Well, well, well.
I didn't actually read any of the entries until I locked the thread.
On one hand I was disappointed we only had ten entries.
But on the other hand, I was blown away by the quality of the short stories! Beginning from Thraundil's very high bar
...which probably discouraged a few more than Calisson!
Thraundil -- Tides of BloodEntrancing story, that draws in the reader and finishes wonderfully:
KILL! KILL! BLOOD! KILL!
I've always thought that the "living quality" of battlefield events was a rich seam not often mined by storytellers, and I really liked the way you've done it! IMO the most fun story of the comp.
Ming -- Uriel WhitehandShort and sweet entry
I really liked it; entries don't have to be long to be fun. And yours was both short and very Druchii!
Vincean -- Vaik vs the AssassinFor a first Warhammer themed story this is impressive!
Another tale that draws the reader in to the world presented. Bravo
MakiwaraA wonderful entry.
This "End Times: Khaine" Competition was a great opportunity to spin ones own fluff into the official GW narrative. It was cool to see so many doing this, and your Asrai flavoured tale is a stand-out.
Of all the entries I think this has the best balance of writing quality, plotting quality and length.
Lord Drakon -- The last march of the KhainitesAn entry which captures the spirit of your force and their defiance.
Fits well into your fluff
Haagrum -- The Sister Unmasked Another classic entry from our multi-award winner
Really enjoyed Malendris' tale, and your stories have forced everyone to raise their game around here
Scythe -- Ecator Scythe Another good one, which combines the end times with the characterisation of your fluff force.
I liked the mix of description, diagloue and sudden action.
flatworldsedge -- The lesson of Naggaroth Please pass on my regards to Ms Jemma Funge if you are ever working with her again. A very charismatic model.
(Not sure if she'd want to be associated with your tale though
)
Also thanks for the chance to browse your portfolio. Do you just go around taking pictures of people? Very nice portraits
As for the story - it reminded me of reading Joyce. Most of the time I was confused ...but it was worth it for those times when your brush strokes of words came suddenly together to create an Impressionist holo-movement in the mind
Very ambitious ... & very successful
Marchosias -- The mourning wifeAwesomely near the cut entry. You were posting as I was locking
Enjoyed the tale of sundered lovers in a time of peril
Thanks to everyone who entered. I appreciated every single one.
When it comes to voting for a winner, there are four stand outs that I basically can't choose apart. Whichever one I happen to be reading is my favourite
Thraundil's tale (Danish -> English kudos
), Haagrum's and Makiwara's tales (Australian -> English kudos
) and flatworldsedge's tale are all exceptional.
I've said it before that those of you who are talented writers should really continue to cultivate the ability. With the ease of publishing through the various electronic platforms, as well as cheap wordpress websites, and free Google+ and Facebook, today really is a time of incredible opportunity for writers. The author of Fifty Shades of Grey is famously not particularly skilled, but she wrote what she enjoyed (Twilight Fan Fiction re-titled) and became very successful with it. If you enjoy writing (and by you I mean not only all of the Competition entrants, but everyone reading this) then continue to practice and share and you never know what might happen. Talent exists to be used
Because I am forced to choose my vote goes to:
...the most self-indulgent but also most ambitious entry. Which I believe required the most concentrated thought to produce;
The lesson of Naggaroth by flatworldsedge