Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer “It really is nice that world leaders would meet me at such short notice.” The President waves a hand towards the kilometre-long spaceship that had appeared without warning above Washington DC. “Your presence is impossible to conceal. ...

Author: Macy Martus Lesson Incomplete - ERROR - Lesson Incomplete - ERROR The large letters zipped across the port-pad. Repeating the message Rowan had seen countless times since he began his school program. A message that indicated Failure again. From his sleep-room ...

Author: Don Nigroni Professor David Marshall is unique among mathematicians. No one but him understands his equations. But his micro and macro predictions were spot on so everyone assumed he knew what he was doing. Dave is my older brother. We usually discussed ferns and ...

Author: Susan Anthony Gertrude found him at the Terminal Bar and Grill. Broom by his side, sitting at the bar, where customers got their orders straight from the latest donkey serving that night. Terence motioned to her. She shuffled over. He nodded to the server and got ...

Author: Mark Connelly Dr. Bruner reviewed the patient chart on her laptop as Derek Anders sat across from her, draping his jacket on the arm of the chair. “Dr. Rizzo said you reported new symptoms?” she asked. “Yes,” he answered, leaning forward. “I think I’m having mini ...

Author: Katie Dee Ethan walked the full length of the Eagle III again. He hated the sight of the empty rooms and quiet mess hall, but he needed exercise to avoid muscle atrophy. Z-5600 would chide him later if he didn’t meet his step count; the helpbot was nearly as bad as ...

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 ...