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This is a variant of my weekly post to the Friday Flash Fiction web site. I tweaked it slightly to make it more Superman-related, although even the original included a mention of Lex. As always, all feedback appreciated.
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Not so smart indeed!
Morgana
A writer's job is to think of new plots and create characters who stay with you long after the final page has been read. If that mission is accomplished than we have done what we set out to do, which is to entertain and hopefully educate.
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Hack from Nowheresville
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Hack from Nowheresville
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I love it when the evil villain gets caught in his own trap!! Very good!
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Hello Penny_Lane, I've always found such stories fun, too. And given how grim the news is these days, I thought a fun story was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for your feedback. Joy, Lynn
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Shortest LnC episode ever! XD
~•~
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Short and to the point.
It's never too dark to be cool.
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Thank you, Queenie and Barbara.
I could see my story being the opener for a longer one. In fact, although I hadn't thought about this episode when I wrote the story, it could almost be an opener to Meet John Doe. The device, with a bit of tweaking, might have turned into The Sublimator.
Joy, Lynn
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Haha, whoops! Love it when a plan backfires. Thanks for sharing!
Battle On, Deadly Chakram
"Being with you is stronger than me alone." ~ Clark Kent
"One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." ~ Figment the Dragon
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Hi DC,
Thank you. You and me both. A love of irony may be able the only thing Tempus and I have in common.
Joy, Lynn
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Top Banana
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Top Banana
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Head villain definitely didn't think this through. I wonder what the police report said
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Hi Blueowl,
Agreed; the villain might be as evil as Lex, but he sure isn't as smart as him.
The police are probably used to odd goings-on. As Jimmy said, "It's all weird; we live in Metropolis." What I wonder is what they will do with those living statues and what will happen to the device.
Joy, Lynn
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Boards Chief Administrator Pulitzer
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Haha, oops! And you know what’s funny? I had to look up “Cogitationist“ before I could read…and I felt not so smart. But in any case, thanks for the chuckle! Sara
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Hi Sara,
I had to reject a lot of names I liked (e.g., "The Thinker") because they were already in use. I find "Cogitationist" rather clumsy; I'm guessing other creators think so, too, since a search of the web did not reveal any superhero or villain with that name. But while part of me is not fond of that moniker, another part is delighted with it, since it is very in keeping with the thinks-he-is-smarter-than-he-actually-is-and-never-misses-an-opportunity-to-advertise-his-supposed-brilliance character in my story.
This was definitely a case where a seeming obstacle resulted in a stronger story.
Thanks for the feedback, Lynn
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Hahahah oops!! That was a good one!
What we've got here is failure to communicate...
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Hi Anna,
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. The Cogitationist epitomizes the saying about someone being "too smart by half."
Joy, Lynn
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Since these two were still alive, their autonomic processes would continue to function - respiration and perspiration and the blinking reflex and - ew - the waste elimination systems.
I'd guess that Superman could smell them before he actually saw them. And I loved the name Cogitationist, meaning the one who thinks. Ergo cogito sum, as it were.
Life isn't a support system for writing. It's the other way around.
- Stephen King, from On Writing
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Hi Terry,
I know your on the MB now than in the past; I'm honoured that you chose to spend some of your time here reading and replying to my story.
I had imagined the two as being in a state similar to cryogenic suspension; their metabolisms would have been slowed to the point that Clark's nose wouldn't have been offended. Otherwise, I'm with you -- ew! Then again, given the things that Clark has had to deal with as Superman, he has probably become accustomed to turning off his super-olfactory sense just to be able to concentrate on his superdeeds. Even human noses, however, would not be happy with the odors.
I'm glad you liked the villain's handle.
Joy, Lynn
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Boards Chief Administrator Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Boards Chief Administrator Nobel Peace Prize Winner
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Hi Lynn! Time for one more… okay, more than one… The Cogitationist monologued to his henchman. So, this means many syllables as a theme of the story? “‘Not as smart as Lex Luthor,’ they called me. Yep, smart is the theme. With a simpleminded henchman. “You will stand still and await further orders.” “Ye—” The next day, Superman discovered two living statues. So… oops? Then again, given the things that Clark has had to deal with as Superman, he has probably become accustomed to turning off his super-olfactory sense just to be able to concentrate on his superdeeds. Well, there *is* Lois’s cooking to be considered. CLARK: I like the crossover ideas with the Sublimator And as to the bodily functions, in the first season of Marvel's Jessica Jones the bad guy was able to tell people what to do, e.g. stay in the bed. Yeah, certain parallels may be drawn Michael
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Quote Then again, given the things that Clark has had to deal with as Superman, he has probably become accustomed to turning off his super-olfactory sense just to be able to concentrate on his superdeeds.
Well, there *is* Lois’s cooking to be considered. I can't argue with that.
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