Author: Alex Z. Salinas Back when I was at the Academy, on the outskirts of the Red Asteroid Belt, I bunked for six months with a trainee whom I can still say, with absolute certainty, is the most memorable person I’ve ever met. His name was Kolson, or at least that’s how ...

Author: Steve Smith, Staff Writer Jake rides the lift to the eleventh floor, walks to the corner of the hall and lets himself into his apartment. The lights automatically bathe the room in a warm afternoon glow, the delicious sounds of Charles Mingus coming from ...

Author: Arkapravo Bhaumik “No, it is not that. It is not bio-engineering. Bio-engineering is a lot slower. This is on a planetary scale. Bio-engineering cannot do this, this is mother nature.” Alec said. “Then? The turtles just got together and found the secrets to the ...

Author: Hari Navarro, Staff Writer I began in the winter. My sister's legs spread as bloodied wings atop the kitchen table and I secrete from her womb. Into the breach I fold, a sluice of screaming muscle and I barge through shuddering thighs in a gush of amniotic tabletop ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer Caelsri stalks about the clearing, swearing softly, reading the signs. Her wolf pack has been chased off by her latest finds. Thinking of which, where are those ice-brained bucketheads, anyway? The change of attention saves her life. She ...

Author: Rick Tobin “Would you finish the ceremonies, please?” The Prime, the sanctuary’s leader in white robes with gold armbands, stood over the clear casing where the body of an honored captain lay in state, waiting for family and friends to attend. “Yes, thank you for ...

Author: Janet Shell Anderson Years ago, a grad student reviewing data from a radio telescope in Ohio, found indications that a signal, possibly from a ship in space, was among all the meaningless noise the telescope had detected. He marked “Wow” in the margin. Alien ...

Author: Katlina Sommerberg The library doors opened, after scanning Erica’s face and bags. She came every Thursday, chocolate crescent in hand, and curled into her favorite armchair. Erica usually created digital art, but she dabbled in the ancient craft of pencil and paper ...

Author: David C. Nutt No one is sure where the virus started. Most likely a Makerspace workshop in Ghana, but it doesn’t matter now. All I know is every time I log on, I’ve got to be very careful. It must be a computer that has no biometric security features and use it ...

Author: Bryce Parker “What’s that?” my colleague asked. He pointed a thick finger toward the smooth black stone at the end of my necklace. I glanced down. The stone had drifted away from my neck as our landing craft bounced between microgravity and intense ...

Author: Steve Smith, Staff Writer Jeb startled at the suddenly ringing telephone. It took a moment to register, the old analog handset on his desk hadn't been used in years, and he struggled to identify what that sound was before digging through a stack of papers to ...

Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer The screaming wakes me. I roll off and under the bed before assessing. Christine’s slid over to give me room. Another scream. The Bensons let their guard down. I warned them about trying to make a community. I’ll go across the road and ...

Author: Katlina Sommerberg Everything started with a star burping out an interesting tidbit. Buried amongst the electromagnetic radiation hiccups the same messages on repeat, looping endlessly. One species tamed this red giant, a fiend who swallowed half its planets, into ...

Author: Malena Salazar Maciá Translated by: Toshiya Kamei My breath came in choppy gasps as I climbed. I thrust my pick against the rock with all my strength and finished hauling myself over the edge. As I sucked in a deep breath, the icy air stabbed my lungs. I was the ...