The aliens came down and wanted to help. They gave away free technotricks to big firms like Westworld Petroleum, Royal Dutch Smell, and Coke Oil. The economy boomed and everybody was happy. The aliens just wanted one thing in return… Continue Reading
For the first time in nearly an hour, the frenetic squeaking in Dr. Ira Melling’s university laboratory fell silent. In a practiced motion, Ira tossed the dead dry-erase marker into a nearby waste bin, plucked a fresh one from his… Continue Reading
Doctor Linda Torres had convinced the public that a meteor large enough to dwarf the one that had killed the dinosaurs was headed towards Earth. Yes, it was a lie of apocalyptic proportions, but it was a necessary one. Humanity… Continue Reading
The xenobotanist doesn’t notice her ship leaving. She has no idea the commander and crew have already judged the planet to be uninhabitable and moved on. ‘Etowah’ soars off in a cloud of atomized fuel and its enlisted xenobotanist is… Continue Reading
“So, how many frogs have you kissed?” asked Ramón, and I sensed the mocking smile on his face, even if I could not see anything at all. He’s got quite a cheek, this one, always laughing me off for being… Continue Reading
Gold-flecked, hazel eyes locked with Dave’s and he felt like his blood had been replaced with liquid electricity. The man was sitting back in one of the massive, high-backed seats, one leg swung over an armrest. Dave heard the soft,… Continue Reading
Anthony, the graying scientist, was smashing his Scroll with a hammer as the blue lights sliced through the windows and the darkness of the warehouse. “Mercy,” he said, staring at the floor where the Scroll lay, “I need your help.”… Continue Reading
I straightened from the telescope and looked at the night sky with naked eyes. A silver blaze streaked across the firmament as the Perseids meteor shower played out above me. Twenty years, I’d never missed it. Some years I’d had… Continue Reading
Eureka! I’ve been waiting a lifetime to say that. I can’t wait to see Wolkoff and Liu and all of those other Self-Organizing Society snobs and rub this in their faces. I did it first. I conquered where they failed.… Continue Reading
I take the body out of the freezer – the middle part, stalk-like and twisted, is very brittle, so careful, there, Mike – and put the amazing body on the steel autopsy desk. The protective suit is heavy and ultra-uncomfortable.… Continue Reading