Short Fiction

Week 500: Starring David Henson

ireneallison12

Good morning to all and as promised over the last two weeks, long time site friend will be the first of our Guest Weekly Wrap Writers. So, without further delay, Heeeeerrrre’s David!!!

My three reactions after reading the invitation from Leila, Diane and Hugh to write the 500th Saturday post were: I’m honored; should be fun; I can’t think of anything to say.

(End of post)

…Seriously, it’s daunting after reading the Saturday posts for years because I’ve often wondered how the editors weave such entertainment, wit and insight from whole cloth. I can’t do that.

(End of post)

(Kidding again.)

How does an online literary journal survive for 500 weeks? (3,500 from a dog’s perspective and 35,000 in internet time.) Foremost, I think, is the commitment of the editors (including Nik, Adam and Tobias in the early days). We appreciate all you’ve done and will do. (Readers, please rap table or desk with knuckles while saying here, here.)

Second is the variety. LS is the Ed Sullivan Show (dating myself) of the literary world. Almost all styles, genres and topics are welcome. Variety keeps the site fresh.

Third, of course, are the stories themselves. No journal can present The Beatles every time. Even Ed occasionally introduced a comedian who bombed or a juggler who fumbled. Same with literary journals. Most publish an absolute clunker occasionally. There are a few that don’t, and Literally Stories is one. When I start reading an LS story, I’m confident I won’t be wasting my time. (A quick knuckle rap and  here here for the banner images as well.)

I think a fourth reason for the longevity of LS is that the site attracts authors by offering multiple reinforcements: the oh-happy-day if a story is accepted; publication with ego-stroking likes and comments (few journals have both; many have neither); and the Saturday recap with additional positive feedback from the editors. Speaking of which, it’s now time for a non-commercial break for the editors’ recap of this week’s stories.

RECAP OF WEEK’S STORIES

Thank you David.

The five writers this week are LS newcomers. Over the years we have published hundreds of writers and even a couple of young persons for their first time ever. This week’s group gives us a wide range of topics and viewpoints, which is always the soul of a good publication.

The Pelaconi Flower by Jon Krampner is a lovely little bit of folklore that is fully fleshed out, unlike similar pieces that become somewhat limned over time. The result is humourous, unexpected and fresh. And the prologue is perfectly charming.

Tuesday brought us GranCel by Leah Mullen. It focuses on a certain type of individual that the Information Age has transformed from merely a loner but into a paradoxical “social loner.” It disturbs greatly, yet there are flashes of dark humour–especially the frugal saving of bullets.

One of the strangest items in civilization is the variety of conduct of engagement protocols in war. From ancient times to the Geneva convention, there has been an attempt to add rules to the violence. Only in war may you kill as many as possible yet be blameless if you follow the correct procedures.  The Battle Below by Bridget Goldschmidt is a brilliant examination of that sort of nonsense. War as entertainment for a picnic, or like a football game should be ridiculous, but hardly any more ridiculous than the activity itself.

The legend of Roanoke returned Thursday with My Imagination. But instead of centering on the mystery (which is still presented in a clever way) Niles Reddick turns in a modern story in which the dreamer MC keeps turning up rocks instead of history, thus unable to win the affection of his heart’s desire.

We closed Week 500 with the melancholy Pink Clouds. Samuel Snyder brought hidden corners of London and secret conceptions of the heart to readers. It’s a highly personal story that should not be missed.

That’s all the business from the Editor’s table now we return you to our Special Guest Star Mr. Henson for the big finish.

Mr. Henson

Me again. Let’s close with a list. Lists are popular for Saturday posts. Lists are fun. Lists are the antithesis of listless. To commemorate the 500th Saturday post, everyone is asked to name their 500 favorite stories that have appeared since the journal launched in 2014…. Okay, not 500. Just one or three. Please peruse your memories and the stories (see links on LS home page or author search) then note a couple pieces that stand out. Don’t include any written by the editors or the monkey I’ve trained to write mine. Also, the editors are asked to not participate. (Hey, my post, my rules.)

Let’s try to fill the alphabet below. To get us started, I’ve selected one for you and U. (The story was written by one of the best and earliest friends of the site.)

Please have at it:

A: A Bard of the Old School essay by Dale Williams Barrigar (Honestly B-suggestion)

B: Book of Condolences by Evan Parker (suggested by Dale W Barrigar)

C

D

E

F: Four Bars by Hugh Cron* (suggested by Paul Kimm * technically ineligible due to Dave’s rules, but hey, call a cop) and Fortune’s Gambit by Ed Dearnley (Gerry Coleman entry)

G: Good Girls and Goddesses by Rachel Sievers (suggested more than once by Marco E.) and (The) Great God Pan essay by Leila Allison (suggested-HonestlyB)

H

I

J

K

L: Lonely Line Rider by Tom Sheehan (suggested by Mick Bloor)

M

N

O

P: Patsy’s Last Gig by JD Clapp (Honestly B suggestion)

Q

R

S: Sky Lights: Melissa Dyrdahl (suggested by Dale W Barrigar) and Spite by Alex Sinclair (Honestly B)

T (But not when followed by H. I’m looking at you, “The.”)

U Unanimous by June Griffin 

V

W

X 

Y

Z

I’ve now written 500-ish words for the 500th Saturday column, so:

(End of Post)

(Seriously.)

Image: edited rendition of number 500 from www.freepik.com

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Published by ireneallison12

36 thoughts on “Week 500: Starring David Henson”

  3. Hi David

    Due to doing the tags and other things, I believe I have read your post (completely and in bits and pieces) at least fifteen times. And it didn’t get old, but maybe twenty will show some wear. Regardless, you captured the moment perfectly! Moreover being asked to do nothing zeros in on one of my strengths.

    I will however, say tomorrow and till the end will edit in the selections and the names of their choosers.

    Great job,!

    Leila

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  4. David and Editors,
    I’d like to mention “Book of Condolences,” by Evan Parker. And “Sky Lights,” by Melissa Dyrdahl.
    I also want to add a few words, soon, on the VARIETY of the stories published by LS, which David so astutely pinpointed as a key feature of this site/magazine.
    Dale

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  5. Dear David,
    Thanks for your wit, liveliness, and word play. Also, you are absolutely on target in pinpointing VARIETY as a key feature of this magazine and its enduring appeal.
    Harold Bloom and other literary critics have pointed out that the modern short story can be broadly separated into two categories. There is frequent overlap in the categories. And many stories can be said to be in both categories on some level. But overall, we can say that REALIST short stories, and FANTASY short stories, are the two modern kinds. Realist speaks for itself. Fantasy doesn’t only include fantasy as in Lord of the Rings, but is often also called SPECULATIVE fiction, such as science fiction, horror and terror, myth and fable, etc. (Much crime, detective and mystery fiction will go into one or the other category depending on what it emphasizes. Raymond Chandler is realism.) Almost all, or all, the literary sites and magazines I know of today tend to emphasize one or the other kind of fiction, but NOT BOTH: equally. LS seems unique, and uniquely valuable, because it seems to emphasize, equally, both kinds of fiction on a regular basis.
    Shakespeare wrote in both modes, as in romance comedies like the Winter’s Tale and Midsummer Night’s Dream vs. the history plays. Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Carver, Carson McCullers, Flannery O’Connor, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Bukowski, Grace Paley wrote mostly realist stories. Shirley Jackson, Ursula K. le Guin, Jorge Luis Borges, Italo Calvino, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, Stephen King, write mostly fantasy. Philip K. Dick also wrote many realist stories that were all roundly rejected during his lifetime. Stephen King has sometimes branched out into more realist fiction which has been some of his best writing. Emily Dickinson wrote equally successful poems in both modes, and many hundreds of both, literally. Edgar Allan Poe blurred the definitions like no one else while also creating the definitions in his poetry, essays, and stories.
    Most academic literary journals publish almost exclusively “realist” fiction (although how realistic it actually is, is definitely at question). And there are a whole plethora of online journals that focus on ONLY speculative fiction and are very specific in their guidelines on this. In doing both kinds of stories on a regular basis, LS becomes a unique kind of “Shakespearean” journal. Thanks again! (It’s also worth noting that Ben Jonson always believed he himself was a much better writer than his pal Will Shakespeare; and that’s no joke.)
    Sincerely,
    Dale

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    1. Thank you, Dale, for an informative and interesting comment. For me, King’s forays into realism (e.g., Misery and Shawshank Redemption) were his best. Maybe those are “exaggerated realism.” As for Emily Dickinson … it’s impossible to say enough good things about her work.

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  6. Thank you for this David – as Leila said those of us at the back end (not donkey – but site – I believe it’s the correct term – or did it start with ar -oh no, no that was something else) we have seen this quite a number of times but it’s a fun read and thank you for the mention of the banner images, I really appreciate that. I’m looking forward to seeing how the list pans out. dd

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  7. Dear David,

    I also want to highlight your extremely accurate observation on the commitment of the editors. “Exuberance is beauty,” said William Blake. Combined with the critical intelligence and insight of the LS editors, their exuberance and passion must add up to the commitment. In a world that has become all too obsessed with the bottom line and the dollar sign, this commitment is a moral act, not unlike Henry David Thoreau building his small, immortal cabin. For stories to be truly good, they have to remain pure on some level. Thanks again!

    Dale

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. A beautifully crafted post, David. And three cheers for LS in reaching 500 weeks.
    I was going to nominate a perfect western by Tom Sheehan (I could hear the drawl in the dialogue), but my memory is a thing of rags and tatters – cant remember the title and cant find it, scrolling down the list of Tom’s pieces. So instead, I’ll nominate another western of Tom’s ‘(The) Lonely Line Rider’ – a wonderful character study.

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  9. I’m too new to list my favorite stories, but I love the way this place is not just a litmag; it feels like a community, one run by some engaging camp counselors. Am glad I found it.

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  10. Hi David,

    You have done us proud. To be thrown in at the deep end and come up swimming is an attribute that you have shown us with your imagination and writing skill throughout the years.

    A few of you (Those who have commented) have mentioned variety of stories and I believe that is due to us being so different in our tastes and writing styles. We have a respect for each other and will take on board what each of us is passionate about. However that is over simplifying things!! We need quality no matter what our preferences and that is all down to the likes of you and all our wonderful writers.

    I love saying – ‘This ain’t my thing, but I enjoyed it.’

    What I like is easy, what changes my opinion may piss me off a bit but in ‘The name of the wee man’, I love when that happens!!

    Brilliant Dave!!!

    …And many thanks!!!!!!!!!

    Hugh

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  11. Hi David – congratulations on taking the helm this week and for the almighty 500th week! A great post too! As for which story I can attach to a letter of the alphabet I’m going to go for a recent rerun of one of Hugh’s that really spoke to me and that was ‘4 Bars’ – which either merits a separate number list or I baggsie ‘F’ for ‘Four Bars’.

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  14. Hi Folks
    I’m pretty much a new guy in town, but if Hugh will yield [or share] the F position with his 4 Bars, I’ll fill it with Fortune’s Gambit by Ed Dearnley. So much to see about ourselves and the meaning of success — which we as a species don’t get.
    Gerry

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    1. Hi Gerry
      I will add that to the Big Board; I didn’t see any prohibition against ties. But ultimately it is David’s call. He has shown himself Solomon wise, so we shouldn’t have to twain a child.
      Leila

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  15. I can barely think of a single story that doesn’t survive multiple readings. Certainly that powerhouse of a piece, Spite, by Alex Sinclair continues to reverberate. As does Patsy’s Last Gig, by JD Clapp. And such standouts too among the Auld Author pieces – particularly Dale W. Barrigar’s A Bard of the Old School and ireneallison’s The Great God Pan.

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  16. Hi Dave,

    I had to give you a nod for reaching thirty comments – That is the figure we strive for. It was first achieved by a one-off writer and then Nik. Leila has hit around fifty but you are now in a group of only four!!

    Who knows, this number may creep up – And if you answer this, you will be at thirty one!!!

    It was fun this weekend. And what with your brilliant Re-Run, I hope that you enjoyed being focused on!!!!!!

    All the very best my fine friend.

    Hugh

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