Author : Daniel Helman One time there lived a small planet that decided to invent some silicon-based machines to serve as emissaries to the rest of the universe, to be a good neighbor. A few apes had some promise, as being able to develop, maintain and enjoy these machines, ...

Author : David Henson The module thuds onto the planet's surface. Commander Stevens adjusts the stabilizers. "No prize for that one." Lieutenant Johnson cuts the engines. "You always think you can do better." "Do you have to take everything I say ...

Author : D.J. Rozell Jordan didn’t flirt with Alex until the divorce was final. The marriage had been full of broken promises, but why add one more? However, with the papers signed and a few weeks of decent sleep unknotting the muscles that had been locked in perpetual ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer The moon is a purple crescent that stretches from horizon to mid-sky. The few stars are scattered pinpricks of yellow, too far apart to make any sort of constellations. Consequently, the available light is less than ideal for people ...

Author : Janet Shell Anderson I saw the full moon last night, and it reminded me. Jonathan has been gone a week. Sometimes I hole up in Rock Creek Park; I know places in the woods, in the sweetbriar and holly and tulip trees where no one ever comes, hear mockingbirds ...

Author : Beck Dacus Before she went outside with her friends, the most she had ever seen of the Sun was the great gleam in the sky directly above the dome. Every twelve hours, the dome would shade itself from that light to make an artificial night. Then the screen would ...

Author : Philip Berry From the couch, engineer Stanislaw Hast looked past the grey-suited, female psychiatrist and through the broad window. The star, a long dying sub-giant, threw a dusk of burnt ochre over the orbiting city, its rays painting the sunward face of tall ...

Author : M. Irene Hill “The Nation’s Ethics Commissioner has released her public disclosure statement after completing a probe into whether a company providing Assisted Ersatz-Suicide services has contravened laws in relation to assisted para-suicide. The Commissioner has ...

Author : Joachim Heijndermans Danny was convinced the moon was an eye. A single, blind eye that stared down at the world, slowly closing once a month. An eye that stared down at the little people, watching them with an intense hunger. He knew this was the truth, but no-one ...

Author : David C. Nutt “I don’t need to explain it to you again Mr. Ambassador. There’s absolutely nothing you can do but accept our terms.” “This is an outrage! It’s piracy! It’s – “Yes, it’s all that and more- but it doesn’t alter the facts one little bit now does ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer This precious space used to be an overgrown park, rarely visited by day and a haven for crime by night. Now it sits as a spot of verdant life amidst ruined towers and shadowed thoroughfares. Those who dwell here call it ‘Greenheart’. It ...

Author : Beck Dacus Azova, Girgin, and Rastat floated through a hole blasted in the alien ship’s hull. Inside, everything was trashed. Whatever had destroyed this ship had been thorough. The computer systems were all but disintegrated. The ship was in complete vacuum, in ...

Author : Samuel Stapleton “Your Excellency. We can’t move on this. The Intelligence Protection Community is watching too closely. Humans have made their move, their motion for an open debate court was approved.” “This is ludicrous! They’ve been slaves for less than 30 ...

Author : Uri Kurlianchik She didn’t have a throat to sing or speakers to talk. Her only means of vocalization were small devices that vibrated and gyrated as she drilled and scraped barren soil in search of remnants of past life or possibilities of future life. She traveled ...

Author : Beck Dacus From the window of his cabin in the I.P.S. Red Baron, Admiral Mortigna sipped coffee and watched as the last repairs were made on Jupiter’s dynamic orbital ring. A hoop of solid material twirled around the planet at speeds faster than needed to maintain ...

Author : David Henson "Honey, are you going to use the DreamMaster tonight?" Sally says to her husband. "You bet. I've scripted a football match," Jim says, laying the DreamTablet on his bedside table. "Big hero." He taps his thumb to his chest. "You?" "Think I'll ...

Author : M. Irene Hill September 8, 2040, Special Area Babylon, Planet Earth: Control center: “We are offline and shield is down. Initiate cataclysm.” The last vestiges of rosy light disappeared behind giant cumulonimbus clouds which rolled in from the four cardinal ...

Author : Julian Miles, Staff Writer The prototype bodyguard robot stands over both of us, waiting for emergency services that will arrive too late. “Git.” John’s voice is a whisper. I’ve never seen anyone with an expression like his: confused and peeved. Whilst the ...