A trail winds through the woods to Isolated Peak, a barren rock peak in the Rejection wilderness. After switchbacks and turns, the trail continues through rock shoals and slurries and begins to fade. A thick mist passes, and it becomes hard to follow. The trail vanishes. Continuing upward, the traveler arrives at the peak alone. Companions likewise vanish.
Policy decisions for Rejection are made by the lone happenstance traveler. Those seeking Isolated Peak are unlikely to find it. Lost, unwary Travelers find it best. At Isolated Peak lies a well-provisioned outpost and a guidebook mapping Rejection. At this outpost, travelers learn the secrets of Rejection and Isolation.
Isolated Peak looks faraway from a distance, but once one gets lost, can be nearer and easier to arrive at than supposed.
Why it springs to mind: You'll never look at an ice cube the same way again. Where read: In the 2014 Hugo award-winning Lightspeed Magazine , August. Length: 5,194 words Summary: A woman has an ice cube for a soul. Memorable: How the story invites us to think about the shape of our soul, how it (or our perception of it) influences us and how it changes. What ordinary every day object would your soul be? A silver spoon, a beech stick? A great party conversation starter, this. Quote: “All life is an experiment." Notable: The protagonist Rina is an avid reader (always a good choice). Pairs well with: T.S. Elliot, Edna St. Vincent Millay Origin: The story was written in 24 hours based on a writing prompt. (See Author Spotlight: Ken Liu ) About the author: Ken Liu’s debut novel, The Grace of Kings , the first in a fantasy series The Dandelion Dynasty, is due out from Saga Press ( a new Simon & Schuster imprint ) in 2015.
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