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#245 Heavenly Bodies

On Monday, a total solar eclipse will pass directly over North America. Dubbed a "Great American Eclipse", huge areas of the continent will be plunged into darkness for four minutes. Miss it, and you'll have to wait another 20 years to see the next one.

Just like the millions of people who will watch on Monday, we've been looking up at the sky and asking questions about what we see since time immemorial. We've explained the movements of celestial bodies through myth, science, and ritual, and shaped our lives around them. This contest's prompts are inspired by this week's astronomical event, and the way objects trillions of miles away can impact us here on Earth.

🥇 Winner

Everything is Connected

Olivier Breuleux

Winner of Contest #245 🏆

Many people don't believe that everything is connected. It's strange. They believe in magnets, in electromagnetic waves, in quantum action at a distance. They believe that the force of gravity makes the Earth revolve around the Sun, and yet they do not believe that the same forces can influence the smaller details of our fate. They believe that it is all up to them. That they have free will. They say that Jupiter can gently pull the Sun, yet it cannot move our infinitely smaller souls.A paradox.The stars are difficult to read, for sure. The ...

168 likes

⭐️ Shortlisted

Like Christmas

Samantha Fenton

Shortlisted for Contest #245 ⭐️

Note: contains sexual and physical violence.LIKE CHRISTMASThe eclipse came and so did my relatives, in a fashion similar to the Fourth of July or Easter. Casseroles, potatoes, pie. Tin foil. It was not like Christmas. I will explain why.My cousin, Melony, came last, and put a greasy bag of gas station JoJos into my hands. Said curtly, “Muffins burnt up.” Shot a withering glance at her new husband, who refused to meet it.“I’ve been craving these anyway. We should get together more often,” I said.“Of course.”This was the stilted talk of those ...

20 likes

This week's prompts

Set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made.

Fiction – 71 stories

Write a story in which a character navigates using the stars.

Adventure – 24 stories

Imagine an origin myth that somebody might use to explain an eclipse, or some other celestial event.

Fantasy – 48 stories

People have gathered to witness a once-in-a-lifetime natural phenomenon, but what happens next is not what they expected.

Mystery – 42 stories

Set your story in a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of inhabitants.

Fantasy – 35 stories

Stories

Everything is Connected

Olivier Breuleux

Winner of Contest #245 🏆

Many people don't believe that everything is connected. It's strange. They believe in magnets, in electromagnetic waves, in quantum action at a distance. They believe that the force of gravity makes the Earth revolve around the Sun, and yet they do not believe that the same forces can influence the smaller details of our fate. They believe that it is all up to them. That they have free will. They say that Jupiter can gently pull the Sun, yet it cannot move our infinitely smaller souls.A paradox.The stars are difficult to read, for sure. The ...

168 likes

Blood Rain

Submitted to Contest #245

It wasn’t the red aliens that were the problem. It was the voodoo high priests that caused all the mischief. Monkey hands, parrot beaks, and baboon skulls were one thing. But when the blood rains came, all of the usual cons kicked into high gear.The mantis-like, spindly red alien surveyed my vegetables with an air of fascination. He stopped on the okra, holding up a stalk and studying it. He was dressed in ripped whitewashed jeans and a Blink-182 T-shirt. But behind his disguise was a standard silver spandex jumpsuit, like they all wore when...

76 likes

Too-Cute Eclipse

Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #245

Too-Cute EclipseRussell paced. Held the phone close to his face. Pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes as he felt the tension rise.“He's a grown man. He'll be alright. I'll do what I can but it could take all night.”“.............”“I know, I know, I KNOW. I can't be there, you know.”“..............”“I have a job. I have a life. I can't drop everything.”“.............”“I'll talk to him. It's all I can do. I'm too far away.”“.............”“What's that you say?”“.............. ..................... ..................... .................

45 likes

Through Foggy Veils of the Mystical Coast

Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #245

The Mystical Coast showed her mystery and drama while the ship called Nightflight cruised under the shimmering stars.Winds of the Mystical Coast blew a dense veil of fog across the clear waters. Then the Nightflight was wrapped in a cotton cloud mist, hiding the stars and shores needed for navigation.A towering ocean swell over the bar from the sea to the Emerald River lifted Nightflight into the salty air.Blankets of fog hid the other ship that was coming from the starboard side. Through the haze a ghostly shape appeared.Wham! The two hulls...

41 likes

The Mound Of Nu

Submitted to Contest #245

Until air, moisture, earth and sky emerged out of the deep, a formless mass existed that looked a bit like a pyramidal mound. It was called Nu. At some point in the mists of time, the sun rose like a goose breaking through the still waters to spread its life-giving light to the earth. In ancient myths, Ra was the Egyptian sun god, the creator of all that followed.Without creation, we do not exist. If we do not exist, what is there?^^^As priests, everything we do, every act and speech we make, every ritual and spell we perform is designe...

34 likes

A Very Big Pile of Ellawyn Crap

Submitted to Contest #245

"Lord Balister's men are at it again," Oakaford, the captain of the Stumper Guard, said as he entered Lady Nimmo's living room, which was currently serving as the temporary town hall. Lady Nimmo put down her quill pen and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Where this time?" The magical tree stump was carrying a rolled parchment that he placed on the table. The parchment revealed a detailed map of Trungen Forest. "There," Oakaford pointed to a spot on the southeastern edge of the forest. "That man!" Lady Nimmo stood. "Oakaford, assemble the Stu...

32 likes

The Mismatch

K.A. Murray

Submitted to Contest #245

1-Libra It was the day before our cohort’s A&S ceremony, and I had a lot to do to get ready. This was my first time solo organizing as a Planner, and I wanted this event – our cohort’s celebratory party – to be special. My goal for the morning was decor, and I knew where I needed to go for that. I left the LCC - the Libra Convention Center, where I’d live full-time after tomorrow - and headed down Main Street to the Studio. The sky was clear, and I could see the mountaintops that surrounded our town - they seemed to stretc...

32 likes

Wildflowers and Moonlight

Annie Hewitt

Submitted to Contest #245

In the open expanse of the desert terrain that stretched ominously under the cloudy moonlit sky, Danny and Christina found themselves unsure of which way to go. Christina was trying desperately to stay calm but failing and Danny was hoping the sky would clear up a bit so he could use the stars to navigate their way out of Joshua Tree National Park. He learned astronavigation when he was a Boy Scout and while he wasn’t always thrilled with his parents for making him stick with everything he started there were times, like this, he was grateful...

30 likes

This Is All Your Fault, Alexander

Story Time

Submitted to Contest #245

Alexander, do you see that? Do you see the way the sun is disappearing right before our very eyes? Do you know why that’s happening, Alexander? It is because you abused yourself. When young princes abuse themselves the way you have, the Lord above sees it, and punishes them by making the sun disappear. You may have thought nobody noticed, but the Lord did, Alexander. The Lord always does. Despite being told that you are a descendant of Kings, and must treat your body with the utmost respect and care, you decided to give into temptation and t...

29 likes

Howl for Home

Submitted to Contest #245

They circled each other, the ancient ritual of the eijak, teeth bared, hackles raised. The snow was soft, but not fresh. Each member of the pack watched in agony. A low growl sprung from Aakon’s chest. He was willing to die, but not for his family. Because if he died for them, they all died. He imagined the newborn pups, bundled in their furs, too young to Shift. Helpless, blind. He was not ready to kill, especially not his blood-brother, but Toran left him with no choice: one of them was to die. Toran had called upon the Tradition of Mig...

28 likes

A Silent Night at Last

Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #245

Knock, knockHello, are you awake? May I come in?Yes, sorry, shhh…I know. I’ll speak quietly. I promise I won’t wake the baby. He’s a tiny thing, isn’t he?I, um, well, I traveled a long way to be here. I’m glad I didn’t miss it. The star, you know. It gave it away. Been watching that star now for weeks, since it appeared in the east. Well, OK, Melchior has. He hogs the telescope, but you know it’s so bright now we don’t need to use a telescope anymore, so I’ve been watching it every night.Oh, here, this is for you. I know, I know, it’s not mu...

28 likes

Allondial and Remu (remastered)

Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #245

To hear the stories told by old women over the fire, one would believe the world to be inhabited by ghouls and hobgoblins. This is not true. The world is full of magic for sure, but the magic has been here longer than the old women, longer than humankind and longer indeed than memory can express.In the beginning of time, Allondial was born. Her first breath was a gasp that awakened humankind from the eternal sleep of non-existence. Her smile was gentle as she gazed upon all creation as it woke, and humankind smiled back. Enthralled...

27 likes

The Fate In Our Stars: A Professor Deshpande Mystery

Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #245

“You are no fan,” Saanvi observed.The man would have attracted little notice nearly anywhere in Millington but the Theodore Bradbury Gallery. He turned slowly with only his torso, lowered his gaze nearly two feet.“This is some woke shit.” He turned back to the print, shaved head glinting in the studio light. The towering, sunbaked man was in jeans and a black pocket tee turned a dusty near-indigo by constant self-laundering.“And how so? How is this painting ‘woke’?”He now turned completely, and the Arts Department chief regarded the ink peek...

27 likes

A Planet’s Worth

Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #245

In the first photograph of Mercury captured by humans, I could see the fear etched on its cracked gray face. The planet's weathered visage held many secrets, its surface marked with millions of deep, enigmatic recesses. Upon closer inspection, a stark white spot emerged—a colossal 50-mile-wide crater the scientists called Debussy. Mercury was peering back at me, an all-seeing eye unveiling its truths. I orbit through the indigo expanse of stars, with only a few planets perceptible to my naked eye. I glimpse Venus, the hottest plan...

24 likes

Moon Union

Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #245

Gathered together as the sun rose over the water, the crowd of young women clutched their bags nervously. They looked around at each other, some attempted small talk, but most remained pensive.Pearl felt the butterflies in her belly beat their wings as an elder approached her with a dark haired stranger walking in his shadow. “This way,” the suntanned elder extended his arm to the waiting boat, the rower in place, the oars calmly waiting in the water. She tentatively stepped in, assisted by the younger man who sat down on the ...

23 likes

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Contest #246

This contest has ended. Thank you for your submissions.

$250

Prize money

220

Entries

87

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 12, 2024 EST

Won by Olivier Breuleux 🏆

Title: Everything is Connected

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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