UPDATES: 2008 HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE

by **Skybase Girl** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:33 pm

Well done, everyone !

I had the pleasure of seeing Cat 2's story in it's infancy and it's a welcome addition to the small, but growing selection of NCS stories.

Lydia, this is really good !! You capture the Irishness of it all really well. I like what you've done with Elaine and her family.

Hazel, what can I say? Kooky, clever and very original, as usual ! And I echo the publisher's comments at the end! :wink:

I have a problem reading Sue's story, in that the format seems to be missing out lines. Since no one else seems to have had difficulty, I assume this is my computer. I will wrestle with it!

Marion, I need time to savour yours - I have only had a short time to read anything today. This is because, as you will have realised, I have spent a great deal of time selfishly obsessing over my own work. Thanks to the good friends on this forum, I am happy ( and ecstatically relieved) to report that it has been signed, sealed and delivered to the Beta-Queen for shock and awe treatment.

It's not a Halloween story as such, so I will leave it to the Colonel's judgement as to where and when it should be posted.

by **The Beta Queen** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:37 pm

Ah, one of my favourite times of the year, when all the new stories come out to play... Some pretty good ones, too!

Intensity Angel - a very nice vignette. Well-written and fluent. It reminds me rather of Sage Harper's story, Closure, from last year. (http://spectrum-headquarters.com/fanfic/closure.htm, in case you want to check it out)

Marion - fabulous, as always. Your stories never fail to delight, entertain and, this year, scare the socks off.

And a rare submission from Sue Stanhope! Very spooky, Sue! Smashing stuff.

I'm in reader heaven, and looking forward to the rest of the promised submissions!

by **chrisbishop** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:30 am

This is not the week-end, but we're in the middle of the Halloween Challenge month, so I thought I might as well offer a new fic for you to read.

This time, I, your faitful webmaster, am giving you the first part of my story "Parallax Blues", the long-planned follow-up to "Parallax View", one of the first stories I submitted to the Halloween Challenge, a few years ago. I won't comment it - and will hope you will enjoy!

Chris

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm

by **Intensity Angel** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:11 pm

It looks set to a winner Chris. I read it just and I like it.

Marion, The Beta Queen, thank you very much for your comments on my story.

by **chrisbishop** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:05 pm

And yet another week-end, and two new stories to offer our readers! And these time around, these two stories are presenting each a different aspect of Halloween.

"Nightmare", by Sage Harper, which explores the wonderful concept of - oh, but I won't give up the surprise!

And "No Rest for the Wicked", by Keryn, staring the always fun to write about Captain Black and... oh, I won't tell either here.

You'll have to read to find out! :wink:

Chris.

P.S.: Thanks for your good words about my story, Intensity! You presented a nice little one yourself.

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm

by **MMK** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:45 pm

I've now read all this year's Halloween stories... except Chris' - I'm reading that one at the moment.
Love them all! :grin:

Sage - nice one! Another 'wicked' practical joke by Ochre! :twisted:

poor Mags.... but it was a 'good' joke though :wink:

by **Marion** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:47 am

Yes, we have 2 more excellent stories!
Nice one, Sage - I think Ochre's got a lot of pacifying to do if he doesn't want a humdinger of a black eye after that little escapade! :grin:

Keryn's story is an atmospheric tale, told from an unusual perspective, and very effective, I thought. It raises all sorts of questions about a pivotal character...
Well done, to you both!
Chris, I haven't commented on your story before, as I'm on tenterhooks waiting for the rest of it! The Master-Storyteller does it again! And all about my favourite character too! I am in 7th heaven! 0---0

This is turning into a super Halloween Challenge - and there's still more to come!
Yippee! :-D

by **chrisbishop** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:08 pm

Last week-end before Halloween. Not to say that this is the last occasion to post stories - To the contrary, there are still a few more stories to be posted over the week, so I suggest you keep your eyes to this space in the next few days.

For now, this week, three new stories. Actually, 2 new stories, plus a follow-up.

The follow-up "Parallax Blues, part 2: Confuisons". Second installment of my contibution for Halloween this year. It will be followed with two other parts to be posted soon (and yes, in time for Halloween)

Rabid Kookaburra has been a member of this forum for some time, and of other Anderson forum, and had decided to offer a contribution for Halloween this year: In "Nain Rouge", the Mysterons make use of an old North American legend for their newest threat.

We have another newcomer amongst us, and I predict that this story she is offering us won't be her last. Talia Gray presents us "The Dream Reaper", a short that I guarantee you will like!

Return this week for more!

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/halloween.htm

by **hazel** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:25 pm

Crumbs... I've just read The Dream Reaper. Talia, I hope you're looking at this - that was fabulous. A superbly chilling study, worthy of the masters of horror. Fantastic.

by **RhapsodyAngel8** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:31 pm

Thanks Hazel :grin:

I have to admit, I was incredibly nervous about posting 'The Dream Reaper', never having done anything like this before.
So pleased you like it :grin:

I'm slowly working my way through the other stories (when time allows). I don't know how you folks do it but they're wonderful.

by **Marion** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:19 pm

Yes, I agree Hazel. I've also read 'Dream Reaper' - an excellent story!
I enjoyed 'Nain Rouge' as well - naughty Captain Magenta... :wink:

Chris - I shall be savouring 'Pt 2 of Parallax Blues' just as soon as I can! :-D

This is turning into a classic Halloween - and still more goodies to come!

by **TRK** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:55 pm

Thanks, Marion! I was a tad concerned that Magenta was out of character there, however, and almost took that part out. Glad I kept it, then.

by **Skybase Girl** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:35 pm

I am extremely happy to say that after almost a fortnight of consignment to the computer wilderness, I am back !

Admittedly, not necessarily with full services, but I have at last managed to read up on the Halloween stories posted so far.

Chris, "Parallax Blue" is fantastic, both parts. I simply do not know how you find the time to write so much, or indeed, where the inspiration comes from for such convoluted plots. I am in awe!

Talia - I echo Hazel's comments. More please, and as soon as possible!

Sage, Rabid Kookaburra, well done! I have skimmed both and will try to catch up later tonight.

Everyone else - bear with me, I'll get there in the end and this is so enjoyable. It must be the most prolific year yet!

by **chrisbishop** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:56 am

Okay, this is the posting before the last. Friday should mark the end of the Halloween Challenge, but in the meantime, you still have a few stories to read:

Part 3 of "Parallax Blues", entitled "Deceptions", by your truly. This is the penultimate chapter in the story, with the last part to be posted VERY soon...

"Shadow Whispers", by Caroline Smith, who, on Halloween, always knows how to send a shiver down our spine with her stories... This one isn't different!

And a very nice effort from a newcomer, Angel Crystal, who offers us "The Mysteron Curse", a New Captain Scarlet story.

See you soon for the last updates!

Chris

by **RhapsodyAngel8** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:22 am

What amazing stories!

Alas, I’m only part-way through them, but so far...

Cat2 – wonderfully chilling – and, as Intensity Angel says, it's nice to get an insight into what Blue’s pre-Spectrum years may have been like.

Sage – I wouldn’t like to be in Ochre’s shoes for one minute! That was some stunt he pulled on Melody – I’m not surprised it was her worst nightmare. Love it!

Keryn – I really like the idea of Black getting his own, private haunting over Halloween. Creepy!

Sue – I loved this one! A lovely twist, with Magenta subsequently getting his own back... and then even more to come with poor, unfortunate Scarlet. What a wonderful spooky idea!

Intensity Angel - a lovely, sad and spooky story and nice that it revolved around Harmony.

Hazel - great fun and what a creepily clever idea! You simply have to finish your others now.

Chris – The story’s awesome! I’m only part-way through part 2 and have just seen part 3 posted. I don’t know how you do it, but am so glad that you do!

I have still to read through the others... oh, what have I missed out on over these past years!