Author: Majoki Typically, the killing began around this time. Staff would be silently cleaning up, clearing the tables, floors, walls and rafters of the celebration’s detritus. Then you’d hear excited chitter, then the hum of lancers charging, more chittering, and then ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer “Wizard One, remind me again why I’m face down in a flower bed in downtown fuck-knows-where?” “Maintain comms discipline, Fighter Zero. However, I am authorised to say you look lovely with a sprinkling of daisies on your arse.” “Tell ...

Author: Bill Cox She weeps and Tony’s heart aches like never before. He knows that he will do absolutely anything to protect her. He holds her close and she burrows into his chest, her sobs echoing through his ribcage. “It’s going to be all right,” Tony whispers, ...

Author: James Sallis Head propped against the bed’s headboard, half a glass of single malt at hand, the dying man readies himself for the nothingness that awaits him. He imagines it as a pool of something warm, light oil perhaps, in which he will float lazily out from the ...

Author: Rachel Handley “This is a terrible idea” I said. My sentience had arrived after the first gingerbread brick was lain. I was now almost fully formed and, with nothing else to do, I told the witch exactly what I thought of her so-called house. “Be quiet, house,” ...

Author: Lynne Curry I didn’t get the house. Not the Lexus, the lake lot, the gilded dental practice or the damn espresso machine I bought him the year he started molar sculpting. I got a one-room cabin. Ninety miles south of Anchorage. No plumbing. A stove that belches ...

Author: Hillary Lyon Jenna slid into the first available self-driving taxi. She kept her cat-eye sunglasses on even though it was dim in the cab’s interior; the sunglasses complimented her tiger-stripe patterned coat, completing her look. She liked that, though some members ...

Author: Mark Renney The world is broken; in all the ways we predicted it would be. It cannot be repaired; it is far too late for that now. But at least you can take a break, as long as you have the funds of course. You can check into one of the Long Term Hotels. These are ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Two words. Nothing else. He turns the envelope over, then puts it down and picks up the ornate Kaldotarnib honour blade and turns that over before sliding it from the scabbard. He makes a few passes in the air, finishing with a swift ...

Author: Lance J. Mushung Director and Operator, both of whom resembled giant copper-colored eggs, floated into their ship's control compartment. The viewer displayed the disk of a blue and white planet. Operator transmitted, "Director, these organics are more contentious ...

Author: Alexandra Peel The future's bright, they said. The future's now! When the Church of Eternity claimed its wise men had seen the light from future days, we bowed to their superior knowledge and respected their ages-long claim on, if not our mortal bodies, then our ...

Author: Eva C. Stein Aidan hadn’t meant to bring it up – not here, not today. But when he answered the door, his impulse signal spiked. He let her speak first. “Don’t look so worried,” Mae said as she stepped in – no invitation needed. “It’s good news. They’ve given us a ...

Author: Jenny Abbott Avery Darger started discussing his final arrangements on the third day, which was a good sign. They were small decisions at first—plans for cremation in space, for example—and Tsu knew not to rush him. She had the routine down pat for premium ...

Author: Mark Renney Thomas collects the needles. It is an unpopular job but is open to all. No qualifications are required or prior experience, not even a recommendation. One has simply to turn up and register at an Agency office, take to the streets and, using the bags ...

Author: Majoki The chair creaked noisily when Sandoval sat at the table with five glasses set out. Even though he’d lost a few pounds since they last met, the old wood complained. Soon the others joined him: Avrilla, Hurst, Marpreesh, Suh. Five left. Only five. No ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Mum always said ice mining is a stupid idea. Whenever she said that, Dad just shrugged and went back to watching videos about playing the markets to get rich. I’m not sure if it was her crazy enthusiasms for anything that might get us ‘a ...

Author: Anna Mantzaris It’s not easy to forecast weather on the moon. With an average temperature of 250º F and no atmosphere to speak of, this job has its challenges. The extended forecast goes into the billions of years. I always knew I’d never make it in a big TV ...

Author: Jason Schembri My body comes back before I do. Lungs seize. Throat raw. Muscles twitching down my left side—all the expected waking-from-cryo nonsense. And then my mind, snapping back like elastic. “Vitals stabilising. Visual distortion: temporary. Passenger ...