Space Man

I love this. It's going on the fridge next to Bell's "Chainsaw"

"And so he imagines his pretty girl, walking toward him on a boardwalk or even on Pluto or some star"

i like this a lot

FANtastic! Rivals "Even Greenland," as one of my all time faves.

You do Bob proud.

This short piece pleased me a good deal.

This is beautiful. I love this: Jane would tell him not to be afraid, that this is an infinite universe and in an infinite universe all things are mathematically possible, even certain.

This is wonderful. Not a panic-feel to it, more like as though he's numbed, and that numbness is transferred to the reader.

Love this line, "He knows it's failing by the way the engine sounds, like a tennis shoe in a dryer..."

wonderful piece, kathy! the things you do with flash ...

Makes me think of David Bowie's,"Here am I, FLOATING IN A TIN CAN." BEAUTIFUL PIECE.I'M NOT SURE i WOULDN'T CHANGE FAILING TO FALLING. Oops sorry about the caps. Because falling denotes some hope whereas failing insures defeat.But the ending is right on the money for me.I also like the word squinches.I also like the fact that you give the girl a name--that makes the whole thing failing or falling that much more human. Bravo.

this voice. . .intriguing

Wow, thanks for all the kind words here. I really appreciate it.

Darryl, thanks. I see what you're saying re: fail vs. fall. Failing is such a loaded word and I'd written this for a a friend who died after years of ill health...

I hate to be redundant but wow. I'm blown away. Loved that girl with her surfboard somewhere in a California ocean. That has echoes of the vast blue and blackness of space. For me, the story turns on that last line, which is so conversational and warm and sad. We know this guy's goose is cooked, but there's always that far flung hope. And isn't that just like love? A miniature masterpiece, Kathy.

yep, everybody's said it already. excellent. i think your stories are about to dominate the rec board. there must be some prize for that.

thanks for the kind words, D'arcy and Alan!

"Jane would tell him not to be afraid, that this is an infinite universe and in an infinite universe all things are mathematically possible, even certain."

I so want this to be true. Thank you.

Me too, Ethel. Thanks for reading.

This is AMAZING, Kathy!!!!

oh thanks, Katrina!

Kathy, many kudos for many reasons.

thanks, Richard

Instant fave. Blends the big themes wonderfully and wraps them in a spooky vibe, circa 1970. The ending is stunning.

wow, thanks Frank

Anything with space, and I am in love. I like this image: "Untethered, he waves to his ship as it cartwheels through space." And I like how Space Man dates a surfer girl. Excellent.

thanks, Rachel!

I love the "alone and out loud" line. Your story reminds me of a William Matthews poem, "Self Help." He writes, "but space never sleeps and you do, adrift,/ with a dark and a lit side, and a noiseless momentum."

oh God Kathy. this made me cry. it's lovely.

yep, on board here, well done.

Kathy, this is great. And in fewer than 200 words. Thanks for posting.

Oh, I remember this one. Adding to the chorus here, it's so so lovely.

I'm glad you posted this. Yes, and it makes me miss Bob. Lovely.

Thanks so much for reading Jonathan, Meg, Brentley, Jon, Kim and Claudia! I've been gone the last few days and your kind words were nice to come home to.

This piece speaks to the kind of writer and woman you are, which means it's vast and surprising and aimed. He'd love this.

Thanks so much, Pia. I was hoping you were getting ready to post another story and yay, you did!

So nice to see this in Keyhole Digest. Kudos...Kathy. David

o my, I didn't realize you'd written this for him how wonderful and perfect. how sad that it takes me an entire year to come to a day at the very end of july when I can catch up on everything I haven't read while teaching.
sigh.
yay mrs fish.

Thanks, David and Maryanne. I appreciate the kind words.

Kath

"Like a tennis shoe in the dryer"--now there's a simile that hits the nail on the head!

It's somehow chaotic and poignant all at once. Very nice!

Fantastic! Such emotion in such few words. Might be the best piece of flash I've ever read.

Wow, thanks very much John!

love this!

Thank you, Mary!

not much more i could say that hasn't been said, so i'll just say it was a simple joy to read.

Oh, thank you very much, joshua...

"in an infinite universe all things are mathematically possible, even certain" Oh my. Great piece.

Oh thanks so much, Sam!

This short-short gave me chills. Brava!

Thanks for reading this one, Susan!

I've always though the falling astronaut was a rich conceit. I like the way you describe the somatic details and the images that move this from the moment of falling to the memories in the mind.

Thanks, Rachel!

Cool.

My own machine shuts down on me mid-comment. Hm...Anyway. To follow up. Cool story. May I use it to teach?

Oh man, that is very flattering Jim. Of course you may use this story to teach. Thank you!

Kathy, I'm with Jon and Kim here: amazing brevity and memorability. Memorability is a guide for me when I fave. I like art to be referenceable, to hold a thought perhaps inherent in an image, that I can think of at the grocery store or in the car or otherwise away from the original. This one has that.

In my mind as I read this: My aunt was an astrophysicist with great legs! Due to a 1930 adoption, I knew only that she was a "doctor" until she had already died. She and her husband, Tut, were both astrophysicists and worked on the Apollo Project. I suddenly renamed my short story collection (unpub'd) Institute of Tut a month before I knew I had an uncle by that name.

Oh thank you, Ann! This story, about your aunt, is fascinating. Have you written about her and your uncle? I love that name. That title for your collection is so great.

Yeah, I wrote to Amy Hempel about it, at her suggestion, when the day came. She never wrote back.

I'm late to the party on this piece. It is wonderful. I can see it all especially "his pretty girl, walking toward him on a boardwalk or even on Pluto or some star, a surfboard under her arm. . ."

Thanks so much, Jane!

a gem.

Loved reading this and the way it made me feel. Excellent.

Really a nice piece.

Thanks for reading it, Catherine.

A wonderful tribute to Bob Arter -- he'd love it. Great Kathy images complete with sound: ". . . like a tennis shoe in a dryer . . ."

Thank you kindly, Mr. Collins. I hope I wrote a good tribute to Bob. Anyway, your comment means a lot to me.

You made the Space Man and his lady and his situation so real to me. I don't know how you did it. Clear, strong lines, stark sensory images perhaps. Beautiful. -- Q

Thank you, Quenby!

Love this, Kathy. I think I love that last word most of all. See?

Kari, thank you!

This is wonderful, Kathy! Great job!

Thank you, Tawnysha!

That's how I feel right now. Love it.

That's how I feel right now. Love it.

That's how I feel right now. Love it.

Hey, thanks for reading this one, Phoebe!

Skillful brevity.

Terrific taut tale.

Just saw these...thanks so much, Bobbi and James!

Such a great line:

Jane would tell him not to be afraid, that this is an infinite universe and in an infinite universe all things are mathematically possible, even certain.

Follow by an even better ending.

Thank you kindly, Timothy!

This is one tight flash with some amazing lines alluding to endless possibility. Both funny and sad in a personal and cosmic sense.

David, thank you! You got it exactly. I appreciate the read, comment and fav!

Little late to the party, Kathy but this is lovely, and the sound of the dying engine 'like a tennis shoe in a dryer,' is one I will hold forever( in whichever universe forever obtains.)

David, thanks! You didn't have to comment on this, but I'm glad you did and that you liked it. We should do a whole series on this idea, have some fun...thanks.

I loved the shift from the girlfriend to the man, then to failing spacecraft. Talk of compelling transitions!!

Ajay, thanks for finding this one and reading it and for the kind words. It means a lot to me.

Disciplined and poetic. Very impressive. I love this spaceman.

Thanks to Sam Rasnake for recommending it on twitter and in his blog.

Thanks so much, Berit, and thanks, too, to Sam for the recommendation!

Can't believe I missed this. Great piece!
*

Thank you kindly, Bill.

Hi Kathy! Thanks for your comment on my wall! I'm one of those science people, hence I like "Spaceman" so much.

Have you read this spaceman story?

http://www.monkeybicycle.net/archive/Hirsch/michael.html

Love that story! Thanks for linking it, Berit. I love science, too, but have no formal background. I just read a lot. Thanks again for reading this one.

Fictionaut doesn't email you if you receive a favorite without comment, so unfortunately i don't know who the kind soul was who gave another star to this story, but I thank you, very much!

Like this neat little paragraph! Nice surprises in it.

Thank you, Luke! I'm glad you liked it.

Fascinating and fun read. I am really just "rediscovering" this genre and really enjoyed this little gem. FAVE!

Wow, thanks so much, Michael. I'm glad you liked this!

I think I read this when I first joined fictionaut. I don't know why I didn't comment. Perhaps I was that mind-blown. This is amazing, then & now.*

Thanks, Jen for the kind words for this story. I've been unable to access the site until today. Anyway, thanks so much!

I read this one early last year, before I joined Fictionaut. I'm glad I found it again. It's so full of sadness and yet full of hope. "in an infinite universe, all things are mathematically possible, even certain. Love this! *

Wow, thank you so much, Chris!

magical!

Thanks to whomever hung another star on this tiny story!

Absolutely bowled me over. Heading for JMWW now to check out the origins. Thx so much.

Wow, I just saw this. Thanks very much for the kind words, Janice!

yup, printing this out, yup, hanging next to my desk. This is brilliant. *

So pleased Bud's comment led me here. Wow to this. No words for its goodness Kathy.

Wow bud and Joanie I'm actually reading these lovely comments from a hospital bed. I had surgery today and I can't even tell you how much your kindness has cheered me up. I'm glad you like my story. Thanks so much!

Heal quickly, Kathy. Sorry you aren't 100%.

Get well, Kathy - and stay well.

"Take your protein pills and put your helmet on."
Wonderfully concise.

Thanks, kindly, George!

I could see the last sentence.. It was that great.. Short, excellent piece.

Thanks so much for finding this one and reading it, Linda! I appreciate it.

tell him not to be afraid, that this is an infinite universe and in an infinite universe all things are mathematically possible

I like this one, short and concise, I imagine in my head you writing this while listening to Bowie's Space Oddity.

Thanks, Samuel!