Here we go then. 11 entries this time from 10 authors and every one a joy. I’ve made my choice but it took a while and was not easy.
OZ:- O brave new world
Oz, another powerful entry in so many ways. Still remember driving south on the M1 in Yorkshire in 1984 on our way to a holiday in France. Every slip road cordoned off with cohorts of police waiting to intercept any flying pickets. Interesting times and I admit that I initially thought that your tale was simply about those far-off days.
Then, you hit me with PC Muir and your punchline. As I will be saying again, I had really hoped that my theme this month would produce ‘My Word’ entries. Thank you for not disappointing me and thank you for the strong, well-written story itself.
TR:- The Chariot Play
JW. A tour-de-farce. I think you managed to get nearly all of us ‘authors’ into your tale and you definitely caught me bang to rights, in my opinion. I could, of course, be wrong. Hugely enjoyable and very strong on lemons.
Bearsy:– Aver: Chant of Menace
To return to Muir/Norden, I did feel that one of the best bits of the last CW competition was the fact that some entrants chose to go down the ‘My Word’ route. One of my favourite memories of the 60’s is listening to Frank and Denis ravelling long-winded and complicated tales to justify their pun-ridden taglines.
Bearsy, you managed to do the whole thing within a sonnet which is a pretty neat trick. Pure brilliant!
As a bonus, you reminded me of one of my favourite songs by Flanders & Swann.
Janus Primus:- Brave New World
Janus was one of the reasons that I started blogging on MyT. I joined in September 2007 and did not summon up the courage to post anything until November. But I read everything and particularly liked Janus’s affectionate and accurate poetic tributes to the works of Stanley Holloway and his Jock sidekick, Marriott Edgar. Many of his poems and my comments on them perished when Janus was expunged in one of the great MyT Flame Wars but I remember how consistently good they were and he’s still in great form today. Thanks, Janus.
OMG:- Oh Brave New World
OMG, a first effort in the CW competition, I think, and a highly creditable one. The comments you received say it all. A chilling tale which might be only too accurate about what lies in store for future generations but written with pace and humour. A really serious contender.
Janus Secundus:- Brave New World Pt II
I thought your first effort was really good, Janus. I think this one is even better. Well crafted, supported by a great choice of images and with a strong central theme.
Sipu:- Wrecked
Sipu, this was so real and a tremendous read. Particularly enjoyed your dialogue and the fact that the end of your tale was, hopefully, a new beginning. You made me want to read more.
Araminta:- The Place
The trouble with this competition, in my opinion, is that the distaff side keep piling in at the last minute with incredibly powerful entries which force me to take even more time to come to a decision, thereby upsetting Janus. Not that that’s a problem, of course.
Ara, you led the late charge this time and what a cracker. I’ve read it about ten times now and I still don’t think I’ve plumbed all its depths. As Jahn1 says, an escape to reality. I can’t better her comment.
Bilby:- The Dreaming
Bilby, I got the Flo Joh reference, courtesy of my ex-Jock, New Australian and hippy brother-in-law who lives in Maleny and who used to send me long letters and articles about the pair of them.
I hope that I got the rest of your tale as well. Another disturbing yet comforting vision of a possible future. I don’t know if you have ever read ‘Nation’ by Terry Pratchett? If not, I recommend it highly. I believe that your story is as good in many ways and I also believe that you could expand the world you have invented into a much longer story.
Pseu:- Pandemic
Pseu. This is where you genuine Creative Writers score hand over fist against us amateurs. I had to go back over and read your story several times to truly appreciate the craftmanship. Little peripheral touches like the fact that it’s a Friday evening but the Sunday papers are still strewn around because that’s the day that David made his break. Again a vision of a future world that is somewhat uncomfortable to think about if it did come true (unless you are the admirably consistent CO, of course).
janh1:- Creative Writing Comp – October
Statutory cheap shot first, Janh1. A brilliant idea to write in the persona of somebody for whom English is not a first language. Stops me completely from helpfully pointing out any spelling or grammatical errors.
Brilliant story in so many other ways as well. Understated tension building throughout and an ending which left everything to my own imagination. In the words of the great Craig Revel Horwood, ‘I loved it!’
So, nothing really in it. All great entries and I enjoyed reading every one. OMG is a worthy runner-up for me and I’m going to award the prize this month to somebody who has consistently delivered over the years. Our rules state that any genre is acceptable and that images are encouraged. I think that Janus deserves to win this time with Part II and I congratulate him.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Oh, you are a wonderful judge, JM 🙂 I particularly liked the comments for jan!
Thank you for your kind remarks on my attempt.
Well done, Janus! It was worth the wait.
Well done Janus.
Mr Mackie, sir; I think you have done a splendid job with the setting and the judging and thank you for your very generous appraisal of my typically last minute entry.
Thank you!
I echo, Nym. Three cheers for the Judge! I haven’t read ‘Nation’, but will look out for it. Thanks, John, you are rather wonderful and very kind, if I may say so.
Congrats, Janus! A well-deserved win. 😀
Oh, gosh! Just woken up and read all this. Don’t know what to say. Thank you, John (et al.). When it’s sunk in I’ll return……
Congrats to both of you, was it an entry from each?
If so we have to be told 😉
Soutie, don’t let on but you’re right. But Backside prefers his macho image and doesn’t often reveal his feminine side. 🙂
John, you are a generous judge and I’m more than flattered by your decision. The fact is that my Mum’s sister’s husband’s Dad (got that?) used to do an annual SH spot in the church concert when I were lad and I was hooked immediately by EM’s craft and SH’s delivery. I then lived oop narth for the best part of twenty years and absorbed the dialects and accents – and you should hear my youngest daughter ‘do’ Blackburn English!
Mornin’ JM – This was a particularly challenging competition (well I thought so anyway, but I may, of course, be wrong 😉 ) and I think you did an excellent job both with the setting and the judging thereof. Congratulations to Janus – a worthy winner.
OZ
Well done Janus- Congratulations.
And great to see a Northern winner. 🙂
Congratulations Janus! Throughly deserved because as I said, the voice intoning in my ear as I read was purest Stanley. Gorn but not forgotten. 🙂
Thanks for your kind comments John. I couldn’t resist thwarting your pedantry on this one occasion but usually, as you know, I am grateful, nay, dependent on it!
*Love* the Warthog song. My mum used to sing me “Mud, mud glorious mud” before sleepy-byes every night for many years. She liked to make a rod for her own back.