Author: Alzo David-West 1. “Lilly, can we?” “Not tonight.” 2. “Lilly, how about today?” “I'm tired.” 3 “Lilly, maybe …” “Next week.” 4 “Lilly, it's been a week.” “I changed my mind.” 5. “Lilly, I was wondering.” “Is it all you think ...

Author: Brian Etta Rohan had been on an antiquities jag ever since he happened on a curious program on NOVA offering the viewer insights into some of the most mysterious books of arcana in history, The Rohonc Codex with its Christian, Islamic and even HIndu symbology had ...

Author: David Barber Over the generations, many scoundrels had sat in the Pilot’s chair, though folk said this one was the worst, presiding over the scandal of the dark decks, and the blight years of algae and roachcake. Now the corridors echoed with angry voices. Men ...

Author: Josh Price Everyone watches television. It's the law, dummy. We sign in our hours so we can get our credits; we get prizes and stuff. I got a gift certificate to the online store and got a super cute blouse for picture day. The blouse has flowers on it. I've never ...

Author: Jessie Atkin The pairs line up at the life tubes. They wait patiently. It has been nine months; a few extra moments will not break them. When the white light begins to flash everyone stands a little straighter. The first pairs in each queue step toward the receiving ...

Author: Jeremy Nathan Marks Franco had fainted. It was 105 degrees in the city, and despite all the warnings on radio and television, he had insisted that he would go birdwatching. Franco had heard that a male bobolink had been sighted in one of Detroit’s many tallgrass ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer I’m running down a corridor lined with tall computers. There’s a government goon hot on my tail. What scares me most is his non-stop shouting about “can’t fire on the slippery bastard because hitting a system will ruin my shot at ...

Author: Daniel Mainwaring “Fuck! He’s not breathing,” whimpered Kai. His friend was delirious when they dragged him from the crashed vehicle but he had slipped into unconsciousness as they laid him out on the desert floor. “Stop freaking out, Kai,” Eli retorted. “He’s ...

Author: Jeremy Nathan Marks There was a fur farm, the Edward Fur Farm, in Livingston County, about fifty minutes northwest of Detroit. When a group of city-resident foxes, whom Detroiters called “sentients,” got wind of the farm they planned to pay it a visit. The foxes ...

Author: Andrew Dunn My ex hated the spaces between terraformed colonies on Mars. “There’s nothing there. It’s all dead.” She’d complain, as we glided through thin atmosphere, a meter over unforgiving land where bioengineered chaparral was taking root. When we still loved ...

Author: Alzo David-West The Uppers in Mazui could not understand anything Sam Tek was doing. At first, they thought the problem was cultural, but he had lived in northern Atakia for six years. Next, they thought he was inexperienced, but he had a decade of experience. ...

Author: Randall Andrews "Don, a year ago, you thought you were a robot. Literally. You've come a long way, but this is a big step. Are you sure you're ready?" "I'm sure, Doc," Don said, hoping it was true. *** Five hours later, Don was sitting in the passenger's ...

Author: Alastair Millar "Live clean," the pastor always said, "and when the Time comes, you'll be taken up". So I was good, worked hard, kept my head down, avoided most of the obvious moral pitfalls of 21st century society, watched dutifully for signs of the End Times… and ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Sir Kenneth Greyling’s eyebrows rise as a uniformed youth rushes into the members’ lounge, looks about frantically, then heads his way. “Michael, I do believe this one’s for you.” Major Mike Greyling looks up from his apple pie, catches ...

Author: Rosie Oliver Lizzie had left the life of pressurised techno-work behind and retired to a small cottage in the wilds of her beloved Northumberland. Peace at last, except for renovating the cottage top to bottom. She could take her time, that precious commodity that ...

Author: Nicholas Schroeder The supercomputer could predict everything you were going to do. But Kyle was skeptical. “Let me see that video again!” He studied it carefully. “None of that’s going to happen.” “Could you be more specific?” the scientist asked. “Well, I’m ...

Author: Mikhail Gladkikh First, there were thoughts. I acknowledged my existence. None of my senses functioned, but I felt their presence. Somehow I knew they were taking care of me. Then my vision started to return. I realized I was submerged in liquid. I remembered I was ...

Author: Surina Venkat “Your nanobots are infighting,” my doctor tells me over the phone. It makes sense now – the sudden blackouts, the locked limbs, the dark red bruises that snake my body. The doctor’s voice is tight but careful, in the way of someone who’s used to ...