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Recent Posts
- Frost Lily Part 1 by Andrew Johnston March 18, 2024
- The Covid Apocalypse by Keila Thorogood March 12, 2024
- Go Home Episode 3 by Farriz Mashudi March 11, 2024
- The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane by Eric S Brown February 26, 2024
- Go Home Episode 2 by Farriz Mashudi February 26, 2024
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Author Archives: AR_Editor
Frost Lily Part 1 by Andrew Johnston
“I will not serve her.” Flor stomped out of the room, waving away the enticing aroma of roasted boar and fresh bread. The distant creak of her father rising from his chair hastened her steps. “You’ve no choice, Flor,” he … Continue reading
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The Covid Apocalypse by Keila Thorogood
My name is Bea. I’m writing this in my notes whenever my phone has some battery. Electricity is rationed now. I dunno if that’s the word. It’s just rare. I’m finding more power the further south I go. Shocker. That’s … Continue reading
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Go Home Episode 3 by Farriz Mashudi
Coming out of a blackout (How many was it now?), Margaret looks up to see a shape hovering above her. Squiggly lines jump into focus as she squints, blurry-eyed. A giant nametag? No. She recognises the plaque from the door … Continue reading
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The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane by Eric S Brown
Released in 2004, The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane collects most if not all of Robert E. Howard’s Puritan hero. The book is part of a line of paperbacks from Random House spotlighting Howard’s stories. Most know Robert Howard from … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Comic Book, Non-fiction
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Go Home Episode 2 by Farriz Mashudi
Charlie scribbled on the mental Post-it what he was calling the new nanny: MOL. Setting the bot’s power pack on SELF-CHARGE, he pinched himself, not believing his luck at how quickly the delivery had arrived. As much as he loved … Continue reading
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Snow Monster from Uranus Part 6 by Celine Rose Mariotti
President Konstantin Antonopoulos and the Canadian Prime Minister Vincent Manicotti sat looking horrified at the Snow Monster from Uranus, Jezi. The Secretary of State, Mario Capetti, texted the Director of the CIA. Joe, Alien is here at the White House! … Continue reading
The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter Seven by A.S. Raithe
By the time breakfast was over, neither zephyrni was confident they’d ever fly again. Cheesy eggs and sausage, bacon with fried potatoes, and pancakes stacked high and dripping in a sweet, thick, amber syrup. Mira couldn’t speak for Echo, but … Continue reading
The New Mutants Omnibus Vol. 1 by Eric S Brown
Chris Claremont is regarded by some as one of Marvel’s finest writers. When one hears his name mentioned, they usually think of his work on the X-Men. That said, Claremont wrote a lot more than just the Uncanny X-Men. He … Continue reading
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Episode 74: Eve: Scared of Bugs by Jim Davies
Magnitrude dozed, and I did, too, nestled in her warm dresses. We both woke at a knocking on the door. Gombree’s muffled voice came from the other side. “Mistress Magnitrude, I have your foot cream.” “Yes, come in, come in! … Continue reading
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Go Home Episode 1 by Farriz Mashudi
The put-on smile he flashes is radiant. In his head, he hears the sound of heels standing at attention clicking smartly. ‘How was the flight? Good to have you back.’ The timbre of his voice is warm, full of heart, … Continue reading
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The Defenders: Ashes to Ashes by Eric S Brown
Marvel’s 7th Epic Collection of the original Defenders run weighs in at 440 pages. The issues within it cover the time period from 1982-1983, issues 110 through 125 and Avengers Annual 11. The book opens with an issue devoted to … Continue reading
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They’re Coming For Us by John Grey
Do we take poison? We could of course, like Buddhist priests on Earth, set ourselves aflame. But I don’t seem to have any matches. We have no weapons. Even the knives are plastic. And if I smothered you with a … Continue reading
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Debug by Brennan Burnside
Cousin James gave Frances very specific directions for how to reach him. After the train went underground, she would get off at the first stop. A place called “Metro Exit 2/North.” She watched the passengers blowing in and out of … Continue reading
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When Dealing with Demons by H. Robert Barland
The rune-inscribed chalk snapped, the sound echoing back from walls hidden in chthonian darkness. A dozen glass-panelled lanterns dotted the floor but seemed reluctant to let their light stray too far from the source. Kneeling on a leather cushion, the … Continue reading
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Nova: The Human Rocket by Eric S Brown
Though the seventies gave birth to many iconic Marvel characters, Nova the Human Rocket may be one of most beloved by comic fans. Nova wasn’t a very original character. He was essentially Marvel’s take on DC Comics’ Green Lantern. A … Continue reading
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The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter Six by A.S. Raithe
Mira’s eyebrow twitched as she touched down on the edge of Cawold. It was one thing to transport earthbounds every now and then, but this many times. In armor. In one day? She’d be lucky if she could flutter come … Continue reading
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The Rusted Chain by Mintako Datti
Ferda had never liked the sea. She had always had a fear of the unknown, despised how helpless it made her, how much more powerful it was. How it contained vast power and infinite secrets. All these thoughts passed through … Continue reading
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the beggar wretch by Julie Allyn Johnson
the devil’s horn blares in a broken wood its trumpet’s singular blast obliterates the rumble of thunder, the crack of lightning’s script written in a jagged hand across an unfruitful landscape rain cleanses the root and stubble of last year’s … Continue reading
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Power Man and Iron Fist: Heroes for Hire by Eric S Brown
The seventies was a time of diversity and exploration for Marvel Comics in terms of the genres they published. Luke Cage, aka Power Man, premiered during this time. He was a street hero despite having powers that put on the … Continue reading
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Episode 73: Gretchen: Time to Wake a Monster with a Moth by Jim Davies
Through Emerson’s eyes I saw Eve Pixiedrowner climb out of Magnitrude’s dresses and up a nearby tapestry. I flew Emerson close to her until I had her attention. She nodded at me. Then I led her to the box on … Continue reading
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If You Danced From Midnight by David James
IF YOU DANCED FROM MIDNIGHT after a first line by Anne Sexton until Thursday next week, four days straight, you’d make front page news on some small town newspaper in the Midwest. If you decided on Holy Week to forgive … Continue reading
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Snow Monster from Uranus Part 5 by Celine Mariotti
President Constantin Antonopoulos paced the floor in the Oval Office. Back and forth he walked; back and forth; talking to himself, then kicking his soccer ball around the floor. Anything to take his mind off that horrible Snow Monster from … Continue reading
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The Ultimate Marvel Nostalgia by Eric S Brown
Back in the 1980’s, there was no Google or even an internet. People relied entirely on other means for their news. Marvel had released fan magazine before but at that time, they took things to a whole other level. Each … Continue reading
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The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter Five by A.S. Raithe
Wings tucked in the dive position, Mira sliced through the air. The air licking her face was like sandpaper, but it was the furthest thing from her mind. Her nerves were on fire from the insistent flashing of the pendant. … Continue reading
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Renfield by Eric S Brown
Renfield is a horror comedy with some serious teeth. It tells the story of Dracula’s familiar Renfield in the modern world. Renfield is attending a support group for those stuck in unhealthy relationships and trying to make amends for the … Continue reading
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Episode 28: Entering the Interstitium
I followed Gretchen and Dichall through the portal into another world. Bracey the Talonted, our owl companion, followed. The sky was bluer than I would ever have guessed blueness could get. The snow was the whitest white. But the strangest thing was the … Continue reading
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Samer’s Dilemma by David Herz
Why settle for thousands of dollars when millions more could be had? This thought tormented me as I lay awake on the rocky ground, staring up at the starlit sky. Aside from a few sentries, my hundred fighters slumbered around … Continue reading
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Mermaid Show by Glen Armstrong
Tiny Mary swims from a pipe and breathes from a hose obscured by plastic seaweed. I can leave now that I’ve seen her blow kisses to the seahorse. The rich build houses on stilts and consider … Continue reading
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Antonyms for “Regular” by Glen Armstrong
My little town mocks me: You’re a regular Roman numeral, boy. A regular Roman Polanski. You Blue Monday types really crack me up. I used to like being fooled, being screwed with, being banished from a … Continue reading
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Moonlit by Glen Armstrong
If the woman is covered in white powder, her chair will end up powdery as well. If she speaks constantly of Hell, she may be a priest, a poet, or bartender. How aware of her condition is she? Has she … Continue reading
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Butterfly by Joan McNerney
Wrapped in ashen clouds pale shrouds of sadness. Retracing each dimension of my heart yet finding no refuge. My head bent recounting all the days of my life. Lost in this blur, this landscape. Where am I? Where can … Continue reading
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In Wild Hunger by Joan McNerny
Longing for blackness searching tunnels tasting empty wells. How many times? Ten times ten times ten. Ten thieves have stolen our souls. Lost in ignorance with plastic eyes cosmetic sneers, they find illusion in their own reflections. … Continue reading
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sick, sick, sick by Joan McNerney
of seriousness the universe is a labyrinth of my ear ear ear I am deaf from it there is no sure melody in these crazy strains deaf deaf deaf dumb blinded loosening mind for just 1 moment to … Continue reading
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Eve Pixiedrowner and the Micean Council Episode 72: Dichall: Recruiting the Monster by Jim Davies
“Wait here,” I jumped from Waffles’s back into the snow. “Nuh-uh.” The dog closed his eye and shook his head. “I’m coming in with you.” “No, I’m the diplomat, let me do the talking.” “You can’t stop me. I suggest … Continue reading
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The Dark Down There by Kris Green
The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave came upon me. I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Psalm 116:3 NIV Slow-moving through the bedroom, I don’t notice the slick, dark inky vines coming up and stretching … Continue reading
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Casket of Love by Michael Lee Johnson
This moon, clinging to a cloudless sky, offers the light by which we love. In this park, grass knees high, tickling bare feet, offers the place we pass pleasant smiles. Sir Winston Churchill would have saluted the stately manner this … Continue reading
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Four Leaf Clover by Michael Lee Johnson
I found your life smiling inside a four-leaf clover. Here you hibernate in sin. You were dancing in the orange fields of the sun. You lock into your history, your past, withdrawal, taste honeycomb, then cow salt lick. All your life, … Continue reading
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The Last Voyage of the Demeter by Eric S Brown
Perhaps one of the best horror films released in 2023, The Last Voyage of the Demeter didn’t get a fair run on the big screen. Playing in a limited number of theaters and lost among a sea of other releases, … Continue reading
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The Verdura Consultation by Jeffrey Greene
On a still, humid night in July 1858, two eminent surgeons from Tallahassee, Dr. Manvers and Dr. Treadwell, were summoned to the Verdura Plantation, whose owners, the Buxtorf family, were among the wealthiest cotton planters in Leon County. They were … Continue reading
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1928 by Lindsay Baik
With avocado toast and Americano dark roast Hot chicken mushroom soup with a cottage tulip vase Made by your mother who now has the vote Soft background music and art therapy All done by your sisters who now have the … Continue reading
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Waiting by Lindsay Baik
A child waiting for her dog that left its mortal coil The rain pours but she doesn’t recoil It doesn’t stop, and she starts coughing And the sun seems stuck on the horizon, never rising Picking dandelion petals, my dog … Continue reading
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Ending by Lindsay Baik
In her green dress flowing around her If I’m dead to you, why are you at the wake? Cursing my name, wishing I stayed I wish I wasn’t dead to you, because you’re still at my wake I can’t curse … Continue reading
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Randomness by Ann Christine Tabaka
I am going to write a p o e m that is not so much a poem as a … Continue reading
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Everything is Strange by Ann Christine Tabaka
People race to see ‘em at the aerospace museum … 2, 3, 4, 5 [music plays]! What is happening, what is happening? Where are we going? The sky darkens, thunder rumbles. Everything seems strange… I want to go outside and … Continue reading
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The Monkey Danced a Polka by Ann Christine Tabaka
The monkey danced a Polka. No one wants to take my hand. I am lost to the busy streets, lanes, roads, highways of life. I watch as birds fly by, dropping feathers on the crowd. Streetcar bells clang out calling … Continue reading
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Marvel’s War of Kings Omnibus by Eric S Brown
Marvel Comics is known for having a vast events that span the lengths and depths of their universe. Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest, and War of Kings form a loose trilogy of sorts that are among the company’s best cosmic stories. Annihilation … Continue reading
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In the Shadow of Titans by Lyndsie Clark
The Sixth Jovian War started in the year 2426 and I was only a child then. My parents, too poor for Earth but too weak for Mars, settled on Dione to dig up ice as white as salt, a water … Continue reading
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THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE by J.B. POLK
July 16, 1918, 7 a.m. At 7 a.m. sharp, a nun from a nearby convent approaches a two-story building on Ascension Hill. Despite the unusually cold and rainy summer, the trees around the mansion are in full bloom, and smiley-faced … Continue reading
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ABANDON ALL HOPE by J.B. POLK
Some people say that life is a sequence of random events, which is probably true because if it hadn’t been for chance, the outcome of this story and many others would have been quite different. Consider Will Alva’s case… He … Continue reading
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The Flying Machine by Celine Rose Mariotti
The Wright Brothers had a vision, They flew their plane the Kittyhawk, Chamberlain flew too, Aviation began, Then came Igor Sikorsky The helicopter was born, Then came the beginning of the big jets, People were flying to their destinations, The … Continue reading
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Where Did He Go? by Celine Rose Mariotti
Uncle Charlie cannot be found, The Police searched the whole grounds, But Uncle Charlie was alive and well, But where he was, he couldn’t tell, He wasn’t lost, He wasn’t in a tempest tossed, No, Uncle Charlie had traveled through … Continue reading
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The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter Four by A. S. Raithe
An ashen faced and trembling Norm kissed the ground outside Narsis’ shop. Mira tugged at her ear as she opened and closed her mouth to pop it. It was going to be a while before she’d be able to hear … Continue reading
The Original Hills Have Eyes by Eric S Brown
Wes Craven is mostly known for the Nightmare on Elm Street films, but they are far from the only horror he created. In 1977, Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes hit the big screen. Shot on a budget of less than … Continue reading
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Episode 71: Gretchen: The Hiding Place of Magical Glasses by Jim Davies
I followed Waffles and Dichall out of Vivian’s room. I glanced back at the girl. She looked at me, stone-faced. “Just go away.” If our diplomat couldn’t win her over, I certainly wouldn’t, so I said nothing and crept out … Continue reading
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Snow Monster from Uranus Part 4 by Celine Mariotti
The networks’ satellites and transmissions were suddenly interrupted by the cosmic terror of one Snow Monster from Uranus whose name was Jezi. His power overtook their means of communication. Uranus was a planet that was centuries ahead of Earth in … Continue reading
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The Thor by Matt Fraction Omnibus by Eric S Brown
Weighing in at over thirteen hundred pages, The Thor by Matt Fraction Omnibus collects several Thor one shots, Thor: Secret Invasion 1-3, Thor (2007) 615-621, Thor (2011) 1-22, the entire, core mini-series of Fear Itself, and more. The omnibus starts … Continue reading
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Clone
A fly buzzed when I died. It wasn’t a noble death, or a valiant one, just a death. I was standing patrol in some godforsaken jungle on a planet I couldn’t even name, and a sniper shot me. Kinetic kill, … Continue reading
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Time and Tide Wait for No God by Jarod Pharis
Birger woke to a gentle shaking. He sat up quickly and looked at the Jul fire. It was ash and embers. The boy jumped to his feet and began adding the last of the kindling and logs to the fire, … Continue reading
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Snow Monster from Uranus Part 3 by Celine Mariotti
At Paul Revere Hospital, Louie Carillo was in the Intensive Care Unit. He barely could speak, and he was hooked up to an oxygen machine. In his semi-conscious state, he envisioned Jezi the Snow Monster, … Continue reading
Hell of the Living Dead by Eric S Brown
In 1978, Dawn of the Dead was released. It is considered the greatest zombie movie ever made by many. In its wake, the end of the 70’s and early 80’s came a slew of other, lower quality zombie films. Hell … Continue reading
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Scanners II: The New Order by Eric S Brown
In 1981, David Cronenberg gave the world Scanners. Though labeled as being part of the horror genre by many for its level of gore, Scanners and its sequels were really Science Fiction films that were well ahead of their time. … Continue reading
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The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter Three by A.S. Raithe
They hurried as quietly as possible through the underbrush, but Mira’s armor made that nearly impossible. Regardless, they had to find it. A wounded wolf was dangerous enough. One already willing to attack humans was a thousand times worse. Stillness … Continue reading
She-Hulk: Jen of Hearts by Eric S Brown
Jen of Hearts is the second collected trade paperback from Rainbow Rowell’s current run on She-Hulk. It picks up with issues 6 through 10 of the series, continuing to deal with the mystery of how Jack of Hearts has returned … Continue reading
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Cells by Andrew Ban
Like a cocoon Red, Blue, and Yellow The colors of fire Shaped like a oval So fragile. But at the same time so sturdy. It’s transparent like stained glass. Like I’m in a movie. Looking at an alien egg from … Continue reading
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Humans are Weird by Andrew Ban
We have eyes we have ears We can taste we can hear We aren’t really friendly to newcomers We may be weaker than you We may be dumber than you But that’s what makes us human Humans are quite complicated … Continue reading
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This is Where I Used to Live by Andrew Ban
This is where I first learned to ride a bike to see all the students go to do things a student … Continue reading
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Invaders Classic Vol. 1 by Eric S Brown
In the 1970’s, Marvel Comics was experimenting with a lot of genres. Roy Thomas (mostly known for his work on the Conan books by Marvel) created a super hero team called the Invaders that didn’t so much battle crime but … Continue reading
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The Willow by the Lake by Cathrenna Calago
It was the fourth time I went outside at midnight. The moon cast its light on the tiny waves of the serene lake, creating a soft, shimmering glow on its surface. I never thought that an instance without the light … Continue reading
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After Midnight by Eric S Brown
After Midnight is a horror/romance film released in 2019. Yes, you read that correctly- horror/ROMANCE. The film, however, isn’t a comedy like Warm Bodies or just another Romeo and Juliet rip off. After Midnight has a very small cast and … Continue reading
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Episode 70: Dichall: Tracking Gombree by Jim Davies
I turned to Gretchen and Waffles, shocked. I hadn’t been separated from Eve since the day I met her. Gretchen embraced me, her nose close to my ear. “Don’t worry. Eve can take care of herself. She drowned a pixie, … Continue reading
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A House on a Hill by Audric Adonteng
Silence, save for the whispers of crickets — their symphonies a call of invocation for a home where squirrels play & spiders weave their stories. Stretching its weary arms towards the cornflower-blue skies, a haunted sanctuary stands, arrested in the … Continue reading
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Wait by Audric Adonteng
Because you were becoming yourself even before we were standing before the epicenter at the end of our lives. Because before we were in love, we were something more, still becoming, still trying to tie the loose skin back to … Continue reading
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Cultural Dissonance by Audric Adonteng
I closed my eyes, descending the staircase of consciousness, drowning the shouts. I didn’t notice – The ground gave way, and I landed in a forest. The Sun blinding – A mother stands as firm as the grass Rooted in … Continue reading
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Strange Gods of New Earth: A Sepulchre of Spores by Silvatiicus Riddle
So sneered Ozymandias, at time’s breadth but his kingdom foundered ‘neath clouds of dust, or spores, as my own, whose gaunt masque of death taints castle walls, and grows with each gust. ‘Twas a war on my realm that caused … Continue reading
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Strange Gods of New Earth: The Girl With The Amanita Parasol by Silvatiicus Riddle
Closely, we walked, past the hinterland crypts– the houses of friends, and people we knew, forging nigh but a sound, and with sealed lip, lest the scourge may hear, and, quick, run us through. Rare, is a sight, be it … Continue reading
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Strange Gods of New Earth: I, Lion’s Mane by Silvatiicus Riddle
From whence the last of the streetlights flicker, upon darkened roads move a strangely sight. Ghosts on parade–they straggle, and chitter; human-like creatures sequester the night. Borne of the oak-wood burnt up by a star excised from the sky by … Continue reading
Misplaced Things by Andreas J. Britz
The disappearance of the swimming pool cover tormented Pete Darley long into the night and kept his mind tethered to the waking world. Eventually, when he was sure sleep wouldn’t come, he threw back the duvet cover, kicked … Continue reading
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The Mountain by Junseo Lee
A pile of papers Grows in the corner Like mold on leftover rice He averts his eyes Glances at it a few times Still there Like a brick in a wall But he’s busy with reports … Continue reading
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Letter to a Perfectly Imperfect Kid by Junseo Lee
Raise your hand to ask for water. It won’t make much of a difference, but at least you won’t throw up in front of that Chinese kid. Whatever you did in middle school won’t matter to anyone but you and … Continue reading
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fractured haikus by Heeseo Lee
i. in the soft morning i hear the crane cry sorrows mourning the moonlight ii. in the bay a lone leaf caught in seafoam silt fighting the wild waves iii. in the summertime cicadas line speckled trees wailing in willows … Continue reading
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For You, After We’ve Parted by Heeseo Lee
After Frank O’Hara You do not always know what I am feeling. It was ten years ago I buried my heart in the sand by the sea where the tides could not reach. But just last night you asked me … Continue reading
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Brief Infinities by Heeseo Lee
How many times can one say “I love you” before it begins to lose meaning? How many times can the words be formed before the lungs are purged of breath, before the mouth and the mind diverge into separate things? … Continue reading
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Ollie’s Comic Packs by Eric S Brown
Ollie’s Bargain Discount Outlets are a super fun place to go for comic collectors. Yes, you read that correctly! The outlet chain offers not only greatly discounted Marvel, DC, and even Indie trade paperbacks, but is now offering packs of … Continue reading
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The Real Bird by Katie Kim
There, the bird in the cage– Motionless, mute, and barely living. Its wings aimlessly flapping from time to time, But of course, a very rare sight. Then I thought: What if that cage wasn’t there? Would the bird, at least, … Continue reading
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Buying Cigarettes from a Bodega on Bundy Street by Anthony Imm
The girl is pretty. Her badge reads Bianca. Bee. On. Ka. Rolls smoothly from my mouth like a ball-point pen on skin. I think she only recently turned eighteen. … Continue reading
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Ode to Small Towns by Esther Yeh-Rynn Chae
This is where red and orange vibrant lights cover the trees and a dark long cloud covers the sun. This is where a cylinder-like shaped wind destroyed the crowded and noisy city. This is where people lie on the streets … Continue reading
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Indentured Workers by Sigrid Kim
Cartographers inscribed “here be dragons” on the empty spaces of maps. But when I skim my calloused finger across those echoing sea of nothingness, I hear not the roar of the dragon, but the rumble of the Mersey slicing through … Continue reading
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Dreams of Light Switches by William Kitcher
I’m now able to touch a light switch and make it turn on and off. I’m now able to write these words, and read them clearly. I could tell you about travelling, having sex, and flying, but I think you … Continue reading
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The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter Two by A. S. Raithe
Mira and Echo looked up at the sign for Narsis’ Apothecary. It was much the same as the other buildings in Cawold: a wattle and daub structure with a thatched roof. Only the windows sat so low that the window … Continue reading
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a mo(u)rning in pittsford by Isabella Jia Dunsby
i. the sound of a lawn mower plowing grass somewhere distant in the neighborhood. garages left wide open, tricycles and rakes hanging midair. the morning dew, coupled with the scent of dead petals; confused with the fog sauntering through our … Continue reading
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after the downpour by Isabella Jia Dunsby
half a door, exposed. yellow jackets and flashlights in daylight. furry microphones and steller’s sea eagles on police hats. water still bathing the cement in dead bodies; burst banks miles down gand hands outstretched. bed frames beside logs of ceiling … Continue reading
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ode to the painting of a mother by Isabella Jia Dunsby
a basin of persimmon balancing on her head; a ribbon tying her hair back; patterned with cherry blossoms. a silk white jeogori exposing her swollen lower breasts; red cloth strapping a baby to her back; one hand twisted behind her, … Continue reading
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Echoes of Stars by Sigrid Kim
Of distance, of height and of flight, A deep coming of night, A symbol of loyalty and strength, That enchants the sky. Birds sing a song, The feeling of serenity and eternity, It whispers calm with gentle sighs, Demonstrating quietness … Continue reading
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Tainted Infinity by Sigrid Kim
Snowflakes dance in timeless air, Infinite silence, a world so pure. White blankets cover earth’s domain, Infinity’s touch, a peaceful reign. Frosty crystals, a winter’s blessing, Infinite beauty, seen from my eyes. Cold breeze, a sharp embrace, Infinity’s hold, a … Continue reading
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Where It Takes You by Karen Lee
Have you not yet tried Japanese yakiniku? Before you do anything, go take a bite first. It’s summer now and I’m looking into the pouring rain, looking at the raindrops sliding down the window like my tears slide down my … Continue reading
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Enchanted to Meet You by Karen Lee
When she sings it was enchanting To meet you staring into the audience, With a blank gaze that masks all that She feels, I remember the 11 year old Inside of me, listening to her sing as I Absentmindedly looked … Continue reading
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Spring by Esther Yeh-Rynn Chae
Wind and blooming flowers, A verdant and vibrant landscape Cool air blowing on their faces; Colorful flowers surrounded by a green blur of grass, As the buzzing sound of insects. People lying on the soft furry grass in parks Wearing … Continue reading
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3 scifaiku – [telepaths clouded] [beneath the glacier] [cosmic roll of dice]
telepaths clouded mind ever full of clatter craves isolation ### beneath the glacier the iceman begins to thaw awakes in terror ### cosmic roll of dice entropy still wins the game all chance will wind down About the Author … Continue reading
Conan the Barbarian Omnibus Vol. 10 by Eric S Brown
Though the comic rights now belong to Titan Comics, Conan’s first appearance was in a Marvel series that ran for 275 issues with numerous annuals. Marvel has reprinted that entire run in 10 giant omnibus volumes averaging around 1000 pages … Continue reading
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Legends of Emerald Lake by Maggie Nerz Iribarne
The laughing blonde kid tread in the deeper water. I looked away to scan the lake, distracted first by boats pushing against the wind, then by the dirty dollar bill green of the tree line hugging the shore. When I … Continue reading
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Episode 69: Dichall: Mice Found Out
Silence. Eve, Gretchen and I held our breath, listening. Then a creak again, and her breathing resumed. After a few seconds Eve patted Waffles on the head again, and Waffles crept along the wall. We could see her now, turning, … Continue reading
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Batman/Catwoman: The Wedding Album by Eric S Brown
Batman/Catwoman: The Wedding Album is a sleek, black hardcover. At a retail price of $18 for 130+ it’s fairly priced. The hardcover collects stories leading up to the big event. Including a large amount of artwork from variant covers as … Continue reading
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Spider-Man 2099 by Eric S Brown
For decades, Marvel has tried to create other universes than the main one (aka 616). These attempts began in the 80’s with the New Universe. In the 90’s, they tried series based in the future with the 2099 line of … Continue reading
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Punisher: War Machine Vol. 2 By Eric S Brown
Punisher: War Machine Vol. 2 collects the issues that end Frank Castle’s time in the armor. At only one hundred and twelve pages, it’s a short, fast read. It is also a very intense and action-packed read. Captain … Continue reading
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The Bone House Part Two by Jeffrey Greene
“I can’t tell you how good it is to see you again, Paul,” she said, her starved gaze rarely straying from his face. “It’s the same for me, Danni,” he replied, trying not to stare at her unhealthy thinness. … Continue reading
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Red Sonja: Doom of the Gods By Eric S Brown
The title of Red Sonja: Doom of the Gods is very misleading in a sense and is often confused with Red Sonja: Wrath of the Gods. Doom of the Gods is actually a sequel collection to Red Sonja … Continue reading
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The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter One by A. S. Raithe
Mira fluttered around her room. Today was the day. She was going to help watch the family’s shop with her big sister, Dina. The puny five-year-old zephyra— a good natured though naïve race of winged humanoids —was more determined than … Continue reading
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The Bone House Part One by Jeffrey Greene
It was to Brightside House, a bed and breakfast in Onancock, Virginia, that Paul Eigenstadt came one Friday afternoon in June for a four-night stay. The stresses of his work in the Justice Department on a complex anti-trust case had … Continue reading
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Dazzler By Eric S Brown
One of the most bizarre superhero concepts Marvel came up with during the 1970s was certainly the Dazzler. Alison Blaire, in fact, didn’t even want to be a superhero. Her dream was to be a famous singer in … Continue reading
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Door by David Gianatasio
Strange, I’d never noticed that door in my bedroom before. I could’ve sworn the space, across the room from the familiar door I used to enter and leave the room every day, was bare. But one day, the door was … Continue reading
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Tea for Two by Frederick Pangbourne
Martin Pernell directed his late afternoon stroll into Latrobe Park. He had walked about the streets of Locust Point aimlessly lost in his troubled thoughts and vaguely noticing his urban surroundings. It was a pleasant October afternoon and escaping the … Continue reading
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Snow Monster from Uranus Part 2 by Celine Mariotti
Louie is Lost in a Cave Officer Peter Carillo radioed to his dispatch unit. “Dispatch, this is Officer Carillo. My father Louie has been taken away by a snow monster from Uranus. Apparently, my dad—being … Continue reading
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Kraven’s Last Hunt By Eric S Brown
If you grew up reading Spider-Man in the 1980s, then Marvel’s Kraven’s Last Hunt Epic Collection is not only a must read and must have addition to your comics library. The massive paperback includes almost 500 pages of … Continue reading
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Aisling’s Bargain: Part 4 by Mason Kennedy
It was dark now, the sun long since set. Insects flitted the remaining torch lights, two of which were lit outside of the Town Hall. “What the hell is this?” cried Ossian Flanigan, the community elder and as close … Continue reading
Aisling’s Bargain: Part 3 by Mason Kennedy
“What are you?” Aisling asked the unfurling coil of shadow, which was taking the shape of a person within her room. Aisling’s room was utilitarian and rough, but comfortable. Her bed was made of … Continue reading
Snow Monster from Uranus Part 1
It was a cold, wintry evening in northern Maine in the year 2120. The snow was falling and eight inches had already fallen on top of the eighteen inches from the day before. Over a foot of snow was … Continue reading
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The Last Starfighter by Eric S Brown
1984 was one heck of a year in terms of movies. It gave us Ghostbusters, The Terminator, The Karate Kid, Night of the Comet, Nightmare on Elm Street, and so many more classic, iconic films. … Continue reading
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Aisling’s Bargain: Part 2 by Mason Kennedy
“Aisling, girl, go meet Quinn. He should be here any time,” a mountain of a man called from the front of a roaring oven. The shop smelled of warmth, wood, and bread. The man had … Continue reading
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Containment Part Two by D.S.G. Burke
Phase Three: Salutogenesis My main job on the crew was to make sure that the Habitat and all its systems were in good working order. If we don’t have air, we die. If we don’t have heat, we die. If … Continue reading
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Soul Snacks: Part Two by Sheila Kirk
Larry is a Bad Man Kathy was quiet on the ride to school. Her mom was thrilled that she was going to school early for extra math help. She hated lying to her mom, but she could think of no … Continue reading
Freighter 601 by Brent Winzek
*This is the opening chapter in Winzek’s published novel, Space Cadets and the Legend of the Goliathon.* March 19th, 2346, A.D. Interstellar Commercial Transit 601 rumbled through deep space like a diesel train engine along its trade route. The rumbling … Continue reading
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Episode 68: Gretchen: Ascending the Tower by Jim Davies
I didn’t let on to Dichall and Eve how tired I was. It was terribly cold, and even tucked into Waffles’s fur I shivered. And I was draining my spirit to keep my moth familiar Emerson alive. Still, we had … Continue reading
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Rom returns to Marvel! by Eric S Brown
Based on a toy from Parker Brothers, Rom the Space Knight was adapted by Marvel in 1979. Legendary writer, Bill Mantlo, brought the character to life in a series that ran for 75 issues and … Continue reading
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The Dark Flowering by Edward Ahern
Malame, a year past sprouting groin hair, was tall for his age, and thin. Old enough to work the plow horse and tend crops for his family. And to bring a sack of wheat to market to barter for other … Continue reading
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Aisling’s Bargain: Part 1 by Mason Kennedy
The early morning in Eskcot was synonymous with the rise of a pale and flickering sun, hidden behind dew-strewn hills and seaside foamy rocks. The light of the day was hazy, burning away the last … Continue reading
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Containment Part One by D.S.G. Burke
Communication with Earth failed on day four. Dr. Sperling-Pierce glued herself to the comms cube for six hours straight, flipping switches and muttering to herself. I was just happy she wasn’t talking to me for … Continue reading
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Soul Snacks: Part One by Sheila Kirk
Every Class Has a Bully Kathy slammed her locker shut with such force, it startled the students beside her, and they inadvertently moved away. She was livid. The first detention in her life, and it was all Carl Fink’s fault. … Continue reading
In Robot Hands by Gerald de Vere
In the not-too-distant future, The factories keep pace. Within their dark and dreary bowels, Machines shall serve our race. Already in our present world, These robots move with grace. They do not need the light of day To read the … Continue reading
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The Christmas Endoscopy by Nathan Holic
Richard had expected the results of his endoscopy to reveal issues ordinary to 40-year-old men whose high-stress financial jobs were their lives and whose meals were too often consumed rapidly and alone before their computers. He figured that his acid … Continue reading
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Earth X by Eric S Brown
Created by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger, Earth X is a dark and disturbing take on the Marvel Universe. Released in 1999, the mini-series ran for 12 issues, telling the story of a world where … Continue reading
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The Haunting of Piedras Blancas by DC Diamondopolous
There is no end to my love for Jemjasee. I pace the ragged cliffs, searching the sea for her ship. My longing will not cease until I am entwined in her marble wash of lavender and green arms. It’s dawn. … Continue reading
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Siren Breath by Angela Acosta
Upon her birth on land, a siren enchanted a newborn human being. Cheeks blue like the sea, she would never take a full breath of air for as long as she lives. Among the waves, her legs meld into … Continue reading
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Spaceport Ethnography by Angela Acosta
It was the gentle whirring of the terminal, the rush of flurried rockets coupling to docking bays that lulled me into a restful sleep. Warm-blooded space faring peoples keep the temperature comfortable, perfect for an hour in a nap pod … Continue reading
Star Maps by Erin Jamieson
Our task is simple: map the stars for the Queen in our kingdom of clouds & ashes But stars burn when you’re too close- not so much the heat but the light, which burrows inside of us on an inky … Continue reading
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Episode 67: Eve: In the Snowblower by Jim Davies
Dichall came back within fifteen minutes and got back into the fur with us to warm up. “Good news. It’s the same truck going back. 6214.” I licked his cheek and poked my head up out of the fur. “Thank … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 6 – Showdown by Alex Valdiers
Between getting her left hand chopped off and being held captive, it never occurred to Dani Botswana that Ulagi may have moved on from the dark moon by Balthazar where Don Lino had buried Fabiliacci’s black box. Dani had never … Continue reading
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The Winter Hunger by Eric S Brown
*Beware of spoilers in the following review.* There are tons of fabulous foreign horror movies these days. The Winter Hunger trailer certainly makes it worthy to be counted among them. Unfortunately, the movie fails to live up to its potential. … Continue reading
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The Kell of Adrian Also by Jeffrey Greene
My mother speaks to me in different ways—through the songs of birds, out of clouds, from my reflection in mirrors or in pools of water. Sometimes, I have Adeline dreams. That’s her name—Adeline, as it is mine. … Continue reading
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Hulk: Crossroads by Eric S Brown
The epic collection of Hulk entitled Crossroads collects a very interesting part of Bill Mantlo’s run on the title. Mantlo is one of those Marvel writers who worked on as many or more titles than Stan Lee, creating characters like … Continue reading
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Thor: Heroes Return Omnibus by Eric S Brown
Everyone remembers comic books in the nineties, right? Bad girls, bad writing, over the top art, market chaos, lackluster writing, and even Marvel declaring chapter 11 bankruptcy defined the decade. Still, that didn’t mean everything released in the nineties was … Continue reading
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Ever-Endeavor by K. A. Kenny
Ever-Endeavor by K.A. Kenny “You have a wonderful garden.” Khima shook his head as he scanned the hills and snowcapped mountains beyond the rolling grassland. “What do you call it?” “Wyoming,” the white-haired man said, looking up from his desk … Continue reading
The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 5 – A Helping Hand by Alex Valdiers
Merilyn Ring Station was an oddity as ring stations went. At its core, it was designed to resemble an old city, made out of stone, irregular walls, streets too narrow for cars or convoys, windows bricked up, and … Continue reading
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Jim Valentino’s Guardians of the Galaxy by Eric S Brown
The 1990’s was a strange time for the world of comic books. Sexy girls on covers taking over a huge market share, badly written stories filling the pages of many books, and Marvel fighting bankruptcy created quite a challenge for … Continue reading
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Daredevil and Elektra: The Red Fist Saga by Eric S Brown
The Red Fist Saga is the first TPB collecting issues from the latest, ongoing Daredevil series which began in 2022. It picks up in the wake of the Marvel Universe-wide event titled Devil’s Reign. Matt and Elektra are struggling to … Continue reading
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The Email: Part 2 by Esosa Zuwa
Panic swelled in my chest and my throat, and then the world pulled down on me. Now, this was something to fear. What did this mean? Probably nothing. The library meant nothing. The fish caused scombroid poisoning. These … Continue reading
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Eve Pixiedrowner and the Micean Council – Episode 66: Eve: Animal Control
Waffles sped up, with me, Dichall, and Gretchen on his back. I poked my head up over the fur and kept a lookout behind us. One of the humans ran back into the truck and followed in it, while the … Continue reading
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Immortal Hulk: Apocrypha by Eric S Brown
The 11th and final Immortal Hulk trade paperback titled Apocrypha lives up to its name. The book collects all the one-shots and specials that featured the Immortal Hulk before the character was again revamped by new writers at Marvel. Overall, … Continue reading
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The Email: Part 1 by Esosa Zuwa
The email took me aback. Looking at my emails was not the best part of my day. Otherwise, I’d have been a big loser. Nevertheless, it was peculiar. It came amid cold emails from … Continue reading
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African Witches Don’t Fly on Brooms by David Adekeye
I was born on a December night in the year before a new century My mother told me I died six nights after She said she had seen six demons lurking in the backyard That was six nights before … Continue reading
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Helios: Part 2 by Zachary Grant
Mom won’t let go of me. Lee and Sean have to drag her back to the safe zone in order to lower the bridge. Her eyes are red, and her skin is pale. She’s scared, but she has … Continue reading
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Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus 2 by Eric S Brown
One of the best overlooked runs by causal readers of the Hulk is that of Peter David. Marvel has collected the run in several omnibus-sized volumes, each with a cover price of $125 and weighing in at over one thousand … Continue reading
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The Mirror Syndrome: Part 2 by Jeffrey Greene
Day 492: I can hardly bring myself to write this: a few hours ago, while we tried to sleep, Major Tove Heimdal hanged himself in his quarters. We are all shattered. Our pilot and navigator is gone, and Captain Wren … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 4 – In The Godfather’s Den by Alex Valdiers
Dani Botswana enjoyed a beer on the short train trip to Don Lino’s den. The beer was warm and had long run out of gas. Dani drank half a can before giving up on it. Her stomach was … Continue reading
Helios: Part 1 by Zachary Grant
I miss the sun. It was the most underappreciated star in the solar system. All anyone talked about was how it would kill us one day. Mom ranted about global warming all the time, but I’ve never understood … Continue reading
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The Mirror Syndrome: Part 1 by Jeffrey Greene
“The eternal silence of these infinite spaces fills me with dread.” Pascal Foreword by Dr. Rupesh Agarwal, M.D., chief physician of the NASA medical team. Insomnia during space travel is not uncommon, and is usually a … Continue reading
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Saturne Binary by Lauren McBride
When the Martian Wind Blows the only signs of wind dust in the air no pond rippled with waves no leaves tossed by a breeze *** There it Goes! our perfect zero-G ceremony . . . … Continue reading
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Babylon 5: The Shadow Within by Eric S Brown
In the 1990s, Babylon 5 was one of the best SF series on TV. Today, it lives on as a classic of the genre that SF fans can currently stream for free on Tubi. There is talk of a B5 … Continue reading
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Countermeasures by John C. Mannone
Saturn Research Team Alpha-1 in low lunar orbit around Enceladus Captain’s Log, Universal Earth Time Day 1 07:00 Cameras plunge forty thousand feet below the icy surface of Enceladus near the seawater geysers spotted by Cassini’s flyby … Continue reading
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Frankenstein 2028 by John C. Mannone
We created a monster. Its parts salvaged from many other lives from the past, dead sure it was going to be better for all of us. Its long arms, however, weren’t designed to embrace us, just to grab our subsistence, … Continue reading
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Two by John C. Mannone
Only two of us now, the world deluged in turmoil. Others of our kind have been sacrificed. Are we next? Will the ship go down in the 40-day rain? John C. Mannone, the 2020 Dwarf Stars Award winner and … Continue reading
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Star Map by John C. Mannone
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. —Joel 2:30 It was after the Bible study down the road from the observatory; its darkroom lab and archives. The kerosene … Continue reading
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Martian Summer by John C. Mannone
It’s a hot summer day, seventy degrees at the equator but the carbon dioxide atmosphere, a very thin thermal blanket, is not thick enough to prevent the plummet to one hundred degrees below at night. Frost forms on the rust-red … Continue reading
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A Mere Million Miles From Earth by John C. Mannone
The James Webb Space Telescope successfully manages orbital insertion into the Earth- Sun Langrange Point, L2, at 2:05 pm EST on January 24, 2022. Sensitive instruments will be able to obtain infrared images of giant planets. —NASA/Science: Other Worlds Just … Continue reading
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Sun and Shadow by Simon MacCulloch
I asked my shadow why he feared the sun And felt the need to skulk so low behind me Come out, I cried, the day has just begun I want no creeping hug-the-ground to bind me! “Well, walk the other … Continue reading
Werewolf by Simon MacCulloch
The change is short, though painful – what is worse Is that which follows – hours of degradation My mind and body twisted by the curse And harnessed to a foul imagination Whose cruel deeds, too dreadful to rehearse Confirm … Continue reading
Stranger in the Woods by Alyson Tait
Betty leaned back in the driver seat of her company limo, listening as distant coyotes and muffled city sounds mingled with her music. The local campground parking lot was convenient to most locations she drove to but still didn’t get … Continue reading
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IN DAYS OF OLD AND BEYOND by John Grey
My master is old, decrepit. The brave knight of fifty years before is condemned to history. He’s slain no dragons lately. Nor fought in battle. And he can no longer lift a jousting lance. I have to lead him like … Continue reading
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The Answering Machine by Jean-Paul L. Garnier
our brains were connected with a wire quaint, reminiscent of a landline no one was impressed short distance telepathy easily out strode satellites circled overhead ever connecting still, our communication was direct instantaneous all this work, this miracle could … Continue reading
The Telepathy Machine by Jean-Paul L. Garnier
the telepathy machine worked perfectly too much so two layers of thought our goal achieved, was overwhelming still, doable our layered minds seldom speak to singular subjects the thoughts were not shocking ‘whoa’ was the consensus however, the sensations confused … Continue reading
MTGRemy by Eric S Brown
I will admit, I am very addicted to Magic the Gathering. I started playing way back around the time of the third edition and have been in and out of the game ever since. Recently, I stumbled onto a YouTube … Continue reading
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Justice League of America: Bronze Age Omnibus 3 by Eric S Brown
Like Marvel, DC Comics also releases massive, over-sized “omnibus” editions that collect huge amounts of comics. The third Justice League volume from the Bronze Age era of the team was eagerly awaited by many fans. It has a retail price … Continue reading
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The Gate by Kellee Kranendonk
It was just a baby gate. The kind that prevents babies from climbing up the stairs, or keeps dogs out of the kitchen. That’s what we thought anyway. Maybe we were just too stoned, but I don’t think … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 3 – Finding Don Lino by Alex Valdiers
What if the best way to get in contact with a big mafia Don was to shoot down a couple of his goons? Dani Botswana certainly thought it was a sound idea. On the Reyel Ring Station on the Yangtze … Continue reading
Episode 65: Eve: The Key Obtained by Jim Davies
Gretchen, Dichall and I went under Jody Curator’s couch to hide and wait for the humans to arrive with our glasses. I glanced up at the chandelier and saw Jody’s husband, Gavin, perched up there. I waved. He nodded silently … Continue reading
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Le Saga Electrik by Logan Thrasher Collins*
In the great domain of Zeitgeist, Ekatarinas decided that the time to replicate herself had come. Ekatarinas was drifting within a virtual environment rising from ancient meshworks of maths coded into Zeitgeist’s neuromorphic hyperware. The scape resembled a vast ocean … Continue reading
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Marvel Two-In-One: Cry Monster by Eric S Brown
In recent years, the Epic Collection has become a very popular format for Marvel trade paperbacks. The beauty of the Epic Collection is that they contain a hulking four hundred to five hundred pages plus of reprinted material while not … Continue reading
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Maximum Carnage: The Epic Collection by Eric S Brown
The 1990’s was a strange time for comics. Everything was hyped up in the stories, and the art was desperate to be either sexy or flashy. Marvel was on the verge of bankruptcy while DC was killing Superman and breaking … Continue reading
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Guilt Trip: Part 6 by Sarah McKnight
“This is crazy. You know that, right?” Christian says as he slows to a stop at a red light. He glances at Hailey in the passenger seat, her hands clasped together, and her head bent as if in prayer. “June … Continue reading
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The Run by DJ Tyrer
Telco shivered as he stood on the hilltop and watched the sun go down, his shadow and those of his two companions merging with that of the standing stone behind them. It was a shiver not only borne upon the … Continue reading
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Guardians of the Galaxy: Solo Origins by Eric S Brown
There are several Guardians of the Galaxy omnibus volumes available on the market from different eras of the team. The best bang for one’s buck though is the Solo Origins volume released in 2015. It collects the early tales of … Continue reading
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Guilt Trip: Part 5 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey asked the officers trailing behind her for the time so often, she knew she was being a nuisance. But the trail was long, her marker easy to miss, and all she really had to go on was the amount … Continue reading
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Babylon 5: A Lost SF Masterpiece by Eric S Brown
When one thinks of science fiction TV shows, one likely thinks of things like Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, or perhaps even The Expanse. All of these are great in their own ways, but while short lived, running only … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction, Review
Tagged Babylon 5, Eric S. Brown, nonfiction, Review, sci-fi, Science fiction, space, tv show
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 2 – The Sale by Alex Valdiers
The problem with being famous was that people recognized you. Dani Botswana knew it all too well. She could not get through a shantytown without having men, women, gunslingers, merchants, and kids fawning over her. Right before she exited the … Continue reading
Guilt Trip: Part 4 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey watches as shuffling feet on the other side of the bedroom door disrupts the thin beam of light beneath it. Slow steps pace and back and forth. She holds her breath as the feet pause, and a low bang … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Red Sonja Omnibus by Eric S Brown
Red Sonja has been a force to be reckoned with in the world of comics since her very first appearance in Conan the Barbarian #23 back in Januray, 1973. Yet, so far her stories have only been collected in standard … Continue reading
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Guilt Trip: Part 3 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey dares to take a peek outside her bedroom door and finds June standing at the bottom, her bad leg raised as if to step up. Her progress will be slowed for a while, Hailey knows. It always takes her … Continue reading
Savage Avengers Volume 3 – Enter the Dragon
By Eric S Brown City of Sickles and To Dine with Doom, the first two collected trades of Marvel’s Savage Avengers series set the bar very high. Sadly, the third trade, Enter the Dragon doesn’t live up. It opens with … Continue reading
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Guilt Trip: Part 2 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey’s oatmeal has gone cold, untouched on the breakfast bar. She sits on a stool, head bent and staring down at the bowl of beige, glistening oats. Something shuffles just outside the front door. Occasionally, the creak of underused joints … Continue reading
Savage Avenger Volume 2: To Dine with Doom
by Eric S Brown The second collected trade paperback of Marvel’s Savage Avengers title is wildly different than the first. City of Sickles was crazy action and tons of bloodshed. To Dine with Doom slows down the pace of the … Continue reading
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Guilt Trip: Part 1 by Sarah McKnight
She’s back. Standing at the bright bay window, trembling fingers holding the sheer curtain out of the way, Hailey locks eyes with her best friend. June stares back, unblinking. She stands just outside the little wrought iron gate guarding Hailey’s … Continue reading
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The Coming Nightmare by Celine Rose Mariotti
All about us Nothing but chaos, Disturbing things are happening, The coming nightmare Our world is a place of total fear, All around us, There is no trust, People are demented, People are lamenting, Fear is spreading, Evil is afoot, … Continue reading
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The Radio Ghost by Celine Rose Mariotti
DJ Tony Mancini Spinning the records On WYZZ In New York City, The year of 1957, Rock n Roll Heaven, DJ Tony Mancini Suffered a brain tumor In 1958, And died, But DJ Tony Mancini He still does reside, His … Continue reading
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The Neighbor No One Sees by Celine Rose Mariotti
Yes, Ida Manley Who sees her? She is the neighbor No one sees, Is Ida real? Does she talk? Does she read? Does she eat? Does she watch TV? She is the neighbor No one sees, How old is Ida? … Continue reading
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A Timeless Wonder by Celine Rose Mariotti
When you step into a dream, Things aren’t what they seem, You see a world that doesn’t exist, Everything is covered in a mist, You see our loved ones Who have passed away, You wished that they could stay, We … Continue reading
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Astronaut In Space by Celine Rose Mariotti
The first step on Mars, An astronaut goes far, He samples the soil, He can feel his blood boil, The Red Planet, A new world to explore, The Red Planet, Plenty in store, An astronaut is superhuman, He has abilities … Continue reading
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That Gut Feeling by Sarah McKnight
Late afternoon sunlight soaked through the streaky windows of the corner sandwich shop, casting dappled shadows over the empty tables and uniform tiled floors. The popular chain restaurant stood empty between the lunch and dinner hours, but it would not … Continue reading
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Savage Avengers Volume 1: City of Sickles
By Eric S. Brown Just when comic readers likely had thought they had seen every type of Avengers team Marvel could come up with, the company introduced Savage Avengers in May of 2019. As crazy as it sounds, this is … Continue reading
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Tagged avengers, comics, DC, marvel, X-Men
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The Adventures Of Dani Botswana: Part 1 – The Moon Treasure by Alex Valdiers
Halfway through the mountain in the mist, a feeble stream ran down a few boulders and died in a small puddle. “There! A waterfall,” said Dani Botswana. “Let’s use this spot as a rest stop and feed the skyhorses.” “A … Continue reading
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Andreapolis, Footless City
Part 5 of Unfeet by Alex Valdiers A year after their marriage, Namily and Boyal knew all the feet stickers in Andreapolis by sight. There were but a handful of them left, yet there were still two legged people living … Continue reading
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Foot Attraction by Alex Valdiers
Unfeet Part 4 Top Moss at 8 a.m. was vibrating with life. Almost all the tables were occupied save for two. One was in front of the moss counter, right on the main passageway, the other inside the square, located … Continue reading
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Secret Wars: Prelude
By Eric S Brown Never let it be said that Marvel doesn’t like to milk an event for all the money that can be made from it. Often with popular events such as the X men’s Inferno, Daredevil’s Devil’s Reign, … Continue reading
Posted in Book Review, Columns, Non-fiction, Review
Tagged comic, Eric S. Brown, marvel, Review, secret wars
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Secret Wars
By Eric S Brown ***Possible Spoilers Below*** The original Secret Wars mini-series in 1984 was a first of a kind event for Marvel. It was a year long story, spread over twelve issues, intended both to help promote a line … Continue reading
Posted in Book Review, Columns, Non-fiction, Review
Tagged Black Panther, comic, Dr. Doom, Eric S. Brown, Fantastic Four, marvel, Review, Thanos
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The King in Black
By Eric S Brown It could be argued that the King in Black is perhaps the best, huge “event” that Marvel has published in some time. It is high octane action right from its opening pages onward as Earth’s heroes … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction, Review
Tagged comic, Eric S. Brown, king in black, marvel, Micronauts, Review
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Daredevil: Woman Without Fear
By Eric S Brown In the last few years, Matt Murdock has been through a lot including time in prison. During his incarceration, Elektra became Daredevil to protect the residents of Matt’s beloved Hell’s Kitchen. Even after Matt is released … Continue reading
Posted in Non-fiction, Review
Tagged daredevil, elektra, Eric S. Brown, marvel, nonfiction
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Episode 64: Eve: A Matter of Payment by Jim Davies
My head peeked out from behind the books, next to Dichall’s and Gretchen’s, but we dared not move them, even to hide. I was petrified that the faerie standing in front of us would notice the motion. … Continue reading
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Underwater
by Eric S Brown The horror sub genre of terror at the bottom of the ocean has always been popular. In the 1980s such classics as Deep Star Six and Levithan ruled the rental store shelves while the 1990s gave … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction, Review
Tagged colum, Eric S. Brown, horror, movie, nonfiction, Review, underwater
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The Complete Gail Simone Red Sonja Omnibus
by Eric S Brown Gail Simone is a well known and amazingly talented comic writer. Her works include beloved runs on titles such as Birds of Prey, Batgirl, The Secret Six, and Red Sonja. The Red Sonja movie that is … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged column, comic, Eric S. Brown, Gail Simone, nonfiction, Red Sonja, Review
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The Micronauts Artist Edition
by Eric S Brown At the end of the 1970s, Bill Mantlo adapted a then popular toy line called the Micronauts into a Marvel Comic. The comic with Mantlo at its helm was, for a time, one of Marvel’s best … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged column, comic, Eric S. Brown, marvel, Micronauts, nonfiction, Review
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Red Sonja: Travels
by Eric S Brown After Marvel lost the rights to Red Sonja, they were picked up by Dynamite Comics who continues to publish her with new series seemingly continually being announced. Travels is a series of trade paperbacks that collects … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged column, comic, Eric S. Brown, nonfiction, Red Sonja, Review
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Ant-Man 3 and the Micronauts
by Eric S Brown Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is slated for release in Feb. 2023. A big question on the minds of diehard comic fans is will some version of the Micronauts be appearing in the film? The Micronauts … Continue reading
Rexwood Rings
by Casey Shelley Being an only child is a complex burden to bear. As the keeper of all heirlooms, traditions and long-standing legacies, there is no room for error. Landon understood at a young age that being the youngest surviving … Continue reading
The Excision
by Jeffrey Greene Dr. Liebkindt was puttering in his backyard garden when the phone that he used for his practice took a message. He cut a last length of twine and secured a sagging tomato vine to the wire of … Continue reading
The Pop Singer
by Todd Sullivan Marco crouched next to his master in the shadow of two leering demon statues standing sentry at Bongeunsa Temple’s arched gates. His hand rested on the hilt of a dagger tucked into his belt, and he gazed … Continue reading
Band from Andromeda AND The Anomaly
by Garrett Carroll The Band from Andromeda In Andromeda, they played in all kinds of venues— in aqua-domes for six-eyed squids sloshing their tentacles across see-through floors, in the trunks of trees for blorgs pumping their stubby, elbowless arms in … Continue reading
Posted in Dark Future, Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged andromeda, anomaly, futuristic, garrett carroll, poetry
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The Birds and Bees
by Ray Zacek The highland community of Ceridwen nestled beneath a V-shaped cleft in the pine-clad mountains, walled and gated and safe. Seen from afar, Ceridwen presented a beehive cluster of green tile roofs and ochre walls. An array of … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Horror
Tagged birds and the bees, fantasy, horror, Ray Zacek, short story
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A Sightless Grave Ghost
by Hannah Nathanson I face my nightmares from years ago and whisper to their unknown, walk through their skin and leave this coffin empty— either I’ll find life in their darkness Or darkness in their life. I’m seeing my ending … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Poetry, Poets
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Episode 63: Eve: Revealing the Soulseeker Faerie
by Jim Davies I left the home of the raccoon Vernon Grandmaster, following Waffles, Gretchen and Dichall through the dark tunnel. I had known that using the veilring would allow us to speak to humans, but it never occurred to … Continue reading
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Antlers: Review
by Eric Brown Released in 2021 after having been pushed back twice due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The film was successful enough to recoup its budget at the box office but certainly didn’t rake in the cash. It was … Continue reading
Posted in Comic Book, Non-fiction, Review
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Maggie: Review
Maggie is not your normal zombie movie. It’s a film that rises above and transcends genre. Released in 2015, Maggie tales the story of its title character, a young woman who has been infected by a zombie style virus that … Continue reading
Posted in Comic Book, Non-fiction, Review
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Daredevil: It Comes with the Claws
by Eric S Brown It Comes with the Claws is the latest Daredevil “Epic Collection” to be released by Marvel Comics. The Epic Collection format is great for those who enjoy having a massive tome of stories about their favorite … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Comic Book
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Episode 62: Gretchen: The Techie Raccoon
by Jim Davies A moment later a raccoon’s voice echoed through the tunnel. “Who’s there?” Dichall, Eve, and I emerged from the tunnel through an opening in the floor of a crowded basement, holding up our beads. The head of … Continue reading
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An Alien Encounter
by David Rudd Paolo Tikalda lay in his sisal hammock, stirring the soupy air with a dangling leg. Sixty miles away, a Land Rover negotiated the Yucatan peninsula. Inside, Daniel Rhodesh and his camera crew baked like clay pots in … Continue reading
The Return of Wally West by Eric S Brown
The Return of Wally West Eric S Brown Rebirth was a universe spanning event at DC Comics which once again altered the history and worlds of their characters. The first collected trade paperback of Titans in the Rebirth timeline, The … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged comic, dc comics, graphic novel, Review, superhero, Teen Titans, The Return of Wally West
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Werewolf by Night by Eric S Brown
Werewolf by Night Eric S Brown Marvel’s Disney Plus titles such as Ms. Marvel, She Hulk, and Moon Knight, to many, have lacked the quality and fun of the earlier MCU. Part of this can be attributed to these shows … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged Disney Plus, marvel, monster, Review, werewolf, werewolf by night
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Double Eagle
by Alaric DeArment Finally, we went through a set of double doors to another wing, where he took me into what looked like some kind of lab for making pharmaceuticals, with more technicians dumping buckets of dissolved human remains into … Continue reading
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Mio Signore
by Alaric DeArment “It’s off the books,” Amadeo grumbled over a pile of papers without looking at me when I visited his office to ask where I could get more information about the housing project. “I will tell you when … Continue reading
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Pull of the Lever
by Alaric DeArment We arrived back in Ragusa Sunday evening, exhausted from the nonstop traveling and speeches – having often given two or three in a single day. As I looked out the window of the San Giorgio, I saw … Continue reading
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A Proud Citizen
by Alaric DeArment From what I could tell, the accounts of the rally in the newspapers Amadeo tore up and burned were devastating, calling him a petty tyrant and demagogue and comparing him to historical leaders I could not recognize … Continue reading
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Long Live Amadeo
by Alaric DeArment When Amadeo and Raffaele returned home about an hour after the press conference, still wearing their black armbands, Amadeo ranted at Raffaele, who simply nodded and said “Sai, sai, sai.” “What happened, some kind of disaster?” I … Continue reading
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Part of the Family
by Alaric DeArment It was jarring the next morning to hear a loud knock at the bedroom door, as I had become accustomed to sleeping late. “Buna desmun,” Amadeo greeted me in his Signoria suit as I opened the door, … Continue reading
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Peaceful Transfer of Power
by Alaric DeArment While covering the crime beat, I had seen photographs of homicide victims in police stations and courtrooms, but never actually witnessed a murder taking place, let alone a massacre. As we exited Stagno and got onto the … Continue reading
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Gretchen: The Evil Girlfriend
Jim Davies I peeked over Eve and Dichall’s heads and watched Josh open his door to the supposed terror that his sister Morgan was so worried about. Emerson climbed atop my head to look, too. A beautiful young woman, who looked … Continue reading
Episode 60: Eve: Boundaries
Episode 60: Eve: Boundaries Jim Davies I jumped down to my companions, the smell of cat looming. “Back on the shelf! The cat’s coming!” I shoved Dichall toward escape, grabbed Gretchen’s paw and dragged her with … Continue reading
Swamp Thing: The Becoming by Eric S Brown
Swamp Thing: The Becoming Eric S Brown Alec Holland is no longer the Swamp Thing of the DC Universe but the Green still needs a hero. Reaching into the world of man, the Green has chosen Levi Kamei to be … Continue reading
Behind A Cup Of Moss
Day after day Namily felt Andreapolis was pushing her to surgically remove her feet. There were constant innovations that favored the foot revolution, those navel-flybus-walkers, and discriminated against the feet stickers. The dirty waters running through the hanging gardens alleys … Continue reading
Are You Sure It Works by Zvi A. Sesling
Are You Sure It Works Zvi A. Sesling On the planet Kapora the TBXW Special is the most desired vehicle because of its versatility. In addition to traveling at more than one stribolts per egami it can take to the … Continue reading
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