The Monk Who Hated Latin, by Frederick Rustam

Digital art of a hooded grey figure with a gold cross on its chest, beneath glassy spheres on a swirling red background

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “The Monk” by Kalazar A Report to The Holy See of an Investigation into the Reported Sabotage of the Digital Memory Arrays Holding the Sacred Archival Facsimiles Accumulated at St. Abelard's Monastery on the Planet of Erintara Respectfully Submitted byBrother Malachy, Ordo Benedictis, Inquisitor Praecipuus … Continue reading The Monk Who Hated Latin, by Frederick Rustam →

Hypnagougue, by Mila Burton

Blue-toned digital painting of a nude woman with long dark hair reclining on a bed beside a window, with a bolt of lightning in the night sky outside

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration by Duncan Long Marcus rolled over to hear Leigh crashing around in the bathroom. She was swearing under her breath as she hastily applied makeup. "What now?" he yawned. "I'm going to be late for Hypnagougue," she explained. Her mouth formed the O of eyeliner. … Continue reading Hypnagougue, by Mila Burton →

Hot Line, by Bill Vernon

Cartoon of a man in a red-and-black striped cap pointing a finger, set against bright concentric blue and white rings

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration by Andrew G. McCann I was making my assigned calls, part of my work at the Women's Center Hot Line, talking to Janeen Wilson, when I heard this light tapping on the door. Seemed like nothing more than the wind kicking up dirt against the … Continue reading Hot Line, by Bill Vernon →

Flittering Headstones, by Michael Martineck

Streaky yellow-green painting of a man in orange running across a slope, with another figure falling below him and long dark shadows stretching across the ground

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Flying Fires” by Romeo Esparrago Parker Ngyen had never shot a man before. He'd never even considered it. He always thought the Academy's firearm training was vestigial. Data were the modern peace makers, cyberscapes the OK Corrals. Still, here he was, sweat filling the tiny … Continue reading Flittering Headstones, by Michael Martineck →

Exterminator, First-Class, by Thomas P. Wagner

Painting of a huge spider-like alien with a ribbed, fanged head looming over a crouching soldier who fires a blue laser beam into a glowing burst at its center

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Laser Fire!” by Steve Munsinger Private Emilio Ortiz staggered through the curtains that served as a door to the recreation room, half a month's pay worth of black market hooch still burning in his throat. The glassy walls of the tunnel gleamed at him from … Continue reading Exterminator, First-Class, by Thomas P. Wagner →

Big Ben, by Kim Burnham

Digital art of a face split down the middle: one half a cracked clock face with numerals, the other half a grimacing man, ringed with crackling electricity and wired to a metal box below

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 22 (June 1999). Illustration: “Big Ben” by Thomas Miller The doctors call me Big Ben. I am not a large man. But I am larger than most clocks. I know the hour, the minute and the second as well as any other timepiece ever made. And I always will. … Continue reading Big Ben, by Kim Burnham →

The Adventures of ‘Mad’ Cy N. Tist, Episode 1: Cy Goes to Starbucks, by Andrew G. McCann

Cartoon: a thin bald scientist in glasses and a white lab coat holds out a large yellow cup to a young man in a green cap and jacket, saying "I've miscalculated the dosage and will require another large coffee."

Frightful Night, by Sheri White

Painting in a gold frame of a pale, gaunt fairy-like figure with translucent insect wings crouching among dark tree branches

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration: “Always Take Off Into The Wind” by Noel Bebee When I go to sleep at nightMy dreams are scary,Fraught with fright.Wasps get tangled in my hair,Clowns frolic fiendishlyIn the frigid, dark air.Goblins through my window peer;A man with an axeKnows what I fear.But I'd never … Continue reading Frightful Night, by Sheri White →

Earth-Bound Entities, by James Johnson

Grey spiral whirlpool of a black hole swirling in a starry sky above a dark city of ruined skyscrapers on a sandy plain

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration: “Blackhole” by Theo It entered the Milky Way galaxy in the Virgo constellation,Its spiraling path through the galaxy bringing it ever-nearerA planet once teeming with activity and animation;The black hole enveloped in the light of its orbiting photosphere Growing ever-larger, interacting with other living worlds,Flares … Continue reading Earth-Bound Entities, by James Johnson →

John Jakes, by Romeo Esparrago

Scratchy white-line drawing of a square-jawed man seen from the shoulders up, in front of a rainy night sky with a bright full moon

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). a clerihew Illustration by Romeo Esparrago Hero, woodsman, alien fighter manAxes, ray guns - John's got the master planForests and planets he wants to invadeRangers and Martians do not have it made. Poem & artwork © copyright 1998-99 by Romeo Esparrago ← Back to Planet Magazine … Continue reading John Jakes, by Romeo Esparrago →