Stories, poems and art reprinted from the classic Planet Magazine back issues (1994–2004).
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 33 (March 2002). Illustration: “The Rider” by Lee Daniel Guest The moon, once bright and high in the sky,Began to shake and sink; The wolves grew silent, the great bears shook,And Olarov dared not blink. On his trail for weeks and months,The spectral rider followed; Olarov saw him closer … Continue reading Olarov and the Rider, by Lee Daniel Guest
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 33 (March 2002). Illustration: “Wormhole” by Ellie Hradsky In one scenario, the universe is expanding slowly enough that the gravitational attraction between galaxies causes the expansion to slow down and eventually stop. The galaxies then start to move toward each other and the universe contracts. -- Alexander Friedmann 1. … Continue reading Blue Shift, by E.S. Strout
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Illustration: “Vul” by Carl Goodman Tars Bokara shuffled down the dusty corridors of the Medakala Museum of Antiquities, heading for the Curator's office. Not only did he have the bad luck to work for the poorest, least prestigious of Col-Traxis III's one-thousand museums, but he worked … Continue reading Open Twenty-Four Hours, by Edward McKeown
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Illustration: “Mad Flying Clown” by Lee Ward On Planet Circus: Hermaphrodite bears lounged in courtyards while quadriplegic midgets rolled through streets. But from space, Planet Circus was little more then a sickly looking, pinkish dot lodged in the darkness, an inconsequential imperfection in the universal skein. … Continue reading Planet Circus, by C.C. Parker
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Artwork by Romeo Esparrago I wait in the Burgerland parking lot wondering what he’ll pull up in, hoping for a classic like the yellow, six-wheel ATV and not some chichi rocket-bike. The roar of a giant weed-eater fills my ears. I look up. A man dangles … Continue reading Sergeant Stone: Hard to Forget, by Hathno Paige
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Illustration: “Soft Sunset” by Ellie Hradsky "Engines are charged and functional," Commander Sloan said. "Check is completed, Commander. Slip-stream is go, fire at your mark, and resume contact from Mars orbit," Ground Control responded. Sloan pulled out a picture of his wife and son. Smiling, he … Continue reading Slip-stream, by Glenn H. Morris
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Illustration by Matt Morrow The silence felt deafening. The peoples of Earth were accustomed to the earsplitting detonations of Humanity’s space vehicles, whether Mars-bound colony vessels or simple, orbital drones. But the silver orb before them descended silently, as though it were attached to a magician's … Continue reading Alien Utopia, by Pat Hartsfield
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Illustration: “Jesus” by Robert Sorensen Miss Grinderswitch, principal at the Montross Reformatory School for Boys, had insisted that tattoos were a filthy abomination fit only for sailors, pugilists, and bartenders. No self-respecting gentleman, what all the boys aspired to become someday, would sport a lurid mermaid … Continue reading The Taboos of Tattoos, by Ed Lynskey
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Illustration: “Panthress” by Romeo Esparrago William Thir wrote in his journal, late at night, while the glow of the computer screen -- the only light in the room -- made his pale face seem translucent and sickly. He wrote, for the first time in more than … Continue reading A Panther Inside, by Mike Velichansky
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 32 (December 2001). Illustration by Matt Morrow The entity was nothing at all like himself. It made the sire a trifle anxious and impulsive. The creature's imminence reminded him of an old lightshift, when a northern incursion of errant, mutant strays threatened his most creative spawn at that time. … Continue reading Trevor’s Junkyard, by William Alan Rieser
