Category: Science Fiction

“The Gurnian Imposition” (part of the Langford Joh saga) by W.A. Rieser

Painted illustration: a clown-faced alien ambassador in a ruffled purple robe sips glowing purple liquid among vats and flasks of it, while a grey big-eyed alien gestures urgently from a screen behind him and ornate starships fly past a ringed planet outside.

[Illustration: New illustration created for the archive; the original artwork, “Exodus” © 2005 by Carl Goodman, has been lost.] Ablad Cuvapor relaxed his outer docking tubes and allowed the Melkan female to deposit her spherical ovabiche in pleasant parallel tones inside his plastique receptors. So long as his explosion was contained, he felt no need … Continue reading “The Gurnian Imposition” (part of the Langford Joh saga) by W.A. Rieser →

“Time Share” by E.S. Strout

Painted illustration: a sleek experimental spacecraft with a dark-haired woman pilot in its cockpit streaks away from a ring-shaped orbital station above Earth as space warps around it in swirling rings of blue and gold light.

[Illustration: New illustration created for the archive; the original artwork, “TimeShare” © 2005 by SenthilKG, has been lost.] The possibility of faster-than-light travel has fascinated astrophysicists and propulsion engineers, as well as science fiction writers. With the arrival of gravity-drive thrust, the possibility becomes a probability, with apologies to Albert Einstein. Trials are under way. … Continue reading “Time Share” by E.S. Strout →

“Business is Business” by S.K. Twyford

Painted illustration: a smiling businessman in a pinstripe suit sits at a glass conference table facing a small, iridescent pink, pig-snouted alien with orange eyes standing on the table, glowing purple swirls between them and mining towers on a desert world outside.

[Illustration: New illustration created for the archive; the original artwork, “Mind Cow” © 2005 by Andy McCann, has been lost.] The Centrac minerals representative was undoubtedly the strangest-looking being that Janson had ever seen. He, or was it she -- there was no way of telling -- was only a metre tall with a skin … Continue reading “Business is Business” by S.K. Twyford →

“Greetings from the Heliosheath” by Corey Brown

Sketch of a man cycling past wrecked TVs and a ruined house as a dust storm and fiery sky sweep over orchards

Travis was lounging on the couch, gnawing on a carrot for breakfast, and watching the President smash all the chandeliers in the White House with a sledgehammer. By the angle of the sun pouring in the window, he knew it had to be nine-thirty already, but he didn't feel like getting up. Besides, there wasn't … Continue reading “Greetings from the Heliosheath” by Corey Brown →

“Whom to Betray Today” by Tamara Wilhite

“Ready to go?" I nodded. We walked to an electric car. I got in, no longer caring who saw me get in. We drove past the chaos that was the city. Outside was a mix of shanties and high rises, and religious communities bounded by perimeter fences. Communications towers dominated the sky over children carrying … Continue reading “Whom to Betray Today” by Tamara Wilhite →

“The Greener Grass” by Matthew S. Carroll

The real estate agent’s car crunched to halt in the gravel at the curb. Maria twisted around to face the backseat. Her hair -- an intricate weave of curls and swirls, all carefully sprayed into an immovable shape -- bobbed as she spoke. “This is it, dear. Listen, I know the house needs a little … Continue reading “The Greener Grass” by Matthew S. Carroll →

“Sane in This Present Madness” by Tamara Wilhite

Collage of a mother holding two children with a teddy bear, a man in a doorway, scientists and a UFO over a farmhouse

"A ship landed at the port!" Danny said, pacing frantically. "I saw it! I know I did! This one is real!" "How long has it been since your last episode, Danny?" "I'm not seeing things! Not this time." Danny whirled about to confront Leslie. "I'm sure you're not," Leslie agreed as she appeared. She hugged … Continue reading “Sane in This Present Madness” by Tamara Wilhite →

“Paradox” by Michael A. Kay

Painted illustration: a young man in a long coat stands with folded arms at the edge of a skyscraper rooftop while a portly policeman beside him shouts through a megaphone, as the city around them bends into two impossible, curving towers.

[Illustration: New illustration created for the archive; the original artwork, “Paradox” © 2005 by Ellie Jane Tull, has been lost.] Ahmed Cohen is standing on the edge of the building looking down through the hundred metres of thin air which is, at the moment, the only thing separating him from something very wide, flat, and … Continue reading “Paradox” by Michael A. Kay →

Paradox, by Michael A. Kay: He Stepped Away from the Edge

Painted illustration: a young man in a long coat stands with folded arms at the edge of a skyscraper rooftop while a portly policeman beside him shouts through a megaphone, as the city around them bends into two impossible, curving towers.

← Back to the beginning of Paradox He stepped away from the edge. * * * 3rd March Today I received a new patient. Young Mr. Ahmed Cohen (nb: something is odd about that name, research) is a strange and challenging case. He was persuaded from jumping off a building to certain death two days … Continue reading Paradox, by Michael A. Kay: He Stepped Away from the Edge →