Stories
Fiction & Micro-FictionRoyal Assassin
The assassin’s blade slid across the traitor’s throat, easily slicing through pipe, vein, flesh, and fat. He kicked the obese old Duke away, the body tumbling to the floor in a heap. “You have been found guilty of treason,” the assassin said to the corpse, “For your...
Natural Selection
“Desdemona is a dangerous planet,” the guide called out to the group, “but only if you don’t respect her ways.” James rolled his eyes. He hadn’t wanted to come to Desdemona, but human-friendly habitable planets were few and far between, especially now that Sol was...
Grimnebulin
I shamelessly stole the name of the monster in this story from China Mieville's main character in Perdido Street Station. Sorry about that, China -- and thanks. 'Grimnebulin' is just a really kick-ass word. ------------------ Greg set his tray on the table and took a...
So Long, Jack
It was a small memorial, only two to witness the laying of the casket into the ground. “So long, Jack. We hardly knew you,” one said. The other quirked up an eyebrow. “That’s it?” he asked. There was a note of amused incredulity in his voice. “What’d you expect?” A...
Flight
He soared. He had always wanted to fly, and now he was doing just that. He had no feathers, no wings, but he was flying just the same. The special magic that fathers possessed had made this possible. He laughed with the euphoria of the moment. The wind blew his hair...
Delivery
Fog drifted, wet and heavy, over the short mall between the Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry and Stanley Coulter Hall. Six tall lampposts bathed everything in an eerie, orange glow. The hour was late, and the campus was deserted — deserted but for one. She stood at...
Golem
Rain lashed down on that ravaged plain in furious sheets. The broken earth drank it up through ragged cracks that went down forever. At the center of the plain, a gaping maw of a hole sucked down water in great, sodden gulps. Perversely, gouts of flame licked up out...
Clean Underwear
Didn’t your mother ever tell you, “Make sure you put on clean underwear because you never know when you might be in a car accident?” Mine sure did. I don’t really know why it matters, though. If you’re in a car accident, underwear is probably the last thing anyone’s...
Blood Rite
The albino stood on the platform and dragged the knife down his forearm. Blood ran in scarlet rivulets over his hand, his fingers. It dripped the sidereal pattern of his god onto the wooden planks around his feet. Before him the air shimmered as it struggled to call...