Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Stonecoast

First Advisor

Elizabeth Hand

Second Advisor

Nancy Holder

Third Advisor

Justin Tussing

Abstract

This thesis comprises five short stories, the climactic chapter of a novel, two short plays, one short screenplay, and two poems by Daniel James ("Dan") McMinn. The work focused on satisfying endings. Most of the work is speculative fiction---either science fiction or fantasy. The work is prefaced by a statement describing Dan's development as a writer in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing program. The short stories address the following topics:

  • An aging salesman gets replacement internal organs and becomes an opera singer
  • A female presidential candidate must keep a straight face while watching a ridiculous PSA
  • A sniggler (eel-catcher) in a medieval fable visits fairyland to save a wise princess from elves
  • A grieving college student visits a magical flower shop through which he travels to the underworld to save his dead girlfriend
  • Comedians attempts to cheer up Americans during a flesh-eating virus pandemic

The plays and screenplay include a Shakespearean lobster's denunciation of climate change, a girl's attempt to catch Santa, and a desperate attempt to liven up school lunches. The novel follows a weather mage who attempts to sabotage Napoleon's invasion of Russia.

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