Winners of the Quantum-Steampunk Quick-Story Contest
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Throughout the previous seven months, I’ve steamed throughout the Atlantic, sailed in a flying citadel, teleported throughout the globe, and shuttled ahead and backward in time. Literarily, not actually—the Quantum-Steampunk Quick-Story Contest started welcoming submissions in October 2022. We challenged all people aged 13 and over to write down a steampunk narrative that entails an actual or imagined quantum know-how. 100 sixty-seven entries arrived from 29 nations. Skilled writers submitted tales, as did 13-year-olds. Tenured physics professors, librarians, English and math academics, undergraduates, physicians, graduate college students, and a United States Senate staffer entered. Because of their creativity, I now have a folder stuffed with different worlds.
I’m over the moon (in a steam-powered ship) to announce the winners. David Wakeham obtained the $1,500 grand prize for the story The Creature of Ashen Home. First runner-up Gerard McCaul received $1,000 for Physician Up and Mister Down, and second runner-up Paulo Barreto received $500 for Eikonal. The Folks’s Selection Award ($500) went to Cristina Legarda for Pursuit, additionally nominated by two judges for a “Please Flip This right into a Novel” award. Because of the 261 of you who voted within the Folks’s Selection competitors!
Along with conventional awards, we created 4 idiosyncratic ones, every entailing $250. We acknowledged Jeff Provine’s Stealing Buttons for its badass steampunk heroine; Matt King’s Three Imperiled Scientists for its wit and (relatedly) its portrayal of academia; Rick Searle’s The Recurrence Machine for its steampunk environment; and Claudia Clarke’s Trying Ahead, Trying Again, for its heart-capturing automaton. You’ll be able to learn all of the finalist tales right here.
Sending our judges the finalists in March, I felt not solely exhilaration (and reduction, as whittling down 167 entries entails no little hand wringing), but in addition nervousness. Would the tales measure up? So I should have glowed when the primary decide submitted his evaluations: Speculative-fiction creator Ken Liu enthused, “The entries had been so enjoyable to learn.” Related reactions adopted from throughout the panel, which featured consultants in arithmetic, philosophy, artistic writing, experimental quantum physics, and historical past: “I had an excellent time studying these tales,” one other panelist wrote. “This was enjoyable and a few wonderful spring break airplane (no dirigibles, I’m afraid) studying,” mentioned one other. Many due to our judges and short-listing committee for his or her enter. College of Maryland undergraduates Hannah Cho and Jade Leschack led the crew of scholars who narrowed down the candidates. I couldn’t resist treating the committee to a Victorian-inspired thank-you upon asserting the winners.
Though this yr’s contest has ended, quantum-steampunk literature has simply shipped out from its berth. Two contest entrants have posted their tales on their very own on-line domains: You’ll be able to learn the thriller by Duke physics professor Ken Brown right here and the journey by quantum-algorithm designer Brian Siegelwax right here. All different entrants, please be at liberty to publish your tales and to submit them to different literary contests. Drop me a line, and depart a hyperlink within the chat beneath, when your story is printed. I’d love to listen to how your journey continues.
Additionally, keep tuned for v2.0 of the Quantum-Steampunk Quick-Story Contest. A corporation has expressed curiosity in a reboot throughout the 2024–2025 educational yr. AI-collaboration class, anybody? Bonus factors if you happen to use a quantum neural community. Please e mail me if you happen to’d wish to help the hassle!
The chance to helm this contest has been a privilege and a dream. Many due to our writers, readers, funder (the John Templeton Basis), employees (particularly webmaster Anıl Zenginoğlu), judges, and shortlisting committee. Preserve writing, and maintain experimenting.
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