Contest: Science Fiction and Science Fantasy III

Merry meet all,
Since it is after January and I promised so here is The Science Fiction and a Science Fantasy Contest III.
The definitions are as follows:

Science Fiction: In the vein of Star Trek, Andromeda, Serenity, Stargate SG1, Stargate-Atlantis, Star Wars, Gundum Seed, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series, etc....
(i.e. anything that follows a rule of science with NO magic involved)

Science Fantasy: Harry Potter, Eragon series, LOTR series, Anne McCaffery's Pern series, Kushiel's Legacy series, Naomi Novik's Temeraire, Full Metal Alchemist, etc....
(i.e. where science and magic or magick co-exist or magical creatures exist)

These are guidelines only, please do not feel that you are limited to these for your choices. These are my guidelines, if you do not agree with them, you are free not to enter the contest.

Rules
Because every society must have them.

1). No more than 2 poems per poet. If a pre-write is entered it MUST have a fresh write to go with or it WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. I will check.

2). Spell check is a must. Use it. It's there for a reason. Please read your poem after entering to make sure of homonym mistakes and punctuation consistency.

3). Please make sure there is enough contrast between background and print, I will not highlight it to read it. Please no twinkle backgound either. If you include a pic with your poem, please know that it will be looked at, but will have no affect on the judging, this is done in fairness to those of us who can not afford gold or silver membership. You will be IM'd and given a chance to fix the problem.

4). Poems MUST be marked critical to be considered.

5). Please place in your Author's Notes which category your poem is in. You will be IM'd once and given a chance to fix it, otherwise it will not be considered. This is the reason: I want to see if you understand the difference in the two catagories.

6). NO erotica-it will be deleted. Let's keep this G so that all ages may be consider and read the work submitted.

7). I will make notes as the contest goes along and poems are entered. I will make no comments until after the contest is closed.

8). Please do not give me lots of vampires or werewolves. There is a whole universe to play with, stretch people.

9). I prefer free-verse. I do not feel competent to judge other forms. You may enter them, but I will not comment on the form, just content and what I think.

10). These are my opinions and only that. My decision's are final.

11). Just so that I know that you understand what I am asking you to do, please place "Science is fun!" in your Author's Notes.

12). Let's have some fun!!

Please read each others work and comment if you desire, it's good karma and nice manners. (I really can't enforce this nor will I, but let's be nice.)

The fun stuff:

1st place- a shiny intergalactic gold pressed latinum trophy and 350 pts.
2nd place- a slightly less shiny silver laminated trophy and 75 pts.
3rd place- a rather mundane, but just as impressive bronze trophy and 50 pts.

Honorable Mentions: a possibility with 30 pts. and a verdgris covered bronze trophy.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Note: I reserve the right to close this early, if I deem it necessary.


NOTE: I have decided to start deleting those poems of people who can not follow the directions after sending them an IM to correct the problem. You will have 24 hours from the time of the IM before deleation, there will no message, it will just happen.
If you can not show me the courtesy of following the rules (there really are not that many), I will not waste my time in commenting on poetry the author isn't confident enough to win with by following the directions. This will give other's a chance to enter.