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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#247: The Great Unknown

Few pursuits ignite the imagination and spirit quite like exploration. From sailors discovering new countries and their inhabitants, to astronauts uncovering ancient civilisations on far away planets, we are as hungry to hear stories about exploration as we are to explore ourselves. We often feel the need to venture beyond the familiar confines of our lives, whether that’s simply exploring a new corner of your hometown, or embarking on a mission through forgotten tombs.

This week's prompts delve into the essence of exploration, inviting you to embark on a journey of discovery and adventure. So, ready your maps, steel your resolve, grab your pen, and prepare to explore the unknown...

This week's prompts

Write a story in the form of diary entries, written by an explorer as they make their way through what they thought was an untouched location.

Adventure – 66 stories

Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.

Science Fiction – 32 stories

Center your story around a character’s personal exploration, whether it's trying a new hobby, visiting an unfamiliar place, or learning something completely new.

Character – 88 stories

Imagine a world where exploration is forbidden, and write a story about a character who defies this rule to satisfy their innate curiosity.

Dystopian – 59 stories

Write a narrative about a group of scientists exploring the deepest parts of the ocean.

Adventure – 13 stories

Stories

“Rabbit Games,” by Darsh Mishra

Submitted to Contest #247

"Okay class, I know you are all excited about winter break, but here is one last question before you go," Mr. Miller asks his college students. " If you throw a penny at 15mph out of a car moving at 100mph, how fast would the penny go?" A while goes by after Mr. Miller asks this question "Does anyone have the answer for this question?" Mr. Miller asks his class. Then a student raised their hand."The penny would go at 115 miles per hour since the energy from the moving car would be transmitted into the penny and if the penny goes at that much...

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“Exploring Real LIfe” by Peter Wallace

Submitted to Contest #247

Oliver had been thinking about doing it for quite some time. He knew it would be tricky. He would have to somehow deceive the surveillance systems into thinking he’d taken his “Daily Dose,” as the managers called it. His Dose was formulated specifically for him, taking into account his genetics, state of mind, and God knows what else. Although, that was just an expression these days. They had been told there was no God. Despite the effe...

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“Never ever.” by Rose Lind

Submitted to Contest #247

Warning Swearing words. 15/04/23 Last night, I dreamt that I was married to a successful and popular redhead. All the church girls wanted him, but I wasn't happy. When I told my mother, we both laughed as she advised me to text him and end things. As the alarm rang, I smiled, thinking back to the rigid sect I grew up in and how my mother had also relaxed in later life. The new workplace had a vibe. Jacko, my manager, had sharp, pointy hair and a toned body with a square-buckled new leather belt. Mary's presence was like sour milk, while J...

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“"Outside"” by Era McNeely

Submitted to Contest #247

I’ve never hated time more. At most, I’ll have eight minutes before someone gets suspicious, and ten before they send someone after me. I need to move quickly if I’m going to do this. The chimney is my best bet - the door’s hinges could wake the dead, and I’m not tall enough to jump out the window. I press my back against one side of the fireplace, plant my feet on the opposite wall, and slowly inch my way up, never taking my eyes off the sky above me. Only five more feet. Three. One. Standing above the chimney, staring out at the town, I re...

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“The Elsewhere Dead, by Sage Knight” by Hugh Knight

Submitted to Contest #247

IMy wife dies at 3:45pm. Natural causes; we’ve been at that age for a while, so it isn’t surprising. I call the Undertakers at 9:53pm. They arrive five minutes later with their white gloves and black veils over their heads. Always in threes, they come: one to Mourn, one to Comfort, one to Watch, then all to carry away. Death is sacred in Vigil. The next morning they send Roger, my son, to fill in the paperwork. &n...

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“Forbidden Frontiers: A Tale of Curiosity and Rebellion” by Kayla Flemming

Submitted to Contest #247

In a world where exploration is forbidden, where borders are tightly controlled and curiosity is seen as a threat to the status quo, one young woman dares to defy the rules in pursuit of knowledge and adventure. Meet Jade Thompson, a spirited teenager with an insatiable curiosity and a thirst for adventure. Born into a society where conformity is prized above all else, Jade has always felt like an outsider, a square peg in a round hole. But Jade refuses to be confined by the narrow-mindedness of her peers and the oppressive regime that gove...

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“Silver Spurs, Silver Bullets” by M.L. J.

Submitted to Contest #247

It was under the heat of high noon sun when Buck rode out of town for the very first time. She had nothing but a sack of Dukes in her pocket and Pa’s .44 strapped to the hip. In the chamber were no more than five silver bullets. She lost the sixth the night before in a game of cards with Sunset Ridge’s most renowned cheat, Twigs O’Malley. It’s not that she wasn’t wise to his cheating. Buck only thought she would out-cheat him first.Buck has plenty of bullets back home. But even with an aim as good as Buck’s, lead is practically worthless pas...

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“Into the depths” by Bill Miller

Submitted to Contest #247

Dr. Dorian Ashcroft was no stranger to life on a submarine. Dorian had served three tours of duty as a sonar technician on the Los Angeles Class submarine USS Charlotte in the late 1990s. His last tour in the North Atlantic had taken him to depths he’d not seen on prior tours. Dorian entered the Navy after high school as a way to pay for college. After basic training he spent 16 weeks in sonar technician training figuring his skills at math, science and listening to 90s grun...

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“The Lost Civilization: A Race Against Time” by Adeniyi Goodness

Submitted to Contest #247

"The Lost Civilization: A Race Against Time" This title captures the essence of the story—the discovery of a lost civilization, the ticking time bomb of the energy orb, and the team's desperate race to escape its destruction. It's an action-packed adventure that explores the dangers of tampering with forces beyond our control. 😊 Day 1: Today, my fellow explorers and I embarked on an expedition into the unknown. We were told that this location was untouched by human hands, and the thrill of discovery was palpable in the air. The landscape is...

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“Mission to Olympus Mons” by Liz Hayes

Submitted to Contest #247

Olympus Mons Exploration Mission15 May, 2152Mission Sol 1Red. That's all I see. Crimson dust swirling around the rover, painting the rocky outcrops in hues of rust and ochre. The gaping maw of the ancient volcano stretches out before us, across to the horizon. This is the day we finally explore Mons Crater, something we hope will help uncover secrets from Mars’ past. The team consists of Dr. George Sato (geologist), Dr. Miranda Singh (botanist), Kai Saite (engineer), and Captain Renaldo Li. And I, Madelyn Kim, xenobiologist ...

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“Karina's Cave” by Elaine Elliott

Submitted to Contest #247

February 10 We’ve arrived! After a long hot day in the double cab pickup, Jack driving, Alex in the front, Amara, Jaime and I in the back, we’re “home.” Our site is as far down a dirt road into the jungle as ever. Francisco and Louisa have done a wonderful job cleaning out and refurbishing our old haunt. Jack thanked Francisco for keeping guard on our past excavations so no one bothered them. His frail and elderly wife is a good cook and we’re glad to have them here along with five other workmen. Tonight I found I couldn’t ...

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“The Land of the Elixir of Life” by Kathleen Shapona

Submitted to Contest #247

August 10, 1999 I’m starting a brand new journal today. I am committed to writing down as much as possible on our adventure to the Amazon. Jim and I arrived this morning around six am to the village of El Vergel, belonging to the Ticuna tribe. Our guides, Yuri and Bayo, were there to welcome us, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good their English was. The natives were busy with the day-to-day details of their lives, only glancing at us, some with curiosity and some greeting us with big, toothless smiles. We were not the first white peop...

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“Death of the Voyager” by Elena Stanley

Submitted to Contest #247

July 10th We’ve finally gotten the go ahead. I’m pretty sure Dr. Sterling is the one financing the trip. The crew is pumped. I never thought we would get this far. What is it, 6 crews that have gone missing at this point? I could have sworn the university would throw in the towel after losing Ginny. She ran this place. I mean sure, having the Dean as her father didn’t hurt, but even I have to admit she was the best man for the job. And to think that they’re banking on me now. God, we’re so fucked. It’s gonna be fine. Everything is fine. July...

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“The Saddest” by Carina Caccia

Submitted to Contest #247

15th April, 2024Monday08:30 a.m.How presumptuous of me to think the recesses of the human heart is unexplored territory! How presumptuous to think my experiences are unique! But I did, I do, sometimes. I’m a coloniser declaring terra nullius where generations of feet have trodden before – culture, customs, stories.We’re all a bit like Lu Xun’s Ah Q or Voltaire’s Candide, our ignorance a child’s newspaper hat—roll it up and you’ve got a telescope! —as we frolic about wreaking havoc with a toothless grin, adult teeth yet to grow in. Want to pl...

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“No Way Out but In” by Sofija Ribaric

Submitted to Contest #247

11/11/2018It's been three days since I got lost in this forsaken desert, because I took a wrong turn trying to reach the ocean, so I could go to the island from the legends, which was supposed to hide the great gem of Thoth. My camel got scared away because of a snake, threw me off its back and so I am stuck here.I don't even know why I started this journey to begin with, the only thing I know is that I was looking for shelter, a place where I would stop feeling as lost and wounded as I feel now. Meanwhile, I also hurt my foot on a cac...

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$250

Prize money

258

Contest entries

101

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 26, 2024 EST

Won by Madeline McCourt 🏆

Title: DANGER: UNSTABLE GROUND

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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