Jump to content

Secret Author Contest-Forbidden Is... Revealed? Nooooo.

Cia

Entry posted by Cia in Anthologies

379 views

 Share

2026 Secret Author Theme Use  

22 members have voted

  1. 1. What is your favorite use of the Forbidden Knowledge theme in this year's contest? (Title list has been randomized)

    • Sweet Sour Paradox Logic
      2
    • Coffee with Supervision
      4
    • Just the Facts, Man
      0
    • Unexpected Discovery
      0
    • The Ledger of the Howling Void
      1
    • Peeping Tom
      0
    • Subtle Signs
      0
    • The Ivory Fig Ceremony
      1
    • Undeliverable
      0
    • The Ledger
      5
    • Emptying the Library
      6
    • No Official Reason
      2
    • Wrong Window
      1
    • Murder at 9th and Tom
      0
    • Gemma
      0

This poll is closed to new votes

  • Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.
  • Poll closed on 08/20/2026 at 07:00 PM

Ha! Did you think it was time to share the stories and authors? No!! Total clickbait. Heehee!

That's right, time to vote on your favorite! Now, to be fair, it would be ideal to have read ALL the stories. Can you vote without having read them? YES! Because this is about your favorite use of our theme of Forbidden Knowledge that you read in this year's Secret Author Forbidden Knowledge stories. Pick a SINGLE title, this isn't your top three. It doesn't even have to be your favorite overall story... just how did the author use the theme in a creative and/or twisted way that made it into the story. 

Make sure you share why it's your favorite use of the theme in a comment, because inquiring minds want to know! That's not forbidden! 

Easter Bunny GIF by Instacart

 

  • Like 1
  • Love 6
  • Haha 2
 Share

14 Comments

Recommended Comments

  • Popular Comment
Jason Rimbaud

Jason Rimbaud 26,340
Cheeky

Posted

  • Popular Comment

I chose #1 because I loved the idea of creating a recipe as the foil for the Forbidden Theme. Plus I loved the jokes and the idea of hot wings might have destroyed the world!  

  • Like 1
  • Love 3
  • Haha 2
  • Popular Comment
Thirdly

Thirdly 17,037
Boxed In

Posted

  • Popular Comment

It was between The Ledger and Emptying the Library for me. Ultimately, Emptying the Library felt like the stronger "forbidden knowledge," I mean, imagine learning you're the "heir of your grandad's heinous crimes."

  • Like 3
  • Love 4
  • Popular Comment
Thirdly

Thirdly 17,037
Boxed In

Posted

  • Popular Comment
34 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I chose #1 because I loved the idea of creating a recipe as the foil for the Forbidden Theme. Plus I loved the jokes and the idea of hot wings might have destroyed the world!  

I loved that one as a whole, but "recipe that opens a portal to an alien world" is not as personal as "your hypocrite gay Nazi grandpa was responsible for many deaths." At least to me.

  • Like 2
  • Love 4
  • Popular Comment
Jason Rimbaud

Jason Rimbaud 26,340
Cheeky

Posted

  • Popular Comment
2 minutes ago, Thirdly said:

I loved that one as a whole, but "recipe that opens a portal to an alien world" is not as personal as "your hypocrite gay Nazi grandpa was responsible for many deaths." At least to me.

As a student of history, I've read enough about that particular historical timeframe. The moment I learned the premise, I knew I would never be able to read it. Sorry SA, its not you, this is all me. I'm sure its a great story. 

  • Like 2
  • Love 1
  • Sad 5
  • Popular Comment
centexhairysub

centexhairysub 48,089
Tired

Posted

  • Popular Comment

I won't say it is my favorite story, but I do think that @Thirdly is right, this seems to me to be the best use of the theme to me.  Both time periods were able to use the theme, but the modern one was the part that made the biggest impact to me.  

  • Like 2
  • Love 4
  • Popular Comment
Luca E

Luca E 669
Question It

Posted (edited)

  • Popular Comment

For me it was a choice between two stories Emptying the Library and No Official Reason, I voted for No Official Reason because we have one vote and the story was entirely created by the imagination of the author and with the potential for a book (I hope!).

Edited by Luca E
  • Like 4
  • Love 2
  • Popular Comment
CassieQ

CassieQ 28,057
No Mood Set

Posted

  • Popular Comment

I liked The Ledger for the theme.  The knowledge in this story was so forbidden that nearly 100 years later, people were still willing to go to insane lengths to keep it from being seen.  

  • Like 2
  • Love 4
  • Popular Comment
BendtedWreath

BendtedWreath 7,327
Studious

Posted

  • Popular Comment
8 hours ago, Luca E said:

For me it was a choice between two stories Emptying the Library and No Official Reason, I voted for No Official Reason because we have one vote and the story was entirely created by the imagination of the author and with the potential for a book (I hope!).

3 hours ago, CassieQ said:

I liked The Ledger for the theme.  The knowledge in this story was so forbidden that nearly 100 years later, people were still willing to go to insane lengths to keep it from being seen.  

Great points and also great choices!

  • Like 2
  • Love 4
BendtedWreath

BendtedWreath 7,327
Studious

Posted (edited)

Just as it is with every year, it was difficult to choose just one for theme, so I went with the story that went in the direction I expected the least when it comes to knowledge that was forbidden, and that one was Sweet Sour Paradox Logic. But Coffee With Supervision and Wrong Window were very strong contenders, as were The Ledger of the Howling Wind, Gemma, and Just the Facts, Man.

Edited by BendtedWreath
  • Like 2
  • Love 3
CassieQ

CassieQ 28,057
No Mood Set

Posted

11 hours ago, Luca E said:

 and the story was entirely created by the imagination of the author 

As opposed to the rest of them, which must have been created by gremlins and fairies and magic glitter.  :gikkle:

  • Haha 3
Luca E

Luca E 669
Question It

Posted

9 hours ago, CassieQ said:

As opposed to the rest of them, which must have been created by gremlins and fairies and magic glitter.  :gikkle:

No. I had to make a difficult choice between two stories I found equally good. You can only vote for one. The deciding factor was one was inspired by a real event and used this as the theme the other was entirely imagined by the author. I thought that better reasoning than simply tossing a coin. I also thought the one had potential to be a book, the other did not.

But then again they could all have been created by fairies and magic glitter!

  • Like 2
  • Haha 3
Dorian

Dorian 11
No Mood Set

Posted

Empty Library and No official reason good but I think it is hard to write within confines of actual facts.   

  • Like 2
  • Love 1
Simon Watson

Simon Watson 3
No Mood Set

Posted

Emptying the Library was very bittersweet, in a totally good way.  I loved it!  There are others which are also good but this was for me the best.

  • Like 2
  • Love 1
Cane23

Cane23 32,175
Educated

Posted

Thinking about who used the theme best, I had to focus on the word “forbidden.” So, it’s not something hidden or secret... Therefore, two stories with historical themes immediately came to mind as my first choices: “The Ledger” and “Emptying the Library.” I’ve chosen to vote for “Emptying the Library” because of the importance of the historical events it describes - events that should never be forgotten!

"Where they burn books, they will in the end burn human beings too."

  • Like 1
  • Love 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...