In the end, it was a difficult decision. There's been some great concepts introduced, some presented better than others and there's been some poor concepts delivered in a fantastic way. I've been teetering back and forth on a decision and in the end I was rather surprised at which one snuck ahead of everything else by a tiny bit...
Empyrean Technology by Quintrala is the winner of NE10K.
Before everyone breaks out the pitchforks and torches, let me justify that.
It may have been flash fiction, but it told so much with so little. The others that were neck and neck with this one were in many ways stronger entries but needed so much more to do it, and they just kept making this one shine even brighter in comparison. I can so vividly see the Gods of New Eden being reduced to yet another skillbook, detailing the technology of the lost civilization we once considered the peak of human evolution. It really teases the mind and lets us imagine all manner of things.
Edited in: I'd like to also add that it made me emotional. I envisioned the humongous civilizations of New Eden, the knowledge, the huge causes, the desires and all the things New Eden's inhabitants considered so vital and important just... fading away, into irrelevancy. Being rendered just... a note in history. No one cares anymore, other than how the technology can be applied in the world ten thousand years from now.
It lends a bit of interesting perspective to the current state of New Eden and the people (and real life players) in it, and how much is invested in these things.
In three short paragraphs the spirit of NE10K was fully filled, and that has earned it the win here.
I do want to stress that every entry was in the running. There's been some very strong entries, more than I expected, and if this one hadn't stood out like it did, I'd still be wracking my head trying to pick one over the other.
Quintrala, send me a PM here on the site with your character's preferences in space activity, faction allegiance etc, please.
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Topic: Ten thousand years, Fiction Prompt. [FINISHED] (Read 6675 times)