They call it a Fable
Author : John Tudball
When we are young we are told a story of a ship.
As the story goes, the ship is damaged beyond repair and is set to crash into its destination planet. The crew on board consists of one android, one clone and one pure born. There is only one escape pod left.
“Master,†says the android, “you must take the escape pod. I shall prepare it for you.â€
“Lord,†says the clone, “you must take the escape pod. I have made these provisions for you.â€
“Friends,†says the pure born, “when I am rescued your names shall be written in the book of records. No greater honour could you receive.â€
When we are old we tell a different story.
In our story, a broken ship is hurtling towards destruction and there is only one escape pod left. The crew of the ship – an android, a clone and a pure born – argue amongst themselves as to who should be allowed to escape.
“I should be given the pod,†says the android. “I can report to the ship’s maker what went wrong, so this never happens to anyone again.â€
“I should be given the pod,†says the clone. “Throughout this system there are a great many lords and ladies who would miss my touch, should I die here.â€
“I should be given the pod,†says the pure born. “For it is my right.â€
And with this, the pure born draws a weapon and forces the others to concede. He backs into the pod, keeping his weapon drawn on his crewmen and closes the door behind him. The android and the clone sit and wait for their deaths. After ten minutes – just as the ship is nearing its end – the door to the escape pod opens and the pure born comes back out.
“Um,†he says, “how does this thing work?â€
They don’t like us telling our story. It tells a truth they do not wish to face: Without us they are nothing.
This is your future: Submit your stories to 365 Tomorrows
The Past
365tomorrows launched August 1st, 2005 with the lofty goal of providing a new story every day for a year. We’ve been on the wire ever since. Our stories are a mix of those lovingly hand crafted by a talented pool of staff writers, and select stories received by submission.
The archives are deep, feel free to dive in.
Flash Fiction
"Flash fiction is fiction with its teeth bared and its claws extended, lithe and muscular with no extra fat. It pounces in the first paragraph, and if those claws aren’t embedded in the reader by the start of the second, the story began a paragraph too soon. There is no margin for error. Every word must be essential, and if it isn’t essential, it must be eliminated."
Kathy Kachelries
Founding Member
Submissions
We're open to submissions of original Science or Speculative Fiction of 600 words or less. We are only accepting work which you previously haven't sold or given away the rights to. That means your work must not have been published elsewhere, either in print or on the web. When your story is accepted, you're giving us first electronic publication rights and non-exclusive subsequent publication rights. You retain ownership over your story. We are not a paying market.
Voices of Tomorrow
Voices of Tomorrow is the official podcast of 365tomorrows, with audio versions of many of the stories published here.
If you're interested in recording stories for Voices of Tomorrow, or for any other inquiries, please contact ssmith@365tomorrows.com