“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 →

“Universal Chords” by Don Mowbray

An old man holding a tablet stands by a huge radio telescope dish as rippling waves spread across a starry sky

Professor Anderson relentlessly scanned the skies Searching tirelessly for that elusive prize Of a signal with subtle hints of intelligence Plucked from the universe's chaotic cadence With the aid of a waning SETI stipend Anderson poured over bits and bytes without end But one day from Arecibo's exalted telescope He discovered a curious sample that … Continue reading “Universal Chords” by Don Mowbray →

“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 →

“Lab Mice” by George J. Condon

Painted illustration: a young man in a blue shirt stares in shock at his reflection in a bathroom mirror, a glowing red butterfly mark on his arm and a white lab mouse on the sink, with a burning laboratory and a computer screen behind him.

[Illustration: New illustration created for the archive; the original artwork, “Lab Rat” © 2005 by Patrick Stacy, has been lost.] 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 … Continue reading “Lab Mice” by George J. Condon →

“Tunguska Retro” by E.S. Strout

Painted illustration: a young woman geologist kneels beside a glowing particle detector among vast fields of flattened, blackened tree trunks in Siberia, with a bearded professor and a mud-splattered off-road truck nearby, as a cluster of multicolored lights blazes in the sky.

[Illustration: New illustration created for the archive; the original artwork, “Blueface” © 2005 by Zac Lowing, has been lost.] 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 … Continue reading “Tunguska Retro” by E.S. Strout →

“Darfang” by John Cowan

Painted illustration: a frightened miner with a helmet lamp and a laser drill and a scaled alien warrior with a curved dagger stand in a red-rock tunnel lit by blue tubes, as a huge fanged beast with glowing eyes looms out of the darkness ahead.

[Illustration: New illustration created for the archive; the original artwork, “Darfang” © 2005 by Patrick Stacy, has been lost.] 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 … Continue reading “Darfang” by John Cowan →