Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). From "The Adventures of Drake Sutton, A Bachelor in Space" It was a thing from another world, and we're not talking about the blonde bombshell. This was a creature that could not be named. A horror that could not be explained. There was nothing left to … Continue reading Tall, Dark, and Gruesome, by Christian M. Chensvold
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration: “Bhodisattvas” by Kenn Brown . . . the spectre of solidities Whose substances are sand. --Emily Dickinson That’s a crock of doo-doo. --Orestes Pugh It was a last resort, an act of desperation -- but much better, Burgess reasoned, to undergo alternative therapy than to … Continue reading Spacetime Flickers, by Fred D. White
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration: “Nature of Coincidence” by Georgi Ostashov Private Jack Kane didn't mind the noise of the heavy artillery. He didn't mind the whiz-bangs. He didn't mind the Lewis guns' death rattle. He'd worked in the Tyne shipyard's deafening cacophony since he was 14. Private Jack Kane … Continue reading Sinews of War, by Mark Greener
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration: “Cryostate” by Jon Eke Six months up we lost Rene, and the first of the two crawlers we had. Two months later in quick succession we lost Gerard, Clemmens the German, and Armstrong the first American. London Control of course got us within two hours … Continue reading Short Term, by Christopher Clagg
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration by Jon Eke "All clear under here," Charlie's mom said as she got up from the floor. No monsters under the bed." "And the closet is clear, too," Charlie's dad said. "You won't need to worry about any beasties tonight." "Did you look outside the … Continue reading Nighttime Terrors, by Justin R. Lawfer
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration: “Roach” by Patrick Stacy "Jesus Christ," I said, jumping halfway off my barstool. The huge cockroach, startled by the movement, bolted back into cover under the bar before I could step on it. Not that I was sure I wanted to. It was about the … Continue reading New York Minute, by Edward McKeown
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration: “Da-Net” by Rick Hudson 1. "Look at this, Marty." Julie Prentiss gulped black coffee from a Styrofoam cup, made a face, then tapped a fingernail on the real-time CRT image of a Hubble Telescope transmission. "Pretty exciting stuff on The Net from the Astronomy Division … Continue reading The Net, by E.S. Strout
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago The Andurian senior technician extended every one of his numerous tentacles to tweak the many circular knobs of the control array simultaneously. The timing of the adjustments had to be precise because the slightest error might allow for a radiation leak. That … Continue reading Menky’s Folly, by William Alan Rieser
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration: “A_M_S_gksk2002” by Senthil GK A soothing, synthesized voice filled the taxi. "Now entering City 19, called Materoff by the inhabitants. Two standard minutes until your destination is reached." Artiq Falerthan leaned his head against the padded seat-back. Materoff. Only three hours away from home by … Continue reading A Man Searching, by Jeffrey L. Williams
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 34 (June 2002). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago The Earth ambassador's craft slid smoothly into the docking tube of the Jekorfan Confederation satellite. Its receptor was already in place on the black transfer mat as Langford Joh stepped abruptly onto the gangplank and allowed himself to be manipulated by beam … Continue reading Fetish, by William Alan Rieser
