Sub-space radio transmission from the direction of Tau Ceti: “Mayday! Mayday! Do you read? ‘Beef’ Vaquero reporting in! Over, dammit!” Reply from Nina Bozovic, technician at Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico: “Is this a joke? Not funny. I’m just an underpaid… Continue Reading
Some people just get on your nerves. Like the new guy Rawlings, who moved into the cubicle next to me. He’d transferred in from the San Diego office the other day, ostensibly to help us get the Fairview project plan… Continue Reading
“Once a year like clockwork, eh, Frankie?” Doctor Herbert smiled. Frank nodded. “Better safe than sorry, Doc.” The office was the same as ever: white walls, cold metal chairs, thin-mattress bed, sturdy wooden desk. The only difference was the strange… Continue Reading
Your Honour, I never intended to lose my foot. True, I was researching the carparks of Planet Earth. Of course, we Maluvians transpose in time and space and have no need of vehicles. I repeat, I was doing research. True,… Continue Reading
Look at him, chasing those eggs around with his fork. Such a child. Nearly cried when he realized he’d forgotten Valentine’s Day. Did cry when I forgave him. You’d never know he was a prize-winning “genius.” “But he loves you!”… Continue Reading
“If we keep going, we can make it by sundown. We’ll be okay.” I pull her along, knowing our only hope is to get to the bus station before nightfall. If we have to stay the night in a terminal,… Continue Reading
It began with a wet cough and blood-streaked phlegm. The doctors told Vera the mass was an aspergilloma, a fungal ball in her left lung. Hunter clutched Vera’s hand, absorbed the news like it was his own body under assault.… Continue Reading
It was a Bush that my grandfather received as a present back in 1958. It was housed in an expensive wooden cabinet with dials for volume, treble and bass, piano keys to switch between the bands, and a needle moving… Continue Reading
At least a dozen people stood ahead of Mike in the Post Office, all eager to get home for the holidays. Most were like him, professionals working in the city. Lawyers, executives, doctors — you had to be quite wealthy… Continue Reading
Two years had passed since the world submitted to the welcoming embrace of Death. Humankind, as a whole, smiled into the end of it all, and now a lone man walked a desolate street counting the unbroken windows and taking… Continue Reading