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 →

“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 →

Among my mother’s frequent sayings when I was a child was, “You’d cut off your nose to spite your face.” I know she meant that I was stubborn and obstinate and determined to have my own way. She was right. I was all of that, plus! And now…. “Well, Mom, now I’ve done it. Too … Continue reading “Cutting Off My Nose” by Anastasia Voight →

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 →

"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 →

Illustration: “Paradox” © 2005 by Ellie Jane Tull 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 hard, not to mention a tad unfriendly to those who attempt to … Continue reading “Paradox” by Michael A. Kay →

Illustration: “Lab Rat” by Patrick Stacy © 2005 Michael Delaney was in his cubicle at Consoldyne Aerospace Industries, rotating a view of a new jet engine design on his workstation, when his telephone rang. He released the computer mouse and picked up the phone receiver. "Delaney speaking." "Michael, it's Kay Dunston." It was his girlfriend's … Continue reading “Lab Mice” by George J. Condon →

Illustration: “Blueface” © 2005 by Zac Lowing Einstein’s theory of relativity is not just conjecture, Mulder. - Dana Scully Friday, July 11th, 2008: Message encoded 0923 hours EDT this date. Top Secret. NASA/Hubble Telescope complex reports unusual configuration of bogeys approaching solar system from Sagittarius region. Speed near or in excess that of light. Azimuth, … Continue reading “Tunguska Retro” by E.S. Strout →

Illustration: “Darfang” © 2005 by Patrick Stacy. Peter Beckin was positive he’d never been so cold in his life. Or this scared. The tunnel stretched for half a kilometer through the dark reddish rock, curving in a downward slope to disappear in a blue glow of lighting tubes that illuminated the mine. He paced back … Continue reading “Darfang” by John Cowan →

  "We used his soul to mend the hole bound the fabric of time..." When he first came to us, his mind was contorted by conflicting ripples of thought. His tiny body arrived packaged carefully in amniotic fluid, the limbs curled and foetus-like, the head grossly expanded. A genetic defect had caused the cranium to … Continue reading “Elevator to Eternity” by Greg Guerin →