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March Theme Prompt Winner

Editors' Choice:

"The TQL Gambit" by David Barlow is the editor's pick as the winning theme story for March/April. Congratulations David!


Last month's theme prompt, Begin at the Big Ending, ended on April 15th, with the final accepted entry published on May 2nd. We had a baker's dozen, thirteen backward submissions that started at the end of the story, or at least the end of something. Here's a summary of the winning story:


The TQL Gambit – Time travel never goes according to plan

Stranded in the infinite feedback loop of space-time, Susie and her exasperated crewmate have already visited the future—twice—and landed right back where they started. With faulty tech, blocked mid-phase jumps, and a dangerously disabled safety system, their only hope lies in hacking a TQL script to break the cycle and return home. But as timelines tangle and reality flickers, one thing’s certain: nothing ever goes smoothly when you mess with the chrono-safety.


The TQL Gambit is a fast-paced sci-fi romp full of sharp dialogue, high-stakes hacking, and quantum chaos. Buckle in — it’s going to get weird.


If you haven't read "The TQL Gambit" yet, start by going straight to the ending... er... the beginning of this fine story. Support our SFS family and click the link below. Don't forget to give a rocket or five if you like it!


by


Honorable Mentions

The editors agree three other theme stories deserve mention this time as excellent examples of utopian sci-fi:


"Appointment at the Samarra" by Jeff Currier

"Mother Knows Best" by Randall Andrews

"Dead Right " by J. Millard Simpson


Of course, you should read all of this month's prompt stories to appreciate and enjoy the variety of ways our writers chose to treat this common theme. Here's a full list:


Title

Author

Release Date

Jack Loftus

Mar 18, 2025

Philip Apps

Mar 20, 2025

Anne Wilkins

Mar 24, 2025

Randall Andrews

Mar 26, 2025

David Barlow

Apr 1, 2025

J. Millard Simpson

Mar 27, 2025

Kanwar P. S. Plaha

Apr 4, 2025

Mary Lawton

Apr 11, 2025

Stefan Grieve

Apr 25, 2025

James Hornick

Apr 14, 2025

Nina Miller

Apr 21, 2025

Jeff Currier

Apr 30, 2025

Jim Dutton

May 2, 2025


Next Theme Prompt

The next theme prompt, Many Minds, was announced on May 10 and will end at midnight on June 15. Join the prompt this month by submitting your own science fiction story about the mind, in any of its myriad facets.

To allow sufficient time to publish all the accepted theme stories before announcing the editors' choice, we ask you to please complete any necessary revisions within one week of receiving editorial comments.


If you are a subscriber to our site, you can click on that little rocket icon at the end of a story (up to five times) to express your appreciation to the author. Each month, we award a cash prize to the story that has the most rocket blasts.


You can read all of these amazing stories, plus a new one every weekday, for less than the cost of a replacement chrono-safety lock. And, by the way, a lifetime subscription to SFS is available! All you have to do is,




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