One for the Road

Mikael downed the last shot of whiskey and made a hiss through his teeth. The empty plate before him stunk of what used to be near-raw steak from an underfed cow, poorly cooked and coated with nothing but a thin layer of oil. The bartender came up to him, flipping on the air filter after ...

Sand

At night, the wind howled over the tent like an angry djinn, forcing its sandy fingers through tears and clumsy folds. "Tonight is the Aisra's," they'd whisper in nearby towns as the wind fought to erode the frictionless forcewalls, but if the Aisra caused the storm it was indifferent to it, ...

Making the World Go ‘Round

The people here smelled nice, Guss thought, dragging the huge tub behind him through the grass towards the receptacle. Everything was fragrant in that sort of way that made you think it was all genuine. He’d never known what a ‘real’ smell was like. He’d worked artificially since the ...

The Purifying Flames Of Burning Love

Three Elvises walk into a bar. You may laugh, but I was there, it's true. Three Elvises. Elvii. Whatever. First strode in the bishop: big as life and twice as wide, identified as he was by his high-collared cape, resplendent in rhinestones and the golden sunglasses of his office. Behind ...

Transfer To Light

I have agreed to this interview in order to deliver a promise. Do not be afraid. I was seven months old when I died. My parents lived on a primitive moon on a colony that rejected the free energy and technology that the rest of the civilized universe embraced. If it were not for the ...

Son Of Steel

Tristan was methodically taking apart his hands when the doorbell chimed. He jumped at the sound, going to the door in such a hurry that he left behind the joints and pieces of his left hand on the worktable. All nine of Tristan's eyes blinked and strobed expectantly, wanting to know if this ...

Hypoch Andrea

Andrea had never had to wash blood off of her hands before. She dripped the clear dose of hydro-oxygen conservatively over her fingers to flush the crimson stain down the reprocessing disposal. Sweat dripped down her forehead and cheeks but never reached her mouth, which was still covered by ...

The Laughter of Flutes.

"Don't worry Miles, you'll find me attractive. After the change you'll be programmed to find me attractive." Auroras voice sounded like two voices, a harp and a flute playing together. She stretched her lean blue body against the circular view port, the lights from the outside of the ship ...

God Of War

There’s blood up to the windows. It must have seemed like a good idea at the time, to stack the bodies in the Mercer Building, to get ‘em off the Rail. But I can’t help wondering if the allusion to gore behind those art-deco panes is worse the actual carnage. At least they’re off the ...

Alien Love Affair

The orphanage was in the ghetto of the city, below the levels that Anodramida’s mother had forbidden her to visit when she was a podling. It smelled like metal and sulfur, and the darkness made her shake. Christopher wrapped her tentacle around his arm, and his warmth evoked an involuntary ...

Red Letter Day

Bernard held the letter loosely in his hands. He sat down on his bed, staring at the blank taupe walls of the Renewal center and didn’t look at the letter. Bernard’s Renewalist, Maureen, had suggested he try and read the letter again today. He’d been trying for three hours. Slowly, ...

In the Garden

Dust filled the air as a sand blast landed on the flames coming from the cathedral of St. Liz. Brother Kyle’s red mechanical eye, the Snipers Lover, adjusted to the lower light as he ran towards the Archbishops secretary. “Brother Alexander! Who is in the garden?” “What?” Alexander ...

Like A Stone

"Hey, neighbor!" Chawly called down from across the way. He had a pint glass of something that looked like red wine in each fist. I knew it couldn't be--not in Topside--but Chawly had his ways. Chawly yanked the line-suspended basket that served as dumbwaiter between his window and mine over ...

Dropping a Pebble in a Dry Well

Hello. My name is Demetri Thornwick. I'm a graduate student in physics at Hawking University, but in your century you probably know it as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I just left Professor Mendalin's Temporal Physics class, where I just received a D- on my term paper. The paper ...

Real Estate

The couple broke fast in the mountain retreat, dining on fresh red melons and purple berries. Marta, their robotic guide, served them with diamond plates on the giant stone balcony overlooking the forest. In between delicate bites, Rae remarked that the whole residence was rather ostentatious. ...

The Final Voyage Of Captain Shakespeare

The crash was magnificent, heard three systems away and felt by half the galaxy. The other half were immediately informed via telepathy, televisapathy and tele-empathy, and felt as if they had felt it. Such was the impact. The grand old captain himself, however, newly cloned and fresh from ...

The Surprising Events of Springtime in Rodchester

Tycho Villiare never asked why his employers had chosen to duel. Gentlemen seldom fight duels themselves. One gentleman may challenge another to a duel, but since duels end in death, a state most gentleman find inconvenient, Men of Arms are employed to fight duels for them. Men of Arms do ...

Home Defense

Marla just didn't understand. Bernie couldn't give up his collection. He tried to explain it to her, but it was futile, he knew it. "They're not just collectables, Marla. They’re history. I would think you would understand that. You buy for a museum, you should be able to recognize ...

Random Story :

  • Noodles

    Author : James Riser Tetsuo kept a collection of five …