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Genre: Science Fiction
The Hunt
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: FutureNew Vocabulary: Baptise, Belly, Cave in (willpower), Crush, Curl up, Epiphany, Holy water, Hunter-gatherer, Intended recipient, Rock bottom, Transition, Whiskers, WombWord Count: 2568Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyYou have nowhere else to go. Beth left. Kai attacked. Faruq crashed. You hid. So one day, you go to that place you’ve heard about, where you can buy a certain drug. It’s a crazy idea, but maybe you’ll feel less lonely. Your cat is your only friend left, after all.
I Bet I Could Taste It
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: FutureNew Vocabulary: ADHD, Association, Beetroot, Conjure, Diagnosis, Fidget, Genetic disorder, Glittery, Gooseberries, Gravy, Howl, Hum, Low-frequency, Magician, Medication, Mould, Poetic, Radiation, Rice pudding, Stereotype, Turkish delight, Whipped creamWord Count: 331Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyIn this episode, I present the story I won second prize with in the 2022 Summer Reflex Fiction flash fiction competition, and I also talk about my recent ADHD diagnosis.
The Digital Fugitive
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: FutureNew Vocabulary: Accessibility, Bodybuilder, Cog, Fugitive, Merge, Middle management, Nerve endings, Painkiller, Physiotherapy, Powerchair, Prosthetic, Puff, Scrap, UnderclassWord Count: 1170Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyThe war is raging on, and the government needs a part from her wheelchair. The only problem is, her wheelchair is now a part of her body. And she’s illegally modified it.
His Latest Experiment
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: AncientNew Vocabulary: After-show party, Bark (dog), Calculation, Coding, Disaster, Drag (art), Earthling, Economy, Error, Flash fiction, Gender, Graduate, Heartwarming, Heaven, Lifespan, Magnesium, Move on, Pregnancy, Rounding (maths), Times (maths)Word Count: 522Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyGod is trying to make humans, but something is wrong. His calculations look right, but the humans are staying babies for fifty years. What is the problem?
The Tattoo
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Anxious, Barber, Bum, Go bald, Hidden, Lie, Months in advance, Original, Remove, Shape, Shave your hair off, Tattoo, Treat someone likeWord Count: 2244Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘I know you think you don’t want it,’ said Gary’s girlfriend, Claire, ‘but just think. When you turn 18, most of your friends will have their tattoos already. People will want to see yours. Look, you can tell them that you’re getting it later, that you couldn’t book an appointment, but how long can you lie? One day, you’ll look around and think, “God, why don’t I have a tattoo? Everyone else does.” ’
Have You Seen This Woman?
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Christian society, Doughnut, Drunk, Embarrassed, Hungover, I wish I had…, Lecture, Poetry, SurprisedWord Count: 1345Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyShe was singing. She was drunk, I think, the way she sang. Maybe she had drunk a big glass of vodka. But her singing was good. She sounded sad, but the music was good. We were all so surprised to see her there.
It’s a Small World
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: FutureNew Vocabulary: Apocalypse, Beehive, Cure, Gut instinct, Nuclear weapon, Seed, Shrink, Squirrel, Sting, ThroneWord Count: 1811Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘You know, for an apocalypse, we live quite well.’ The soldier was eating seeds with honey. Normally, the food would have been very small, but he was small, too. So each seed was the size of his head. They were sitting in a small house made of dried grass. ‘You know I hate that word,’ said his friend.
The Last Question
The last question was asked many times. The first time was on the twenty-first of May, 2061. It was asked as a joke. This is how it happened.
The Venerable Mr. Siggs
A dark cloud descended upon the lake late that afternoon. Quentin and the others had breakfasted on the terrace, enjoying the spring sunshine, and gone for a walk along the winding paths that spotted the hillsides, and by the time they got back, the cloud was hanging there, spitting rain threateningly.