Author: Tamiko Bronson “How will they find us, Grandma?” She smiled, pulling her paintbrush across each rice paper lantern. Velvet black ink seeped into the fibers, revealing names: Tsuneo. Kazuko. Satoshi. Our ancestors. “Come, Kana-chan.” We carried the ...

Author: Alastair Millar “It’s quite impressive, really,” said Annika, leaning back in her chair. As General Overseer at Europe’s busiest spaceport, she’d worked hard to get where she was, and could afford to be relaxed. “It’s bloody annoying, is what it is,” retorted Hans. ...

Author: Majoki Cantor waited until Hazzez finished checking the airlock before asking about the Frumies. Hazzez flashed a crooked grin revealing the eclectic range of micro-implants in his teeth. “Why do you want to know about the Frumies?” Cantor shrugged. “Sarge ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer “Does it ever end?” Bruce rises slightly and turns to stare at Lilimya. “If you don’t pay attention, it’ll end sooner than y-” He explodes from the waist up, a wave of heat momentarily turning snowflakes to steam. Lilimya is blown ...

Author: Diego Lama, Translated: Rose Facchini Lucio has smelled of piss and shit for more than twenty years, ever since his mother died suddenly and he started sleeping in the park. That night, however, he couldn’t fall asleep. It was the stars’ fault. Lucio didn’t wonder ...

Author: Michelle Wilson It wasn’t their fault. My parents were good and kind, with the best intentions; their only “flaws” were an inability to conceive and the wish for a family of their own. When the technology came, and they saw the digital models of how I would appear ...

Author: David Barber Shantytowns sprang up around every Jirt hiveship, infamous marketplaces of greed and filth. This must be the opinion of the Jirt, because without warning they sometimes reduced them to sterile white ash. Surely no one would risk living in the ...

Author: Mark Renney Tanner was a loner. Even prior to the System, during his childhood and throughout adolescence, he hadn’t managed to form any long-term relationships. He had kept his head down, listened intently, and worked hard and he had been an above average student ...

Author: Douglas Mulford It didn’t take long for everything to become boring. The past was a kaleidoscope of excitement - both joyous and tragic. The future, in contrast, was suffocatingly dull. Problems that once consumed humanity were relics of history. War, hunger, and ...

Author: Majoki When you’ve seen what flashbeams can do to infantry, even with shielding, it’s easy to lose your faith in humanity. When your commander outfits one of your few remaining tactical boostsuits with a golden cape and wings, and then orders you to fly among your ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer The afternoon is chill, clear, and sunny. The quiet is unearthly. The smell isn’t too bad - yet. I tap another ‘play’ icon. “I’ve got moments to dictate this, so I best keep to essential- Damn. I’m wasting time telling- Fuck, this isn’t ...

Author: Sophia Collender If you rest your hand on a mossy rock and sat down beside it, you have the option to stay there forever. The moss will accept the invitation to crawl into the new space. It will grow to encompass your fingers and your arms. It will seize whatever ...

Author: Rick Tobin 32 turned to robo engineer 14 Jerry Wilson’s screams echoed across the large Martian dome, stark in its steel majesty under the bluish-black sky. “He was bound to be upset. It’s been six months since his last awakening. It’s too bad we exhausted our ...

Author: Andrew C. Kidd He knew that the universe was an incalculable equation and that he was an inconsequential variable within it. Despite this, his fear was that of being consigned to oblivion. Burial was not an option. The instruction to his family was clear: ‘I am ...

Author: Alastair Millar “He’s going to be there again,” said Julia. “Well yeah, it’s the big family occasion, right? Same as every year.” Her companion guided the aircar into the automated traffic lane, handed over to Municipal Control, and turned his seat to face her. “I ...

Author: Elizabeth Hoyle He’d kept his charging cord in all night so his hands wouldn’t shake as he went about town. Yet they shook. His audio sensors were primed for any and all noises within a two hundred yard perimeter, no matter where he had walked throughout the city. ...

Author: Majoki Kenji adjusted the carbonized breastplate and finished his couture by placing the bulbous lenses under his eyelids. He looked in the mirror, but did not smile, though he was pleased. They did not smile, thus he would not. He left his aparto, a small green ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer The gigantic purple and gold sphere is set at the centre of the dining table when Menna races downstairs. “You’re home! I thought I- What’s that?” Vendi gives me a smile. She predicted every word. Then again, she’s been working from home ...