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- The Last Voyage of the Demeter by Eric S Brown December 11, 2023
- The Verdura Consultation by Jeffrey Greene December 6, 2023
- 1928 by Lindsay Baik December 5, 2023
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Category Archives: Fiction
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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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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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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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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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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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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
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
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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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
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
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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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
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
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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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
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
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
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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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
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
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
The Brotherhood by Joseph Hurtgen
The Brotherhood Joseph Hurtgen At five in the morning I closed my laptop, thinking about my 20,000 gold, the grim reaper’s scythe, and logging back into Death Kingdom tomorrow, or, uh, later today, I guess. “You out?” called Double Sam … Continue reading
If You Can’t Beat Him, Feed Him by Dee Caples
If You Can’t Beat Him, Feed Him Dee Caples Her skin had been supple and smooth but had now bowed to the inexorable march of time. As invisible cracks formed they felt like the legs of creeping insects and she … Continue reading
The Treatment by Coleman Bomar
The Treatment Coleman Bomar Dear Margaret, I know written letters are beyond impractical, but what I have to say deserves some physicality. After months of treatment, my brain no longer produces dopamine at the sight of your red smile. The … Continue reading
Final Positioning
“Just hear me out,” Jari was saying. He had to get Vott to understand. Every player had their blind spots. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t be confident. You’ve got the basics down, yes. But you need to be prepared for … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Ringing Bells
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, six weeks after the assassination attempt Sunar walked down the hall with his friends. Last bell had just sounded, and the Temple was beginning to settle down for the night. This meant, of course, … Continue reading
The Cricket and the Ant translation by Don Webb
Originally published in Bewildering Stories: La Cigale et la fourmi by Jean de La Fontaine La cigale ayant chanté Tout l’été, Se trouva fort dépourvue Quand la bise fut venue : Pas un seul petit morceau De mouche ou de … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction
Tagged ant, bewildering, cricket, don, stories, web, webb
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Morgan And The Wildfire Meme by David Barber
Morgan And The Wildfire Meme David Barber Morgan was flying. He flew as a bird, some ill-defined species of raptor with enormous wingspan, cruel beak and black gleaming eye. Lesser passerines and seabirds also flew the Airs, but it was … Continue reading
Life Changing by Ben Coppin
Life Changing Ben Coppin “It’s your birthday,” Sarah tells me in the office canteen, as we share a salad. “You should get a little magic in your life.” I smile. “Yes, you’re right. Why don’t you come to my party? … Continue reading
Failure to Communicate by Ben Coppin
Failure to Communicate Ben Coppin They vivisected the first envoy. The second human to visit the alien ship was a professor of Linguistics. She spent a year alone with the aliens, and when she returned, she bore a message. The … Continue reading
Apotheosis by Christopher Ramos
Apotheosis Christopher Ramos The jewel of Sol hung in the blackness of space over the dusty lunar landscape. Transcontinental fires speckled the seething ecosystem of the Americas. Yet, it was not this distant agony that captivated him, but incandescent, familial … Continue reading
Defensive Strategy
The west watchhouse was as silent as it had ever been, at least in the many years Vott had called the place a second home. Of course, silence was all part of the plan. Vott needed to think, without the … Continue reading
The Talk
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery, just after the assassination attempt Lenar had insisted on driving the car after their shift. He didn’t mention why, but Sunar knew. They had started to give their report to the next security shift … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, ikthan, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Episode 27: The Weir
Hospitals, I learned, had so many faeries and so many dedicated Councilmice it was like a whole other social structure, with its own idiosyncratic culture. Technically, Beatrice Brownbrow was the ultimate leader in Ottawa, but in practice, the hospital Councilmice … Continue reading
The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat
The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat Chinese Folk Tale “What we shall eat to-morrow, I haven’t the slightest idea!” said Widow Wang to her eldest son, as he started out one morning in search of work. … Continue reading
Reckless Advance
“How about you let me go in first?” Wolf said, his hand on the door of the small, ground floor apartment. “What makes you think I’d let you do that?” Frige replied, a hand on her hip. “Rouda told me … Continue reading
Episode 26: The Hospital
On our way out of Council headquarters Dichall led us to the food pantry. “If we’re going to get a bird to take us all the way to the hospital, we’re going to need to give them something.” We were … Continue reading
First Try
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery. The strong light of a summer’s mid-day sun greeted Sunar as he stepped from the pub. He closed his eyes and turned his face to it for a moment as he walked, reveling in … Continue reading
The Bellatrix by David Barber
The Bellatrix David Barber All Martians know the works of Jammes Bek. They read them at school. Everyone else finds them too gloomy, too full of regret. This is a story about Bek before he was famous, and the woman … Continue reading
Doom Patrol by Eric S Brown
The Doom Patrol live action series that launched on the DC universe App. this year is a mix of the classic series and Grant Morrison’s groundbreaking run. The team consists of the original members – Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, and … Continue reading
Daredevil: Know Fear by Eric S Brown
Daredevil: Know Fear Eric S Brown Know Fear is the latest Daredevil trade paperback. It collects the first five issues of the current series being written by Chip Zdarsky and picks up right after the events of the last Daredevil … Continue reading
Posted in Comic Book, Comic Book, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged brow, comic, daredevil, eric, fear, know
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Anglish, Late Flowering, Fictional Mode by David Barber
Anglish, Late Flowering, Fictional Mode David Barber Haydn Jan was famed for having read all the books; Bruss, the outworlder from Hellhole who saved him, was not even well-known on Hellhole. This is how they met. Prised out of retirement … Continue reading
First Move
“So you’re married, eh?” Vott asked Jari. The pair were maneuvering through a packed backstreet. Market Street, Marudal’s main thoroughfare for highbrow commerce, was only a few blocks away, but one wouldn’t know it from the look of the narrow … Continue reading
Pub Time
Summer: 17 years at the Monastery Gravel crunched beneath Sunar’s feet as he walked the streets of town. He greeted many of the town’s residents with a nod or a tilt of his staff, enjoying an easy familiarity with the … Continue reading
Episode 25: Aggressive Negotiations
Imbingy, the faerie childhunter, had me pinned in the snow, his steely hands tightening around my throat. “Die, rodent!” He thinks calling me a rodent is an insult? I’ll show him! I pulled my hind legs between us, put my … Continue reading
Ass Hat by Robert Stout
Ass Hat Robert Stout I sat in my comfy blue chair, listening to Jill Thompson’s weekly prattle. I took few notes. Then, mercifully, her hour was up. I gently guided her back to the lobby and asked Doris to make … Continue reading
Episode 24: Leak of the Lie
Gretchen, Dichall, and I sat on a box that used to hold matches, attending an emergency Council meeting. Beatrice cleared her throat to quiet everyone down. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an informant who would like to brief us on … Continue reading
Choosing Sides
“I’ve got little patience for your games today, Rauda.” Watch Officer Frige Dalgaard held the scrawny fence up by a fistful of his shirt. It was an empty threat, she knew. There was only so much she could do to … Continue reading
Soft Promises
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, Second morning after snow ski bet. Feet forward into a modified mule kick, wings back for support. Level flight. Barrel roll in place, GAH! too far. Correct, come out facing the sky. Negative-dive, pearl-on-water, … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, romance, sunar
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The Facilitator by Lyn McConchie
The Facilitator Lyn McConchie Wizard Bingelgretson focused his spell through his facilitator and spoke the release word clearly. There was a tingling in the air as a cloud of smoke flattened out and developed a shining surface. A silver surround … Continue reading
Quiet Moment
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, Morning after snow ski bet. Sunar perched atop the gazebo at the highest point of the temple, deep in his morning meditation. He kept his eyes open, his back to the valley, and faced … Continue reading
Setting the Pieces
Where was that gods-forgotten game set? Watch Sergeant Wissian Vott tossed a box of whetstones aside as he rummaged through the watchhouse storage room. The box tipped to the floor, the cacophony of stones upon concrete assaulting his ears and … Continue reading
Episode 23: Luring the Child
I woke up swatting at something on my face, but felt nothing but air. Two little people fought on my chest, and a strange, wailing noise stopped—when I realized it was me. I sat up in bed and knocked the … Continue reading
Pysbie and Thiramus by Raymond Lane
Pysbie and Thiramus Raymond Lane Aloneness and alcohol would provide comfort. Pysbie sat in the corner, as detached as he could be sharing a small room with a woman. A plain brown shroud encircled his body and tail; an orange … Continue reading
Sabotage by Dan Rice
Sabotage Dan Rice Liberty Station isn’t the largest outpost in the vast expanse of vacuum we call space, but for a boy from Old Earth like me, it’s the best duty assignment imaginable. I mean, my God, there are aliens! … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged black, bomb, dan, dirt, drak, drakonusain, earther, eater, engineer, hole, joe, missionary, rice, sabotage, singularity, space, starlight, station
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Fire & Ice by David Barber
Fire & Ice David Barber To wreck a planet, first choose a suitable asteroid. After mounting fusion drivers, pinch the plasma and tune the mix until the jets burn invisibly. Such vast tonnage is not easily swayed, but sensitive instruments … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged barber, computer, david, devices, electrical, fire, ice, jirt, planet
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A Tale Worth Telling by Charles Gramlich
A Tale Worth Telling Charles Gramlich Morning fog streams through the great forest like the smoke of a thousand fires. The clan forages through the mist-blurred world, gorging on succulent red and yellow fruits that dangle from the trees. They … Continue reading
Downhill Play
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, a month after Coronation Sunar flew at an even pace toward the top of the ski lift while Gorshun – who sat in a loop at the other end of the rope he carried … Continue reading
Episode 22: The Crow Gentry
I entered the Mundane World through a secret weir near the ceiling of the Rideau Centre Mall, and flapped my faerie wings until I was on the ceiling. I changed my colour to stay camouflaged. Not that anybody looks straight … Continue reading
The Last Tiger by Lyn McConchie
The Last Tiger Lyn McConchie Yashi stared up at the billboard. It told all who could read that ‘The Last Tiger is now able to be observed by courtesy of the Emperor.’ She studied the picture. She knew what the … Continue reading
The Great Gorge by Sme
The Great Gorge Sme Far away, near the edge of a vast gorge, an ancient tree let out a sigh. It was not an audible sigh, but one released into the air in a wave of fresh scent. The smell, … Continue reading
Hunted Down by Charles Dickens
Hunted Down Charles Dickens I. Most of us see some romances in life. In my capacity as Chief Manager of a Life Assurance Office, I think I have within the last thirty years seen more romances than the generality of … Continue reading
Drunk in the Afterlife by Michael Ehart
Drunk in the Afterlife Michael Ehart There was a shout, and then darkness. There were things to be known. I was cold. Very cold. It was dark, dark in a fuliginous black-beyond-black, there would never again be light in the … Continue reading
Crossing Svara by Sme
Crossing Svara Sme Svara is a fairly small planet covered almost entirely by a vast grassland. Enormous rivers criss cross it’s surface, but most are dry for nearly half the year. The wet and dry seasons rotate with the planet, … Continue reading
The Nugget by Steve Bartholomew
The Nugget Steve Bartholomew San Francisco, 1852 I guess you want another story about the gold rush. You newspaper folks are all alike. You get paid for writing down other people’s yarns when you get tired of making up your … Continue reading
Hezzie by Steve Bartholomew
Hezzie Steve Bartholomew I am Hyram Courtenay. Since Lisbeth and I arrived in San Francisco we have almost got used to seeing weird and strange things. We moved here from the east because this was a quiet Mexican pueblo called … Continue reading
Mr. Skelmersdale in Fairyland by H. G. Wells
Mr. Skelmersdale in Fairyland H. G. Wells “There’s a man in that shop,” said the Doctor, “who has been in Fairyland.” “Nonsense!” I said, and stared back at the shop. It was the usual village shop, post-office, telegraph wire on … Continue reading
The Truth about Pyecraft by H. G. Wells
The Truth about Pyecraft H. G. Wells He sits not a dozen yards away. If I glance over my shoulder I can see him. And if I catch his eye—and usually I catch his eye—it meets me with an expression. … Continue reading
The Valley of Spiders by H. G. Wells
The Valley of Spiders H. G. Wells Towards mid-day the three pursuers came abruptly round a bend in the torrent bed upon the sight of a very broad and spacious valley. The difficult and winding trench of pebbles along which … Continue reading
Filmer by H. G. Wells
Filmer H. G. Wells In truth the mastery of flying was the work of thousands of men—this man a suggestion and that an experiment, until at last only one vigorous intellectual effort was needed to finish the work. But the … Continue reading
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Episode 21: The Haunted Kindergarten
We pigeoned to the kindergarten early in the morning to beat the rush of children, but late enough to follow a teacher inside and snuck in through a door propped open by somebody on a smoke break. After making our … Continue reading
Zero Education
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, five months after first flight; Day after Coronation The sun had started to turn gold as it waned. Sunar stood at the edge of the highest courtyard in the monastery, the one called both … Continue reading
Persian Fairy Tales: The King and the Fisherman
Persian Fairy Tales The King and the Fisherman The countries washed by the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates were once ruled by a certain King who was passionately fond of fish. He was seated one day with Sherem, his wife, … Continue reading
Persian Fairy Tales: The King’s Treasure
Persian Fairy Tales The King’s Treasure A laboring man named Abdul Karim, with his wife, Zeeba–”the beautiful one”–lived in a sheltered valley, surrounded by hills, the sides of which were covered with fine gardens, in which the peach, the grape, … Continue reading
Persian Fairy Tales: The Son of the Soap Seller
Persian Fairy Tales The Son of the Soap Seller There once dwelt a poor but worthy man named Abdullah in Meshed, the Holy City, the place of pilgrimage, whose beautiful mosque with the golden dome is the glory of the … Continue reading
Persian Fairy Tales: The Cat and the Mouse
Persian Fairy Tales The Cat and the Mouse According to the decree of Heaven, there once lived in the Persian city of Kerman, a cat like unto a dragon–a longsighted cat who hunted like a lion; a cat with fascinating … Continue reading
Incursion: Chapter 1 by Gustavo Bondoni
Incursion: Chapter 1 Gustavo Bondoni Tristan woke with a start. He’d slept for centuries and now it was time to die. His training kicked in. The pod release button was exactly where it was supposed to be, and he pressed … Continue reading
Tuesdays In Heaven by David Barber
Tuesdays In Heaven David Barber Chet hovered in the foyer of Total Immersion Software, radiating unease until a salesman detached himself from the front desk. Professionals paid for people, not virtuals. “Help you?” The salesman sported fashionable periodwear, tight dark … Continue reading
Siege by Gustavo Bondoni
Siege Gustavo Bondoni Chapter 1 Maybe, just maybe, we’d have been better off not knowing. Kan looked through the scout craft’s visor. The heavily tinted and shielded crystal revealed a sky out of the worst nightmares of a hyperactive stak … Continue reading
Zero Challenge
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, five months after first flight; Day after Coronation Sunar made his way, without any apparent hurry, through the halls of the monastery. He took a (reasonably) direct route, the sound of his antagonist growing … Continue reading
Episode 20: Grassblade
I sheathed Grim’s blade, and leapt after the black faerie, running on all fours for speed, the tip of my weapon tapping the ground with every leap. Did you know that mice can reach a top speed of about … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged davies, eve, fae, faerie, fairy, grassblade, jim, pixie, pixiedrowner
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Wipires by Dee Caples
Wipires Dee Caples “Don’t open the door!” Astrid hissed. I glanced over my shoulder at my girlfriend. Her mouth was still frozen in the hiss, her teeth bared. Raising one eyebrow, I turned back to the door and peeked out … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Tagged astrid, caples, dee, internet, vampires, wifi, wipiers
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The Keepsaker by David Batteiger
The Keepsaker David Batteiger Emily stood tip-toe on a wobbly stool, fingertips grazing the edge of something at the back of a high, dusty shelf. Straining further, the stool tilting on two legs, she urged the object closer. Her fingers … Continue reading
Ernest by Lyn McConchie
Ernest Lyn McConchie (First appeared in ROAR 6 anthology, (Furplanet) June 2015) Between certain worlds on a long spiral in time and space, portals open and close, usually they are static, but now and then they move a few yards … Continue reading
Hail to the Vestal by David Powell
Hail to the Vestal David Powell Hail to the Vestal New slang couldn’t be ignored. Slang had a way of sticking in the public mind. A joke could become a medical diagnosis, or a spiritual doctrine, or a revolutionary slogan. … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged creadd, david, graffitti, hail, jahrtol, peackeepers, powell, scholar, slang, vestal
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The Final Twilight by William Joseph Roberts
The Final Twilight William Joseph Roberts “Ti tu…le lu! Ti tu…du ti da!” From high atop a craggy mountain peak, a lone voice resonated in the yellow-brown glow of twilight. “Ti tu…le lu! Ti tu…du ti da!” The high pitched … Continue reading
Episode 19: The Pain-Eaters
We caught a ride on a gull. Gull feathers are a bit closer and tighter than pigeon feathers, and he had a little string tied around his body so we’d have something to hold onto. He dropped from the pigeon … Continue reading
As Without
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, five months after first flight; Day after Coronation Sunar watched as Tabitha walked into the room, glanced at the datapad on the table, and rolled her eyes. He quirked a single eyebrow at her … Continue reading
Troo Raccoon by Maura Yzmore
Troo Raccoon by Maura Yzmore “Do you ever think about what a fluke we are?” said Zia. Sujay shrugged. “No. Not really.” It was Zia’s and Sujay’s third week of babysitting the gateway during the graveyard shift. The lack of … Continue reading
Episode 18: The Lesson
Dad drove me back from the diner, and Mom was waiting outside to pick me up. Dad lowered my window and beckoned to Mom. Mom came over, but she didn’t look like she wanted to. He leaned so she could … Continue reading
Visiting Memories by Jonathan Bowerman
Visiting Memories Jonathan Bowerman Explosions sent thunderous shockwaves through the night sky. Infrequent intervals of deadly shrapnel fell from somewhere above. Just off the ground, a sulfuric haze lingered playfully. What is this place? W-where am I? A young man, … Continue reading
Episode 17: Beware of the Fae
“We have a faerie in custody,” Beatrice Brownbrow addressed the Councilmice, as she did every evening at headquarters. “That’s unusual.” Gretchen muttered while scratching her ear. “We usually don’t let them live.” “He came to us, claiming he has information.” … Continue reading
Zero Snow
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, five months after first flight; patrolling the coronation of a new Emperor. Sunar stood watch behind the crowd. The field at the base of the slopes was full of people who had come to … Continue reading
The Parting of the White and the Black
The Parting of the White and the Black Massimo Soumaré Translated from Italian by Toshiya Kamei A heavy cloak of darkness enveloped the last meeting of the two. The distant battlefield awaited them, longing for their death. A horrible, bloody … Continue reading
Genesis by Thomas Zman
Genesis Thomas Zman “Good morning, mother,” chorused a score of siblings, rubbing the sleep from their awakening eyes. All were sitting up in their sleep-pods; their surroundings an immense cavernous dome. “Good morning. And how are my progenies, this their … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged chidren, kids, mother, post apocalypse, seed, thomas, vault, virgil, zman
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Earth Tours: Submerged by J.H. Malone
Earth Tours: Submerged J.H. Malone I work for EarthTours, but not as a travel agent. I’m a host, guide, and fixer for our clandestine guests from the stars. Potential tourists contact EarthTours via our deep-web .onion site. We prepare these … Continue reading
Crash Dummy by Roger Ley
Crash Dummy Roger Ley It wouldn’t be a long flight and I hoped that the aisle seat next to me would stay empty, but no such luck, a young woman took it. I checked her over as she lifted … Continue reading
Born Zero
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, five months after first flight; on patrol awaiting the coronation of a new Emperor. Ice crunched underfoot as Sunar and his three friends made their way through the crowded streets. Vehicles had been banned … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, half-dragon, mecraudri, monk, noble, sunar, zero
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Episode 16: The Acorn Trap
I peeked past the barely-open door at a little girl sitting cross-legged on a pink bedspread, paging through a picture book. A small child like I’d seen at the campsite, who was just old enough to run around and … Continue reading
The Martians by Demetrios Matsakis
The Martians Demetrios Matsakis It was Family Day at the Cape, which was overflowing with picnicking rocket-scientists, technicians, secretaries, and administrators. But such simple pleasures were of no concern to Kronos as he quietly gathered his work-group into the top-secret … Continue reading
Ragnarock by David Barber
Ragnarock David Barber Rona Lal was not the oldest woman alive, but certainly the oldest with the brain she was born with. Rona no longer remembered her exact age, but the entelechy did, and arranged a surprise for her birthday. … Continue reading
Truant by Lyn McConchie
Truant Lyn McConchie “Don’t, don’t, please, ahhh,” Twelve-year-old Malcolm whimpered in pain and fear as the hands tightened on him. “You little narc. You told old Johnson I copied your work.” “Ahhh, no, I didn’t. I never said anything. You … Continue reading
The Singularity By Kendall Evans
The Singularity Kendall Evans David Ackenhaur scripted the program, a quantum-based program unlike any other, that could interface with standard existing computers, and later, of course, they said that he was a genius. In a sense, he was. But by … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged a.i., ai, artificial, evans, intelligence, kendall, singularity
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Speeding Toward Oblivion by Steve Carr
Speeding Toward Oblivion Steve Carr Colm burst into Director Tymo’s office and threw a disc across the director’s desk. “There it is. The recording and images from the radio signals we’ve been receiving since we entered this galaxy.” The director … Continue reading
Episode 15: The Cat in the Way
A while, and a short nap, later, the human reached into the handbag. We gingerly held up her keys, and as soon as she had the slightest grip on them, we let go. I must have been breathing hard, because … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged cat, council, councilmice, davies, Dichall, eve, jim, micean, pixiedrowner
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Cold Lesson
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, five months after first flight Snow crunched under Sunar’s boots as he landed at the edge of the skii-resort town. He drew in a deep breath through his nose, taking in the smells of … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Night in the City by Lyn McConchie
Night in the City Lyn McConchie It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents and in the great city no one was abroad who could have stayed in shelter. Only the poor and the unfortunate were … Continue reading
With Brazen Tongue by Lyn McConchie
With Brazen Tongue Lyn McConchie “Oh, God!” The cry was not blasphemous, but a prayer. It had come at last, and I knew it. “What does it say, It can’t be, not for us, not for Wildhey.” I opened the … Continue reading
Bath Salts and Bedlam by Lyn McConchie
Bath Salts and Bedlam Lyn McConchie Our local senior constable was here again today asking if I’d seen some missing bloke. I could have sworn he said was named Bob Jonquil. I didn’t take it the wrong way, I’d seen … Continue reading
Charles and the Dodo by Jonathan Bowerman
Charles and the Dodo Jonathan Bowerman I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date! Charles stressed as he sat at his desk and blew on the end of his feathered fountain pen, chastising himself. “No, no. That simply will … Continue reading
For This; Therefore, I Die by Jonathan Bowerman
For This; Therefore, I Die Jonathan Bowerman How ironic she thought, struggling to take another gulp of cool water. Relief did not follow, for each constriction of her throat felt as though she were swallowing shards of glass. The pain … Continue reading
Treasure by Lyn McConchie
Treasure Lyn McConchie Joe Tremain was a man of mostly average description. He was medium height, medium build, medium colouring, medium circumstances, and middle-aged. His parents – dying young – had left him a house that had one bedroom, a … Continue reading
Redemption by Lyn McConchie
Redemption Lyn McConchie The hillside road nearest the town had fallen, so they left Lanie’s car with the earth-movers and the vehicles of the rescue people who’d arrived earlier, and they walked, Lanie, with the massive dog at her heels. … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Tagged cujo, lanie, Lyn, mcconchie, redemtion, werewolf
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Honor’s Choice by Lyn McConchie
Honor’s Choice Lyn McConchie There were two main characters that day. It was a bright, warmly sunny day towards the end of a long delightful summer. A day which was neither too cold nor too hot and even in the … Continue reading
Green Eyes by Lyn McConchie
Green Eyes Lyn McConchie She was three, with sun-tanned, fatly dimpled little legs and rounded arms. It was summer and the field was hot, the water calling, cool and beckoning with flashes of shade and shadow under the willows where … Continue reading
Better Off by Lyn McConchie
Better Off Lyn McConchie Joe was a nice man. Everyone said so. After all, he paid for his wife’s grandfather to live in a nursing home, didn’t he? They conveniently overlooked the fact that the old man hadn’t wanted to … Continue reading
Dawn Flight
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, Summer, six weeks after first flight The cold of a summer pre-morning prickled Sunar’s skin as he sat, eyes closed, atop the gazebo at the height of the Four Peaks monastery and meditated on … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dawn, dawns, dawnsflight, dragon, fearadhach, flight, flying, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Episode 14: Diplomat Dichall
We heard the muffled barking of Lolabelle through the leather: “Uh, be careful, there’s a cat in the apartment who’s not the biggest fan of the Micean Council.”
We glanced at each other, not quite so comfortable anymore… Continue reading
Beyond by Demetrios Matsakis
The author is an astrophysicist who holds the position of Chief Scientist for Time Services at the U.S. Naval Observatory. This story was inspired by a talk Dr. Jocelyn Bell made in Beijing, at a General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union. Continue reading
Naming Rites
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, Spring, five seconds after first flight Quiet. Stillness. Calm. Sunar hung suspended in the water for an eternal moment, bubbles flowing around him. The exultation of his flight still sang in his bones, but … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dawnsflight, duskhop, fearadhach, mecraudri, name, naming, rite, rites, sunar
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Episode 13: From Disturbing Dreams
I’m Nathan Thomas. I’m visiting Ottawa because I’m giving a concert here in a few days. I play piano. I’m not the best in the world, but I’m only nine years old, so lots of people want to see me … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged davies, dream, eve, jim, nathan, pixiedrowner
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Dj Vie by Tyree Campbell
Dj Vie Tyree Campbell Through the Videx Effa could see that her little craft, no longer space-worthy, had come to rest at the shore of a lake, on the far side of which rose a great white wall. The window … Continue reading
Fortune by T.L. Simpson
Fortune T.L. Simpson Orr watched the girl, the sunkissed skin of her exposed midriff swaying as she danced, the crackling bonfire setting the sequin droplets of sweat across her brow and shoulders ablaze with amber light. “When you the kill … Continue reading
Episode 12 When a Fae Drinks Spark
I asked various faeries where Yonya was, and eventually found her on the Interstitial manifestation of Elgin Street. She smelled me before she saw me. She turned her eyeless red head toward me slightly. “Imbingy. Speak.” “I have spark for … Continue reading
Dawn’s Window
Winter: 16 years at the Monastery, Spring, twenty-three months after attempting to fly The soft oranges of dawn danced through the window… the window, the one he had been afraid to approach for so long. Sunar felt a smile tug … Continue reading
Episode 11: Draining the Prodigy
Breath held so I was invisible, I glided down from my perch on the big painting in the hotel lobby, landing on the side of the shopping bag the mother carried. I folded my wings, changed my colour to match … Continue reading
Fear’s Lesson
Winter: 15 years at the Monastery, Summer, fourteen months after attempting to fly “No.” Sunar shook his head and backed away from the two chairs. Gorshun pushed him forward. “Yes!” replied Gorshun in an exasperated tone, “You are more than … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dragon, fear, fearadhach, mecraudri, sunar, wings
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Self-Correcting by Mark Joseph Kevlock
Self-Correcting Mark Joseph Kevlock “I’m afraid you haven’t been a very exciting sister-in-law, Miranda Koslock. Or daughter-in-law, or wife. So you’ve been voted out.” Men without features escorted her down the temporal corridor to the complaints division. “Arrow” Henderson, a … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged arrow, correcting, joseph, kevlock, mark, miranda, self, self-correctingda
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Forecast by Pete Alex Harris
Forecast Pete Alex Harris “And now the shipping forecast, issued by the Met Office on behalf of the Maritime and Thaumometry Agency at 12 pm today.” Lighthouse-master Carson fiddled with the crackling radio, trying to get a clearer signal. It … Continue reading
Wing Training
Summer: 14 years at the Monastery, Summer, seven months after attempting to fly Sunar shook his head at his best friend. “I am not ready for the chair test yet, that much I’m sure of.” Gorshun rolled his eyes, and … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged fearadhach, fly, mecraudri, sunar, training, wing
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Episode 10: Finding the Prodigy
I folded my faerie wings and hid under the little girl’s pillow until I could hear her sleeping. Then, I crawled out onto her chest and drained her spark. Yeah, I know, I’m the stuff of nightmares. Draining spark feels … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged davies, eve, fairy, jim, pixiedrowner, prdigy
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Oaths by Salvador J. Ojeda
Oaths Salvador J. Ojeda Avor Antos stared at the envelope given to him by Commander Briav, nearly crumpled against his chest. It had the border and seal of a discharge that was neither honorable nor standard. “Commander, you can’t be … Continue reading
The Time Capsule By Lisa Pais
The Time Capsule By Lisa Pais Earth. 2315. Moving with appropriate swiftness, which is neither graceful nor clumsy, I make my way along the shoreline. Precise. Efficient. Perhaps there is beauty to be found in economy. There is no need … Continue reading
Fear’s Hold
Summer: 14 years at the Monastery, Spring, four months after attempting to fly Water cascaded down the not-quite vertical face of the Babbling Wall. Sunar’s stomach clenched almost painfully as he stood in one of his favorite spots; on the … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged barrel, dodge, fear, fearadhach, mecraudri, sticks, sunar, wall
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Episode 9: The Mission Before the Mouse
I needed to get the monster down from the wall. It panted, licking the wound on one of its arms – thinking it was safe. It was our job to make sure it wasn’t. Glancing around, I spotted some straws … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged bologoblin, davies, eve, jim, micean, pixiedrowner
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Angry Man by Jodi Rizzotto
Angry Man Jodi Rizzotto “Will you come and visit me in prison?” my coworker whispered over the cubicle wall. At first I didn’t know what to say. Perhaps this was a test, an initiation into deeper levels of friendship. Dreading … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged anger, angry, jodi, man, mike, rizzotto, shrink
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Outside the Situation: Achromatic Afterlife by Ada Fetters
Outside the Situation: Achromatic Afterlife Ada Fetters “Welcome to Outside the Situation with F(x) and the Dimensional Remnant.” Each word of the greeting was precisely enunciated. “Every week we sample a defunct universe. We visit tumultuous multiverses, glitchy simulated infinities, … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged achromatic, ada, fetters, outside, situation
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Fear’s Caution
Summer: 14 years at the Monastery, Spring, two months after attempting to fly Sunar leaned over the windowsill from which he’d attempted to jump two months and a lifetime before. A strong breeze wafted through the window. Warm, but with … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Episode 8: Bogoloblin
Each of us held onto Reginald’s feathers with all four paws. The crow’s route was indirect, according to the emphatic directions that Dell Grim shouted, and Reginald ignored. The fearless bird carried us low into rush-hour traffic, weaving erratically between … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged bologoblin, davies, eve, jim, pixiedrowner
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Escape Pod by Christopher Kell
Escape Pod Christopher Kell Drogue has a twisted body. So twisted she skitters sideways through the cargo hold like a crab in the oceans of Earth. But in reduced gravity she can move as fast as any woman or man. … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged alien, chris, christopher, drogue, escape, junk, kell, pod, space, trawler
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Doppelganger in the Loop by Gary Inbinder
Doppelganger in the Loop Gary Inbinder I Paul sat on a weather-beaten wooden bench in the middle of the platform. He glanced at his wristwatch; it was a quarter to six in the morning. Dull, yellowish electric bulbs glowed eerily … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged doppleganger, gary, inbinder, loop
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Aristotles of Flesh and Bone by J.S. Helgerson
Aristotles of Flesh and Bone J.S. Helgerson The teacher started life in the tank behind the chalkboard at 8:22 am. Children had been filing into the classroom for the last fifteen minutes, and their quiet chatter filled the air. First … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged Aristotles, Bone, clone, Flesh, helgerson, students, teacher
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Larrs’ Ghost by Christopher Kell
Larrs’ Ghost Christopher Kell 1980… Larrs still haunts his make-believe world; he warms his feet on the glittering sands, dodging the bubbling surf like a child. By donning a bio-interface, Larrs’ intricate program will reveal his carefully constructed world to … Continue reading
Why the Sea is Salt as retold by Edward Ahern
Why the Sea is Salt retold by Edward Ahern This is a retelling of and homage to “Why The Sea Is Salt”, from the 1904 book, Popular Tales From the Norse by George Webbe Dasent. The language is modern but … Continue reading
Nemo on the Shore by Gary Inbinder
Nemo on the Shore Gary Inbinder “To say ‘He was a young fool, and now he’s an old fool’ is to make a distinction without a difference.” — Kafka the Cat The time was May in the not too distant … Continue reading
Outside the Situation by Ada Fetters
Outside the Situation Ada Fetters “Welcome to Outside the Situation with F(x) and the Dimensional Remnant.” Each word was as precise and discrete as a series of numbers. “Every week we sample a defunct universe. We visit tumultuous multiverses, glitchy simulated infinities, … Continue reading
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Tagged ada, deminsion, eonian, fetters, outside, situation, universe
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Baba Yaga retold by Ed Ahern
This is a substantial retelling of a tale from an undated book printed in the 1800’s, “Old Peter’s Russian Tales” by Arthur Ransome Baba Yaga As retold by Ed Ahern Baba Yaga is a witch with iron teeth like poker … Continue reading
Episode 7: Reginald Crazywing
We went out onto the nearest ledge to hail a bird, but there were already several mice in line at the pigeon stand. One mouse shivered beneath his black, speckled coat. “We’re freezing our whiskers off out here!” … Continue reading
Teacher’s Price
Summer: 14 years at the Monestary, Spring, the day after attempting to fly Master Ikthan stood in the bedroom doorway, his cold disapproval smothering what warmth Sunar and his friends had felt. The other boys gave Sunar quick glances of … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged fearadhach, mecraudri, price, sunar, teacher, teachers
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Officer Rosie by Gary Clifton
Officer Rosie Gary Clifton “Well, well, Rebound, you’ve finally managed to end up sitting pretty.” Taylor soft-footed into the shabby room with boarded up windows where Rebound sat duct-taped to an old chair. Rebound sobbed, “Taylor, this ain’t funny. You … Continue reading
Selfies by Rob Dinsmoor
Selfies Rob Dinsmoor Terra and I are almost like identical twins. When I first met her, she was, like nobody. Don’t get me wrong—like me, she had a killer bod and pretty face, but there was just no real personality … Continue reading
The Adventures of Rabbit as retold by Ed Ahern
The Adventures of Rabbit retold by Ed Ahern This is a retelling of a folk tale recorded by Charles Leland in The Algonquin Legends of New England , published in 1884. Of the old times. Some indian tribes called him … Continue reading
Mister Sunshine by Col Aalberry
Mister Sunshine Col Aalberry The rain pours down, cascading off the gargoyle’s head, flowing past stone claws, dropping in streams. A hand reaches up, grabs the gargoyle confidently, holds tightly. The hand only has three long fingers. A thin body … Continue reading
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Episode 6: Gearing Up
Beatrice Brownbrow dropped to all fours and wiggled through a hole into another passage. She poked her head back through and blinked. “This way!” I took her paw, squeezed through onto the top of a pipe, and, as I scurried … Continue reading
Titanic Bonds
Sunar talked with his sister for some time. For the most part he let her ramble. She had been bottling a lot of emotion while he had been unconscious, so he provided her a sounding board and let her get … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged bonding, fearadhach, mecraudri, sunar, titanic
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Wooing Wohpe – a retelling of an Oglala Sioux myth by Ed Ahern
Wooing Wohpe* As retold by Ed Ahern In the old time, the Oglala Sioux spent the warm seasons scattered and wandering. But once The Moon That Makes the Leaves Yellow came, they traveled to a sheltered valley where they camped … Continue reading
Vortex Blues by Jason DeGray
Vortex Blues Jason DeGray A payphone rang in the middle of nowhere. A lone silent sentinel hearkening back to a time long forgotten. The paint on the aluminum side panels had chipped and flaked so badly the ads were no … Continue reading
Misdirection in Oz by Herb Kauderer
Misdirection in Oz Herb Kauderer The Tin Woodsman used his newly received brain to remember all the many citizens of Oz who passed him by while he was rusted still in the fields. But the unsolved serial killings didn’t begin … Continue reading
Typographical Archvillain by Herb Kauderer
Typographical Archvillain Herb Kauderer The punctuation thief began as an apprentice in a printing shop, but sneaking in illicit edits was not enough to satisfy his urges. He escalated his attacks — leading a movement of minimalist poetry … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged archvillian, Herb, Kauderer, thief, typographical, wordprocessor
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Criminal Evolutions by Herb Kauderer
Criminal Evolutions Herb Kauderer Looking backward she cannot trace the path of her career from college to criminal justice, to forensics, to blood-stain splatter analysis, to autopsy technician, and finally to forensic entomology, (the study of insects growing in … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged alien, bug, criminal, Herb, infection, Kauderer
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Campaign Platform by Herb Kauderer
Campaign Platform Herb Kauderer Drunk on moonlight, they played and danced across grassy hills to the river’s banks. The night was a living painting in ten thousand shades of white. They spoke then of promises. A pact of three. One … Continue reading
Episode 5: The Micean Council
The guards removed a wine cork from the outer wall, revealing a narrow hole. Dell motioned with his arm. “After you.” We crawled inside, and the guards replaced the cork, leaving us in warm, dark quiet. Snowflakes scattered from … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged council, davies, eve, jim, micean, pixiedrowner
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Sister’s Confidence
Summer: 14 years at the Monastery, Spring, the day after attempting to fly Sunar woke slowly, despite his best efforts. He tried to bring his mind to alertness, but found himself groggy. He lay on his stomach, and everything hurt. … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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a recollection of dust devils by Herb Kauderer
a recollection of dust devils Herb Kauderer below Mars’ surface first colony remains are left to dream
A Fold in Time by Bryan Aiello
A Fold in Time Bryan Aiello Wind whispers through the cave. It tastes of the sea and makes Samuel Toddy think of fresh fish. The Mediterranean is only ten miles North and Sam can’t help but look up from his … Continue reading
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Tagged aiello, boy, bryan, fold, glock, max, time
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Episode 4: They Sent an Owl
I woke from a months-long sleep in my tunnels to the sound of something large landing on the surface above me. I swiveled my ears and detected something much smaller landing near it. A muffled voice: “Eve? Eve Pixiedrowner? Are … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged council, davies, eve, jim, micean, pixiedrowner
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Mother’s Word
Mother’s Word Summer: 14 and a half years at the Monastery Sunar sat with his head against the wall and tried to process the pain. It felt like every muscle in his back, wings, and chest had caught fire. He … Continue reading
Winner Winner by David Castlewitz
Winner Winner by David Castlewitz Dinner with the star of Madam Murder didn’t meet Tony Pink’s expectations. When he complained to the director, he got back a long stare followed by a mild chuckle. “She’s not real, you know. She’s … Continue reading
The Fattest Cat’s Car Keys by Kendall Evans
The Fattest Cat’s Car Keys By Kendall Evans The sound a thunderous final exclamation of the world mountainous boulders rolling down slopes in a place where mountains will be no longer constant din of objects falling from the sky … Continue reading
