"Hooked on Mnemonics"

OUR mnemonics competition—based on the solar system's planets and planetoids (Mercury Venus Earth Mars Ceres Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Haumea Makemake Eris)—was a toughie. As a mnemonic, it had to be memorable, but we also wanted entries to be funny and fantastical. Congratulations to those who struck the right balance.

FIRST PRIZE:

Mischievous village elves magically conjure jelly sandwiches. Unicorns, nutritionally possessed, hate mischievous elves.
—Dean Schramm
Key Largo, FL

SECOND PRIZE:

Most Vulcans eat morning cereal just sporting underwear – no problem hoisting messy eggs.
—Cathy Humble
Portland OR

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Michael Vick endured my canine's jury statement: "Usually NFL players have more empathy."
—Nicholas Gyde
Harrisburg, OR

My vicious, evil, mad Cyborgs just suppose unexpected new possibilities: humans might emerge!
—Bill Skidmore
Helena, MT

Most Visitors eventually must continue journey since United Nations prohibits humans marrying extraterrestrials.
—Monica Belanger
Westland, MI

F&SF Competition #80: PICK ME UP

Create up to six different pick-up lines that work in a science fiction or fantastical setting. You can make them sweet, witty, or even sleazy (but not X-rated), as long as you can get the man/woman/otherworldly being of your dreams to notice you.

Example:

"I've come from the future to tell you that we're going to be awesome in bed tonight."

Please remember to include your mailing address and telephone number; if you don't, God kills an angel and Darth Vader strangles an admiral.  

Rules: Send entries to Competition Editor, F&SF, 240 West 73rd St. #1201, New York, NY 10023-2794, or email entries to carol [a-t] cybrid [d-o-t] net. Be sure to include your contact information. Entries must be received by July 26, 2010. Judges are the editors of F&SF, and their decision is final. All entries become the property of F&SF.

Prizes: PRIZES: First prize will receive a boxed set of American Fantastic Tales signed by Peter Straub. Second prize will receive advance reading copies of three forthcoming novels. Any Honorable Mentions will receive one-year subscriptions to F&SF. Results of Competition 79 will appear in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue.