Cabbage, by Ray Dangel

Drawing of a bright green cabbage-like heart sitting on a hairy, pale chest between two nipples, a dotted red incision line running down the middle

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Ray Dangel The room slowly came into focus as the anesthetic released its grip. Jeremy recognized the big round ceiling light, then the sprinkler head a few feet away. His cardiologist's face slid into view and spoke. "How are you feeling, Jeremy?" "Urrghh," Jeremy … Continue reading Cabbage, by Ray Dangel →

Queen Mab Courtesy, by Bruce C. Davis

Colorful illustration of a row of skulls changing into a smiling man's face, a giant hand pressing a fly onto a sleeping head above a mountain city skyline

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago It was the pigeons that awakened me. There was a flock of them just outside the basement window that I had crawled in through the night before. They scattered with a thundering of wings as the C.O.P.S. started their first sweep. I … Continue reading Queen Mab Courtesy, by Bruce C. Davis →

How Are You Wired?, by Dan Dobbs

Painting of a red-haired woman with a hand to her mouth whose chest is opened like a machine, a round porthole showing blue circuitry while robotic arms and tools work on her

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration: “Alien Repairs” by Martin Murphy Of all the unlikely places in the known universe, Oasis-C is where it began. Oasis-C is a planet so-named because, according to the travel literature, it is "an island of entertainment on the edge of the void." What that translates … Continue reading How Are You Wired?, by Dan Dobbs →

Bar Fly, by Paul E. Gibson

Glowing flying saucer hovering in a dark, cloudy night sky above power lines

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration: “Oofo” by Eric Seaholm You talkin' about UFOs? Man, you have no idea. You're not from around here, right? Probably passin' through, on your way to the City? Well, you ended up in the right place. And the right time. And you're talkin' to the … Continue reading Bar Fly, by Paul E. Gibson →

Journeyman, by Andrew Massey

Faceted, crystal-like spacecraft flying low over a brown, cratered Martian surface

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration: “Red Planet Scout” by Eric Seaholm He had traveled an eternity, driven by questions that remained for the most part unanswered -- and even for those questions which he had resolved, the passing of time and distance had swept away their meaning. His humanity had … Continue reading Journeyman, by Andrew Massey →

Search and Rescue, by Bruce Davis

Computer render of an astronaut on a tether working on a large cylindrical spacecraft with solar panels against black space

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 18 (June 1998). Illustration by Duncan Long The call came in about an hour into the midwatch. We hadn't had much action that tour -- just one or two missions, and those were walkovers. We were getting kind of stir-crazy by then, two months into what looked to be … Continue reading Search and Rescue, by Bruce Davis →

In the Beginning was the Word…, by Con deBlon

Glowing colored orbs, white, purple, green, red and yellow, floating in a black starfield

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 18 (June 1998). by Con deBlon (Constantine Beloroutchev) Illustration by Andrew G. McCann The night was ...ironically, there was no night at all. Twilight was briskly followed by Armageddon or Ragnarok, as you like. It came so unobtrusively that nobody noticed anything unusual. For one reason, to put it … Continue reading In the Beginning was the Word…, by Con deBlon →

Wasted Minds, by Barbara Hancock

Red, black and white high-contrast image of a woman with a cloth over her mouth and an armored figure, cut by diagonal stripes

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 18 (June 1998). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago Delia climbed on board the armored bus, easily skirting the metal doors as they slammed shut behind her. Programmed to pause for only thirty seconds, the bus was already picking up speed as she crossed the threshold. Ignoring the whistles, obscenities and … Continue reading Wasted Minds, by Barbara Hancock →

One of the Family, by Kate Thornton

Textured collage of a blue sleeping face, a woman with pink hair looking worried, a green caterpillar-like creature and swirling blue shapes behind panels of orange texture

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 18 (June 1998). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago I eased the throttle back slowly and the glider came to a smooth halt in front of Myron's Pet Shop. I jumped out, still proud of the way I looked in my tight-fitting uniform. When I removed my helmet and shook out … Continue reading One of the Family, by Kate Thornton →

Squivel’s Mirth, by Joseph M. Weinberg

Computer render of a spiky purple furry creature with a column of black eyes and a striped tail, beside a red folded object and a green flying craft over blue water

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 18 (June 1998). Illustration by Romeo Esparrago The whirring of the gun could be heard throughout the flagship Hunter as they locked onto the other ship, the Firebird. There was a pounding sound as the guns dislodged electric death across the empty void. The magnetic field generated by the … Continue reading Squivel’s Mirth, by Joseph M. Weinberg →