Web Fingers, by s.c. virtes

Deep-blue digital image of a pale face pressing up through a stretched sheet of fabric, with fingertips poking through along the bottom edge

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Fabric” by Hugh Vogt Web fingers probed the furniture. The television looked out on its home and found it nice. It switched its own channels, each showing a different raucous miasma of insanity, things whirling and the color of living picture-tube blue. There were things … Continue reading Web Fingers, by s.c. virtes →

Timing, by Will Sand

Starry black space scene with a banded, Jupiter-like planet and a smaller blue-and-white planet trailing a white comet-like tail

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Moment of Conception” by Michael Beckett This was how he would think of it, of himself:He was an idealist gone bad. He could live with that. Once too good, now too bad... He had never done anything wrong before. He had never had anything turn … Continue reading Timing, by Will Sand →

Savior, by Michael Barnett

Psychedelic, multicolored digital image of a bearded face surrounded by swirling, mechanical shapes on a cloudy orange-brown background

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Savior” by g.k. Senthil Kumar He was dying. He knew that. It made him happy. His ship was a floundering hulk, the air leaking out into the vacuum. He was too far from civilization to get help; the radio was a twisted wreck anyway. He … Continue reading Savior, by Michael Barnett →

Ristro, by Virginia Chandler

Rendered grey space scene of a striped, angular spaceship flying out of a bright light past a dark asteroid-like surface

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Return to Seaholm” by Eric Seaholm You smell Ristro prison before you ever get within two klicks of it. It's the one thing that Phobos is famous for. Some fame. But you didn't argue with god when he gave an order. So, when god said … Continue reading Ristro, by Virginia Chandler →

Remote, by James Heflin

Rendered alien landscape of tall red rock towers beside a green river under a hazy golden sky with a pale planet, with the handwritten words "Regards, Hanoi Bob" in the corner

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Regards, Hanoi Bob” by Nicola Stratford We had just turned to enter a holo shop when the sidewalk went rubbery, my arm stretched, and with a strange snap in my head, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. Stars crept by. Translucent scrawlings hovered in … Continue reading Remote, by James Heflin →

Remembrances, by Christopher Clagg

Rendered image of a boy in a white T-shirt, seen from behind, facing a huge grey armored war robot with red lights and heavy guns

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Soldier” by Thomas Miller Ten years passed before I ever missed my arms. The war went on, and my claws and guns served just as well. But in the quiet times, when I lie in the mobile transport crate and wait to be taken to … Continue reading Remembrances, by Christopher Clagg →

Reasonable Man, by J.W. Kurilec

Digital collage of a man's head in blue line-work with a teal gear for an eye and circuitry on his face, against a silvery, swirling textured background

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “The Prezdent” by Romeo Esparrago Silence echoed off the vaulted ceiling as Chief Justice Douglas Howard entered the court. In lock step he was followed by the two Associate Justices that along with himself composed the highest court of this new land. Taking his seat … Continue reading Reasonable Man, by J.W. Kurilec →

Reading Upstream, by Aidan O’Keefe

Cartoon painting of a pale, wild-haired man strapped into a white straitjacket between two hooded figures and a bespectacled man holding a red book, in an ornate red room

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Read Up!” by Lee Ward "Is he insane?" LaFort emerged from his thoughts and looked up at the holographic image of the assistant district attorney floating towards him from across the courtroom. "Doctor, is he insane?" the image asked him again, this time more curtly. … Continue reading Reading Upstream, by Aidan O’Keefe →

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 →

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 →