Monday, November 06, 2006

The 6-word story

Those of you who know me, know that I'm quite into fantasy novels, so it was cool when Wired Magazine asked 33 horror, sci-fi and fantasy writers as well as five designers to write 6-word science fiction stories. This was first made famous by Ernest Hemingway who said his 6-word story was one of the best pieces of writing he had ever written:

This is Hemingway's: For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.

Here are some of my favourites:

Orson Scott Card: The baby's blood type? Human, mostly.

Stephen R. Donaldson: Don't marry her. Buy a house.

Ursula K. Le Guin: Easy. Just touch the match to

Brian Herbert: Epitaph: He shouldn't have fed it.

Some of them are quite thought-provoking and I never knew social and political commentary could punch so hard with 6-words. It's the literary equivalent of Bruce Lee's One Inch Punch.
For example, Richard K. Morgan's: K.I.A. Baghdad, Aged 18 - Closed Casket

I dare you guys to try some and post them in the comments. I'll get the ball rolling.

He said it would last. Longer.

17 comments:

Caz said...

Drive thru queue = quick "I do"

Anonymous said...

Running free. Winded. Life moves ahead. -- That is some deep shit. Hemingway's story has got nothing on mine!

henno said...

Not bad, not bad.

Caz - I hope that one has nothing to do with your marriage??? :P

Al - that is some deep shiat - I thought you're super-fit by now - how come you still get winded?

arcadia said...

the pattern was perfect. well, no.

henno said...

You're not my wife? My bad.

Anonymous said...

Head bro, Winded in life...winded in spirit... NOt physically. Hehe, told you that shit was deep.

Anonymous said...

OI head, your last story, by the way was an instant classic. Keep up the ultra short stories. Haha

Anonymous said...

Last minute? What you doing now.

I thought I would put in a little effort for a first one. Awe the Al! Chat soon. O and I landed my plane for the the first time yesterday. Kak Sweet!

Anonymous said...

Shit or get off the pot.

henno said...

Hehe - nice one Susan :) - see it's not that hard!

Justin, who the hell let your land their plane? Jokes, sounds killer.

Susan said...

We all go home. Story ends?

Anonymous said...

Here goes:

I hate long goodbyes. Just leave.

Henno said...

hmmmm....there must me something more...

Zo said...

She said "I do", He didn't.

Ellen Peirce said...

Her bruises hurt. She deserves them.

Marlon said...

How about this one.

Arrived, alien. Became citizen. Died human.

MRVavala said...

Coiled rope;
free to good home