Author : Bill Owens Shift change is a slow-motion affair. Everything is. They lost the ability to move quickly a long time ago. He's patient; no sense getting uptight, it only hurts him - they don't care. They lost that ability too. The last spot on the line is filled again, ...

Author : Q. B. Fox “Are you suggesting it’s alive?” Calvin was incredulous. “Of course it’s not alive,” Mary was withering. “It’s a computer program.” “Strictly speaking,” Glen interrupted, “It’s a suite of software.” They both glared at him and he fell silent again with a ...

Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer We lived in a tribe outside the main disc. The arm struts of the cogshield branched out above us like a gear. Where we lived was all angles. It had been this way ever since our creation. My little one was sick. I’d built him according ...

Author : Steven Odhner

Come closer to the monument, child. Do not be afraid. You have done well to make it all the way here - I know the journey from your village is hard. Your brother had to turn back the first time, and your mother arrived with an injured ankle and had to wait ...

Author : Daniel Bensen Alex This has been a humbling experience. I can admit now that I was a little arrogant. I suppose I had reason to be. I was—I suppose I still am—the best mathematician on Earth. Funny. I know I should have expected this. But then, most of us ...

Author : Phill English Bob leaned back in his chair and sighed. The first day had been a long time coming. Every time they thought they had the whole project licked, a new feature came to light that had to be incorporated into the preliminary model. And there were a whole lot ...

Author : Patricia Stewart, Staff Writer The Herschel Scientific Outpost was located on the northernmost shore of the Lacus Ocean at Titan’s South Pole. The outpost housed six earth scientists whose primary mission was to study the life forms discovered on Saturn’s largest ...

Author : Ian Rennie I was out for a walk last night when I heard a cry for help. There was a girl in the river. I don't know how she got there, she didn't say at the time, and I haven't asked her yet. All she said then was "help!", in a voice that got sharper and higher as ...