Like other cultures with a literary tradition, Tang-ji has bodies of written work, both prose and poetic, classified by a common element and known by a common name.

There is, for instance, Chuan poetry which was pioneered by the members of the Chuan ‘school’ some nine hundred years ago. The form, themes and motifs remain popular and many poets ( Read more... )

Here is the first of the two background pieces - I took kelkyag's suggestions and rolled a dice.  Please let me know if you have a preference for which I should wrte for the second background piece, or I'll roll the dice again .

The Lords of Hell have vowed to bring the mortal world under their physical ( Read more... )

I wrote this to aldersprig's eighth prompt, "Planning for something that didn't come."

“Twenty years of supplies,” Grantham said moodily, “gathered at untold cost. To say nothing of the seed stocks, hydroponic equipment and breeding animals.”

“We could hold a fire sale when we open up the bunkers,” suggested his assistant, Hymie.

“And that’s another thing,” ( Read more... )

Gentle readers,

For the March Prompt call I have now written 22 stories.  That means I owe you two background pieces.  What would you like to hear about?  Tell me in the comments, please!

Also, if you are anyone other than aldersprig, to whom I know I still owe a story, and I haven't written you the stories I owe you please contact me ( Read more... )

I wrote this to aldersprig's seventh prompt, "Well, looking at this, my father and your father..."

"Well, looking at this, my father and your father were rather more than business partners during their association." Richart Mannix glanced down at the other person in the room where he had her gagged and tied to a chair with her hands behind her. “I don’t ( Read more... )

I wrote this to aldersprig's fifth prompt, "A family reunited."  It follows on from The Accidental Prodigal.

Everyone had returned to the sitting room and the younger family members had come in from the garden. Ludwina, tea in hand, was the centre of attention. “It’s been years since anyone’s called me that,” she told them. “It’s been Frack or, ( Read more... )

I wrote this to aldersprig's third prompt, "the god of a son."

“He’s got religion,” Henry tiredly told his parents.

“No,” corrected his mother gently, “it’s Charlie all over again. He thinks he’s got religion, but he’s naïve and gullible. Neil’s just the same as your brother was at that age.”

“I know,” Henry agreed, “I know. Except there’s no-one holding ( Read more... )

I wrote this to thnidu's third prompt, "Cats & cousins."

“Cats and cousins are both like bad pennies,” proclaimed Hale, “they keep turning up.” He reached up into the tree while standing, somewhat precariously, on the garden table underneath and lifted his cousin Elladine’s kitten down for her. “She’s in a strange place, Ella, you should keep her ( Read more... )

I wrote this to ysabetwordsmith's third prompt, "The Elf ... and Komodo dragons, since we've visited Australia in this series and Komodo isn't too far away."

“An Ebu Gogo? What’s that?” The chef had been pulled out of his restaurant at short notice and provided with another kitchen.

“Apparently they’re from the island of Flores in Indonesia,” the woman in the ( Read more... )

I wrote this to starlitdestiny's second prompt, "One last memory."

The lights shut off sequentially down the corridor before her, leaving a long dark space with the dome at the end illuminated by the light coming in through its the external viewing window. If the base’s original builders had thought to put in protective shutters on that window, she would have ( Read more... )