All Gentleness And Its Enduring
People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. ~Iris Murdoch
Pothilas set his briefcase down on the hallstand and paused to ...
Outback
Dust swirls past a naked lightbulb and out amongst the wire-brush scrub. There is an old man, mid sixties, seated on the verandah. In his lap lies a twelve gauge shotgun; it is broken open, showing two empty ...
Sick Leave
“Linda Kroen! 155013! Report for duty”
Linda didn’t exactly know why the crystalline voice of the ship AI was blaring her name but she wasn’t going to answer. It’s her day off.
“Linda Kroen! It is estimated you ...
Arwik Razy
Siliquestioning
With those sleek shoulders and sculpted faceplate features, I would have guessed her be a Russian model.
Hard to tell with the standard techniques. The criminals always had their own serial numbers sanded off and I2P addys scrambled. I ...
Angel of Time
A man lay limp in my arms. The body of a little boy was sprawled a few feet away from us, his young face motionless against the blood-stained earth.
"I will stay with you through this." I said, stroking the man's face very gently. "I won't leave ...
Smoke
Below level one-one, there have been several issues with the life support mechanisms. High temperatures, pressures, and an abundance of certain harmful chemical compounds have rendered these levels uninhabitable. You will require a blue keycard to ...
Dark Water
“When the Surface became too crowded, Man had already hollowed out great caves in the crust of the Earth, mined for metals with which to build his towers. It was simple for those who desired space to move downwards, found the first cities of ...
Go out with a Bang
“I thought you didn’t smoke,†she asked.
“I did, and I quit,†he replied through a bluish cloud, “but it seems an appropriate time to pick up the habit again.â€
“Really,†she drew the word out as if stretching it like ...
Parasite
In my dream I am wandering through Babylon. Prostitutes linger on every street, thieves wait at every corner. Barefoot children look at me as I pass; shopkeepers watch me too, from shadowed doorways, behind flags and tables piled with weapons and fruit. In ...
Secrets of the Universe
"Some of what you are about to read you will think is science fiction, " said the front of the dust jacket, "But I assure you, dear reader, that it is not. It is based on sound scientific principles with which we are all familiar." Edgar skipped on. The book ...
The Supaida Snare
The SS Furai was traveling at warp three through the Supaida Sector on a survey mission to look for planets that were suitable for human colonization. A decade earlier, an unmanned probe had passed through the sector and reported numerous ...
Constant Cravings
Wheeze.
I struggle to snatch a breath, wondering with each one if I’ll get the chance to have another. Life’s never felt so fleeting and basic as I fight with its raw elements, breathing and trying to keep the blood pumping round my withered ...
Special School
When we were both sixteen, we made a pact. We said to each other that we would never race ahead without each other. Now we’re eighteen and I barely see you.
I’ve had a whole arsenal installed in my arms and head. You cook the food in ...
Moving On
Vivienne awoke after nine, but lazed in bed for another hour before finally getting up and padding to the window.
The curtains drawn she had a perfect view of the garden, the tree branches hung with golden leaves, a carpet of leaves coating the ground, ...
Survivor of Olympus Mons
Allan sighed and took a deep breath.
“I’m from the Olympus Mons colony, I was a kid when it happened.â€
‘It’ didn’t require any explanation, all the worlds knew of Olympus Mons. With over 3000 people tragically killed, it was the ...
Domestically Disabled
Inside, she was free.
Her consciousness flitted from desktop to watch to media player. Her sight was composited from surveillance videos, streaming webcams, and a million stuttering stills uploaded from cameraphones. She flexed her arms, and cranes swung ...
Observation
"I'm not one of your lab monkeys, I'm your investor, so don't give me any more of your scientific jargon." Mr. Bates pointed his cowboy hat at Dr. Copenhagen. "Don't tell me about electrons, tell me about how your machine will send Leroy ...
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