Stories, poems and art reprinted from the classic Planet Magazine back issues (1994–2004).
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). Illustration: “Roller” by Patrick Stacy Even on a Wednesday afternoon, the giant triangle arch entrance to Future Zone Park was crowded with visitors, though not as jammed as it would be on a weekend. It was a sunny day in mid-July, school was out, and throngs … Continue reading The Ride, by William Wilde
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). Illustration: “Gizmo” by Ehrad Jenkins hit his forward thrusters, hoping to back his ship away from the beast he was trying to maneuver into position. He could feel the titanic pull of the thing's gravity as his thrusters strained at 110% of capacity. "Jenkins, report," a … Continue reading A Singular Solution, by J. Alan Erwine
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). (A Langford Joh story) Illustration: “HiRes” by Carl Goodman It was significant that the first Confederation hopefuls were Earthlings because the surface and texture of Robain had many similarities to their home planet. The gravity was nearly the same, the content of the air almost identical. … Continue reading The Robain Incident, by William Alan Rieser
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). Lately she’d been counting things, incessant things like how many cigarettes she smoked and how many diet cokes she drank. She lingered in her a car a moment before pulling the key from the ignition, soaking in the daylight that warmed the chill she’d been feeling … Continue reading Aurora, by Marilyn V. Brock
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). Illustration: “06109” by Rick Shelton Man has borne downthrough the agessuch a tumor.It weakens him,and makes him doinhuman things. Yethe finds a surgeonin his science,who deftly canremove it."Please don't,"says man. "The painis sweet -- and itkeeps me hereat home." Poem © 2002 by Andy Miller Artwork … Continue reading Home Sweet Home, by Andy Miller
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). Illustration: “Hell Tunnel” by Ehrad Let's see now -- what's it like to be one of the people who proved conclusively that humanity's not alone in the universe? Where the hell do you people get these questions, anyway? Wait, wait. I'm sorry. I'll tell you. The … Continue reading Cargo, by Floyd Largent
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). mcguffey readers lay eggsin a space-opera,like so many hungry maggotsfeasting on such rotten meat. Poem © 2003 by Andy Miller Artwork © 2003 by Romeo Esparrago ← Back to Planet Magazine No. 37 (contents)
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). Illustration: “Equation X” by Ehrad BOSON: Any of a class of subatomic particles such as the photon, pion or graviton that have no detectable mass and obey statistical rules permitting any number of identical particles to occupy the same quantum state. - Satyenda Nath Bose God … Continue reading Field Trip, by E.S. Strout
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). Illustration: “SW” by Frank Sipala Memory persists, so we haveTime-OrderingWhich seems so old-fashioned,even Narrative; appearsas somewhat a relief.Yet, Space-time has no realityas current theories go.Alzheimer's--the mushiness of mindloses it story line.So, causality,the story's essential turning point,becoming undone.Then, science becomes science fiction...the same;Peripeteia.And tragedy is no longer,since … Continue reading The Persistence of Memory, by John E. Gray
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 37 (March 2003). They were no sooner in the air when Harry was told, "Commander, I recommend you try and get some sleep. Here's a sleeping pill to help you. There is a sleeping berth in the aft section for your use." Harry replied, "I should get some sleep … Continue reading Harry’s New Toy, by Charles Kaluza
