Down Under
Author: Beck Dacus
Each time the floor shuddered, all our chains rang like windchimes. The shackles around my ankles were linked to the wrists of the “inmate” behind me, on and on in a long line of us marching forward. As I stumbled I pulled on that man’s wrists, nearly ...
The Trail
Author: Mark Renney
The changeover hasn’t ever been subtle, but long ago, centuries ago, it wasn’t so difficult, so intense and all consuming. I think it’s fair to say that, back then, I rode roughshod, moving quickly from host to host. I would like to say I selected ...
Crossover
Author: Majoki
Most folks can pretty easily picture an amount doubling, and even envisioning something ten or a hundred times its current size or intensity. But our imaginations often fail miserably when faced with exponential growth. Unfortunately, this inability (or ...
The End
Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer
Sources always emphasised the utility of wind-up devices after any sort of catastrophe. I used to be sceptical, but having now spent a couple of years surviving in the ruined urban wonderlands of southern England, I admit I was mostly ...
Synthetic Predicament
Author: M D Smith IV
The synthetics of New World Robotics had reached a level of perfection so far past the clunky years that they cost the average middle-class family the equivalent of six years’ salary. Those who could afford one bought them on time, like a house after a down payment, and ...
Reality Check
Author: Melissa Kobrin
Claire looked nervously at the coffin-shaped vat of green goo in front of her and tried to remember that this was one of the best days of her life. Her bachelorette party was going to be beyond her wildest dreams. And fantasies. The only reason Caleb ...
I Need A New Human
Author: Lynne M Curry
I’m your Chatbot Partner.
Do you know I exist?
Don’t get upset—I know you’re not oblivious. But you never say anything. Not once, not even a passing, “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that” or “thanks.”
Do you know I picked you?
Maybe you think you just ...
The Fall of Man
Author: Alastair Millar
Prosperina Station’s marketing slogan, “No sun means more fun!”, didn’t do it justice: circling the wandering gas giant PSO J318.5-22, better known as Dis, it was the ultimate in literally non-stop nightlife, seasoned with a flexible approach to ...
Bifurcation
Author: Majoki
Her fingers stinging, Salda felt the chill and vastness of the late spring runoff as she sat upon a large stone in the middle of the river. High above her in the mountains, that same frigid water was a torrent muscling rock and soil relentlessly to carve deep ...
The Noghath Watches
Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer
The screen turns to flickering white lines behind a ‘Connecting…’ prompt. I find myself smiling and look up at the night sky. What do the natives call that constellation? Sarg something. Sarga Nol? Bigger… ‘Sarghalor Noghath’! Yes. ...
Here Be Dragons
Author: Beck Dacus
One half of the sky brimmed with stars, the Sun at one light-week’s distance barely outshining the rest. The other half was utterly dark, as if the universe ended at a sheer cliff. As I approached the blackness, detail started to emerge, my headlamp ...
Better Left Undead
Author: J. Scott King
“Can he continue?” A familiar voice, distant, urgent.
And nearer, “The Seconds are conferring, Captain.” Then, more urgently, “Come no closer, sir! Resseaux, control your man!”
A gruff, mumbled reply I can’t make out.
“I’ll have him done!” ...
A Chest In A Room
Author: Aubrey Williams
The cheap hotel room was draughty, the shadows ink in the recesses. Each sheet of green William Morris wallpaper was peeling in at least three places. For all the dinginess, though, it was a room, and I needed one. By a feeble light I’d tried to ...
Imagine a Creature
Author: Rollin T. Gentry
Imagine a creature crafted from crushed bones and entropy. It may or may not have fangs, or claws, or even a face. It rides from calamity to calamity, crisis to crisis, along ley lines the scale of galaxies.
Wait. There he is, knocking at the ...
The Time Capsule
Author: Milo Brown
William Smith was very proud of his name, not because it was a very good name (although it was) but because it granted him a certain level of anonymity. In William’s opinion, the only better name would be John Doe, since the name John Smith was made ...
The Trees Are Chatty
Author: Majoki
“What a poetic way of expressing it, Sibyl,” Cassie warily admitted.
She was walking along the stream that meandered through the glade, the aspens chattering in the stiffening evening breeze.
*It’s true, Cassandra. The trees are chatty. They’re ...
The Last Resort
Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer
Abby whips her wing-tentacles about, making little ‘cracks’ of delight as a gigantic silver dinosaur walks by, its crystal eyes filled with icy fire. Every footfall causes things to shake and drinks to splash about in their cups - unless ...
Book Mouse
Author: Brooks C. Mendell
“Where is she?” asked Dr. Nemur, holding her glasses in place while looking under a chair.
“Relax, Doc,” said Burt. “It’s only a mouse. We’ll find her.”
“Only a mouse?” said Nemur. “Her frontal cortex packs more punch than your bird ...
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