Speculative Fiction and Poetry
The Adventure Starts
They reached the town as the sun hit zenith, baking dusty streets that bustled with noisy activity. Kheri threaded through the commotion, turning down a small side road not too far from the town entrance. He led the way past several shops and finally… 
Breakfast at the Tuckers
Dale was waiting on the porch when Kheri came outside. “Tell me what this is.” He opened his hand and held out the papers he’d found in the pocket. Kheri’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open. “Wow!” Dale arched his eyebrows. “I assume…
The Wizard of Lowell Road by Charles C Cole
The Wizard of Lowell Road Charles C Cole Last cheery fire of the fading summer. Vacation would be over in the morning. Back to work. Winston tossed some remaining burnable chunks onto the smoldering pit. “So long, grandfather oak!” It was from an old,…
Malachi’s Magic Seed by Charles C Cole
Malachi’s Magic Seed Charles C Cole Mid-morning but already a scorcher, the third in a row. The root cellar, pretty much a clay igloo with a door tucked under a man-made hill, was looking inviting. Farmer Malachi Aylward had just finished soaking his garden….
A Meeting of Minds by Charles C Cole
A Meeting of Minds Charles C Cole The most dangerous profession, you say? Sailing along the edge of our flat earth. Mining in deep, near-airless tunnels not far from a clan of territorial dwarfs. Or, perhaps, like me, as psychoanalyst to the supernaturally needy,…
A Man of Many Spells by Charles C Cole
A Man of Many Spells Charles C Cole For a wizard of some regional renown, Methaglyn the Modest was a bookish sort. In his mind, nature in its rawness surrounded his remote dwelling like a village uprising, relentlessly busy and noisy and unpredictable. Spells,…
Understanding Wranglers: A Primer by Charles C Cole
Understanding Wranglers: A Primer Charles C Cole Nobody ever thinks about where old wizards go to die. Why would they? They look human enough, but they’ve had transformative magic pulsing through their bodies for so many decades that they are lightyears closer to sentient…
The First Dragon by Herb Kauderer
In ancient days the wizard Aderyn sequestered himself in a stone keep on the side of Cadair Idris determined to make a new kind of creature, one greater than the clumsy golems of the mainland conjurers more controllable than the creatures called up by…
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 know that old fruit…
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? It’s tonight at my…
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 constant bickering of the…
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 crawled around that and…
The Makings of Dragons by Herb Kauderer
The Makings of Dragons Herb Kauderer At first, dragons were rare monsters conjured by wizards who spent long months slowly simmering essences with which to imbue their creations. Emerald, ruby, copper, gold, diamond, and more were used as dragon’s essence. And, as wizards included…
Wicked child! by David C. Kopaska-Merkel and Kendall Evans
Wicked child!David C. Kopaska-MerkelKendall EvansMomshealwaysembarrassedyou when she was withyou remember when she wrote inthe sky “surrender Dorothy!” you thought that was sorude you wanted to drift awayyou rid yourself of her but you’rejust likethat witchThe end
Two Blue Stockings Review Podcast
