The Criminal Kind

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 ...

Would You Adam And Eve It?

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, ...

Lines and Circles: Sonic Serenities

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 ...

Muse

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 ...

Registry of Space Vehicles, Lunar Division

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 ...

Turn Towards

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 ...

New Toy

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 ...

It’s Only One Picture

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 ...

The Bog Wardens

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 ...

Jaundice is In this Season

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 ...

Gutterspace

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, ...

Teleportation

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 ...

Lousy Pilot

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 ...

Thought and Action

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 ...

Jump

Author: Bill Cox I surf on a sea of Hawking radiation, my being as light as gossamer and as dense as neutronium. In an attempt to resolve a choice, I turn the idea of ‘me’ around in my mind, examining it from a multitude of angles and perspectives. It glitters like a ...

Crack in the glass

Author: Jeremy Nathan Marks I am convinced that I am a “fish,” i.e., an artificial human being. I came to this conclusion because the terrific pain I feel is not physical. I do not remember having had a body ache. My pain comes from a “systems malfunction,” also ...

Answers

Author: David Barber 1. Pauli Neutrino Telescope, Antarctica, 22nd July, 15.05 GMT Elusive particles flash through the array buried deep in the Ross Ice Shelf. Outside, at 50 below, the wind howls like a ghost in the machine. The latest plan is to run the PNT ...

Situation Ship

Author: Rick Tobin “Thanks, and repeat whatever the lady is having.” Telman directed by lifting his shot of premiere whiskey towards a striking redhead in a tight chartreuse dress with a revealing leg slit sitting on the last stool at the end of the ritzy hotel ...

Random Story :

  • Slippage

    Author : Hannah Lackoff “Do you feel as if time …