CV Walter, editor.
Volume 1 of 4 (so far)
(I’m NOT going to do any more research on it, so there may be errors in the next paragraph, BUT not sufficient to change the essential truth of the story. )
Sometime in the 1970s, Unknown Person approached Isaac Asimov and others with the novel idea of Postcard Stories. These were to be super-shorts, which could be contained on a postcard, and were to receive a special marketing approach (after all, money was needed). Asimov needed only the suggestion to dash off “The Turning Point,” an example of his pun-centered works.
Alas, the idea was not workable at the time.
And, what with one thing and another, a half-century passes….
….and then, THE THREE MOMS OF THE APOCALYPSE emerge on the scene. To be specific, the scene was MarsCon in Virginia Beach, where they issued the challenge: using a bit of (AMAZING) artwork as inspiration, write a short story with a 50-word limit. POSTCARD STORIES!
Whether it was the artwork, the advances in technology available since the failed attempt, or the charisma of the Three Moms (which has my vote), THIS effort succeeded. In fact, they have now published FOUR volumes, of which this is the first. I actually encountered the fourth volume a couple of weeks ago, and reviewed it here.
So (stealing a line from elsewhere), these are their stories:
Verdict, by Christopher R. DiNote. If you go to the rescue of a fool, you will only have to do it again.
The March of the Hare, by Jolie LaChance. Who knows what lurks in the hearts of Alice’s co-stars?
The Wedding of Sir Fluffykins, by Karina Fabian. Much can be said for arranged marriages of state.
Fred and the Barnacle, by Rick Cartwright. Parasite or symbiote, some things just go together. Other things? Not so much.
The Root of the Matter, by Rob Howell. Hard-boiled detective prose notwithstanding, the author deserves the carp!
Leo the Bunny Test the Hot Box, by Kortnee Bryant. One little mistake, and it’s the sixties all over again.
Baby Warrior, by Clair W. Kiernan. Yes, I’m a monster. But I’m YOUR monster.
Restaurant Critic, by Sherri Mines. You knew it was a tough job when you took it.
Callback, by Sam Robb. It’s method acting. I THINK it’s acting. ("Funny, how? I AMUSE you?)
Spirit Delivery, by Evan DeShais. “Did I do it good? Did I? Did I? Did I? I hope I did good!”
The Fae-chi, by Sandra Medlock. They grow SO fast! Sometimes you wish…
The Paper Swans of Ellendell, by Jimmie Bise, Jr. Poetry and beauty, and lethal capability.
Back From the Ballgame, by Caroline Furlong. Parenting cannot be accomplished without joyful sacrifice.
Another, by Liska McCabe. We do our duty; we grow; do we change?
The Mission, by Jennifer Cameron. A journey of a thousand miles better begin with one trip to the bathroom.
Day 4, by Nick Larda. Where else are you going to be able to see something like this?
An Evil Path, by James Bellinger. Don’t leave home without… never mind. Just, don’t leave home.
Not a Feature, by Dorothy Grant. “I’m a smashed bug on the windshield of your heart…”
Peace Goes On, by Brian Cameron. They made a desert, and called it Las Vegas. Later, that is.
Business Expectations, by Sanford Begley. To the untrained eye, she seemed to be a nice person.
A Note to Novablanca, by ZM Renick. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. (And I think this is maybe The Perfect, The Ideal, manifestation of the form. YMMV)
Puppet in the Stars, by C. V. Walter. Don’t try to bluff an old person. They will kill you, just to avoid the hassle.
It's yummy popcorn for the brain and whatever else in you that likes yummy popcorn. The artwork is absolutely lovely, and The Three Moms credit something called Midjourney for that.
I say: BRAVO!
Peace be on your household.
I can't tell you how delighted I am with your connection between this and Asimov.
ReplyDeleteI love that you love my art. Midjourney has been a fantastic tool to help this project happen.