More Real Than Real, by John Gerner

Painting of a white armored robot with glowing green eyes in front of a hazard-striped wall and a large planet

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 21 (March 1999). Illustration by Stefano Tartarotti "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." -- Henry David Thoreau, Walden, (1854) "We lead lives of noisy distraction. Prepare to be frazzled!" -- Advance Ad for "Nine Paths to Hell", VR Games, (August, 2003). After prolonged periods of virtual … Continue reading More Real Than Real, by John Gerner →

Juggernaut, by John Gerner

Dark metallic humanoid giant with a blazing light at its head striding past old stone buildings under a pink and blue sky

Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 19 (September 1998). Illustration by Duncan Long I built me a juggernaut, one meter high,from toys in my box and dreams in my head,to battle the bully who teases and hurts.Who laughs when he sees it, creaking and crawling,then kicks in its belly. Crunch, crunch.But his boots are engulfed … Continue reading Juggernaut, by John Gerner →