The other day I had written about flash fiction…using the least number of words possible. A friend pointed me toward some other stories – for instance ~ Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words:
and is said to have called it his best work. So a number of writers from various genres decided to see how close to six words they could make their works.
Arthur C. Clarke wrote:
The universe ceased to exist.”
Here are some other concise masterpieces.
Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.
— William Shatner
Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?
— Eileen Gunn
Automobile warranty expires. So does engine.
— Stan Lee
Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
— Margaret Atwood
I’m your future, child. Don’t cry.
— Stephen Baxter
1940: Young Hitler! Such a cantor!
— Michael Moorcock
Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.
— Richard Powers
The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.
— Orson Scott Card
We went solar; sun went nova.
— Ken MacLeod
Easy. Just touch the match to
— Ursula K. Le Guin
Epitaph: He shouldn’t have fed it.
— Brian Herbert
Heaven falls. Details at eleven.
— Robert Jordan
Lost, then found. Too bad.
— Graeme Gibson
Bang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.
— David Brin
Metrosexuals notwithstanding, quiche still lacks something.
— David Brin
Ships fire; princess weeps, between stars.
— Charles Stross
Finally, he had no more words.
— Gregory Maguire
He read his obituary with confusion.
— Steven Meretzky
Dorothy: : “Screw it, I’ll stay here.”
— Steven Meretzky
maturenotdeadblog 