Coalescing Finish

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\u27s 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\u27s denunciation of climate change, a girl\u27s attempt to catch Santa, and a desperate attempt to liven up school lunches. The novel follows a weather mage who attempts to sabotage Napoleon\u27s invasion of Russia