Win Cash Prizes & Get Professional Feedback @ Flash Fiction Magazine
Learn More
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

Long-Term Scans

October 7, 2021 9 Comments

By M.A. Dosser

“What do the readings show?”

“Short-term scans indicate compatibility. Ample land above sea level. Plentiful natural and bioengineered vegetation and livestock. An adaptable atmosphere.”

“Perfect! We should inform Command.”

“…Long-term scans, however, indicate increased instances of extreme weather. Heat waves, droughts, and fires across all continents. Dangerous precipitation events occurring multiple times a cycle. Polar vortexes weakening, pushing frigid air into temperate climes. The oceans have an average pH value of 7.6—few marine organisms thrive. Low sentient population likely due to these issues.”

“What is your assessment?”

“Nonviable for colonization.”

“Damn. Well, cross Earth off the list. We’ll keep looking.”

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

The Power of Imagery with Nina Schuyler

September 12 & 13 on Zoom
Enrollment closes Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM Pacific

If your descriptions are vivid but your stories still feel thin, this workshop is for you.

Join award-winning author Nina Schuyler to learn the difference between description, which tells a reader what things look like, and imagery, which carries plot, character, and meaning at the same time.

In just two days, you'll learn to choose images that hold emotion without naming it, pair them so each one deepens the other, and build patterns that gather meaning as the story moves.

Learn More and Enroll

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen Connell says

    October 7, 2021 at 7:10 am

    Excellent story and quite likely to happen.

    Reply
  2. Glenn Bowman says

    October 7, 2021 at 7:49 am

    Ain’t it the truth. Well done.

    Reply
  3. Cathy Cade says

    October 7, 2021 at 9:13 am

    Nice one! And highly topical…

    Reply
  4. Michael Slagle says

    October 7, 2021 at 10:20 am

    Disturbing truth to this story. Well-written and timely.

    Reply
  5. Chris says

    October 7, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    Amazing that such a powerful story can be conveyed in so few words. Love this guy’s stuff.

    Reply
  6. Maggie Elliott says

    October 8, 2021 at 5:25 am

    Frighteningly accurate but good to know we’re unlikely to be invaded by aliens.

    Reply
    • Ruth Mannino says

      October 13, 2021 at 11:26 am

      Lol!

      Reply
  7. Our Mick says

    October 8, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    Brilliant and topical (maybe widespread tropical).

    Reply
  8. Valli Henry-Boldini says

    October 14, 2021 at 11:55 am

    So very true in this moment of time… well written… kudos…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.