"Diverse Abilities" Selected Stories

From the dawn of humanity until today, individuals have consistently encountered challenges. Sometimes these challenges were surmounted with ease, while on other occasions, they demanded arduous efforts to overcome. However, they were indeed overcome. Human beings have ingrained the skill of contending with obstacles of all magnitudes as an inherent capability. Overcoming obstacles and the act of surpassing them have evolved into core behavioral aspects of life. In the twenty-first century, the landscape and context of obstacles have transformed; humanity has woven knowledge, technology, and science into the fabric of existence, immersing itself in the epoch of information and actively engaging in a unique kind of race.

The Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Cappadocia University has now cemented the tradition of the short story contest, which has emerged as a platform where the intellectual prowess and creative expressions of the youth—the swiftest runners in this metaphorical marathon—are given earnest attention and audience.

Once again, it becomes apparent that our optimism is anchored in the vigor of the younger generation. These challenges, like fragments of clouds, infiltrate our lives, weaving into crevices. They subtly catch our attention, like the palm of a “Beggar.” Through narratives such as “Karam,” “Pearl Drops,” “Lilac and Ink,” “Fly Agaric,” and the “Painter of the Deceased,” diverse facets of life’s obstacles are illuminated. On occasion, characters like “Sebahat” and “Nebahat” accompany us, and as we ascend from Kilimanjaro’s foothills to its zenith alongside the “Fearless Coward,” we courageously confront our fears. In truth, it is realized that only “Two of Us” remain in the aftermath of overcoming myriad challenges, in the face of all odds. We recognize the hurdles that inhabit our minds, raising them with the “Lever of Hope,” symbolized by the metaphorical “Stones in the Mind.” The aspiration for hope has been relentlessly sought in optimistic avenues, thereby learning to foster our own hope as we declare, “Fortune Alights on the House Where the Swallow Builds Its Nest.” We are steadfast in our remembrance that even during the most tempestuous nights, a “Lighthouse” unfailingly guides us through darkness. Collectively, our voices resound, proclaiming, “A Singular Sentence, Countless Lives: A Unified Journey Towards an Unfettered Future…”

With the sincere wish that this anthology of selectively curated stories, crafted by the budding talents who invigorate us with their barrier-defying narratives, might usher novel horizons into our lives…

Yusuf Gökkaplan
Department of Turkish Language and Literature
Cappadocia University

Duygu OYLUBAŞ KATFAR completed her non-thesis Master’s degree in 2010 from the Turkish Language and Literature Teaching program at Ege University. She went on to achieve her Master’s degree with a thesis in 2014 and her Doctorate in 2020, both specializing in Modern Turkish Literature, from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Erciyes University. She actively participated in gender-related workshops and seminars organized by the Erciyes University Center for Women’s Studies and Applied Research. She has presented her scholarly work on genre theory, narrative studies, psychoanalytic literature, and historical novels within the realms of literary history, sociology, and philosophy at various academic conferences. Her research has been published in esteemed academic journals and books. Since 2020, she has been engaged in teaching courses focused on the history of Turkish literature and critical reading, spanning from the 19th century to contemporary times.

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