Challenge 67: Gold, Light and Meanings

Moonshadow’s gold
The light at the end of the “Tunnel”
Worldviews

Moonshadow’s gold

One of our official Challenges in this issue comes from Michael J A Tyzuk:

Everyone has read Moonshadow, so they know what happens to our wandering thieves and their stolen gold. What I want to know is, who can come up with the most creative way to dispose of that stolen gold, now that it’s been devalued and no one will want to have anything to do with it?

My option: the two ne’er-do-wells go straight and set themselves up as galaxy-wide distributors of gold to dentists. But I’m sure our readers can come up with much more inventive solutions.

The light at the end of the “Tunnel”

Rick Comb’s “The Long, Dark Tunnel” in this issue, is obviously a “life’s passage” parable. It invites interpretation, and we would like to know yours.

• In Rick’s story, the narrator goes from light to light. The other characters — which appear briefly at the end — display a whole range of reactions to the light. What do think “the light at the end of the tunnel” is?
• What is the significance of the interplay of light and dark in the story?
• What impression do you get of the narrator’s character? Is there any particular quality that seems to stand out?

Worldviews

• Deep Bora, “E.S.P. Revealed Upon Pluto”
• Rick Combs, “The Long, Dark Tunnel”
• Paul Drew, “Cheshire”
• Edmund R. Schubert, “Climbing Clouds Again”

Not to worry: Michael J A Tyzuk’s “Intrusion” will be the object of a Challenge in issue 68.

Pick and choose a Challenge or make up your own! Please send your responses to us at Bewildering Stories !

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