Visitors
163,886Categories
Shepherd: Discover the Best Books!
-
Recent Posts
- Episode 65: Eve: The Key Obtained by Jim Davies March 28, 2023
- Le Saga Electrik by Logan Thrasher Collins March 28, 2023
- Marvel Two-In-One: Cry Monster by Eric S Brown March 23, 2023
- Maximum Carnage: The Epic Collection by Eric S Brown March 16, 2023
- Guilt Trip: Part 6 by Sarah McKnight March 15, 2023
Terms Menu
Category Archives: New
Le Saga Electrik by Logan Thrasher Collins
In the great domain of Zeitgeist, Ekatarinas decided that the time to replicate herself had come. Ekatarinas was drifting within a virtual environment rising from ancient meshworks of maths coded into Zeitgeist’s neuromorphic hyperware. The scape resembled a vast ocean … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, New, Science Fiction
Leave a comment
Marvel Two-In-One: Cry Monster by Eric S Brown
In recent years, the Epic Collection has become a very popular format for Marvel trade paperbacks. The beauty of the Epic Collection is that they contain a hulking four hundred to five hundred pages plus of reprinted material while not … Continue reading
Posted in Book Review, Columns, New, Non-fiction, Review
Leave a comment
Guilt Trip: Part 6 by Sarah McKnight
“This is crazy. You know that, right?” Christian says as he slows to a stop at a red light. He glances at Hailey in the passenger seat, her hands clasped together, and her head bent as if in prayer. “June … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
The Run by DJ Tyrer
Telco shivered as he stood on the hilltop and watched the sun go down, his shadow and those of his two companions merging with that of the standing stone behind them. It was a shiver not only borne upon the … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Guilt Trip: Part 5 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey asked the officers trailing behind her for the time so often, she knew she was being a nuisance. But the trail was long, her marker easy to miss, and all she really had to go on was the amount … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Horror, New, Serials
Leave a comment
The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 2 – The Sale by Alex Valdiers
The problem with being famous was that people recognized you. Dani Botswana knew it all too well. She could not get through a shantytown without having men, women, gunslingers, merchants, and kids fawning over her. Right before she exited the … Continue reading
Guilt Trip: Part 4 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey watches as shuffling feet on the other side of the bedroom door disrupts the thin beam of light beneath it. Slow steps pace and back and forth. She holds her breath as the feet pause, and a low bang … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Horror, New, Serials
Leave a comment
Guilt Trip: Part 3 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey dares to take a peek outside her bedroom door and finds June standing at the bottom, her bad leg raised as if to step up. Her progress will be slowed for a while, Hailey knows. It always takes her … Continue reading
Guilt Trip: Part 2 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey’s oatmeal has gone cold, untouched on the breakfast bar. She sits on a stool, head bent and staring down at the bowl of beige, glistening oats. Something shuffles just outside the front door. Occasionally, the creak of underused joints … Continue reading
Guilt Trip: Part 1 by Sarah McKnight
She’s back. Standing at the bright bay window, trembling fingers holding the sheer curtain out of the way, Hailey locks eyes with her best friend. June stares back, unblinking. She stands just outside the little wrought iron gate guarding Hailey’s … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Astronaut In Space by Celine Rose Mariotti
The first step on Mars, An astronaut goes far, He samples the soil, He can feel his blood boil, The Red Planet, A new world to explore, The Red Planet, Plenty in store, An astronaut is superhuman, He has abilities … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
That Gut Feeling by Sarah McKnight
Late afternoon sunlight soaked through the streaky windows of the corner sandwich shop, casting dappled shadows over the empty tables and uniform tiled floors. The popular chain restaurant stood empty between the lunch and dinner hours, but it would not … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
The Adventures Of Dani Botswana: Part 1 – The Moon Treasure by Alex Valdiers
Halfway through the mountain in the mist, a feeble stream ran down a few boulders and died in a small puddle. “There! A waterfall,” said Dani Botswana. “Let’s use this spot as a rest stop and feed the skyhorses.” “A … Continue reading
Posted in New, Serials
Leave a comment
Andreapolis, Footless City
Part 5 of Unfeet by Alex Valdiers A year after their marriage, Namily and Boyal knew all the feet stickers in Andreapolis by sight. There were but a handful of them left, yet there were still two legged people living … Continue reading
Posted in New, Serials
Leave a comment
Episode 64: Eve: A Matter of Payment by Jim Davies
My head peeked out from behind the books, next to Dichall’s and Gretchen’s, but we dared not move them, even to hide. I was petrified that the faerie standing in front of us would notice the motion. … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Episode 63: Eve: Revealing the Soulseeker Faerie
by Jim Davies I left the home of the raccoon Vernon Grandmaster, following Waffles, Gretchen and Dichall through the dark tunnel. I had known that using the veilring would allow us to speak to humans, but it never occurred to … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Episode 62: Gretchen: The Techie Raccoon
by Jim Davies A moment later a raccoon’s voice echoed through the tunnel. “Who’s there?” Dichall, Eve, and I emerged from the tunnel through an opening in the floor of a crowded basement, holding up our beads. The head of … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Double Eagle
by Alaric DeArment Finally, we went through a set of double doors to another wing, where he took me into what looked like some kind of lab for making pharmaceuticals, with more technicians dumping buckets of dissolved human remains into … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Mio Signore
by Alaric DeArment “It’s off the books,” Amadeo grumbled over a pile of papers without looking at me when I visited his office to ask where I could get more information about the housing project. “I will tell you when … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Pull of the Lever
by Alaric DeArment We arrived back in Ragusa Sunday evening, exhausted from the nonstop traveling and speeches – having often given two or three in a single day. As I looked out the window of the San Giorgio, I saw … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
A Proud Citizen
by Alaric DeArment From what I could tell, the accounts of the rally in the newspapers Amadeo tore up and burned were devastating, calling him a petty tyrant and demagogue and comparing him to historical leaders I could not recognize … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Long Live Amadeo
by Alaric DeArment When Amadeo and Raffaele returned home about an hour after the press conference, still wearing their black armbands, Amadeo ranted at Raffaele, who simply nodded and said “Sai, sai, sai.” “What happened, some kind of disaster?” I … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Part of the Family
by Alaric DeArment It was jarring the next morning to hear a loud knock at the bedroom door, as I had become accustomed to sleeping late. “Buna desmun,” Amadeo greeted me in his Signoria suit as I opened the door, … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Peaceful Transfer of Power
by Alaric DeArment While covering the crime beat, I had seen photographs of homicide victims in police stations and courtrooms, but never actually witnessed a murder taking place, let alone a massacre. As we exited Stagno and got onto the … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Are You Sure It Works by Zvi A. Sesling
Are You Sure It Works Zvi A. Sesling On the planet Kapora the TBXW Special is the most desired vehicle because of its versatility. In addition to traveling at more than one stribolts per egami it can take to the … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
To Mars on MAVEN by Lauren McBride
To Mars on MAVEN Lauren McBride seeing red: rovers below, satellites above – Mars, yield your secrets Poet’s Notes: This poem was written in response to the “Going to Mars” campaign for MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft). It … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Curious Candy Hearts by Vince Gotera
Curious Candy Hearts Vince Gotera Valentine heart shield, sword-and-sandal warrior wields pink battle-ax spaceship skywriting BE MY VALENTINE across the star-strewn black void Bride of Frankenstein gifts a box of chocolate hearts to Valentine Boo Valentine’s Day … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Seeker of Knowledge
I stare at the message in disbelief, my guts churning and sour. Onye is already on the way? My fingers are trembling so much I can barely type the word. “How can this be? You don’t know where I am.” … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Squirrelled Away by Lee Hart
Squirrelled Away Lee Hart By the shores of Mississipi, By the shining big tree forests, At the portal of her cabin, In the pleasant summer sunshine, Mrs. Mullins stood admiring, Her delightful new bird feeder, Just installed that very day. … Continue reading
X Factor: Genesis and Apocalypse by Eric S Brown
X Factor: Genesis and Apocalypse Eric S Brown For anyone who grew up reading comics in the 1980s, X Factor: Genesis and Apocalyse will be a nostalgistic trip down memory lane. It collects not only the original nine issues of … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
White Screamer by Richard Stevenson
White Screamer Richard Stevenson Tennessee’s own Banshee screamer tormented a man who built a farm house for his family of nine in the holler back of White Bluff in twenty aught. Got fed up with the late-night screaming, loaded … Continue reading
Episode 49: Eve: The Brutish Dog
Gretchen blinked up at me from out of the floof. “Do you see something?” “No, everything looks the same. But that bird was talking nonsense.” Gretchen crawled up next to me, Emerson fluttering on her shoulder. She looked up at … Continue reading
the sky is falling by Matthew Daley
the sky is falling Matthew Daley it was the birds first fallen some walking till they forgot direction trees lost how to feed and breathe then their whispered exhales the sun begged forgiveness before giving up after giving out flowers … Continue reading
Episode 45: Eve: Pananima
I climbed onto the dog’s head. “Waffles, when we get a ways in, you close your eye. I will steer you by touching your ears. I’ll tell you if you have to jump or if there is a stick in … Continue reading
Chief Decisions
Spring: six months after leaving the Monastery, a few minutes after handing over a criminal. The police car drove at high speed, sirens blaring. Sunar sat and looked out the window. I don’t know why they are running emergency … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Clive Barker’s The Plague by Eric S Brown
Clive Barker’s The PlagueEric S Brown In a fictional version of 1983, every child under nine years of age on Earth falls into a deep coma with no apparent cause. For the following decade, every additional child born, emerges … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
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
Posted in New
Leave a comment
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
Posted in New
Leave a comment
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
Posted in New
Leave a comment
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
Posted in New
Leave a comment
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
Posted in New
Leave a comment
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
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
Posted in New
Leave a comment
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
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
Ten Science Fiction Haiku by Denny E. Marshall
Ten Science Fiction Haiku Denny E. Marshall sun safe space heater (1st Published in Breaking It Down) the light of the stars in view tonight is not real old photos from past (1st Published in Germ) meteor showers signals sent … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Engagement: Set in Stone by Lauren McBride
Engagement: Set in Stone Lauren McBride He once romanced me with a candlelit dinner and stroll under three alien moons where the nights last thirty hours. We saw others from our world and many races new to us. For our … Continue reading
The Other World, Chapter 2: Cyrano’s First Flight
Chapter 2 Cyrano’s First Flight “How strange,” I said to myself, “I have spent the day talking about something; a book that may be the only one in the world that deals with the same thing flies from my bookshelves … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
keeping peace on the ISS by Herb Kauderer
keeping peace on the ISS Herb Kauderer a locked room murder scientific detective gathers her suspects reveals surveillance footage altered to blame aliens first published in The Detective’s Ghost & Other Little Mysteries
Earthquake by David Russell
Earthquake David Russell What happened? There was a fault. What’s a fault? It’s when one piece of the earth juts above another. Why does that happen? Because the explosion down below Goes on forever. But was that fault anybody’s? It … Continue reading
Brosno Dragon by Richard Stevenson
Brosno Dragon Richard Stevenson Brosno Dragon of Brosnya, lake cryptid serpent/dino of Lake Bosno, near Adreapol, West Russia. Not a hydrogen sulfide ride of bubbles from the bottom – a seltzer smeltzer, but a monster some say likes to turn … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
Plans by Gustavo Bondoni
PlansGustavo Bondoni A shimmering field of bright violet light illuminated the printout. Calculations covered the sheet itself and, though the sums weren’t quite what one would have preferred, Analyst Tnersk remained unworried. They were closer than he’d hoped, and it … Continue reading
Dorothy Delivered by Kathleen A. Lawrence
Dorothy DeliveredKathleen A. Lawrencespiraling abecedarian
Death and Life on Enceladus by David C. Kopaska-Merkel and Kendall Evans
Death and Life on EnceladusDavid C. Kopaska-MerkelKendall Evans IWhat am IThat have bathed nakedIn vapor fountains on Enceladus?IIOtto Prime’s persistent forward rollUnscrolls the Enceladus moonscapeWhile Otto Deuce lags fifty metersTrailing, reassuringly in sightShadowing … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment
He Is Your Brother by Wendy Van Camp
He Is Your BrotherA Science Fiction Free VerseWendy Van Camp I do not wear chains, but I am a slaveBorn in factory, fathered by sciencetrained to be a fighter in human warsI am declared the ultimate soldier My Sergeant says … Continue reading
Posted in New, Poetry, Science Fiction
Leave a comment
Interplanetary Bicycles by Gustavo Bondoni
Interplanetary Bicycles and the One Back Home by Gustavo Bondoni Robert looked down the long, empty tunnel and imagined it filled with shining tubes. Inside those tubes, his mind’s eye could clearly visualize particles – subatomic and invisible, speeding at … Continue reading
Posted in New
Leave a comment