Showdown at the Cinna-bar
Storyfeather
A crew assigned to repossess a precious and undefined item end up in the midst of a suspicious bar fight in a far-off sector of space. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:Yeah, the vastness of space is scary, but the vastness of death…is scarier. I thought I’d have far more profound thoughts at the moment of my death. Something the crew could quote to each other after I was gone. Something I could have Tackle record before I no longer had the strength to speak. Maybe I would have, if I were dying of something more peaceful than an accidental-on-purpose laser blast to the gut. Maybe I...
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The Golden Ratio Theater
Storyfeather
A recent college graduate dreams of operating a local theater that has a special and secret importance to planet Earth...and beyond. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:“Jules, you’re fired,” he said. “What!” He held up his hand. “It’s for your own good. Those… men, for lack of a better word, are not aliens really. They’re, they’re called ‘intimidators.’ Look, they won’t hurt you, okay? Or your family. As long as you forget about the theater.” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel...
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The Grand Universal Singularity Resort
Storyfeather
A new guest services employee works a memorable first shift at the most exclusive resort in the galaxy. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:According to Lianne, searching for a lost pet was the best way for Rekha to quickly become familiar with the actual layout of the resort and to get her “sea legs.” The bubble they were in didn’t protect them completely from exotic particles, gravity waves, tidal forces, and other dangers of being so close to a black hole. Dangers that most of the people in the resort, including Rekha, didn’t even half-understand. The Wheel of Fiction...
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Zone of Eternal Sleep
Storyfeather
The sleep-deprived parents of a sleepless baby stumble upon a potential relief on their way to a Martian superstore. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpt:A soft beeping began to sound. The shuttle’s computer was calling for the attention of a manual operator. She saw the mapping system’s failed attempts to reroute. She put her hand on the dashboard and gave it a gentle rub. “I think we’re in the right place.” She raised a brow theatrically. “But are we in the right time?” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen...
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The Man Who Cried Bird
Storyfeather
A birdwatcher who’s determined to discover an unknown species stumbles upon a strange little sparrow. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpts:“It’s a blue cardinal, look.” “There’s no such bird, Andre.” “That’s because no one has seen him, until now.” Andre submitted to the group that he had spotted a Labrador duck on a recent work trip. The Labrador duck was not a new species. It was an extinct one. None had been seen in the wild for a hundred and fifty years. “Does it ever bother you…you’ve never seen a bird that no one else has ever seen before?”...
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Flight of the Stegosaur
Storyfeather
A stegosaur scientist uses her own body in her experiments to achieve a physical feat that seems impossible for a dinosaur of her kind…flight. Genre: Science Fiction Excerpts:“Modifications! Glint, what you’re proposing is more than modification.” “How?” “Magnets!” “Sometimes people don’t know they need an invention until it’s invented.” “Know your limits, Glint. I’m trusting you to stop if you reach them.” “But can it be done?” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme...
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The Brittle Star
Storyfeather
The captain and crew of a vessel-for-hire cautiously agree to help a banished merman prince find his hidden realm in exchange for a lavish undersea treasure. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:“What did he look like, Captain?” someone asked. “Did he have long sharp teeth, like a pike fish?” “No, I’ve heard they’re more like a shark’s or piranha’s.” “Either way, there are rows of them, so—“ “Let the captain tell us! Was he handsome, Captain?” “Set aside all your fantasies and your wild guesses. In the end, it comes to this, do you want to make a bargain...
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The Arcanomen
Storyfeather
Our ancestors possessed powers and protections that were lost upon the destruction of a machine that had only one function, providing each person with a name. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:Tempest and storm. Disease and death. Creatures who hunted humankind as prey. Beings who pursued humankind out of evil longing. The name generated by the Arcanomen provided protection from all these dangers. If any harmful influence, be it demon or disease, tried to possess a person, the name would respond. It would twist and shift. It would examine and adapt. It would block and shield. And if that was not...
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The Flaming Jargonelle
Storyfeather
A thief and an investigator each try to convince the other to accept the truth about the unparalleled treasure that is the Flaming Jargonelle. Genre: Mythology Excerpt:And the thief spoke. “Most of the stories say that when the Flaming Jargonelle is struck by any kind of light from brightest sun to dimmest candle, it appears as if it were made of fire. Sometimes a smoldering fire, sometimes a bright blaze. But I’ve had it in my possession for many days, and I’ve never seen it glow like this.” The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story...
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The Vessel Vespertilian
Storyfeather
In the alley behind the factory where they toil, two friends discover something that may lead to their salvation...or to their doom. Genre: Fantasy, Mythology Excerpt:The statue was a depiction of a “vas vespertilio,” an idol carved specifically to be the vessel for containing fundamental powers, specifically the powers of the four elements. Each element was contained in the gemstone that represented it. The ruby contained the power of fire. The sapphire contained the power of water. The emerald contained the power of earth. And the missing diamond had contained the power of air....
info_outlineAn elven traveler grants a king a priceless power in return for an equally priceless treasure.
Genre: Fairy Tale
Excerpt:
The elven traveler leaned closer and whispered to the girl.
“What kind of life can he give you? Closed off and cloistered? Stuffed into corsets? I can give you a life of mischief and adventure.”
The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?
Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is “Turn Again.” One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them.
See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: King Midian and His Glove of Gold
This episode landed on PROMPTS. Finish the sentence, “I wish I could…” was the prompt I used to inspire this story.
Find more stories and episodes that revisit previous stories here: Year of Prompts.
MERCH!
Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?
Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE
The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters:
Storyfeather Gazette (if you’d like to keep up with the fiction I create)
Fictioneer’s Field Guide (if you’d like writing tips and guidance from me)
Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)
MY FIRST BOOK (yay)
Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories.
It’s now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover.
You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE
CREDITS
Story: “King Midian and His Glove of Gold” Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. Patel
Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel
Music:
“Elves” by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)
“Compass” by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)
“Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)
Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)
“Scroll of the wind walker”
“Elves”
“Faeries”
“A story of gold”
“Illusions”
“Compass”
“Winter guild”
“White river”
“Seasons”
“Lonely day”
“Written in stones”
“Fight with king”
“The plan”
All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.
Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market
Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.
Fun fact: Nicholas Jeudy has a track called “Midian.” But it didn’t fit this episode. It’s a scary one. Maybe for one of October’s episodes?
Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net
Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com
Episode Art Description:
Digital drawing. At center, the standing figure of a young woman made of gold, facing left in three-quarters profile, with right arm outstretched in front of her, left arm bent to the side, and mouth parted. Another woman, in left profile facing left, has fallen to her knees and has her arms wrapped around the golden woman, head bent, eyes closed, and mouth hanging open. They are in a field or a garden of lavender and daisies. A few flowers at the margins appear golden. The daylight sky overhead is full of wispy clouds. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along the golden woman’s outstretched arm.