Three SciFaiku, by Romeo Esparrago

Faint light-blue stick-figure drawings: an antennaed alien surfing on a rocket, two figures holding hands with a heart between them, and a spiky-lashed eye

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Background art by Romeo Esparrago [Archive note: on the original page, this drawing was the faint background behind the three haiku.] petroglyphs were picturesof really skinny aliensweren't they? terraforming is funclouds are coolbut do we really need people? wish'd we met earliersigh'd the time-traveling loversso they … Continue reading Three SciFaiku, by Romeo Esparrago →

Your Fear, by Tony Chandler

Abstract digital painting of a spaceship above swirling red and yellow flames, a faint face and a bright black-hole point of light among colored stars

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago Ancient Seer speaks in my earNo more the shadow of your fearTwelve billion light year rideBlack Holes crash and collideFrame-dragging my mindall in a row Omega cure our only needTrick the final statusDiagnosis ever speedMagic bullet -- Rubber latticeAll your pain, I … Continue reading Your Fear, by Tony Chandler →

Pathfinder, by Angie Smibert

Computer-rendered ochre desert landscape with long flat strips, domed structures and a hovering dark disc-shaped craft

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Eric Seaholm The light was dying, and it had been sent forth to find a new home. It had explored planetary systems, selected the ideal planet, built the colony's structures, and sent the signal home. The ship turned inward, waiting. Being an introverted intelligence, … Continue reading Pathfinder, by Angie Smibert →

The Green City’s Secrets, by Frederick Rustam

Collage-style illustration of three figures before a green city skyline: a bald bearded man in an ornate green-and-gold costume, a woman in a fur cloak and armored bodysuit with her arms raised, and a man with pink hair

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago The Collector When Jason Affonick was attending his exclusive boarding school on Old Earth, he became so annoyed by the newfound liberal pretensions of his wealthy, privileged schoolmates that he changed his name to protest what he saw as their class-treason. The … Continue reading The Green City’s Secrets, by Frederick Rustam →

Cycle, by Scott Perrin

Painting of a bald man with glowing red and blue eyes and cables rising from his head, wearing a blue sweater and sitting at a glowing keyboard in a dark room

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Duncan Long In the year 60,000, man had evolved to his environ: honeycombed by the billions, with each a cubicle-hole to call his own, ergonomically hunchbacked into cushioned chairs with drink-holders and power-steering for all, marsupial ass-pouch wallet-holders and eight-fingered nonprehensile hands fluttering over … Continue reading Cycle, by Scott Perrin →

Journeyman, by Andrew Massey

Faceted, crystal-like spacecraft flying low over a brown, cratered Martian surface

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration: “Red Planet Scout” by Eric Seaholm He had traveled an eternity, driven by questions that remained for the most part unanswered -- and even for those questions which he had resolved, the passing of time and distance had swept away their meaning. His humanity had … Continue reading Journeyman, by Andrew Massey →

Bar Fly, by Paul E. Gibson

Glowing flying saucer hovering in a dark, cloudy night sky above power lines

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration: “Oofo” by Eric Seaholm You talkin' about UFOs? Man, you have no idea. You're not from around here, right? Probably passin' through, on your way to the City? Well, you ended up in the right place. And the right time. And you're talkin' to the … Continue reading Bar Fly, by Paul E. Gibson →

How Are You Wired?, by Dan Dobbs

Painting of a red-haired woman with a hand to her mouth whose chest is opened like a machine, a round porthole showing blue circuitry while robotic arms and tools work on her

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration: “Alien Repairs” by Martin Murphy Of all the unlikely places in the known universe, Oasis-C is where it began. Oasis-C is a planet so-named because, according to the travel literature, it is "an island of entertainment on the edge of the void." What that translates … Continue reading How Are You Wired?, by Dan Dobbs →

Queen Mab Courtesy, by Bruce C. Davis

Colorful illustration of a row of skulls changing into a smiling man's face, a giant hand pressing a fly onto a sleeping head above a mountain city skyline

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago It was the pigeons that awakened me. There was a flock of them just outside the basement window that I had crawled in through the night before. They scattered with a thundering of wings as the C.O.P.S. started their first sweep. I … Continue reading Queen Mab Courtesy, by Bruce C. Davis →

Cabbage, by Ray Dangel

Drawing of a bright green cabbage-like heart sitting on a hairy, pale chest between two nipples, a dotted red incision line running down the middle

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Ray Dangel The room slowly came into focus as the anesthetic released its grip. Jeremy recognized the big round ceiling light, then the sprinkler head a few feet away. His cardiologist's face slid into view and spoke. "How are you feeling, Jeremy?" "Urrghh," Jeremy … Continue reading Cabbage, by Ray Dangel →