2019 Short Story Competition Results
Results Of 2019 Short Story Competition (2019-06-03 17:19:09)
Andrew Unsworth has won first prize in the Slough Writers dystopian story competition with his chilling tale A Burden Eased.
First and the SW Summer Competition Trophy: A Burden Eased by Andrew Unsworth
Second place: No Law Against It by Robert Kibble
3rd place: Isolde by Elaine Simmond
There were three highly commended stories: The Doors Of Deception by William Campbell, The reliable Sunrise Tin by Carol Breuer and White Coats and Edward Harte.
Andrew's story, set in the not too distant future, tackles the painful subject of coerced suicide. Following the legalisation of euthanasia, the elderly are persuaded to ease the burden of care on their family and society by dying gracefully on live TV.
The competition, which attracted a record number of entries, celebrated the 70th anniversary of the publication of George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
It was judged by Eton College academic Dr Anna Camilleri in recognition of Orwell's attendance at Eton from 1917 to 1921.
Anna, who currently teaches English at Eton, said of Andrew's winning story, "The idea of publicly executing people on live TV is a really compelling concept. Very Charlie Brooker-esque. It was the one I kept returning to as I read through the entries."
Second place went to Robert Kibble's story No Law Against It, which focused on the reduction of police presence on the streets leading to total indifference towards crime.
Third place was awarded to Elaine Simmonds's story Isolde, an intriguing tale of objectivity versus treachery.
Anna said that she loved the process of reading and critiquing the stories. When delivering the results, she took over an hour to comment on the entries, giving each writer hugely in depth and insightful feedback.
Terry Adlam, Slough Writers Chair shared all the members' thoughts in praising Anna for such a considered and helpful adjudication.
(This report by Lorraine Forrest Turner, pictures by Michael Pearcy.)