Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 31 (September 2001). Illustration by Matt Morrow The staccato bleat, bleat, bleat of the duck's slug rifle breaks the silence we had been suspended in only a moment before. I'm watching the duck move forward, spraying gunfire at anything that moves. The mouse is behind me and to my … Continue reading Kandy: Everyone Wants Some, by John Devlin
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 31 (September 2001). Illustration: “Humiliation and Pride” by Romeo Esparrago "It is written: 'We, Humans, are made in the image of God.'" Enon's body tensed as he finished speaking. The Qarzaak's horny mandibles began to open and close. Dancing reflections from the artificial lights of the cavern ceiling played … Continue reading Qarzaak, by Tony Chandler
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 30 (June 2001). Illustration: “Where are you, Mr. Wabbit?” by Romeo Esparrago I'm still in my work clothes. I know I should go home and change, clean up, but I have to stop by and play the games first. I've waited all day for this. I don't remember what … Continue reading Arcade, by Peter Bergman, Jr.
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 30 (June 2001). Illustration: “Challenger” by Patrick Stacy Trevor leaned against a dirty wall of Krysztof Spaceport, thumbs hooked in his belt loops, the fingers of each hand hovering near the two blasters at his hips. Not counting the gun in his right boot, the one up his left … Continue reading Challenges Three, by Jeana Jorgensen
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 30 (June 2001). Illustration: “Bad Dream” by Jon Eke ...shshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshsh... The silver aerospaceplane glided respectfully over the Temple of the Holy Cloud with a gentle sibilance -- because its engines had failed and it had to seek the surface prematurely. Keeper Petsamo might not have heard it if he … Continue reading The Cloud Of The Unknowing, by Frederick Rustam
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 30 (June 2001). Illustration: “Nuclear Survivor” by Jon Eke A few years ago, on a planet not that far away... ...the republic is in turmoil. Isolationists and Interventionists in a contest of policy-making and political maneuvering debate the future of their planet, and its safety in the wake of … Continue reading Martian Underground, by David Edward Gault
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 30 (June 2001). Illustration: “Accelerator” by Carl Goodman I waited in the predawn cold with the elite Omega Team, every man and woman a specialist in his or her field, and a veteran of at least two time travel missions. That we would be successful I never doubted. Our … Continue reading The Mission, by Leo Goda
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 30 (June 2001). Illustration: “Neptune” by Jon Eke The ants have been building a cemetery between the panes of my northern window; they've been at it all winter. Every morning, when I return from work, I check their progress and count the withered ant corpses lying helter skelter along … Continue reading Punk-Eeq Pandemic, by Max E. Keele
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 30 (June 2001). (from ":MegaFusion: LifeFiction:") Illustration: “:Megafusion: LifeFiction:” by Sven Kloepping Imagine a city with 2,000-yard-high skyscrapers that stretches its arms over the largest oceans and the highest mountains on Earth. A place where "Cyborg Killers" or "Licensing Agents" fight for their daily survival in a brutal, life-absorbing … Continue reading Space-Racing, by Sven Kloepping
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 29 (March 2001). Artwork by Romeo Esparrago There is nothing quite like the sound of driving in the rain. I find it so comforting when I'm on a long stretch of highway late at night. I never used to. I used to hate driving in the rain, especially at … Continue reading DUI, by Philip B. Young
