Author: David Dumouriez Maybe it started with a 'who' or a 'why' or a 'what'. Not surprisingly, given what came next, Sydney really couldn't remember. - Why do you keep asking me these numbingly inane questions? Sydney wasn't sure how to respond. Or, more pertinently, ...

Author: Majoki The stylites perched atop their brainframe pillars feverishly coding as the throngs below prostrated themselves and wailed in supplication. “Hear me, Allenadis. Expel the demon from my device. Free me from the torment of this hacker’s avarice that my soul ...

Author: Bill Cox They are everywhere and nowhere. The world passes beneath them, from the great, deep scar of the Valles Marineris, to the soaring, breathless heights of Olympus Mons. Time has lost its linear progression, yet they know that they have still to wait for the ...

Author: David Barber For as long as I can remember, any wish I made came true. No, Reverend, let me finish, then I should be glad to hear your opinion. Like that youth yesterday, over-revving his dirt-bike outside the window. Wishing things away is too easy. You ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer I'm wondering about that human. It seems to be contemplating something. Probably violence. It's the only reason why we allowed them membership, after all. Come to think of it, what is it doing sat in a cafe on the Aslencade anyway? I ...

Author: Arthur Chappell “It’s Adam taking the apple, not Eve. Genesis got it wrong.” “Is this Eden, Herbert? Or a nudist camp with an orchard?” “Very funny. Come on, before he takes a bite and drops us all in it.” “Hey. Give me that apple back! Stop thief! Evie, ...

Author: Philip G Hostetler I met Maggie at an open mic in an art gallery. Well, I met her music first, if a distinction could be made. I didn't expect such a big sound from such a small woman as she sat at the antique Ancient Earth piano. She pounded, no, attacked the keys like a Mongol ...

Author: Rick Tobin “It’s amazing how easily we accessed this vault, considering how long these buildings were subjected to seawater.” He ran his three fingers over the outside of the corroded steel doors, five inches thick, but still smooth and glistening on the inside ...

Author: Shannon O'Connor I’ve worked at the Registry of Space Vehicles, Lunar Division, for almost three years now. I was bothered at first being the only Jupiterite in the office, but I got used to it. Most of my coworkers are disgruntled Earthlings, with a few Martians ...

Author: Majoki KT’s head swiveled to track the trainers as they argued. LS’s sensors did likewise. The trainers always told them, “Watch us. Mimic us.” KT and LS did. Always. “You know that’s bullshit, Adya. Admit it,” Mellah demanded. Adya flipped him off. “It’s what ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Defensive fields shimmer, but they don't conceal the beam cutter clutched in a white-knuckled grip, and the gleam of intent in their eye. This will not end- 'THUNK!' Defensive fields crackle and spark as they collapse. There's a beam ...

Author: Hillary Lyon His younger siblings didn’t mind he always shut his eyes tight whenever someone took his picture; they were used to him. But his older brother Robert pried, “Why do you always do that?” “Long ago, I read some indigenous people thought if somebody ...

Author: Shelly Jones “The witch tricked me,” I explain to the wardens of the bog as my feet sink further into the muck. The bog witch has wandered back to her hut. She needn’t watch me drown in her trap. There is no escape; my fate is set. But still I plead to the ...

Author: Sarah Klein It comes to pass that at a certain population level, investing in the health of the working class makes “sense”. And this had come to pass. The natural disasters and diseases from climate change had truly whittled us down. But nobody wants to come down ...

Author: Majoki I’m the biggest real estate mogul you’ve never heard of, and I like to keep it that way. I own over three thousand parcels in the greatest cities on earth: Beijing, Jakarta, Tokyo, New York, Rio, Paris, Mumbai, Cape Town, London, Istanbul, Karachi, Lima, ...

Author: James Moran “So tell me,” Damien says, “how are things goin?” We’re having our monthly coffee at Naima’s Café. I want to cruise through my part quickly so Damien can vent. Last month was a tough one. He and Charmaine moved in together and he pushed her too hard while they were ...

Author: Aubrey Williams I’m such a lousy pilot— I really shouldn’t be given the responsibility of flying a ship ever again. And don’t for one minute think I’m kidding, because I’ve had a few scrapes before, and I know the big one’s coming. I’m not exactly sure what the ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer They say this city never sleeps. I disagree. It rests while the hordes that infest its pelt are absent. At 4AM, it's just me and the flock. "Father Bones, what came first: the thought or the action?" I look down to see a silver-blue ...