Jim Stitzel
Jack-of-All-Trades, Master of WordsExcerpts from Life
The Boy Who Loved Winter
Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved winter. He loved all seasons equally, but the things he loved about winter were the snow and the nip of the cold air, hot chocolate and the smell of the wood burning stove. He looked for any opportunity to get outside and...
Coffee
I'm into my second cup of coffee of the day, and I'm starting to feel a little bit freaked out, though not due to the sudden caffeine rush. Ok, it's kind of due to the caffeine rush, but probably not for the reason you're thinking of. Sure, if I drink enough coffee, I...
The Room
Eifan drags one finger lightly along the door jamb as he enters the room. The door itself has long since crumbled into dust, long since forgotten what it was — but the stone remembers. The memory whispers up to Eifan like a ripple of warm water. He knows he could...
Fiction
Classy Lady
The Classy Lady parks itself in a synchronous orbit above the asteroid Berger-Behregen before waking and decanting the crew. The ship locates and contacts the telemetry beacon planted in the surface of the rock while the members of the crew shake off the vestiges of...
Dance in the Dark
We moved lightly through the corridor, which eventually opened up in a larger space, pocked with deep pools of the evil liquid. We paused, scanning the room, then looked to each other. Without a word, we clasped hands. We moved quickly but carefully across the room....
Dead Man Walking
I am a dead man walking. That's not a metaphor, not a promise of a future event the way you usually think of it. I really am dead -- and have been for some time now. I walk the streets of this city. I pass by people on the sidewalk, and they instinctively shy away...