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Category Archives: Serials
The Curse of the Ebon Maw Chapter Two by A. S. Raithe
Mira and Echo looked up at the sign for Narsis’ Apothecary. It was much the same as the other buildings in Cawold: a wattle and daub structure with a thatched roof. Only the windows sat so low that the window … Continue reading
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Episode 69: Dichall: Mice Found Out
Silence. Eve, Gretchen and I held our breath, listening. Then a creak again, and her breathing resumed. After a few seconds Eve patted Waffles on the head again, and Waffles crept along the wall. We could see her now, turning, … Continue reading
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Snow Monster from Uranus Part 2 by Celine Mariotti
Louie is Lost in a Cave Officer Peter Carillo radioed to his dispatch unit. “Dispatch, this is Officer Carillo. My father Louie has been taken away by a snow monster from Uranus. Apparently, my dad—being … Continue reading
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Aisling’s Bargain: Part 4 by Mason Kennedy
It was dark now, the sun long since set. Insects flitted the remaining torch lights, two of which were lit outside of the Town Hall. “What the hell is this?” cried Ossian Flanigan, the community elder and as close … Continue reading
Aisling’s Bargain: Part 3 by Mason Kennedy
“What are you?” Aisling asked the unfurling coil of shadow, which was taking the shape of a person within her room. Aisling’s room was utilitarian and rough, but comfortable. Her bed was made of … Continue reading
Aisling’s Bargain: Part 2 by Mason Kennedy
“Aisling, girl, go meet Quinn. He should be here any time,” a mountain of a man called from the front of a roaring oven. The shop smelled of warmth, wood, and bread. The man had … Continue reading
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Soul Snacks: Part Two by Sheila Kirk
Larry is a Bad Man Kathy was quiet on the ride to school. Her mom was thrilled that she was going to school early for extra math help. She hated lying to her mom, but she could think of no … Continue reading
Aisling’s Bargain: Part 1 by Mason Kennedy
The early morning in Eskcot was synonymous with the rise of a pale and flickering sun, hidden behind dew-strewn hills and seaside foamy rocks. The light of the day was hazy, burning away the last … Continue reading
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Soul Snacks: Part One by Sheila Kirk
Every Class Has a Bully Kathy slammed her locker shut with such force, it startled the students beside her, and they inadvertently moved away. She was livid. The first detention in her life, and it was all Carl Fink’s fault. … Continue reading
Episode 67: Eve: In the Snowblower by Jim Davies
Dichall came back within fifteen minutes and got back into the fur with us to warm up. “Good news. It’s the same truck going back. 6214.” I licked his cheek and poked my head up out of the fur. “Thank … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 6 – Showdown by Alex Valdiers
Between getting her left hand chopped off and being held captive, it never occurred to Dani Botswana that Ulagi may have moved on from the dark moon by Balthazar where Don Lino had buried Fabiliacci’s black box. Dani had never … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 5 – A Helping Hand by Alex Valdiers
Merilyn Ring Station was an oddity as ring stations went. At its core, it was designed to resemble an old city, made out of stone, irregular walls, streets too narrow for cars or convoys, windows bricked up, and … Continue reading
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The Email: Part 2 by Esosa Zuwa
Panic swelled in my chest and my throat, and then the world pulled down on me. Now, this was something to fear. What did this mean? Probably nothing. The library meant nothing. The fish caused scombroid poisoning. These … Continue reading
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Eve Pixiedrowner and the Micean Council – Episode 66: Eve: Animal Control
Waffles sped up, with me, Dichall, and Gretchen on his back. I poked my head up over the fur and kept a lookout behind us. One of the humans ran back into the truck and followed in it, while the … Continue reading
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The Email: Part 1 by Esosa Zuwa
The email took me aback. Looking at my emails was not the best part of my day. Otherwise, I’d have been a big loser. Nevertheless, it was peculiar. It came amid cold emails from … Continue reading
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Clown Wars: Part One by Kierra Montgomery
A jester’s cap says quite a lot in spite of being an inanimate object. The two tails? They display his recent graduation yet relative inexperience. And the Four Bells, well, they symbolize the Four Clans. The colors are arguably the … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 4 – In The Godfather’s Den by Alex Valdiers
Dani Botswana enjoyed a beer on the short train trip to Don Lino’s den. The beer was warm and had long run out of gas. Dani drank half a can before giving up on it. Her stomach was … Continue reading
Helios: Part 1 by Zachary Grant
I miss the sun. It was the most underappreciated star in the solar system. All anyone talked about was how it would kill us one day. Mom ranted about global warming all the time, but I’ve never understood … Continue reading
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The Mirror Syndrome: Part 1 by Jeffrey Greene
“The eternal silence of these infinite spaces fills me with dread.” Pascal Foreword by Dr. Rupesh Agarwal, M.D., chief physician of the NASA medical team. Insomnia during space travel is not uncommon, and is usually a … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 3 – Finding Don Lino by Alex Valdiers
What if the best way to get in contact with a big mafia Don was to shoot down a couple of his goons? Dani Botswana certainly thought it was a sound idea. On the Reyel Ring Station on the Yangtze … Continue reading
Episode 65: Eve: The Key Obtained by Jim Davies
Gretchen, Dichall and I went under Jody Curator’s couch to hide and wait for the humans to arrive with our glasses. I glanced up at the chandelier and saw Jody’s husband, Gavin, perched up there. I waved. He nodded silently … Continue reading
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Guilt Trip: Part 5 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey asked the officers trailing behind her for the time so often, she knew she was being a nuisance. But the trail was long, her marker easy to miss, and all she really had to go on was the amount … Continue reading
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The Adventures of Dani Botswana: Part 2 – The Sale by Alex Valdiers
The problem with being famous was that people recognized you. Dani Botswana knew it all too well. She could not get through a shantytown without having men, women, gunslingers, merchants, and kids fawning over her. Right before she exited the … Continue reading
Guilt Trip: Part 4 by Sarah McKnight
Hailey watches as shuffling feet on the other side of the bedroom door disrupts the thin beam of light beneath it. Slow steps pace and back and forth. She holds her breath as the feet pause, and a low bang … Continue reading
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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
The Adventures Of Dani Botswana: Part 1 – The Moon Treasure by Alex Valdiers
Halfway through the mountain in the mist, a feeble stream ran down a few boulders and died in a small puddle. “There! A waterfall,” said Dani Botswana. “Let’s use this spot as a rest stop and feed the skyhorses.” “A … Continue reading
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Andreapolis, Footless City
Part 5 of Unfeet by Alex Valdiers A year after their marriage, Namily and Boyal knew all the feet stickers in Andreapolis by sight. There were but a handful of them left, yet there were still two legged people living … Continue reading
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Foot Attraction by Alex Valdiers
Unfeet Part 4 Top Moss at 8 a.m. was vibrating with life. Almost all the tables were occupied save for two. One was in front of the moss counter, right on the main passageway, the other inside the square, located … Continue reading
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Gretchen: The Evil Girlfriend
Jim Davies I peeked over Eve and Dichall’s heads and watched Josh open his door to the supposed terror that his sister Morgan was so worried about. Emerson climbed atop my head to look, too. A beautiful young woman, who looked … Continue reading
Episode Two: Inside the Bunker
Daylight from the open doorway illuminated a few feet of the interior. Something whirled, making a ratchet-like noise and he jumped, and then looked around. Rows and rows of tiny round, lights covered one wall. Hundreds of them, some blinking, … Continue reading
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Tagged apcolypse, bunker, castlewitz, david, robot
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Naivety’s Price
Sunar didn’t have to wait, his ‘ride’ appeared in the cargo hold moments after they walked in. They all exchanged the minimum of words, Sunar put his hand on the Wizard’s shoulder, and found himself standing in Master Ikthan’s private … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Serials
Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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Star Brand by Eric S Brown
Star Brand Eric S Brown After two decades of roaring success in the 60s and 70s, Marvel tried to expand even further in the mid-1980s with its New Universe line of comics. These comics were supposedly more realistic than the … Continue reading
Final Justice
Dogs and timber wolves howled and bayed, after the battered Ottfly’s disappeared into the wilderness. But good spirits and joyous humor soon faded… replaced with reality. Omar strode towards Shocka Din, who, with Hanna at his side, started his way. … Continue reading
Episode 52: Eve: Trapped Girl
Waffles slipped silently behind and then past Gombree until we were out of sight. Although the building consisted of a continuous spiral floor going all the way up, it had been divided into a series of room-like spaces, some separated … Continue reading
Can’t Hide
Sunar sat and looked down at the glass before him while trying to blink away a slight drink-induced haze. His buddies had already won twice, betting that he could drink someone under the table. Then, while he cleared the effects … Continue reading
Episode 51: Eve: Magnitrude
Waffles walked forward and onto the window. We all looked down (to us) which was actually sideways (to the rest of the world) at the wall of the building next door. “Well that’s disorienting.” I twisted my head to see … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged davies, eve, frog, jim, magnitrude, monster, pixiedrowner, waffles
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Episode 10: A Familiar Face
Fragrant smoke wafted over Cole as he sat cross-legged by the crackling brushwood fire. He warmed his palms against the flames and rested his uneasy gaze on the lip of the ravine. Above, the stars turned slowly across the darkened … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged casey, cole, elanor, pactkeeper, roawn
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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
Episode 48 Eve: Drawings from a Missing Child
As the desk fell to the floor, Gretchen leaped to the safety on the bed, Emerson briefly taking flight before landing again on her head. The pencils went everywhere, and papers from inside the drawer fluttered out all around … Continue reading
Episode 15 – Something Crueler Coming our Way
Circling the timber wolves’ camp at a slow trot, Major Diggs countered their hisses and low growls with unflinching narrowed eyes and bared teeth. Time for Omar to put an end to this. He’s being too soft on ‘em. They’ll … Continue reading
Episode 14 – Dreams and Choices
“Glad they’re gonna spend some time with the females,” Thor grumbled as he and Bennie sauntered after Seers Rasta Mama and Great Dane Granny. “Yep,” Bennie woofed. “We can use a break. Especially if they keep getting those visions in … Continue reading
Captain’s Cabin
Sunar gave another firm yank on the cord. It cleared whatever had snagged it and jerked in his hand. He had no trouble pulling it the rest of it out of the conduit to be rewarded by the sight of … Continue reading
Episode 47: Eve: Vivian’s Room
Gretchen proudly showed me and Dichall her moth, her eyes glistening with joy and pride. I stroked the new familiar’s back gently. “Emerson…She’s beautiful, Gretchen. Congratulations.” She held the moth close and whispered to it. “I’ll never let anything happen … Continue reading
Death of a Dream by Eric S Brown
Death of a Dream Eric S Brown Death of a Dream is the second, collected trade, of Mark Waid’s epic run on DC’s Legion of the Superheroes as its writer. It collects issues seven through thirteen, weighing in at two … Continue reading
Posted in Columns, Non-fiction, Serials
Tagged brainiac 5, cosmic boy, death, dream, girl, heroes, legin, mark, nuranal, sunboy, super, superboy, waid
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Episode Four: The Edge
The next morning, Carrie woke up blissfully recalling the crazy dream she’d had. Dream, she thought, more like nightmare. Imagine, being stuck in this town like that again. She cheerily helped her mother to the breakfast table and made them … Continue reading
Episode Eleven – The Perils
“Kind of nice hanging around here like this, right Shocka? So peaceful.” “Never been no place like this, Hanna,” he snorted. Hanna watched as Shocka’s eyes darted from tree to tree. His eyes fell on a small creature that she … Continue reading
Episode 44: Eve: An Uneasy Alliance
My stomach sank. “What?!” Gregory nodded. “Ribeye had some deal with a faerie, looks like. was punished for his involvement. That’s how he lost his eye. Says here you can probably trust him.” He shrugged. I looked at Dichall, who … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged davies, dog, eve, fae, faerie, geopattern, jim, pixiedrowner, waffles, woods
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Space Bound
Sunar sat in the back of the unmarked police car and watched the city pass by. A heavy silence had descended as soon as they entered, and he felt no reason to break it. These two men seem to resent … Continue reading
Witness Ejection
Sunar crossed his arms and quirked an eyebrow at the Chief of Police. “I am sure that your help in keeping me alive will come with a cost of some sort.” He drew his eyebrows together and leaned forward slightly. … Continue reading
43: Eve: A Visit to Gregory Bookkeeper
Gretchen turned back to Waffles Ribeye. “We are going to help you. We need to do some research, first, though. Where is your house?” “In Gatineau, 1210 Chemin de la Montagne. Near Pink Lake.” I knew roughly where that was. … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged bookkeeper, davies, Dichall, dog, eve, gregory, jim, pixiedrowner, ribeye, rules, waffles
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Episode 8: Yesteryear
When Cole opened his eyes, he was alone in the gorge. Getting to his feet, he steadied himself against the granite wall, then gasped. Thrace was missing from the spot where he had been pinned. It seemed like it had … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials, Sword and Sorcery
Tagged casey, keeper, pact, rowan
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Arresting Development
Spring: six months after leaving the Monastery, half a world away. Sunar plugged his phone into the Bar’s recording equipment, made a quick copy of the files he needed, and then slipped out the back door. Dumping the thug on … Continue reading
Episode Nine – Contemplation
Omar sprawled out with his pack, recalling how they had dealt with the timber wolves. “Any of you notice, that Shocka didn’t have any females with ‘em? They split up! Sent his females to handle ours. Wish we were there … Continue reading
Episode 41: Eve: Evelyn Farseer
Evelyn Farseer looked at me levelly. The bee on her shoulder did, too. “Just checking in on a wounded colleague.” My gaze flicked into the room, but Dichall was not visible from my vantage point. “I think I can take … Continue reading
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
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
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
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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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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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
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
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
Daybreak by Eric S Brown
Daybreak’s first season was released on Netflix in the fall of 2019. It’s a post-apocalyptic, comedy centered around the life of a teenager named Josh Wheeler. The adults of the world have been mostly wiped out by a nuclear war … 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
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
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 Boys by Eric S Brown
The Boys Eric S Brown Garth Ennis’s extremely violent and disturbing comic series The Boys hit Amazon Prime this year as a live action series starring Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Elisbeth Shue, Antony Starr, and Tomer Capon. If you’re unfamiliar … 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
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
V: A forgotten SF Classic? by Eric S Brown
V: A forgotten SF Classic? Eric S Brown In 1983, the “V” mini-series launched on NBC. It was a success, drawing a huge audience for its time. The story of V was inspired by the novel “It Can’t Happen Here”, … 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
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
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
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
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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The Baroness by Eric S Brown
The Baroness Eric S Brown G.I. Joe has been around for a long time. When one thinks of the toys and comics, many think of Snake Eyes and Scarlet. However, there are many other “Joes” and members of Cobra. To … 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
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
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
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
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
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Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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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
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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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
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Tagged dragon, fear, fearadhach, mecraudri, sunar, wings
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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
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Tagged davies, eve, fairy, jim, pixiedrowner, prdigy
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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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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
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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
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Tagged bologoblin, davies, eve, jim, pixiedrowner
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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
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Tagged fearadhach, mecraudri, price, sunar, teacher, teachers
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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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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
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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
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Tagged dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, sunar
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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
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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
The Day
Summer: 14 and a half years at the Monastery Sunar started awake, but managed to feign continued sleep. It only took a moment for him to find what he’d heard: his sister’s breathing. “How did you get in here without … Continue reading
Episode 3: Eve Becomes a Legend
I grabbed the fishing line, dug my back claws into the wood, and braced. The faerie kept flying, and I strained hard, intending to pull him back in. But that’s not what happened. He was a powerful flier, even wounded, … Continue reading
Episode 2: Crouching Mouse, Hidden Fish Hook
I gingerly explored the tackle box, trying not to get poked. A three-pronged fish hook, not too shiny, presented itself. I hefted it and smiled, then tossed the hook and some fishing line out of the tackle box, and jumped … Continue reading
Cold Curiosity
Monastery: 14 years since arrival. Winter. Sunar woke an hour before dawn, as had become his custom. The moon hid behind the frost on his window, but still illuminated sister’s first leather tail dangling over the window. She had grown … Continue reading
Posted in Serials
Tagged cold, comfort, dragon, fearadhach, mecraudri, monk, ski, sunar
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The Campground Faerie
Video Reading Lots of people fantasize about having a home in the woods, living off the land, close to nature. I actually get to do it. I live in a small hole, close to a human campsite, in Gatineau park, … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Serials
Tagged campground, davies, eve, faerie, jim, pixiedowner
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Sounds of Children
Three glass cups sat upon a bench in the sunken Children’s Court of the monastery, about twenty feet away from five-year-old Sunar’s intent stare. What little attention not focused on the glasses before him made brief note of his teacher … Continue reading
Wounded Acceptance
A sniffling sound came from Sunar. Iktahn turned to see a horrified expression on the boy’s face, eyes locked on the blood trickling from his mother’s ear. Sunar stood there, wings still clutched in his hands, mouth agape, eyes like … Continue reading