Stories, poems and art reprinted from the classic Planet Magazine back issues (1994–2004).
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration: “Inspirat” by Romeo Esparrago Luna Colony: Nature never intended for a child to be born and raised up there on the moon, in an artificial dome with artificial gravity and artificial light and artificial air. What you do want a human child for up there, … Continue reading The Man in the Moon, by McCamy Taylor
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration: “Avrilita Blastitus” by Romeo Esparrago Nothing lasts forever... Turn your back and walk away;never to return.Deep inside your pounding hearta fire begins to burn. Orange sky, pastel moons and planets,above her where she stands.Only as a sweet, fleeting memory,will be her lost homeland. The path … Continue reading Nothing Lasts Forever, by Tony Chandler
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). The young reporter was being put to sleep by the event he was covering. He was kept awake only by a soda from a handy vending machine. When the reporter first started working for the city's largest newspaper, the Herald, he had imagined himself writing stories … Continue reading Poof!, by Mark Griswold
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). THE COLD DESERT When the Space Shuttle first started to fly, it landed on a dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert of California. Back then they weren't sure if the brakes would stop it before it ran out of runway at Kennedy Space Center in … Continue reading Two Sci-Bun, by Linda Robeck
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration: “Think Variations #4” by Duncan Long When I was a child, I would have dreams of cabin beach houses along sand-pipered stretches of wet foamed washed sand. Bubbles coming up through small pockets and crabs underneath. Long afternoons with the fading sun and a cooling … Continue reading Seminal Images, by Christopher Clagg
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration: “You’ve Got Worms!” by Sam Crowe What's happening to me? Anne tried to pick up her head but she felt so weak and dizzy she had to lie back again. She stared at the ceiling. Her vision was blurry, but what she could make out … Continue reading A Visit to the Doctors, by Mark Anthony Brennan
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration: “Buzzin’ the Cap!” by Romeo Esparrago A Reconstruction of My DepositionTo a Bunch of Government CopsAnd Others Who Didn't Identify Themselves by Bruce McEachin[Conceived by Frederick Rustam] On the Bus I'd always thought that aliens from outer space were either figments of some people's overheated … Continue reading WokeEye Tours Washington, by Frederick Rustam
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago travelers on this roadignore the signsthey can't read Englishdon't know what a verb is they take wrong turnsend up in barnyardsfeeding chickensand shovelingthe cows i was lucky enoughto study with the Masteri carry his thesaurusand spell check computer there is no word … Continue reading Kiss the Darkness, by Richard Behrens
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration: “Dream” by g.k. Senthil Kumar A bit of bad luck led Godiva Bainbridge, shortly after her sixteenth birthday, to Edge City's Cory Hill shopping mall the day the mall's general manager went mad and held the mall and everybody in it hostage, in a pseudomythological … Continue reading I Think the Three-headed Dog Who Guards the Underworld Lurks in The Android Shop on The First Floor, by Kevin James Miller
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 24 (December 1999). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago Before my body I sit and wonderThe belly is full of toxic wasteThe head shelters useless ideas Once this vessel was pumped withEnergy and life, and words cameLike orgasms onto my notebooksAnd manuscripts of ideasNow the lunar rock void of airSits inert … Continue reading Kick Ass, by Richard Behrens
