Species 20: Auronkey
An Auronkey is a small monkey like creature. They are found on the planet earth, in remote parts of the tropical rainforest's. They can grow to be 12 inches from head to toe. The main differences between a Auronkey and a monkey are their size, diet, habits, behavior and anatomy. In fact the only similarity would be at a glance an Auronkey would appear to be a very small monkey. An Auronkey has only three fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot. Their fingers and toes can grow to 2 inches each, and have small, hollow, cat like claws. The claws carry a venom which is used to paralyze their pray. their diet consists of mainly small fish. Auronkies are amphibious creatures and can hold their breath for several minutes. they are extremely fast swimmers and extraordinarily strong. they can carry up to eight times their body weight. Auronkies live in trees in a squirrel like hide away called a nest. they use their claws to climb and their tail to carry food. Auronkies will only eat in their nests and if their nest has been disturbed they will not enter it but will build another. they are extremely shy and private creatures. They live alone and even when they mate they still do not share a nest. you would be very lucky to see one. if you was to see one it would most likely be whilst it is carrying its food up to its nest. when an Auronkey gives birth it does so in a nest especially built for birthing. the mother will leave one Auronkey child in each of the special birthing nests and will take food to them daily. By the time an Auronkey is twelve weeks old it is able to fend for itself and catch its own food. they are intelligent, independent and mischievous creatures. Auronkies are hunted by a species of bird called the Hook beaked, red plumed, flutterer, otherwise known as Axinoustoius. Due to this Auronkies are becoming more and more rare, there has only been twenty seven recorded sightings in the last one hundred and nine years.
Rating: Harmless
Status: extremely endangered
Yes doc, it would have been nicer to say "Never have so many owed so much to .. atchoo!" I'm getting addicted to these species! See you again at "B.."!"
Did you miss the obvious rhyme, or am I being dense and missing your subtlety? Shouldn't it have been "never have so many owed so much to Atchoo"?
Have had mine for 6 weeks, so I appreciated this branch and sympathise with you completely. Bless you!"
I wonder what will happen if the nine-headed asininers get infected by the "atchoos" (in my next chapter)!"
Ganga, it's a pleasure to have you involved in this. Thanks a lot."
For this one, I started with the end in mind - i.e., I wanted my punch line (or pinch line, in this case!) line to be "Pinch me!" - which would mean that the creature would have to be something that would put you in a "dream state". And your suggesting "aquatic" prompted me to make this one a marine species in a watery planet. (I had to write it before someone else wrote "Aquatic", or went past it!)
Plus, I liked those Agma-Gamas (annoying as they were), and I also felt a bit bad for being a little picky on Jillian's story! :)
But yes, I think those "light-sound" parts for instance could've been written better. Again, I look forward to more feedback as I continue to write!"
The structure and organisation are fine, yes, absolutely, can't argue. The length too is not a problem - I don't mean it needs more, I think I mean it needs to be tidier within each thought and paragraph; not more explanitory as much as better constructed. In a lot of these pieces there is so much description that it's easy to get convoluted and lose the sense of what you are trying to descibe, which makes them confusing. I commented on it because I struggle with that too and therefore notice it all the more when another writer does it.
Ganga's stuff is great, don't get me wrong! Perhaps I'm looking for perfection where it's not necessary to do so. These things are ultimately subjective, so if you say it's spot on I humbly bow down to your opinion. I think it could be better.
But really, REALLY, I am so much more interested in them being written at all - I don't want it to be hard work and pressurised and over analysed. It should be fun, so I will rein it in a bit. Sorry."
ganga starts off with the physical attributes and habits, continues with the discovery of the species, then the general affect that they have on the population, and finally finishes with their current status in the universe. It's all very descriptive, with a little wit thrown in as well.
It doesn't get much more organized than that! If you ask me, the technique is pretty spot on."
However, some of the execution in terms of writing style seems rushed (a common criticism, including my own entries). A little more thought in making these read well would be nice. The idea is fun and easy to access, but no excuse for general laziness in technique... don't you think?
(sorry for harsh tone - only trying to be constructive)"
Also, love UPO: United Planets Organization
One more thing: thanks for that little reference to the Agma-Gamas! It made me laugh."
(Bangs head against wall)."
Status: Dieing
Right thing to say if you ever meet one: do you want a puzzle?"
I did mix tenses a bit in there because I wasn't able to look back in the story (I wrote it without internet access from the balcony of my hotel, and pasted it back into the site once I had wired access again in the room, so it might be a bit disjointed.)
Anyhow, I've tweaked the "lately" references to make a bit more sense in the context."
Do you feel like telling me those now in a comment? 'Cos I am keeping track of all these in my own files, with a view to making this a real book...
Don't worry if you can't be arsed."
Would gladly have made it longer, but was scrambling to get the basic idea out there before someone else took the next post. When I decide which ones to keep and develop I will "flesh" them all out to an A4 page, ideally.
And as for the old Dr. - well, I just love the guy! The picture I have in my head of him is very vivid, but want to see if anyone else deduces the details without me having to say too much... I Am starting to wish I hadn't chosen his name for my user name though, it's a bit confusing!"
The sunshine reference is probably obvious enough to most people, except for daft souls like myself who had to do a Google search to find out what song it was from."
Is the reference in "Right thing to say..." obvious enough?"
If the God of Death was addicted to Hob-Nobs - what an idea!
Lots of stuff that could branch off into an actual story all its own here, Ganga - a sterling effort, my friend. Wonderful."
Chances are it wil happen again at some point, but we'll fall off that bridge when we get to it...
Don't want this issue to stop people posting."
Write about them now! Do it now!! Hahaha."
There are already several species waiting in the wings suggested by existing entries - if we open it up Juniper could have her Trixic Cats, for example (well, yeah, OK, you got me, I wanna see them too...)!"
And about the 12 thing - I couln't care less if you were 2 or 102, but age does make a difference to technique, experience, vocabulary and all sorts of things. Don't be too defensive, because I was actually going to say (and I hope I'm not patronising you here...) that you have a lot of talent and with a bit more attention to detail could go a long way.
You want to be treated like it's a level playing field and I respect that, but don't take for granted that you are young - it's not a fault, it's a fact. I just wanted to clarify that's how old you were. Like it or not, some of your writing reflects your age... but, damn, I wish I was that promising aged 12!
Keep an open mind and keep improving ;)"
In this case, I think the character is more old-fashioned and clipped. A savvy, streetwise, East London researcher might use "w*nker", but "buffoon" is more our man's speed, I think."
to tell the truth i never knew it was in alphabetical order. And could everyone stop saying "he's the 12 year old" as if I'm a loser and i deserve special treatment. It really annoys me how everyone thinks that way."
Don't know if you saw my post on Nick's (our esteemed administrator's) page but am giving serious thought into turning this into a real project. Taking the best entries and assembling them into an illustrated book for publication (all original authours credited, of course).
I do not want to lose the sense of fun and spontaneity we've had so far, but the bar could be raised even higher... it's a challenge. Consider the gauntlet laid.
That said, I think it might be time to open her up and just say any creature beginning with any letter, so as not to impose too many limitations. If we can pretty much stick to the other format conventions though I would be very happy.
It's yours as much as mine - take it away...!"
I'd say, let's go back and look for the "Aj" entry. Then the sky's wide open. 676 entries wide."
Am I right in thinking you are the young man who's 12 years old?"
I for one think that I did a really %&$% job in mine haha, but thats just my opinion on my own work.
And then theres the alphabetical order thing...
Anyways, its good considering how hard it is to stay in the style."
What do people think? Should we try to get back on track with the rest of the A's or just open it up and sort it out if and when it ever gets finished?"
But no biggie, thanks for contributing."