Even Shorter Flashes ~ Early Morning Thoughts

Only a slight detour from defining moments and epiphanies.

The other day I had written about flash fiction...using the least number of words possible. A friend pointed me toward some other stories - for instance ~ Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

and is said to have called it his best work. So a number of writers from various genres decided to see how close to six words they could make their works.

Arthur C. Clarke wrote:

"God said, 'Cancel Program GENESIS.'
The universe ceased to exist."

Here are some other concise masterpieces.

Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.
-- William Shatner

Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?
-- Eileen Gunn

Automobile warranty expires. So does engine.
-- Stan Lee

Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
-- Margaret Atwood

I’m your future, child. Don’t cry.
-- Stephen Baxter

1940: Young Hitler! Such a cantor!
-- Michael Moorcock

Lie detector eyeglasses perfected: Civilization collapses.
-- Richard Powers

The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.
-- Orson Scott Card

We went solar; sun went nova.
-- Ken MacLeod

Easy. Just touch the match to
-- Ursula K. Le Guin

Epitaph: He shouldn't have fed it.
-- Brian Herbert

Heaven falls. Details at eleven.
-- Robert Jordan

Lost, then found. Too bad.
-- Graeme Gibson

Bang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.
-- David Brin

Metrosexuals notwithstanding, quiche still lacks something.
-- David Brin

Ships fire; princess weeps, between stars.
-- Charles Stross

Finally, he had no more words.
-- Gregory Maguire

He read his obituary with confusion.
-- Steven Meretzky

Dorothy: : "Screw it, I'll stay here."
-- Steven Meretzky