The Sun Set in the East . . .
. . . was the shortest science fiction story ever written.
And Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") which is said to have been called his best work.
Now, Wired magazine asked science fiction, fantasy and horror writers from the realms of books, TV, movies and games to take a shot themselves.
The brief was to write a story of six words. Here are some of the best (in Mark’s opinion):
The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.
– Orson Scott Card
Heaven falls. Details at eleven.
– Robert Jordan
Bush told the truth. Hell froze.
– William Gibson
His penis snapped off; he’s pregnant!
– Rudy Rucker
Apparently only Arthur C. Clarke didn’t manage it refusing to curb his ten word masterpiece:
"God said, ‘Cancel Program GENESIS.’ The universe ceased to exist."
Well hey, Arthur, surely this works in six:
"God: ‘Cancel Program GENESIS.’ Universe ceases."
Blimey, you can’t teach these old guys anything new.
By Sue Abbott (contentious bits by Mark Brake)
markbanerji
November 13, 2006
I bet you have seen some short essays in your time…
John Davis
November 13, 2006
I once saw the sun rise in the west. The previous statement is not fiction, but it did require the science of the 20th century to make this possible and others using the same technology have probably have seen the sun set in the east. Is this a example of fiction becoming fact?