Author: Henry Peter Gribbin My name is Ben. I am a middle-aged schoolteacher from Pittsburgh. I am also a homeowner. I recently bought a house that sits on a busy street in a thriving community. The previous owners were an elderly couple who recently passed. The husband was ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer "What are doing?" I step the lance down to standby and look round. There's a Luminarian fledgling regarding me, eyes lit in glorious shades of orange. "I'm clearing droppings from this rooftop, young edular." It waves stubby wings in ...

Author: Diego Lama, Translated by Rose Facchini God called Alberto on his cell. “Hey, it’s God,” He said. “I wanted to let you know that the world annoyed me, so I’m getting rid of everything except you, okay?” “Okay,” Alberto responded. Then he added, “Thanks!” “Now, ...

Author: Daniel P. Douglas When a sleek and shiny bizbot from Rush, an upstart Venusian drift-pod vendor, showed up on the same mid-day shuttle to Godessa, Ogleblatt fumed. He glared at the bot’s silver and blue pinstriping and decided to call up Ortega on holo. He punched ...

Author: Deborah Coy Clarise thumbed through the thick album on her lap. Her mother, sitting next to her, pointed to a rampant unicorn just like the one glowing a proud blue on her wrist. “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had legacy tats?” Clarise didn’t answer but quickly ...

Author: Jackson Lanzer A man is silhouetted by a sunset, the heavenly light decorating him in immaculate golden armor and a tattered cape of shadows. His rusty hair flows in the wind, and his oak eyes stare into the celestial abyss. “Just me, alone, suffering in ...

Author: Majoki *Influence of the stars,* Breezy Hicks answered her daughter. The teenager looked at her curiously. *The stars? Why would anyone think the the flu originated there?* Breezy smiled. *They were literally medieval. Plagues. Pestilence. Why not blame the ...

Author: Elizabeth Hoyle “Virtual breakfast with President Mahlers is at 8:30 followed by a joint press conference with the heads of NASA, Earth Only, and The Time Organization at 9:45—” “Who invited those idiots from the T.O? All they want is to keep their rich investors ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Another street carpeted in things once considered essential. I wait. Nothing moves. Picking up a can of beans, I swing my arm back, then stop. Put the beans in my backpack. Spotting a can of prunes, I throw that instead. It lands hard and ...

Author: Andrew Dunn Anonymous hotels on dusty roads close to chaotic ports wasn’t Nick’s favorite part of being an independent fidget. It was worse when the ship he was contracted to meet was three days late, the desk clerk he was bribing told him adherents of the latest ...

Author: Rick Tobin All lounge tables were separated far from the hideous Braxel’s corner booth. A cleared semi-circle void reeked of rampant terror regarding the infamous diner now surrounded by nervous alien species, some tentacled, slurping preferred living or semi-living ...

Author: Ruby Zehnder “Mark, is the download finished?” Laura called from the kitchen. “Just about,” Mark replied. “Should I call the kids?” "Sure. Why not," he said and returned to the controls. The holographic images of his parents were flickering into existence. Laura ...

Author: Lewis Richards I carry a world on my back, bearing it forward across the emptiness ahead. I feel for life in the darkness, not to add to my little world, but to consume so I may endure. So I may tend. This is not my first world, I grow and must leave the worlds I ...

Author: Majoki “Were dinosaurs Christians?” Asterisk asked without bothering to raise his hand. Teacher scanned his face for biometric signs of incorrigibility. Negative. Proper attention would be paid. “Asterisk, please raise your hand and wait to be called upon ...

Author: J.D. Rice Dear Traveler, Welcome. Don't be alarmed at the state of our planet, the overgrowth is intentional. We decided to let nature take the reins while we slumbered. We are eager to meet you. . . too eager, you might say. You have likely already found ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer With a smile, I lay the Ace of Spades across the Queen of Cups. Garv howls. “Oh, come on. You’re going to death card my royal flush?” I point to the stack of food tabs and leisure coins. “There’s two weeks good eating and nineteen ...

Author: Majoki Ever the entrepreneur, he put out a shingle: Claude Computing. 967.3 days later Claude had his first customer. 8,714.6 days after that the customer returned. “A pleasure to see you again, sir,” Claude said. “Same,” the customer acknowledged. “It’s ...

Author: Sarah Klein The Dreamselector opens as George gets into bed. "Mountain Climb", he selects. "Anxiety/difficulty: Medium. Ending: Summit." George nestles into bed, ready to dream of a hard but rewarding climb up a snow mountain. Except that doesn't happen at ...