Category: Science Fiction

Mrs. Selby Takes a Lover From Another Galaxy, by Kevin James Miller

Deep-blue starry image of a glowing circular alien form with tentacle-like strands hovering above the orange wooden footboard of a bed

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Mrs. Selby’s Galactic Bed” by Kalazar Mrs. Selby met T'uh-zar at the 110th Annual Thornton, Indiana Flower Show, held in the college gymnasium's parking lot. She heard a male voice say something clinical but poetic about grandiflora roses. She turned from the Shasta daisies toward … Continue reading Mrs. Selby Takes a Lover From Another Galaxy, by Kevin James Miller →

Negligence, by L. Theodore Ollier

Rendered Martian landscape of a rust-red canyon with industrial pipes and domed structures along its edge, a pale moon in the sky, titled "Martian Industry"

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Industry” by Kelly McLarnon Janusz Voorklepp looked down at his hands, at the rust red that stained their cracks and wrinkles. Dao-Thien Rodriguez, Voorklepp's indentured, sat wide-eyed and anxious next to him on the bench, nervously turning her notepad in her hands. Occasionally, she ventured … Continue reading Negligence, by L. Theodore Ollier →

Nana Knows Best, by Phoebe-June Rogers

Blue-toned drawing of a muscular woman with long flowing hair gazing up into a starry sky

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration by Steve Munsinger "Tarsa, get down from there this instant! I will not tolerate this kind of behavior from you," Nana screamed while Tarsa balanced on the thin ledge that overlooked the Central traffic grid. Aerocars zoomed beneath her at high velocities, leaving small short … Continue reading Nana Knows Best, by Phoebe-June Rogers →

ThunderStar, by Tony Chandler

Neon line-art illustration of a lion-maned alien warrior with a jeweled collar reaching out with a huge clawed hand toward a blue planet

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Part I Illustration: “Kragon’s Reach for Chadras” by Romeo Esparrago I have created a monster. The crimson glistened in dripping gobs on the walls. And then, in crimson clarity, there was the distinct imprint of its huge hand etched in gory detail. Down the center of … Continue reading ThunderStar, by Tony Chandler →

Alone on Fourteen, by A.Y. Tanaka

Chaotic collage of scattered letter tiles and tiny dragons around a computer monitor tilted on a pink diamond shape

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration: “Patch_code_dragon” by Romeo Esparrago I sipped some Stryne's and squinted at the coded pages sprawled across my desk, scattered alph/math-like characters, almost clear if 45 meant "forty-five" or something else: "truth" or "evidence" or "seventeen" or "delusion." It wasn't my desk, not by law or … Continue reading Alone on Fourteen, by A.Y. Tanaka →

Pigg Whistle, by Robert Thorn

Painting of a chubby, curly-haired boy in a blue T-shirt and brown shorts standing in a messy room among toys, with a computer behind him

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration: “Pigg” by Breck Outland "Look mom, a bus!" Pigg Whistle huffed excitedly as he pivoted his new degenerator toward the silver contraption passing in the street below his window. "Don't you hurt nobody!" hollered a voice from the stairwell. "But look at that dumb thing. … Continue reading Pigg Whistle, by Robert Thorn →

That Takes the Cake, by Michael Barnett

Rendered desert of rippled pink sand dunes with a chocolate layer cake topped with candles, and two knives lying in the sand beside it

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration: “Desserted” by Thomas Miller It was morning. Roger opened his eyes and saw the purplish sky. He shut them again. Three hours later, he reopened them to find the same purple sky with red and orange streaks across it. It was afternoon. Getting up off … Continue reading That Takes the Cake, by Michael Barnett →

Dead Man’s Shift, by Joe Wocoski

Dark, angular tower-like monolith floating among bright, streaking clouds

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration: “Ldclouds” by Sam Crowe Third shift aboard the Star Cruiser "Orizon" was always the worst shift. The crew jokingly called it the "Dead Man's Shift" because you were the only crewmember sitting up awake in the small, locked auxiliary control center. The crew joked that … Continue reading Dead Man’s Shift, by Joe Wocoski →