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Category Archives: Wonderful, Awful Ideas
The Homo sapiens Long Term Evolution Experiment
https://danbensen.tumblr.com/post/176617090275/so-i-am-into-my-third-white-russian-and-i-am
Bulgarian words for try
Sorry I don’t have much for this week’s Wonderful Awful ideas. Just four Bulgarian words that might all be translated as English “try.” Opitvam se (опитвам се) is related to pitam (I ask). As in opitah se da pobedya, “I … Continue reading
Save us from the Whale
“People need a way to stave off the constant possibility that common understanding may break down.” — N.J. Enfield, How We Talk Royal tangs wobbled serenely between the softly undulating tentacles of sea anemones. Bubbles rose in a shimmering curtain. The … Continue reading
Posted in Stories, Wonderful, Awful Ideas
Tagged Fellow Tetrapod, science fiction, speculative biology
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Rotifers (1)
Behold! The Trochate Rotifers! Like all rotifers, trochates have three body segments: head, trunk, and foot. The head and trunk are supported internally by a calcified skeleton evolved from the mastax (used in basal rotifers to process food). The mastax’s … Continue reading
Posted in Wonderful, Awful Ideas
Tagged Fellow Tetrapod, science fiction, speculative biology
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Tandem: a better story
Earlier this week, I asked for writing prompts, and the inimitable Emil Minchev responded: “Remember Solo? Do the opposite” Okay, so…IN THE DISTANT FUTURE, IN THIS VERY GALAXY… A wealthy, middle-aged woman named Foong Tandem stays on her comfortable, safe, … Continue reading
Shiftin’ shapes!
Yesterday I asked for writing prompts, and Lew Delport responded: “Shapeshifters with language that changes according to shape” and upon follow-up questioning: “No idea, you’re the writer! Seasonal, maybe?” So I got to thinking: V. nonhuman idea: alien sophonts go through … Continue reading
Five Factor Warriors: Wada Junko
(first)(previous) Make me a lawbender All equalized Saved from the chill and heat — Vienna Teng, “Landsailor” KoInu-chan reached out of the camera’s frame and grabbed the pillow shaped like the Earth. She smiled at the off-camera friend who had … Continue reading
Posted in Stories, Wonderful, Awful Ideas
Tagged Fantasy, five factor warriors, short story
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Tipi from outside of Tuta
I finished The Centuries Unlimited this week, so you’re getting some conlanging! This project’s goal was simple: derive the tenses (and voices and aspects) of verbs from prepositions. For example, the epic poem Tipi-kan-tan-Tuta (Tipi from outside of Tuta) has … Continue reading
Five Factor Warriors: Jody Ann
(first)(previous) “Lightbringer Tamer of night Blossom of hours unleashed” — Vienna Teng, “Landsailor” Nothing ever surprised Jody Ann Farewell. She had walked out of her flat in Kingston, scanned the street, and found the red-plate taxi that would take her … Continue reading
Posted in Stories, Wonderful, Awful Ideas
Tagged Fantasy, five factor warriors, short story
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What if the Mongols had Invaded Japan?
From a question on the Alternate History Online facebook forum: Kublai Khan’s invasion fleet is wildly successful, and establishes a firm beachhead on Hakata Bay, from which they subjugate the island of Kyushu by 1275. From there, they conquer Shikuku and … Continue reading
