Short Story Battle Royale: Bracket Three, Round One

128 short stories, one winner! Choose your favorite short story in each of the battles below. The winners will advance until we have one winner per bracket. There are four brackets. Those bracket winners will then face off against each other. The short story in each of the battles that gets five votes first wins, that's when voting for that battle will end. You can vote in all, some, or none of the battles, it's up to you. Have fun!

Bracket Three, Round One

BATTLE OVER! 1. "Graduation Afternoon" (5) vs. "My Pretty Pony" (0)

BATTLE OVER! 2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates" (5) vs. "Jumper" (1)

BATTLE OVER! 3. "Codename: Mousetrap" (0) vs. "Gray Matter" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" (5) vs. "Dedication" (0)

BATTLE OVER! 5. "Strawberry Spring" (3) vs. "The Crate" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 6. "Slade" (0) vs. "The Old Dude's Ticker" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 7. "Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2)" (1) vs. "Lunch at the Gotham Café" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 8. "The Woman in the Room" (4) vs. "The Little Sisters of Eluria" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 9. "Ur" (4) vs. "Rest Stop" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 10. "Hotel at the End of the Road" (5) vs. "Beachworld" (4)

BATTLE OVER! 11. "The House on Maple Street" (2) vs. "Graveyard Shift" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 12. "Here There Be Tygers" (3) vs. "The Wedding Gig" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 13. "The Night Flier" (5) vs. "The Reaper's Image" (1)

BATTLE OVER! 14. "Survivor Type" (5) vs. "Jhonathan and the Witchs" (0)

BATTLE OVER! 15. "The Boogeyman" (4) vs. "The Jaunt" (5)

BATTLE OVER! 16. "Luckey Quarter" (2) vs. "Rainy Season" (5)

My picks:

1. NONE
2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates"
3. NONE
4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet"
5. "The Crate"
6. "The Old Dude's Ticker"
7. "Lunch at the Gotham Café"
8. "The Little Sisters of Eluria"
9. "Rest Stop"
10. "Hotel at the End of the Road"
11. "Graveyard Shift"
12. "The Wedding Gig"
13. "The Night Flier"
14. "Survivor Type"
15. "The Jaunt"
16. "Rainy Season"

1. "Graduation Afternoon"

2.

3. "Gray Matter"

4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet"

5. "The Crate"

6.

7. "Lunch at the Gotham Café"

8. "The Woman in the Room"

9. "Rest Stop"

10. "Hotel at the End of the Road"

11. "Graveyard Shift"

12. "The Wedding Gig"

13. "The Night Flier"

14. "Survivor Type"

15. "The Boogeyman"

16.

4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet"

5. "Strawberry Spring"

7. "Lunch at the Gotham Café"

8. "The Little Sisters of Eluria"

9. "Ur"

10. "Beachworld"

11. "The House on Maple Street"

12. "Here There Be Tygers"

13. "The Reaper's Image"

14. "Survivor Type"

15. "The Boogeyman"



I didn't vote on #1, though I read both stories, because I intensely dislike them.

Haven't voted on #16 yet because I have to think, I love both.

1. "Graduation Afternoon"
2. "Jumper"
3. "Gray Matter"
4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet"
5. "Strawberry Spring"
6. "The Old Dude's Ticker"
7. "Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2)"
8. "The Little Sisters of Eluria"
9. "Ur"
10. "Beachworld"
11. "Graveyard Shift"
12. "The Wedding Gig"
13. "The Night Flier"
14. "Survivor Type"
15. "The Jaunt"
16. "Rainy Season"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shannon

Bracket Three, Round One

1. "Graduation Afternoon" vs. "My Pretty Pony"

2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates" vs. "Jumper"

3. "Codename: Mousetrap" vs. "Gray Matter"

4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" vs. "Dedication"

5. "Strawberry Spring" vs. "The Crate"

6. "Slade" vs. "The Old Dude's Ticker"

7. "Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2)" vs. "Lunch at the Gotham Café"

8. "The Woman in the Room" vs. "The Little Sisters of Eluria"

9. "Ur" vs. "Rest Stop"

10. "Hotel at the End of the Road" vs. "Beachworld"

11. "The House on Maple Street" vs. "Graveyard Shift"

12. "Here There Be Tygers" vs. "The Wedding Gig"

13. "The Night Flier" vs. "The Reaper's Image"

14. "Survivor Type" vs. "Jhonathan and the Witchs"

15. "The Boogeyman" vs. "The Jaunt"

16. "Luckey Quarter" vs. "Rainy Season"

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Votes bolded.

1. "Graduation Afternoon"
2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates"
3. "Gray Matter"
4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet"
5. "The Crate"
6. NONE
7. "Lunch at the Gotham Café"
8. "The Little Sisters of Eluria"
9. "Ur"
10. "Beachworld"
11. "Graveyard Shift"
12. "Here There Be Tygers"
13. "The Night Flier"
14. "Survivor Type"
15. "The Jaunt"
16. "Rainy Season"

1. "Graduation Afternoon"

2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates"

3."Gray Matter"

4.

5. "Strawberry Spring"

6.

7. "Lunch at the Gotham Café"

8. "The Woman in the Room"

9.

10.

11."Graveyard Shift"

12.

13.

14.

15. "The Boogeyman"

16. "Luckey Quarter"

My Picks:

1. "My Pretty Pony"

2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates"

3. "Gray Matter"

4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet"

5. "The Crate"

6. "The Old Dude's Ticker"

7. "Lunch at the Gotham Café"

8. "The Woman in the Room"

9. "Rest Stop"

10. "Hotel at the End of the Road"

11. "Graveyard Shift"

12. "Here There Be Tygers"

13. "The Night Flier"

14. "Jhonathan and the Witchs"

15. "The Boogeyman"

16. "Rainy Season"

My pick = bold

Bracket Three, Round One

1. "Graduation Afternoon" vs. "My Pretty Pony" (no vote: "Graduation Afternoon" was just ok and although I've read "My Pretty Pony," I don't remember enough about it to recall my opinion)

2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates" vs. "Jumper" (no vote: never heard of "Jumper" and "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates" was just okay)

3. "Codename: Mousetrap" vs. "Gray Matter" (a cheat on my part; I've never heard of "Codename: Mousetrap" but "Gray Matter" gets 4 stars [my highest rating] so it automatically wins)

4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" vs. "Dedication" (obvious choice; I did not care for "Dedication" much at all)

5. "Strawberry Spring" vs. "The Crate"

6. "Slade" vs. "The Old Dude's Ticker" (no vote: have not read either one)

7. "Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2)" vs. "Lunch at the Gotham Café" (clear winner; "Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2)" was lame while "Lunch at the Gotham Café" was very good)

8. "The Woman in the Room" vs. "The Little Sisters of Eluria" (I wasn't a big fan of either one, but Roland gets the vote)

9. "Ur" vs. "Rest Stop" (no vote: have not read "Ur" and "Rest Stop" was just ok)

10. "Hotel at the End of the Road" vs. "Beachworld" (no vote: never heard of "Hotel at the End of the Road," and "Beachworld" did nothing for me)

11. "The House on Maple Street" vs. "Graveyard Shift" (I liked "Graveyard Shift" quite a bit; only have vague memory of "The House on Maple Street"; will re-read this weekend and see if my vote changes)

12. "Here There Be Tygers" vs. "The Wedding Gig"

13. "The Night Flier" vs. "The Reaper's Image"

14. "Survivor Type" vs. "Jhonathan and the Witchs" (a cheat on my part; I've not read "Jhonathan and the Witchs" but "Survivor Type" gets 4 stars so it automatically wins)

15. "The Boogeyman" vs. "The Jaunt" (tough choice! both are 4-star stories; I'm a big fan of golden age sci-fi and "The Jaunt" harkens to that, so it wins by a nose. Plus, it has one of the most memorable closing lines of dialogue ever!)

16. "Luckey Quarter" vs. "Rainy Season" (no vote: "Luckey Quarter" was just okay and I've read "Rainy Season" but don't remember my impression of it.)

Come on people, surely there is someone out there who hasn't voted yet!

Seriously. I am anxiously awaiting the next stage in this game!!

My only addition is Rainy Season.

I'm sorry to say, but would that your enthusiastic efforts were directed at the much needed HF!!!! I have heard rumors of a significant donation from Ambannon. We really need it, my friend!!! Making "goal" this year will be very tough!!! We will need al we can get!!!

Thanks for all your support, Shannon!!!

I think you've got the Haven Foundation fundraising/awareness covered. Which rumor is that? We donated the one and only In Mint Condition: 2013 proof (on eBay now, over $100), and a $1,000 check will be donated from the proceeds of the hardcover edition. That check will come near the end of the fundraising efforts, but rest assured, you can count it in the total.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shannon

I think you've got the Haven Foundation fundraising/awareness covered. Which rumor is that? We donated the one and only In Mint Condition: 2013 proof (on eBay now, over $100), and a $1,000 check will be donated from the proceeds of the hardcover edition. That check will come near the end of the fundraising efforts, but rest assured, you can count it in the total.

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You da man!!!!!


:clap::clap::clap:

But BILL... we need your votes on these brackets to move this game to the next level!! :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stkmw02

But BILL... we need your votes on these brackets to move this game to the next level!! :P

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Preach! I'm surprised more people are not participating. At first I didn't know what the threads were. But once I stumbled into one, I've become very interested. Very cool idea Shannon :thumbsup:

maybe if we moved these to Cara Laughs, more people would see it? I am not really sure, though

I don't know, the most exposure would be in Calvin's Corner ... but I think the threads are in the "correct" location ... we'll see.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stkmw02

But BILL... we need your votes on these brackets to move this game to the next level!! :P

---

Not really, Krystle. You folks really need peeps more well versed than me in the SS of Mr. King. Only a very few really stay with me past the initial and subsequent readings. Though I generally really enjoy his SS. As far as the post above, sometimes posts sound better in my head than in actual print. Also I was a bit bored and trying to do "something" to bolster the HF. Not all my posts are "diamonds"!!!! Pardon the interruption, Shannon, my bad!!!! It is a great idea for a competition, just not my "cup of tea". I am however interested in the final results!!

Again, my apologies for "hijacking" the thread with my post. Bad form!!!

6. "Slade" (0) vs. "The Old Dude's Ticker" (4) - my vote The Old Dude's Ticket

9. "Ur" (4) vs. "Rest Stop" (3) - my vote Rest Stop

10. "Hotel at the End of the Road" (3) vs. "Beachworld" (4) - my vote Hotel at the end of the Road

9. Rest Stop
10. Hotel at the End of the Road

Way to break the ties!! Can't wait for the next round.

And Bracket Three, Round One is over! The final battle results are as follows:

1. "Graduation Afternoon" (5) vs. "My Pretty Pony" (0)
2. "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates" (5) vs. "Jumper" (1)
3. "Gray Matter" (5) vs. "Codename: Mousetrap" (0)
4. "The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet" (5) vs. "Dedication" (0)
5. "The Crate" (5) vs. "Strawberry Spring" (3)
6. "The Old Dude's Ticker" (5) vs. "Slade" (0)
7. "Lunch at the Gotham Café" (5) vs. "Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2)" (1)
8. "The Little Sisters of Eluria" (5) vs. "The Woman in the Room" (4)
9. "Rest Stop" (5) vs. "Ur" (4)
10. "Hotel at the End of the Road" (5) vs. "Beachworld" (4)
11. "Graveyard Shift" (5) vs. "The House on Maple Street" (2)
12. "The Wedding Gig" (5) vs. "Here There Be Tygers" (3)
13. "The Night Flier" (5) vs. "The Reaper's Image" (1)
14. "Survivor Type" (5) vs. "Jhonathan and the Witchs" (0)
15. "The Jaunt" (5) vs. "The Boogeyman" (4)
16. "Rainy Season" (5) vs. "Luckey Quarter" (2)

Bracket Three, Round Two will begin in another thread right now.