| Author |
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< Story Discussion ~ Children of the Fire, By Melissa Mead |
How was this story?
| I really enjoyed it! |
| [ 2 ] 40% |
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| It was good. |
| [ 3 ] 60% |
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| It was okay. |
| [ 0 ] 0% |
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| It was fair. |
| [ 0 ] 0% |
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| I didn't like it. |
| [ 0 ] 0% |
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Total Votes : 5 |
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| JDickerson |
 Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:33 am |
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Head Swami
Joined: 18 Dec 2006
Posts: 458
Location: Griffin, GA
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Before the temple of Solis stands a tree, gnarled, black and leafless. It looks dead, but its roots are still strong. It has stood for generations. Beneath the tree is an altar of volcanic stone, its hollowed center black as the tree. Here the villagers bring the treasures of their hearts: their prayers, their hopes, and their children.
Every family has brought at least one child to the tree, swaddled in ash-gray blankets. Midwives soon learn to recognize the Children of the Fire; born bright-eyed and feverish, red-faced and wailing. The grieving parents carry the child to the tree, tie a white prayer-ribbon to its branches, and lay the child in the smooth bowl of the altar. A high fire basket stands beside it. As the sun sets, the parents cast a small bundle of rosemary and rue into the basket, and set the fuel alight. Dropping one last kiss on the tiny, burning forehead, they turn away and journey home alone. Those few who have dared to look back have seen the Servants of Solis, in scarlet robes and golden veils, come silently down the mountain and carry the child away.
The rest of the story can be found at the following link:
http://www.hd-image.com/fiction/children_of_the_fire.htm
Tell us what you think of Melissa Mead's story. |
_________________
"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new
discoveries, is not 'Eureka, I found it!' but 'That's funny....'" (Isaac Asimov). |
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| bearmountainbooks |
| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:27 pm |
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Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 77
Location: Texas
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| I admit, I tend to like Melissa Mead's lighter fare better than this particular piece (But we all know that I don't really enjoy horror, which kind of disqualifies me!) It's a well-written piece and engaging. She has a strong sense with setting and emotions. |
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| Melissa Mead |
| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:09 pm |
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 5
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| Thank you. I'm sorry this one wasn't your cup of tea, but I really appreciate the compliments. |
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| bearmountainbooks |
| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:05 am |
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Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 77
Location: Texas
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Mind you, it's a very good story! And it does what it is supposed to do (left me feeling like I wanted so much more for the characters and feeling that sense of lost opportunity by the mother because she never appreciated what she had and could not see past what she "needed" to see at a given moment.) It's very real. Which just means I am often saddened by reality.  |
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| Sophy |
| Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:44 am |
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Joined: 24 Apr 2009
Posts: 1
Location: FL
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| Well-written story, with round characters. The use of the prayer ribbons added another dimension to this story--the contrast of something innocent and beautiful heightened the horror elements. |
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| Melissa Mead |
| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:49 pm |
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 5
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| ThatGuy |
| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:46 pm |
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The Illustrious Potentate
Joined: 18 Apr 2007
Posts: 224
Location: DC
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bearmountainbooks wrote: IBut we all know that I don't really enjoy horror.
It never crossed my mind that this was horror. Not that I'm an idiot, but it didn't immediately place itself in a genre to me. I thought of it more as fantasy than horror. (I won't try and restart another discussion about horror not being a genre as much as an emotion).
I thought it was a good story with anticipatory elements: waiting for the people to come down from the mountain; what were they going to do with him; what had happened to his sister, etc. These to me just seem to be elements that built excitement, created questions, and built anticipation.
My main point being just to ask a question for Bearmountain: If you thought this was horror, but you don't read horror, what do you read? I mean that as a polite, just curious question. I hope it to not be as snotty as it may sound. |
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| bearmountainbooks |
| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 1:26 am |
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Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 77
Location: Texas
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No offense taken. I read quite a bit of fantasy; urban fantasy being a favorite sub-category (think John Levitt, Mercede Lackey, Illona Andrews, Patricia Briggs).
With short stories, it can be really hard to tell whether it's going to be fantasy or horror because the elements overlap.
I'd agree that this wasn't strictly horror, and it definitely had fantasy elements. What made it move more towards "horror" was the way the ending worked and the concepts there-in SPOILER_____
The mother was so concerned about her daughter, she literally could not see her son. This message has a real-life "horror" application as so many stories often do.
Some people define horror by the characters in the story (werewolves, vampires, etc) while I tend to define it more by the violence or emotional outcome. Sad stories are not automatically horror, but if they are emotionally disturbing and fantasy, then I'll generally label it horror.
One of the reasons I read Aberrant is because there's a variety. I admit that I do avoid short e-zines that contain largely horror stories. |
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| bearmountainbooks |
| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 1:28 am |
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Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 77
Location: Texas
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| Oh--I also read a lot of mysteries (cozies and general are probably the largest category). I avoid horror/mysteries (no fantasy element) as well. For me it is defined somewhat by a level of violence or a type of crime as well as the description level of such and perhaps frequency. |
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| Mike Wesolek |
| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 7:25 am |
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Joined: 02 May 2009
Posts: 1
Location: arizona
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Melissa,
I have to say right off the bat that the first few paragraphs drew me in. I am new to the site and your work was the first thing I read. I enjoyed it and I think you had a new spin on some very powerful themes. When I am leaving feedback I always elicit, two I liked, and one I wish. So here goes:
I liked - The way it pulled me in from the start. I knew I would finish it after reading the first couple paragraphs.
I liked – Be very careful what you wish for theme.
I wish – I couldn’t tell if this was a fantasy setting or post apocalyptic. I thought the first scene burst of the page with fantasy setting but then I questioned it when I got to the genetic part.
“Micah says this whole settlement is the result of trial and error. Lots of trial and one genetic error, he says”
Did they once know about genetics and it was lost?
I guess my greatest I wish would be… I wish the work was longer so I could know more. I like the way you wrote it and questions linger in my head after I read it, like any good work does. Keep it up and I would like to see more.
Mike |
_________________
Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet.
Chinese Proverb |
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| JDickerson |
| Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 11:08 am |
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Head Swami
Joined: 18 Dec 2006
Posts: 458
Location: Griffin, GA
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Thanks for the discussion everyone! I appreciate everyone's comments.
Also, welcome to the forum, Mike! Great avatar, I might add  |
_________________
"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new
discoveries, is not 'Eureka, I found it!' but 'That's funny....'" (Isaac Asimov). |
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| Melissa Mead |
| Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 12:58 am |
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 5
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Mike Wesolek wrote: Melissa,
I have to say right off the bat that the first few paragraphs drew me in. I am new to the site and your work was the first thing I read. I enjoyed it and I think you had a new spin on some very powerful themes. When I am leaving feedback I always elicit, two I liked, and one I wish. So here goes:
I liked - The way it pulled me in from the start. I knew I would finish it after reading the first couple paragraphs.
I liked – Be very careful what you wish for theme.
I wish – I couldn’t tell if this was a fantasy setting or post apocalyptic. I thought the first scene burst of the page with fantasy setting but then I questioned it when I got to the genetic part.
“Micah says this whole settlement is the result of trial and error. Lots of trial and one genetic error, he says”
Did they once know about genetics and it was lost?
I guess my greatest I wish would be… I wish the work was longer so I could know more. I like the way you wrote it and questions linger in my head after I read it, like any good work does. Keep it up and I would like to see more.
Mike
Thank you!
I think of the story as Fantasy, myself. I don't think of it as post-apocalyptic in the sense that one big disaster reset civilization, but I think of this place as being a sort of backwater with pockets of abandoned knowledge left by other cultures passing through. |
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| Melissa Mead |
| Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:52 am |
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Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 5
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Mike Wesolek wrote: Melissa,
I have to say right off the bat that the first few paragraphs drew me in. I am new to the site and your work was the first thing I read. I enjoyed it and I think you had a new spin on some very powerful themes. When I am leaving feedback I always elicit, two I liked, and one I wish. So here goes:
I liked - The way it pulled me in from the start. I knew I would finish it after reading the first couple paragraphs.
I liked – Be very careful what you wish for theme.
I wish – I couldn’t tell if this was a fantasy setting or post apocalyptic. I thought the first scene burst of the page with fantasy setting but then I questioned it when I got to the genetic part.
“Micah says this whole settlement is the result of trial and error. Lots of trial and one genetic error, he says”
Did they once know about genetics and it was lost?
I guess my greatest I wish would be… I wish the work was longer so I could know more. I like the way you wrote it and questions linger in my head after I read it, like any good work does. Keep it up and I would like to see more.
Mike
Thank you, Mike!
Micah is unusually well-educated compared to most people in the area. |
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