -but the young child ,Thambi the protagonist -he too had a habit of spinning tales -so when he comes to the village bearing tales of someone having climbed Mount Everest,they all pooh pooh him but as evening falls,someone hears it on radio and then how the villagers react makes the rest of the story-really entertaining:-)Once again your story was fun to read:-)

    Like

      • It is always a pleasure reading your story and your’s is always the first I read Rochelle:-) If you can manage,do read his novel,”The guide” or maybe the short story collection,”Malgudi days.” 🙂

        Like

  • You did a great job interpreting this stark prompt. Sometimes a blank canvas is best. Nice twist at the end – but then, that’s no surprise!

    Like

  • Hi Rochelle. I can’t tell you how much I love stories where everything is not on the surface. Like volcanos, I guess, where the lava waits under the ground and sends up little hints occasionally to remind us it’s still there. Your story does that brilliantly this week. Even if some people don’t see your twist they will still enjoy a great story. cheers, Karen

    Like

  • You pulled one over on us this week, Rochelle! A very different style–and then you turned the tables–thinking from the human perspective becomes thinking from the alien’s perspective.

    Like

    • Dear Patti,

      Nothing’s made me happier this week than those astute people who caught POV and who the aliens really are. A little experimentation is good for the soul. 😉 Thank you.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • Rochelle, you have a broad range of stories. I like your sci-fi. Nice twist at the end there. Unfortunately, knowing two-legged beings like I do, I don’t have high hopes they come in peace. We can always hope.

    Like

    • Dear David,

      I haven’t ventured out into sci fi before save a couple of pieces that might be questioned as that genre. Yet, I grew up on Grade B sci fi flicks and started reading Bradbury when I was ten or eleven. This was a lot of fun to write and even more fun when you and others catch the twist at the end. It’s a little thing but it means a lot to find out that it works.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • Rochelle – I don’t know who to ask. But, my Friday Fictioneer entry does not show anywhere on Flash Fiction. Would you have any idea why? (Not that Flash Fiction is your responsibility). Silent

    Like

  • I thoroughly enjoyed the cleverness of this piece..and maybe they do come in peace 🙂 I must admit the photo is prompting me into my negative space, we shall see the outcome. Cheers.

    Like

  • Just fantastic, Rochelle. Talking to you this morning I realized I hadn’t read your story yet – how could I have waited?! The twist is masterfully done and makes me hope we never find life on other planets. Would we be any wiser if we did than we were when we found it on other continents?

    Like

    • Dear Jennifer,

      It was good to talk to you this morning, comment or not. 😉 It really makes me happy you caught that little twist. I don’t think everyone has.
      Given human history I wonder if we’ll ever be any wiser.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • Earthling, alien, extraterrestrial–they’re all alike. The naive natives pray for peace until the invaders bring out the heavy artillery. We can only hope your earthlings are curious interplanetary explorers rather than greedy land-grabbers and that the weapons will never be employed.

    Like

  • Aha! A new side to Rochelle this week. Subtle things in there too. I loved it. Had to read it twice to make sure I got it all right. Glad I did. Nicely done oh kind hostess! 🙂

    Like

    • Dear Jackie,

      Can’t become stagnant, right? There are those writers who write the same story with different characters and settings. I don’t want to become that.
      I’m sending you a hug for taking the time to get it. I should’ve hired Arnold to say, “It’s not a typo!”
      Thank you for your comments and compliments, oh kind fellow fictioneer.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • This is a fun take for the week, Rochelle. I especially love the multiple hearts in this week’s heroine. 🙂

    So sorry it took me until now to weigh in. I wonder how much SciFi and fantasy this week’s prompt has inspired?

    Peace,
    Marie Gail

    Like

    • Dear Marie Gail,

      I’m sending out hugs to all those who made my hearts leap by getting that. Some did some didn’t. Ah well. The audience knows what to expect and that’s all they’re prepared to believe, right?
      It’s only Friday so technically you’re not late at all. The original concept was that the prompt went out on Wednesday so that writers could take some time to write and edit. It wasn’t always a race. 😉
      Due to much multitasking I’m slow to read.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • Dear Curlylocks,
    Today’s movies are nothing like the sci-fi from my childhood. So what if they’ve got billion dollar high-tech special effects, it’s hard to compete with chanting made-up words. So, this is where that English band, Klaatu, got their name. Just wait until I put a roofing tack under the wheels of their space ship. We’ll see how high & mighty they are then.
    signed – Johnny

    Like

    • Dear Johnny,

      Yep, I grew up on good ole, cheesy as they come, dubbed Japanese sci fi. They were fun. Someone always saved the world that you’d never suspect. Of course the hero always got the girl. Sings Edith Bunker, “Those were the daaaaaaaaaays!”
      See you soon.

      CL

      Like

    • And Oooooh Amy,

      You made my day by picking up on that. I suppose if I choose something subtle I shouldn’t be miffed when some don’t catch it right? Still I think there are some who are too “polite” to tell me I have a typo. 😉 Thank you.

      Beam me up, Scotty,

      Rochelle

      Like

      • Rochelle,
        I’m so happy to make your day!! I just released a story where many didn’t get it (not FF, another). But it’s my fault so I take the blame. I know how it feels! You’re welcome! We were on the same wavelength this week!

        Up you go!
        Amy

        Like

    • Dear Phyllis,

      I’ve been a lover of sci fi since I was a wee child. I just never have felt comfortable trying to write it. This photo seemed to beg for it as evidenced by the number of us this week.
      I think she will ponder his other stories in her hearts. Glad you liked.

      Live long and prosper,

      Rochelle

      Like

  • Oh dear, took me by surprise! Great ending…one does wonder about those two legged creatures, they have a bad reputation when they visit other places on their own planet, I can just imagine that their selective interpretation of what life is might just carry over with their voyages through space…

    Like

  • I did not get the reference (I am woefully inadequate in certain areas of sci-fi) but I definitely liked the story despite this. That last line was great! I was happy to see this photo show up.

    Like

  • As a professed science fiction admirer, I, too, loved the twist to your science-fiction story, Rochelle. I’m even wondering if the surprise might be delayed until the ending; I think you might be able to get away with removing “They’ve got cyclotrons?” entirely. But that’s my (less than) 2 cents’ worth! 🙂 I wrote something for this challenge because the photo really lends itself to speculation and writing (kudos, Mr. Bowman), but I’m not linking up because mine goes quite a bit (about 45-47 words) over the limit; I hope it’s okay if I mention it, though. If not, no worries; please let me know I’ve erred!. I’m more than open to constructive criticism: http://leighswordsmithery.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/friday-fictioneers-letters-of-shelley/

    Like

  • Dear Leigh,

    You make good points to ponder. The twist might be clearer if I left the hearts standing still to the very end. And as I’m compiling a book of these mini stories to be put in print I’ll give this some thought.
    At any rate, I’m very pleased that you caught the twist. 😉 Some did some didn’t. While I’ve always been a science fiction fan, this is the first time I’ve actually tried my hand at it.
    As I’ve said before, you won’t be forced to walk the plank for going 47 words over. I don’t recommend it every time.

    Thank you for taking the time to comment.

    Live long and prosper,

    Rochelle

    Like

    • Keep up with the sci-fi, Rochelle. I think you do a more-than fine job with it, with the authentic dialogue and “eureka” moments! Yeah, I caught the twist, but admittedly not until cyclotrons and then the two hearts confirmed it. Otherwise, from the title, I simply thought it was kids of approximately the era of TDtESS or thereabouts. Your story and the twist were not altogether un-Serlinglike either (and I love TZ), albeit without the altogether bleak ending and dark or dystopian setting.

      Like

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