That's not very sci-fi, he said.

That's not very sci-fi, he said.

Oct 25

I’m not terribly angry with Cory right now – more accurately, his enthusiasm on a few things grates. Like, Walking Dead. Cory’s discovered THE reigning king of the zombie comics. Well done, you. If you’ve just found it now, you need more comic friends.

But mostly I want to comment on Wired’s upcoming 6-word Sci-Fi Stories, which Cory is reporting, as Cory is one of them. Didn’t make the magazine, but he made the web edition.

What’s most interesting about this article is seeing what was submitted by very bright lights. Not as many actual science fiction writers as one might expect, or hope, but the results are amusing. What’s fairly apparent though is that most had fun with the idea of a six word story, but making them ring as science fiction was mostly ignored.

Case in point, Howard Chaykin’s submission;

“I couldn’t believe she’d shoot me.”

Good line, but it could have been from a pulp story, as a much as a science fiction yarn. There are other good lines, that evoke elements of horror and contemporary comedy, before they bring to mind the future. And the rest, with few exceptions, are just good lines.

I was pleasently surprised that Shatner turned in a solid “story.”

“Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.”

You should have a read, but I’d like to share my two favorites;

“I’m your future, child. Don’t cry.”
– Stephen Baxter

“Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?”
– Eileen Gunn

And just so you never think I’ve had a change of heart, at least not yet, here’s Cory’s – which makes no sense.

“Batman Sues Batsignal: Demands Trademark Royalties.”
– Cory Doctorow

sigh.