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Author Archives: AR_Editor
Ratings by K. A. Williams
Ratings K. A. Williams “They’re not that bad,” said my booking aide. “Yeah, that’s what I heard from the lighting guy who’s one of their fans. I don’t happen to like that kind of music though, and why do they … Continue reading
Let Sleeping Fear Lie by Ed Blundell
Let Sleeping Fear Lie Ed Blundell Sunset snarls like a scornful sneer Across the bleeding horizon. The day dies badly, night descends, Like a blunt axe hacking the land. Black things of darkness slither out, Slimy sliding into sad dreams. … Continue reading
Surprise by Ed Blundell
Surprise Ed Blundell A whirl of wind whips up dead leaves, A bright, white moon hangs in the sky, Indifferent stars shine silver. She walks alone across the park, Along the dark and twisting path, Gazing about her nervously. There … Continue reading
Haven by K. A. Williams
Haven K. A. Williams I had just got home from work and was about to shut the door when I noticed a police hover car chasing three people that were running in my direction. “Over here!” The man pushed the … Continue reading
Posted in Dark Future, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged child, haven, paranormal, williams
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Danger Will Robinson by Phil Temples
Danger Will Robinson Phil Temples The alien space craft reconnoitered the planet Earth for months in preparation for a surprise invasion against the humans. It appeared as though the Earthlings lacked any united defenses with which to repel extraterrestrial attackers. … Continue reading
Klaatu Barada Nikto by Phil Temples
Klaatu Barada Nikto Phil Temples The spaceman stealthily approached the flying saucer in the Washington Mall. As he got closer, he was surprised to find that the MPs previously standing guard around the perimeter were now lying on the ground … Continue reading
Episode 6: To Stand Against the Throne
Under the blaze of the noon-time sun, they mingled with the throngs filling the road to Duke Henry’s castle, the Splinter Rock. Cole soaked in the sights and sounds of the busy route. All sorts crowded the winding mountain track … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged casey, cole, duke, eleanor, henry, keeper, pact, pactkeeper, rowan, thrace
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Episode Eight – The Arrival
The K-9 Town females were busy planning for the upcoming ceremony. The pairing of Wolf Bennie Ba and Wolfhound Winnie. Chihuahua Conchita frowned, feigning anger. “You’d think they’d be more interested. Paco says, they’ll be there when the time comes… … Continue reading
First Action
Spring: six months after leaving the Monastery, half a world away. Sunar leaned against the wall next to the door and watched a drunk stumble his way up to the bar. The human, one of the biggest he’d ever seen, … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged bar, bouncer, dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Episode 40: Eve: Coffee at Dawn
I woke from a haunted dream. Dichall and I were in the Insterstitium again, and the weir we’d used to get there turned out to be one-way. We were stuck there – scared, and hounded by faeries. We’d found a … Continue reading
Interview with JM Williams
A.R. Do you write poetry, prose, or a mixture of both? J.M.W. Prose only. A.R. Have you every done any journalistic writing? J.M.W. I do write academically, history and law, and have been published in a peer review journal. A.R. … Continue reading
Interview with Jim Davies
A.R. Do you write poetry, prose, or a mixture of both? J.D. I write both for Altered Reality. As part of my main job, I also write science articles and popular science. I am a designer of tabletop role-playing games, … Continue reading
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Interview with Herb Kauderer
A.R. Do you write poetry, prose, or a mixture of both? H. K. I write poetry, prose, non-fiction, fiction, screenplays, stageplays, shopping lists, lesson plans, outcomes assessments, work reports, bibliographies, blogs, captions, notes, nonsense, and non-sequitors. I may mix them … Continue reading
It’s Ten O’Clock Somewhere by Dee Caples
It’s Ten O’Clock Somewhere Dee Caples “Are you sure you want to do that?” Pablo stared at the bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream. It was the perfect compliment to a cup of coffee but he’d never had it speak before. … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged baileys, capels, dee, drinking, pablo, whiskey
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Interview with John C. Mannone
A.R. Do you write poetry, prose, or a mixture of both? J.C.M. Yes, both–about 80% poetry, 10% creative nonfiction, 10% fiction A.R. Have you every done any journalistic writing? J.C.M. No, but I served as the editor of a … Continue reading
Interstellar Schism by Sme
Interstellar Schism Sme Transport rocket E-17 shot through space towards the tiny pale speck the crew called home. Kenan loved this part more than the others, reverse thrusters slowed them just as gravity reached out to pull them in. They … Continue reading
Unopened by J.S. Grant
Unopened J.S. Grant The package sat on the bamboo coffee table. Even though we both agreed to no gifts for our six-year anniversary, I was never going to follow that rule. Daniel always talked about how he wanted the first … Continue reading
Salvation Run by Eric S Brown
Salvation Run Eric S Brown Salvation Run was a DC Comics mini-series event published in 2008 which ran for seven issues that were later collected into a single trade paperback. Salvation Run isn’t a story about heroes but rather forty … Continue reading
Interview with Dee Caples
An Interview with Author Dee Caples AR: Do you write poetry, prose, or a mixture of both? DC: I write both. We talked about my poetry first, I think, and discussed the differences in modern poetry and what I was … Continue reading
Salamander Soldiers by Lauren McBride
Salamander Soldiers Lauren McBride I had a name once, in a life that seems as strange to me as my own appearance does now. I was among the first of those called Salamander Soldiers, an elite army unit favored with … Continue reading
Turkey’s Hideout by K. A. Williams
Turkey’s Hideout K. A. Williams It was cold this morning; I fluffed up my feathers. I warmed my feet by scratching around for breakfast and dug up some tasty grubs and worms which I gobbled whole. “Your ma will be … Continue reading
Betaal by Eric S Brown
Netflix is home to some amazing foreign horror series these days and Betaal is one of their newest. It’s an Indian zombie horror tale with some wild and cool twists that was met with some harsh treatment from critics. It … Continue reading
A Mother’s Mourning by Patrick T. O’Connor
A Mother’s Mourning Patrick T. O’Connor Clutching the letter in my hands, I try to iron out the wrinkles and dry the tears that have long since stained its surface. “Don’t fret, your boy has been chosen!” the Rip tells … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged alien, invasion, mother, O'Connor, Patrick, son
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A World Created by Alyson Tait
A World Created Alyson Tait “I am going to make the world—piece by piece, bead by bead. The felt will be the black sky — outer space — an endless sea of possibilities. It is a beginning. And with any … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged alyson, destruction, Earth, linn, tait, world
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Ikiryō by Jeremy Akel
Ikiryō Jeremy Akel She almost had the shape of it. The world, she knew, was a cruel and inhospitable place. She had never known anyone to offer her a kindness unbidden, and even when the formalities were met, and the … Continue reading
The Toymaker by Jeremy Akel
The Toymaker Jeremy Akel Once, long ago in an antique land, a toymaker, by nature a practical man, took it upon himself to fashion a doll, for his beloved daughter Anna. But not just any doll; for this was to … Continue reading
Means of Escape by J. David Harper
Means of Escape J. David Harper Margie found the bottle in the wall of an old house when she hammered through the drywall to make room for a new door. She looked around for her brother, but he was sawing … Continue reading
Durham Red by Eric S Brown
A lot of great comic characters begin as supporting cast to an already well known hero. For example, The Legion of Superheroes was created to be part of the background of Superman’s youth, but eventually spun off into their own … Continue reading
It Isn’t Blackmail by K. A. Williams
It Isn’t Blackmail K. A. Williams Manning University held its five year class reunion at the Hammersmythe Hotel and I went, hoping to see Roy Dalton. He was there, of course, smiling and basking in the admiration of his peers. … Continue reading
The Snowball Effect by Katherine MacLean
Posted in Audio Story, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged effect, kathrine, maclean, snowball
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Later Than You Think by Fritz Leiber
Posted in Audio Story, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged Fritz, Later, leiber, Than, Think, You
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I Like Martian Music by Charles E. Fritch
Posted in Audio Story, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged charles, Fritch, martian, Music
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The Gravity Business by James Edwin Gunn
Posted in Audio Story, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged business, edwin, gravity, gunn, James
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The Bell Tone by Edmund H. Leftwich
Posted in Audio Story, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged ants, bell, edmund, leftwich, tone
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The Jezinkas – a Bohemian fairy tale
The Jezinkas A Bohemian fairy tale There was a poor orphan lad who had neither father nor mother, and was compelled to go out to service to get his living. He travelled a long way without being able to obtain … Continue reading
Long, Broad, and Sharpsight – a Bohemian fairy tale
Long, Broad, and Sharpsight A Bohemian fairy tale There once was a king, who was already old and had but one son. Once upon a time he called this son to him, and said to him, “My dear son! You … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Folk Tales
Tagged broad, fairy, king, long, prince, princess, rave, sharpsight, tale, wizard
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Should you get your comics graded? by Eric S Brown
Twenty years ago, the Certified Guaranty Company started operations and has since graded over five million comic books. The impact of the CGC, and other later companies such as CBCS and PGX, is staggering – changing much about how comics … Continue reading
Realtor From Glendale by K. A. Williams
Realtor From Glendale K. A. Williams There once was a Realtor from Glendale who sold all his listings without fail, till the house on the coast that came with a ghost. Now his job is delivering mail. Originally published in … Continue reading
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Selkie Maiden by Jennifer Ruth Jackson
Selkie Maiden Jennifer Ruth Jackson She dances, flashes the men Copper disks hidden in the waves Of her hair By the seashore silver splashes Coins and fish kiss The water as she moves Her favored skin hidden from view
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Intergalactic Missionary by Jennifer Ruth Jackson
Intergalactic Missionary Jennifer Ruth Jackson Let us lie beneath the metal trees scoured by the gritty, sour wind— clasped tentacle and hand, book perched between us. Your fleshy opening will form the words. Your vision sensors leaking, will glisten. I … Continue reading
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Tengu Lament by Jennifer Ruth Jackson
Tengu Lament Jennifer Ruth Jackson We are not demons, us birds of ashen paint Each flap across your sky rendering it a tender bruise Our talons shod in flip-flops (synthetic delicacy) Words for “fake” were once foreign to our squawking … Continue reading
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Severing Scars by Jennifer Ruth Jackson
Severing Scars Jennifer Ruth Jackson We are interchangeable, have no names, as we struggle in the cocoon created by mother’s arms. She repeats the adage of oppression strengthening and plants the pinprick razors in our backs, already slick with sweat, … Continue reading
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The House-G(ue)host
Feby Joseph
Parabolae by F.J. Bergmann
Parabolae F.J. Bergmann endless drifting through vacuum waiting for perihelion heliotropic collection array opens curved mirrors starlight funneled to a red cup one hydroponic tulip
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged bergmann, heliotropic, mirror, parabolae, perihelion, telescope, vacumm
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Jadis by F.J. Bergmann
Jadis F.J. Bergmann Once, elsewhere, and never again, there was a castle: high, high in mountains above the sea of bright clouds, among the stars, silence spilling from its windows, a waterfall from its gate, the silver cataract diffusing into … Continue reading
Hatchling by F.J. Bergmann
Hatchling F.J. Bergmann Why would a clutch of eggs the size of pea gravel have been laid at the peak of a dune so steep it towered like a sandstone cliff above the sea? One eggshell lay already broken in … Continue reading
Fairytale by F.J. Bergmann
Fairytale F.J. Bergmann The dragonfly stepmother lurks on the other side of the glass, watching the forgotten daughter. Her twin sons cluster around her like budding crystals with internal flaws, dangerous edges. The girl would not let them touch her. … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Poetry
Tagged bergmann, brothers, butterfly, fairytale, girl, stepmother, winter
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Ghosts In The Machine by David Barber
Ghosts In The Machine David Barber They were my first visitors since arriving here; what pass for priests in this benighted world. I am writing down what happened, with its guilty conclusion, before the sense of it escapes me. The … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged barber, david, ghost, ghosts, machine, machines
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Call From Space by K. A. Williams
Call From Space K. A. Williams The call from space that we’ve been waiting for has come at last. “Hi.”
Necropolis by Eric S Brown
Judge Dredd is one of the most published comic characters in the world and has been around since the late 1970s. There are many, many classic and famous Dredd storylines but Necropolis stands out as of the best. Necropolis features … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction, Serials
Tagged brown, dredd, eric, judge, necropolis
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Long Walk
Fall: 18 years at the Monastery, One year after building the Range Sunar woke to a change in Meesha’s breathing as the first rays of dawn glistened off the mountain tops and the reflected false-dawn lit his eyelids. He lay … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged ikthan, leaving, meesha, monestarydragon, monk, sunar
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Episode Seven – The Powers Within
Howls ignited the wilderness. “Look who’s here! Thor and Eagle McZen!” Twirls, hugs and other welcoming embraces ensued, leading to a full-blown celebration. “Hey! Howya doin,” Thor woofed, as he shuffled through pats and friendly bumps. “Been a while… Away … Continue reading
Episode 39: The Daughter
You never really believe your mother will die. But when I woke, and saw a small, spinning bit of matter, no bigger than a human’s cerebellum, floating in the air in front of me, I could feel it. My mother, … Continue reading
True Story, Bro by Geoffrey Porter
True Story, Bro Geoffrey Porter They say garter snakes in your yard and garden are beneficial. But the snakes completely freak me out every time. Snakes seemed to really prefer my yard too, because I don’t use poisons. It hurts … Continue reading
Terraforming Mars by K. A. Williams
Terraforming Mars K. A. Williams Terraforming Mars brought back wildlife and plants to the dead world.
Bus Stop by Jasmine Arch
Bus Stop Jasmine Arch “Vampires? No such thing.” The stranger leaned in close as I scooted to the edge of the bench. “Biggest danger round here’s the bus being late.” With a chuckle, he stretched his long legs, twining his … Continue reading
The Crop by Jasmine Arch
The Crop Jasmine Arch Hayley’s eyes shone in the light of a crayon candle. “But Mummy, I don’t want my hair cut. You always say it’s pretty.” I kissed her sticky cheeks and hugged her before turning to my deadbeat … Continue reading
A Blade Remembers by Jasmine Arch
A Blade Remembers Jasmine Arch The dagger slipped from my numb fingers, clattering to the floor. It should have recognized my neurological sequences. Instead, it rejected me, the sting of shame cutting more deeply than any pain the weapon could … Continue reading
Still Waters by Jasmine Arch
Still Waters Jasmine Arch I held my breath and drew back my arm, a wooden fishing spear balanced in the palm of my hand. Next to me, Toura’s whispers faded as the mudhopper swam closer. “Wait for it.” She raised … Continue reading
The Gray Man by K. A. Williams
The Gray Man K. A. Williams He comes to warn us Gray Man on Pawleys Island The hurricane’s here
Robots by K. A. Williams
Robots K. A. Williams Robots Loyal, smart Protective, enduring, mighty Man’s new best friend Androids
The Robot Soldiers by K. A. Williams
The Robot Soldiers K. A. Williams The Robot soldiers Our only line of defense Aliens attack
THX 1138 by Eric S Brown
Not many people know that George Lucas’s first science fiction film wasn’t Star Wars. His debut film was actually a Dystopian movie entitled THX1138, a disturbing look at what things could be like if freedom was a thing of the … Continue reading
Termination by Lee Harrison
Termination Lee Harrison Desmund could only stare. His jaw hung open and his eyes moved erratically as if searching for something that could help rationalize what was happening. The small square office was empty. The monitor in front of him … Continue reading
from Dark Watcher: Cryptid Critter Poems by Richard Stevenson
octo-squatch has eight furry legs and a furry head the Basque mountain roads get cold best wear a Squatch Skin coat. * Tahoe Tessie’s on a tear! Took off with Mawsie’s underwear! * the Lake Van Monster – kin to … Continue reading
Hunting Bigfoot by K. A. Williams
Hunting Bigfoot K. A. Williams “Maybe Troy told Greg that he saw Bigfoot out here yesterday when he was collecting samples of the flora for his botany class, because he knew you were listening.” Parker skipped a stone across the … Continue reading
The New Mutants by Eric S Brown
One of the first notable movies to be released during the age of Covid 19, The New Mutants has so far been a box office flop, earning back only around two thirds of its production budget. The film has numerous … Continue reading
Avengers: War of the Vampires by Eric S Brown
War of the Vampires isn’t your normal Avengers storyline. It’s much darker, intense, and in many ways truly could be called a horror comic. The trade paperback collects issues 13-17 of the 2018 Avengers title and opens with the Shadow … Continue reading
Zelda’s Competition by K. A. Williams
Zelda’s Competition K. A. Williams I called my boyfriend Jordan, who’s a genius, on the computer, told him what I wanted and asked if he could do it. After I watched him laugh for a while, I interrupted him. “It’s … Continue reading
Episode 5: The Scarred Hamlet
The thatch roofs of Kedenburg rose around the traveling companions. A wicker fence, trampled in places, ringed the village, and on the high ground near the edge of the settlement, a wooden stockade prodded at the sky with its timber … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged coal, eleanor, inn, keeper, pact
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Episode 38: Rules are Rules
Back at headquarters, I sat next to Dichall’s bedding and held his hand. He was bandaged and unconscious. I’d left him behind, and felt terrible about it, but it looked like he might survive. Gretchen was there too. With her … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged councilmice, davies, dichael, eve, grassblade, jim, pixiedrowner
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Elektra: Dark Reign by Eric S Brown
In the wake of Marvel Comics’ Secret Invasion event, Norma Osborn came to power as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D, ushering in the event known as Dark Reign. Many characters in the MCU had been kidnapped and replaced by alien shape … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Serials
Tagged brownskrull, elektra, eric, marvel, osborn, paladin
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The Metamorphoses by Stephan James
The Metamorphoses Stephan James I first saw her on a Tuesday, early November. It was starting to chill down outside. That’s how Bradley always said it — “chill down”. I liked him for small things like that, but small things … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged butterfly, James, Metamorphoses, sadie, Stephan
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Bus Stop 126 by David Wright
Bus Stop 126 David Wright A scruffy man in a brown toque sat at bus stop 126, waiting. From time to time, he looked at his watch, out across the empty intersection and up at the bus stop billboard. The … Continue reading
The Settee & The Stairs by David Barber
The Settee & The Stairs David Barber Author Sea Chart, insisted the old chap, a stroke making words slippery as soap, though we had come to an understanding, like a glimpse of sky through forest canopy: a séance friction writer … Continue reading
D.P. 7 by Eric S Brown
D.P. 7 Eric S Brown In 1986 Marvel Comics’ introduced their “New Universe”. These were a group of all new series that were supposed to be set in the present day, real world. Titles in in the New … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Comic Book, Comic Book
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In the Wrong Hands by Ed Nobody
In the Wrong Hands Ed Nobody Rain is streaming down the east window of the office. I didn’t want to get up this morning, but I did anyway. We line up one by one, like Disneyland, but more depressing. So … Continue reading
Posted in Dark Future, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged games, matrix, nobody, programing, reality, virtual, war
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Calligrapher of Hanging Town by Salim Kingo
Calligrapher of Hanging Town Salim Kingo In Hanging Town, at the edge of the frosty, distant northern mining provinces, a jealous wife and an air sailor who seduced her husband brawled in a tavern. There was only one tavern in … Continue reading
Man in the Middle by C.J. Heckman
Man in the Middle C.J. Heckman Azumi was working late one night when Ben came knocking on her office door. His hair was a mess, more so than usual, and the redness in his eyes betrayed recent sobbing. Another nervous … Continue reading
Episode 4: By Force if Necessary
From across the meadow, a column of horsemen approached in two neat lines. At least fifteen in all, they were armored neck to boot-cuff in glittering chainmail. The tabards draped over their armor bore a black and yellow striped pattern … Continue reading
Episode Six – The Timber Wolves Cometh
“He hasn’t changed a bit!” Shocka Din’s hackles raised, hair standing up straight along the back of his neck. His upper lip curled into a snarl. “Follow him!” Whines, groans, and soft growls fortified their bond. Head lowered, crouching to … Continue reading
Request Day
Fall: 18 years at the Monastery, One year after building the Range Music, chanting, drinking, food, celebration, and dance. That’s what Sunar had asked for, and everyone in the Monestary had turned out to oblige him at one point or … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, kata, mecraudri, meesha, monk, sunar
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Episode 37: The Forces of Good
Bracey the Talonted twisted in the air like a Snowbird fighter jet, avoiding the fae’s swirling, pointed limbs, and I held myself close to her feathers with four paws. We watched Yonya tear through my beloved woods. What have we … Continue reading
Interview with Dean Schreck by Eric S Brown
Interview with Dean Schreck Eric S Brown EB: Mr. Schreck, please tell us some about yourself. Schreck: Well, I just turned 71 and have been living in South Carolina for 2 ½ years now. I am a former Long Island … Continue reading
Posted in Authors, Comic Book, Interviews
Tagged brown, dean, eric, interview, marvel, schreck
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On the Recycling Day by Yuan Changming
On the Recycling Day Yuan Changming One neighbor took out a blue box Full of cat skulls and dog legs Rather than glass or plastic bottles Another carries out a yellow bag Containing human bones, mostly children’s Instead of magazines … Continue reading
(R)Evolution by Yuan Changming
(R)Evolution Yuan Changming As giant ants march ahead in nightly arrays Demonstrating against the ruling humans Along the main street of every major city Hordes of hordes of vampires flood in, screaming Aloud, riding on hyenas and Octopuses, waving skeletons … Continue reading
Speciating by Yuan Changming
Speciating Yuan Changming There are still sapiens on Earth. Often do we remember and feel more than proud that only we Godlings exist – the most sophisticated & most exquisite human-robot compounds. It is true that occasionally we cannot help … Continue reading
Towards Gaxyland by Yuan Changming
Towards Gaxyland Yuan Changming Come, come You peng from the Zhuangzian northern darkness You swan from the Horacean meadows You pheasant from under Li Bo’s cold moon You oriole from Dufu’s green willow You dove from the Dantean inferno You … Continue reading
Translator Malfunction by Lauren McBride
Translator Malfunction Lauren McBride translator malfunction away team was asked how they past the thyme en-root This poem first appeared in Scifaikuest May 2014, print issue.
Stationed on a Gas Giant by Lauren McBride
Stationed on a Gas Giant Lauren McBride around noon, the dark swirling clouds turn yellow and the gas miners can see to read outside by sunglow for a blissful hour they switch the lights on their pressure suits off … Continue reading
Pink, with Feathers by Lauren McBride
Pink, with Feathers Lauren McBride Dad says that on New Earth, the most popular pet is the pird – some kind of pig-bird. When our ship lands, I guess we’ll see if pigs can fly. This poem first appeared in … Continue reading
The Stuff by Eric S Brown
The Stuff Eric S Brown One thing The Stuff didn’t have was a great soundtrack. Its supposedly catchy song about the highly addictive, alien substance is simply horrid. Nonetheless, the Stuff is considered to be a cult classic horror film … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged body, bodysnatchers, brown, eric, invasion, snatch, stuff
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Episode 3: The Sellsword’s Prize
From the shade of a canvas tarpaulin stretched between two spears a warrior stumbled to her feet, groggy and sweating under the weight of her padded gambeson. She strained her eyes against the noon-time sun as two strangers crossed the … Continue reading
Family Ties
Fall: 17 years at the Monastery, three months after the duel, Day of the Range Sunar sat with his sake, enjoying the presence of his family and friends as the sun set over the far saddle between peaks. No, scratch … Continue reading
Episode 36: Riding the Bear
I ran through the brush, careful not to clothesline the poor kid on my back with low-hanging branches. I’d never touched a human before today, let alone had one ride me, and it took me a few seconds to get … Continue reading
Pushing the Pull by Jim Davies
Pushing the Pull Jim Davies I dropped out of the sky behind Maz and his cop cruiser. He noticed people staring and turned to me. “Oh, hey, fly girl.” I smiled and raised my goggles up onto my forehead. We … Continue reading
Krull by Eric S Brown
At the end of the 1970s and start of the early 1980s, science fiction and fantasy films were all the rage on the big screen. Star Wars, Star Trek, Conan the Barbarian, Dragon Slayer, Clash of the Titans all proved … Continue reading
Singularity by John C. Mannone
Singularity John C. Mannone I approach the event horizon of what looks like a spinning black hole just a little too close whether by accident or miscalculation, it doesn’t really matter. My sensors sample wind from stars caught in its … Continue reading
Billable Hours by Jim Davies
Billable Hours Jim Davies The old man slid into the chair across from Dale with the precision and finality of a closing German car door. “Yes?” Dale was annoyed. She was an attorney and had lots of work to do. … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Tagged age, bracelet, dale, davies, jim, lawyer, sleep
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Matter of Life by Helga Anton-Beitz
Matter of Life Helga Anton-Beitz having tenure on electron’s term so busy buzzing not too distant by no means too close to the very core in any circumstances at an insane pace for annihilation lurks in the fine print
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
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A Small Dull Thing by Chris Cerone
A Small Dull Thing Chris Cerone If he stuffed them in his pockets, The House couldn’t tell whether or not Jack had eaten his green beans and would release him to play. And so that was exactly what Jack did. … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged bird, boy, cerone, chris, house, jack, small
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Of What Do Superior Beings Dream? by Dean Schreck
Of What Do Superior Beings Dream? Dean Schreck First published in New Myths #25 December 1, 2013 I wonder, of what do Superior Beings dream; of what is there to dream, once the stars have been subdued to but a … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged beings, dean, holograph, schreckchrysalis, superior
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Black Hole by Dean Schreck
Black Hole Dean Schreck First published in Space and Time Issue #71 Winter 1987 Black hole, relinquish your secrets— are you nothing, or are you something more? Do you sit on the … Continue reading
Undeserved Pardon by Reuben Rivers
Undeserved Pardon Reuben Rivers The benches were covered with gloom and dust. The smell of feces filled the air, filling each prisoner’s nose and mouth, a symbol for their sorry situation. Dim orbs hung in the air, casting light upon … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged assassin, bloody, emperor, rivers, ruben
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Reaching Out by Frank Coffman
Reaching Out Frank Coffman The first steps–through faltering progress–reached the moon. And then we dreamt out on the goal of Mars. Indeed, we got there–in Earth-years fairly soon– Then outer planets, their moons, next beckoning stars. Propulsion was the key: … Continue reading
Unhinged by S. Mukherjee
Unhinged S. Mukherjee ‘It’s locked! That cretin,’ Addvid swore. The steel tip of his boot connected with a thud, flinging chips of wood into the air. The door rattled in its hinges. ‘Calm down, Addvid,’ Mera said, frowning. ‘Calm down?’ … Continue reading
Vampirella vs. Dracula by Eric S Brown
When you read a title like Vampirella vs. Dracula most expect an epic vampire brawl. Sadly this trade paperback is nothing of the sort. It’s a complex tale of the Dracula narrative being repeated over and over through out time. … Continue reading
Friendly Hands
Fall: 17 years at the Monastery, three months after the duel Sunar found that he preferred training with laser and plasma pistols over the powder guns for one simple reason: With the slug-throwers he had to choose between hearing protection … Continue reading
Episode 35: Hunter is Hunted
I was staring, agape, sword out, but Dichall put his hand on my shoulder. “Eve! On the owl! Now!” I slipped my sword in my belt and leapt atop Bracey. Gretchen followed as snow erupted with the impact of Yonya’s … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged bracy, councilmouse, davies, Dichall, eve, fae, grassblade, gretchen, jim, pixiedrowner, yonya
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Episode Five: Ready or Not, Here We Come
Arooooo! Saifon Blue vaulted from a disturbing sleep. Teeth bared, her grief-stricken snarl and aggressive stance enough to bring all around her into submission. All but her mate, King of Iron Dog Land, Nitro Blue, and they were alone. “Omar!” … Continue reading
Episode 2: The Monster’s Trail
The sparse oaks of the foothills gave way to thick stands of highland cedar. The air was tinged with the fragrant scent of the conifer forest, and Cole stopped to take in the high-country air. He and Eleanor had gone … Continue reading
Momentum by Helga Anton-Beitz
Momentum Helga Anton-Beitz The cocoon is hanging in the center of the huge hall. A silvery hull made of an ultra-light, metallic fabric. It is held in place by multiple filaments. After I will have boarded that cocoon they will … Continue reading
Poison Pie by Lori R. Lopez
Poison Pie Lori R. Lopez An exotic raven-maned accomplice with a black satin floor-length gown glides forth in strides of diabolic grace. I follow, my face a broken frown . . . Ill-at-ease, … Continue reading
Real-Estate by Lori R. Lopez
Real-Estate Lori R. Lopez The Handyman arrived in a snorting hiccupping Pick-Up. He consulted a small notepad page containing scribbles. The job posting listed this address. It must be the place. A For Sale Sign leaned at an angle … Continue reading
Grim House by Lori R. Lopez
Grim House Lori R. Lopez Sordid and austere, ill-wrought beyond compare, A creaking morbid mass feared and loathed by name — Grayer than the sky, a mood of withering glare, Uprooted from her soil, on barge and wheels came. Of … Continue reading
Unfair Trade by Lori R. Lopez
Unfair Trade Lori R. Lopez We were a crew of idealists — sailing a rustbucket mortgaged spacecraft transporting products between planets, a jumbo deliveryboat manned by seven — adventurers reaching for the Stars. The latest voyage of our merchant vessel … Continue reading
A Thousand Light Years Away by Ann Christine Tabaka
A Thousand Light Years Away Ann Christine Tabaka Distant stars, held in our hands, a thousand light years past. Seeking a reason for existence, our disguise falls away. Plummeting down a black hole into infinity, abstract notions rise. Finding oneself … Continue reading
The War of the Realms: The Punisher by Eric S Brown
The War of the Realms: The Punisher Eric S Brown War of the Realms was an event which spanned the entire Marvel Universe. Malekith, the king of the Dark Elves, declared war on Midgard, and all of the horrors of … Continue reading
Runaway Greenhouse Effect by David C. Kopaska-Merkel
Runaway Greenhouse Effect David C. Kopaska-Merkel Pastel pink saucers and their precious cargo: tiny round-cheeked critters and their mysterious heat-sucking tech drive a surprisingly hard bargain we got to keep Zanzibar and grateful for that
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged david, greenhouse, kopaska-merkel, pink, saucer, zanzibar
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Punisher: Born by Eric S Brown
Punisher: Born Eric S Brown The Punisher: Born trade paperback is part prequel, part origin story for the infamous, gun-toting vigilante. Weighing in at only 112 pages, it collects the four issue mini-series of the same title. Born opens with … Continue reading
First Step: Transformation by Ann Christine Tabaka
First Step: Transformation Ann Christine Tabaka The child walked away, he did not look back. Trees were his only witness. A lifetime of hidden shame, sins of the father, no longer a shadow clinging to his flesh. The forest swallowed … Continue reading
It Fell From the Sky by Ann Christine Tabaka
It Fell From the Sky Ann Christine Tabaka It fell from the sky in a blue-green cast, singing songs of the mundane. Swept under the rug of indifference, it continued to play its requiem. It grew stronger with each coarse … Continue reading
Old Venus by David Barber
Old Venus David Barber Fuel gauge tapping empty, the rocket skims leviathans awash in steaming seas, before it sinks into the wet and suck of lush swamps. A hero makes his own luck. In the pulps, the feisty blond reporter … Continue reading
Immortal Hulk by Eric S Brown
In 2018, Marvel Comics’ most famous, rampaging, green giant got a brand new ongoing series and its first five issues are collected in Immortal Hulk Vol. 1. This new series is an original take on the character and is … Continue reading
The Curse-Wrought Beast
Episode 1: The Curse-Wrought Beast Burnt grass crumpled under the tracker’s boot sole as he picked his way past the stockade. He brushed a hand against the charred cedar stakes, and it came away covered in soot. The sights, the … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged casey, cole, eleanor, keeper, pact, pactkeeper, rowan
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Episode Four – King Cat Sateer – A friend indeed
Meowww! (Crunch, crackle, crunch, crunch) The leaves under my paws boost my spirits, but I need to take to the trees if I’m to proceed. (Whooosh! leap) Yes, much better. (Chirp, chirp, chirp) “Don’t worry little birds, I’m only passing … Continue reading
Troubling Experience
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, one month after the duel Sunar lay in the meadow at the top of the temple. He had wrapped his wings around himself and Meesha so that they could enjoy the cool summer winds … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, meesha, monk, sunar
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Episode 34: Scuttle and Scuffle
Nathan froze, halfway in and halfway out of the truck, staring at the black bear. I turned and whispered into Nathan’s ear from his shoulder. “She’s a good bear; she won’t hurt you.” She better not. Nathan turned and looked … Continue reading
The Hair-born Princess by Ad Adi
Once upon a time, two princesses lived in a mighty castle, one five years old, the other three years old. The biggest sister was ugly, the little one was beautiful. Since beauty was valued above everything else in the royal … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Folk Tales
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Zombieland 2: Double Tap by Eric S Brown
Ten years after the release of the smash hit Zombieland, the film finally got a sequel. The entire original, main cast reunited in Zombieland: Double Tap. The question is, of course, does this sequel live up to the … Continue reading
Martian Microbes by Lauren McBride
Martian Microbes Lauren McBride They stretch out pseudopods – interlacing, interconnecting, becoming a vast mat of intelligence beneath the red surface sand. An amoeboid brain subsiding on soil perchlorates and nitrates. A colony of individual cells, independent thoughts . . … Continue reading
From the First Marine Astrobiology Expedition by Lauren McBride
From the First Marine Astrobiology Expedition Lauren McBride To My Dear Wife, I think I bathed in the toilet – the one thing in the bathroom that holds water. Remember they’re sentient fish, dear. They probably “go” in the water, … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged biology, fish, lauren, marine, mcbride, space
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A Kind of Godhood by Russ Bickerstaff
A Kind of Godhood Russ Bickerstaff 7:15 am The world dissolved into him. Norm Jones. The name came to him It was his own. There was no doubt about it. Why then was it that the words sounded so very, … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction
Tagged author, bickerstaff, gannon, god, godhood, norm, russ
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The Minstrel’s Secret by Dee Caples
The Minstrel’s Secret Dee Caples Once upon a time there was a kingdom ruled by a man that was just and fair, until the day a wandering minstrel arrived. There was nothing outwardly extraordinary about the man. He was as … Continue reading
The Vine Doombringer, Part II by Geoffrey C Porter
The Vine Doombringer, Part II Geoffrey C Porter The first night I surgically pulled five short two to three inch sprouts. I wore a headlamp with a bright LED light. The same knife that pulled the sprouts planted them in … Continue reading
Just One by Susan Cornford
Just One Susan Cornford I blame it on the award. If I hadn’t won that award, none of this would have happened. Well, some of it was beyond my control, but the final part, the saddest part, was all my … Continue reading
Four Haikus by Baishampayan Seal
Four Haikus Baishampayan Seal dinosaurs extinct Alcubierre drive utilized the best possible way feeding my infant her mother’s polycarbonate breast truckload of alkaline cells ration supply for hominid-android war humans refugees in their own planet
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction, scifaiku
Tagged baishampayan, haiku, scifaku, seal
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Massacre by Hervé Suys
Massacre Hervé Suys The fact that the dog did not come wagging his tail when he opened the door was bizarre. It had not been his idea to bring a dog into the house, but the pressure from wife and … Continue reading
The Protected One by Hervé Suys
The Protected One Hervé Suys Suspicion was the last thing they wanted the population to have. A committee was set up, presided over by a protégé from the regime who still had credit for services rendered. His track record was … Continue reading
The Sonata Machine by Logan Thrasher Collins
The Sonata Machine Logan Thrasher Collins beneath an expanse of darkness shot through with glimmering gadzillions of echoing stars, we stand, wetware toes braced against the soil’s diasporic discourse of moistly coded lactone linguisms and attoscale electrostatic blurs. we react, … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged biochemistry, collins, Earth, jupiter, logan, machine, mutagenesis, nebula, sonata, spatiotemporal, thrasher, universe, wavefunction
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Battle Beyond the Stars by Eric S Brown
Battle Beyond the Stars Eric S Brown The Magnificent Seven in space is the best way to describe Roger Coman’s Battle Beyond the Stars which was released in 1980 and did fairly–well–but–not–great at the box office Still, it went on … Continue reading
Windhover Hall by Krista Canterbury Adams
Windhover Hall Krista Canterbury Adams Under the winter archway of oak branches my crystal hands touch the closed eyelids of Eos-Aurora, Light-bringer of Heaven. This Owl’s Head dawn moves us in our quiet wandering—step in at the iron gate, letting … Continue reading
Tonight by Krista Canterbury Adams
Tonight Krista Canterbury Adams In the windows of the grand House, light after light trails Away into sleep. Here, a long-eared owl Flies above the garden, above all The poor flowering things, earthbound, Risking heavy feet. Owls are punishment. You … Continue reading
At the sacred fire on the riverbank by Krista Canterbury Adams
At the sacred fire on the riverbank Krista Canterbury Adams Under flame-faced Lyra, in celestial sanctuary we tend in pairs, burnt eyed. We study the vast ecliptic like a holy writ held alight in the sky, we keep the flame … Continue reading
Old Moon by Krista Canterbury Adams
Old Moon Krista Canterbury Adams Have pity—I hear paw steps on the path behind me, radiant in the sun-wood. I too have bent soft paw against soft earth, blameless against the call. I have seen you lie at the feet … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Poetry
Tagged adams, Canterbury, Earth, forest, Krista, moon, paw
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Episode Three – Potbellies to the Rescue
“Let’s pick up the pace. We’ll be there in no time, if we do,” Pitbull Sammy shouted out to the others, exhilarated by the wind beating against his agile, forceful body. “Sure thing! Omar wants us there and back as … Continue reading
Episode 33: Meeting the Bear
The next night we snuck into Nathan’s room for the last time. Guy had arranged for a visit with him, and we were going to accompany him. I invoked my veilring. “Nathan, it’s time to go. Your dad’s outside.” “I’m … Continue reading
Heading Home
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, one week after the duel Several loudspeakers blared over the general noise of the Space Port. “Boarding call for Passenger Liner Excelsior. All Excelsior passengers holding blue passes, please report to boarding gate three.” … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Dr. Strange by Eric S Brown
Dr. Strange Eric S Brown Marvel once again launched a new Dr. Strange ongoing series in 2018. Much of that series is now collected in trade paperback. The first of these trades, titled Across the Universe, begins with Dr. Strange … Continue reading
Chain of Memories by Sme
Chain of Memories Sme Weathered old wood creaked perilously as Sunny sat down on the front steps of her home. The warm air, rank with smoke, whistled through the bare trees. She used to sit out here, hot cup of … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged aliens, apocalypse, chain, destruction, doom, earthquake, memories, memory, sme, sunny
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An Incident from the Childhood of Plato by Grove Koger
An Incident from the Childhood of Plato Grove Koger “But afterwards [claimed Solon] there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and … Continue reading
Free the Droids – Protest Songs by Christopher Collingwood
Free the Droids – Protest Songs Christopher Collingwood Protest Song 1 (Can you Hear it Beating?) There’s a price to pay When you treat me this way There’s a way you feel When you chain me to the wheel Can … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged christopher, collingwood, droid, protest, song
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The Vine Doombringer by Geoffrey C Porter
The Vine Doombringer Geoffrey C Porter The plants started out as beneficial ground cover, in vine form, choking out weeds and no need to mow. Years passed. I lived my life. Ate tasty food. Worked. Made art. To my horror … Continue reading
Greg Pak’s Alpha Flight by Eric S Brown
Greg Pak’s Alpha Flight Eric S Brown In 2014, the Marvel Universe was embroiled with an event called Fear Itself in which several evil versions of Thor’s hammer fell to Earth. These hammers were wielded by heroes controlled by … Continue reading
The Mermaid’s Genesis by Ad Adi
Once upon a time, at the island of Tinos, lived a little boy and his grandma. They were poor and hungry, and every night his grandma would tell him the story of the golden fish of the depths, to put … Continue reading
The Crystal Cup by Ad Adi
At the top of mount Ararat lived once a mighty king. He had a marble palace, a couple of ministers, a lot of fields around the mountain, and a huge army of rats. To feed his army, he demanded every … Continue reading
The Toothbrush Maker’s Apprentice by Victoria Mason
The Toothbrush Maker’s Apprentice Victoria Mason “Just scratch your name there.” I pause, staring at my new boss, Doctor Taylor. “It’s just formalities,” he continues. “You’ll be famous for the work you do.” “No, I—” “Apologies, I mean respected. Making … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction
Tagged apprentice, brush, donald, mason, tooth, toothbrush, victoria
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Lazy Dialog Tags or How to keep the reader from yawning.
There’s so much fad writing/grammar/punctuation/editing advice out there that even professional get confused. The poor inexperienced author that’s just starting out hasn’t got a chance. Let’s see if we can at least help fix one small area: Dialog tags – … Continue reading
Night of the Comet by Eric S Brown
Night of the Comet Eric S Brown Night of the Comet was shot with a budget of less than one million and released in 1984. That same year saw the release of such classics as Ghostbusters and C.H.U.D. In terms … Continue reading
Where No One’s Gone Before by Lee Hart
Where No One’s Gone Before Lee Hart In the height of the 13th century, We marched from Venice to the China sea. Our brave explorers crossed the land, Through heathens strange, adventures grand. Returning with exotic spices, Gunpowder, and other … Continue reading
Heads Up by Fraser Sherman
Heads Up Fraser Sherman When I opened my brother’s new front-loading washing machine, I didn’t expect to find a shaggy bearded head inside. I suppose I should have noticed it sooner — the door is glass — but hey, I … Continue reading
Dark Knights Rising by Eric S Brown
Dark Knights Rising Eric S Brown In 2017, the DC universe was shaken to its core by the events of a story line entitled Metal which garnered high sales for DC and was widely well received. The Metal story line … Continue reading
Episode 32: A plan in motion
Bracey flew us to the Ottawa General Hospital where we tracked down Musk Muskmusk in the burn ward, eating pain from patients from beneath their beds. I clicked Grassblade on the tile floor. “Hi there, buddy.” Musk turned his heavy … Continue reading
Episode Two – Pack Love
Wolf Bennie Ba hadn’t gone far when he came across the search party. A few of his buddies from K-9 Town were out looking for him. It was Rottweiler Brady who spoke first, his uncanny intuition triggering concern at first … Continue reading
Gaudy Pistols
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, a few hours after meeting Thalon A few hours in an air car took Sunar, Master Ikthan, and Thalon to the Ratharin estate. Sunar found himself approaching the largest, most ostentatious doors he’d ever … Continue reading
Tux by Dee Caples
Tux Dee Caples It was three a.m. The night sky was cloudy with the moon in quarter phase. A perfect night for b&e. Himey pulled his face mask down as he made his approach to the big, Georgian mansion. Supposedly … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged break-in, capels, cat, dee, robot, security, tux
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In Sunshine And In Shadow by Ed Blundell
In Sunshine And In Shadow Ed Blundell “Come on Danny Boy.” Jane lifted him off the swing. “Time to go home for tea.” “I’m not Danny Boy, I’m Adrian.” he protested. “I know darling. It’s a pet name.” She began … Continue reading
Engineer Disease by Lee Hart
Engineer Disease Lee Hart Hello Mrs. Murphy, how has Tommy been today? You said he stays indoors and reads while others are at play? He doesn’t care a bit for sports, and doesn’t watch TVs, Unless it’s a computer screen … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged adams, dilbert, dire, disease, engineer, hart, industrial, knack, lee, scott, straits
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Color Out of Space by Eric S Brown
Color Out of Space Eric S Brown H.P. Lovecraft wrote The Color Out of Space in 1927,and Richard Stanley’s new adaptation of it is far from the first to be produced. Die, Monster, Die! released in 1965 holds that honor … Continue reading
Stardust by Lee Hart
Stardust Lee Hart Entropy’s clearly not our friend. We’ll all be stardust in the end, When Sun, with mighty nova blast, Shreds Earth into the cosmos vast. Then every molecule of us Is blown to interstellar dust. Approaching lightspeed, fragments … Continue reading
Manticore: Man-Eating Hybrid Beast of Legend and Art by Richard H. Fay
Manticore: Man-Eating Hybrid Beast of Legend and Art Richard H. Fay A legendary monster that bore many names (Manticore, Manticora, Mantichora, Manticory, Manticoras, Martikhora, Mantiserra, Memecoleous, Mancomorion, and the Satyral), the fearsome Manticore featured in the lore, bestiaries, and creative … Continue reading
Posted in Non-fiction
Tagged fay, Mancomorion, Mantichora, Manticora, Manticoras, Manticore, Manticory, Mantiserra, Martikhora, Memecoleous, richard, Satyral
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Abdul Abulbul Amir by Lee Hart
Abdul Abulbul Amir Lee Hart Now tales have been told of pirates of old But the name that fills me with fear Is not Captain Kidd, or the deeds that he did But Abdul Abulbul Amir. He ignored every law, … Continue reading
C.H.U.D. by Eric S Brown
In 1984, the movie C.H.U.D. was released. While the film earned over three times its production budget, it was far from hitting blockbuster level hit. However, it was a rather unique film in many ways. Billed as science fiction/horror movie, … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged brown, c.h.u.d, cannibalistic, chud, dwellers, eric, horror, humanoid, movie, underground
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Mining Solo by Lauren McBride
Mining Solo Lauren McBride on this barren asteroid at night, the silence wakes me no soft rain no rustling breeze through leaves no frog lullaby nor chirping crickets not even an incessantly barking dog for company This poem first appeared … Continue reading
In Monster Years, I’m Old by Lauren McBride
In Monster Years, I’m Old Lauren McBride First my claws grew brown and brittle; then I started drooling spittle. All my knees began to ache, and several legs began to shake. My stomach pooches, back hunches, scales have wrinkled into … Continue reading
What’ll it Be? by Lauren McBride
What’ll it Be? Lauren McBride First bar built on Mars. My first Martian drink. Might try a “Marstini,” or “Blue Sunset Blink.” This poem first appeared in Star*Line 39.4, Fall 2016 with the following note: Dust in the Martian atmosphere … Continue reading
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Point of View by Lauren McBride
Point of View Lauren McBride At the end of each workday mining frozen gasses I pause at the airlock and remove my face mask letting my eyes mist in the bitter alien air not so different from home-world. Through acrid … Continue reading
The Chimes by Charles Dickens
The Chimes by Charles Dickens Abridged by Lee A. Hart First Quarter There are not, I say, many people who would dare to sleep in a church. I don’t mean at sermon-time on a warm Sunday; but in the dead … Continue reading
Zombie (aka Zombi 2) by Eric S Brown
Zombie (aka Zombi 2) Eric S Brown “The boat can leave now. Tell the crew.” . . . And with those opening words, what is still considered one of the best films ever produced in the zombie genre … Continue reading
The Topological Twist by Lee Hart
The Topological Twist Lee Hart It used to be the Bottom’s Up, Just one flight down from the heat. The best booth had a window With a worm’s eye view of the street. Alas, it soon went bankrupt, But it … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged bar, bottoms, hart, lee, Topological, Twist, up
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Episode One – The Takeover – Wolf Bennie Ba’s surprise
Wolf Bennie Ba’s heart rate accelerated as he stood alone in the forest, stunned by what he saw below. He was looking down on a pack of timber wolves led by his old enemy, Shocka Din. The same pack that … Continue reading
Episode 31: Man Against
The man stood, backlit from the door of his cabin, holding a shotgun and staring slack-jawed at four talking animals on his stoop. Finally, he waved us in. We went right to the fire. Bracey shook snowflakes from her head. … Continue reading
New Second
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, twelve weeks after second assassination attempt “It’s time.” Master Ikthan’s voice brought Sunar out of his meditation. He’d elected not to keep the scar on his arm, and divided his meditation time between seamlessly … Continue reading
Epilogue by JM Williams
Vott grunted in desperation. It wasn’t supposed to end this way. All his experience. All his training. To be undone by such an amateur move. “You got to be kidding me!” Vott shouted. “What sort of pimple-nosed peachick tries a … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged foxes, game, larks, reaper, vott, williams
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Lilliana Vess by Eric S Brown
Most people have heard Magic the Gathering.But in case you haven’t, it’s a collectible card game that’s been around since the early 90s and is played all over the world. It is so popular, it has expanded in several … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction
Tagged brown, eric, gathering, Liliana, lillian, magic, planeswalker, vess
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Daredevil: No Devils, Only God by Eric S Brown
Daredevil: No Devils, Only God is the second collected volume of Chip Zdarsky’s run on the title. It contains issues 6-10 of the current ongoing series. The story opens a small amount of time after Daredevil is presumed to have … Continue reading
High Grade Ore Lee Hart
High Grade Ore Lee Hart Now Murphy was a spacer. A miner, nothing more. A bit of human jetsam lost in night’s Plutonian shore. Until he found that asteroid, and entered into lore… Him and 40 kilotons of high … Continue reading
Musician in Paris by Steven Translateur
Musician in Paris Steven Translateur Ceank Girald was an extra-terrestrial intelligence agent with a 30 year mission to immerse himself in Earth culture, send a message to Earthlings, and report back to his home world of Pegasi his findings. His … Continue reading
The Waiting Game by Josephine Clay
The Waiting Game Josephine Clay The dog just sits there. Centre plaza. Drooping jowls and long heavy ears. Black and brindle mattered coat. Its blood shot eyes have frozen me to the spot for so long that I can’t remember … Continue reading
Five Haiku by Denny E. Marshall
Five Haiku Denny E. Marshall (1st Published in Star*line) brain operation happy it is not a tumor sad alien died new baby robot change the oil and oil filter again and again earths gravity dies finally things are looking up … Continue reading
Five Haiku by Denny E. Marshall
Five Haiku Denny E. Marshall (1st Published in Scifaikuest) roswell aliens buried like final report twin offspring survive didn’t want to hear windows software not valid on deep space mission worst solicitor grim reaper on other planets earth called by … Continue reading
The Survivor by R. Michael
The Survivor R. Michael Steam wafted from Joe’s coffee cup as he carefully sipped its contents. “Thank you for coming. Taking this first step is the biggest hurdle for most.” The woman sitting across the desk from him nodded. She … Continue reading
Un-Replicable by Emmet Browne
Un-Replicable Emmet Browne I wake up to the prickle of grass along my skin. The fetal position is how I sleep at night. Above me is the solar-powered clear plastic of my dome, letting the sun shine through. Beyond the … Continue reading
Posted in Dark Future, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged art, artificial, browne, emmet, robot
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The Three Islands (part 2) by Sme
The Three Islands (part 2) Sme (Read part 1) On the Island of Malai, Reve and Purl had lived happily together for three years. They had a brand new baby girl, named Olivia, who was just half a year old. … Continue reading
The Three Islands (part 1) by Sme
The Three Islands (part 1) Sme Far out in an ocean, vast and bleak, there were three islands. The first was called Dorai. It’s people seemed primitive at first glance, choosing to live in caves and subsisting on fish caught … Continue reading
The Prize
The man with braided hair had gained a fair lead by the time Frige got outside, but the gambling boss did not have her legs, nor her keen sense of the geography of Marudal’s streets. Spotting the trail of destruction … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged foxes, frige, larks, prize, williams, wolf
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Sunny Afternoon
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, twelve weeks after second assassination attempt “What surprised me was that Sierra pulled it off. I mean, hummingbird to meet against crane-in-the-rushes? I expected to see her head pile into the mat!” Gorshun motioned … Continue reading
Episode 30: The Crazy Man in the Woods
At our request, Nathan gave us a cracker and I told him goodbye, we’ll be in touch, don’t trust faeries, etc. Out in the cold, I turned to my fellow Councilmice. “I think we should get in touch with an … Continue reading
Sunshine Valley by Medina Jones
Sunshine Valley Medina Jones The afternoon dust had poured through the canyon, skimming over the valley’s cracked red clay, whirling around the tires of the car. A whisper drifted through the breeze, echoing across the towering rock walls. The call … Continue reading
Pterosaur Sighting Report by Richard Stevenson
Pterosaur Sighting Report Richard Stevenson O.K. So let me see if I got this straight. You say you saw a pterosaur – not a dinosaur – gotcha – but a giant featherless flying reptile? Would that be a Pteranodon or … Continue reading
Monster of the Mere by Richard Stevenson
Monster of the Mere Richard Stevenson Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve, Martin Mere, Ormskirk, Lancashire – not the sort of place you’d expect honkin’ big swans and ducks to just disappear! Somethin’ the size of and weight of a truck … Continue reading
Pocket ‘Squatch by Richard Stevenson
Pocket ‘Squatch Richard Stevenson Ain’t got a paunch, Mama. Ain’t got a lottta hair on top. Got a hankerin’ for Pita and Hummus, Mama. Wanna go for a cuppa joe? Wanna go for a walk? Or just stay home and … Continue reading
Merfolk: Sea People of Folklore and Legend by Richard H. Fay
Merfolk: Sea People of Folklore and Legend Richard H. Fay Featured in the lore of many human cultures, merfolk were said to be people of the sea, although some resided in freshwater. In their most usual form, these beings appeared … Continue reading
End Game
The whole thing was going better than Vott could have dreamed. He’d beaten three other worthy opponents to make it to the final round of the tournament. All on his own. He hadn’t needed Jari in his corner, whispering strategy … Continue reading
Casual Response
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, eight weeks after second assassination attempt Twist, curl, circle, thrust. Turn, bring the staff around, strike, circle it, stop, reverse, circle, strike. The fifty pound staff in Sunar’s hands whirled almost as if it … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Episode 29: Children Can Be Frightened
A hideous claw snatched a single feather from Bracey’s tail as she hopped through the weir, carrying us on her back. She spread her wings and flew a short distance away, shouting “Get back! Get back!” Eventua reached through the … Continue reading
