Uncle Fida had reached that grim age where food is the chief pleasure but most of one’s teeth are gone. He’d been a fiery young man; his reputation as a terrifying old one had been vanquished by his own frailty.… Continue Reading
There were over ten thousand of them today, with more coming by the hour. They waited outside, eager and frantic, holding cameras and cell phones, ready for the anticipated moment when he would finally make his appearance. William paced inside… Continue Reading
My name is Kingson Free, and I’m an askman. I ask many questions, like, what will be the next big thing in a world ruled by kings and worked by drones? All askmen go through unruly phases, dangerous periods, especially… Continue Reading
I enter deeper into the Dark Forest, aware that blood-thirsty predators are strung out in a line behind me. I stop for a moment to catch my breath, to gather my thoughts, to allow my eyes to adjust to the… Continue Reading
Badger McCormack told himself he could stomach that all these creaky monsters had so suddenly and inexplicably sprung up into reality. But he personally knew industry lawyers who were profoundly offended that the shopworn bogeys had no respect for copyright… Continue Reading
Listen to “Serenity or Sails” by Dale Ivan Smith, read by Folly Blaine: [display_podcast] When not dreaming of sailing the Seven Seas with pirates, Dale Ivan Smith is writing another episode of his superhero serial, Weed. His stories have appeared… Continue Reading
“Play Dead!” “Do we have to, Father?” I replied. “I didn’t get much sleep last night because of the blasts, I’m still so tired.” “Lukas, what have I told you about asking questions at a time like this? Do what… Continue Reading
Epiphany struck when Austin Jackson flushed the toilet. The bathroom, with its shining white porcelain and glittering chrome, cleaned and polished by his very own hands, was one of the few bright spots in his life. Bemused, he wandered into… Continue Reading
The brass cannon squatted on the balcony above my front porch. The previous day my nephews had dragged it in from the garden and lugged it up the inside stairwell with only minor damage to the door facings. At that… Continue Reading
My wife and I had taken to calling her “Scuz Lady.” She looked like she would have been homeless had it not been for our neighbor, Earl. Earl, about forty, had lived with his mother until she died and left… Continue Reading