Category Archives: Fiction

The Blacksmith by Jared Zygarlicke Birdsong joined the morning symphony, alongside the millings about of everyday humans. Carts and horses. Leather boots and mud. Children calling to friends or being chastised by their elders. Delicate sunlight snaked through tall Scots … Continue reading →

The Memory Dealer by Katharine Tyndall There is a wash of water, the floor rears up to the darkening sky, screams sound amidst the churning seawater, a cold crackle of ice splitting, and I am falling. I am being swallowed … Continue reading →

Temporary Childhood by Antony Paschos When dad lost his job, Elina had to change schools, they had to leave their apartment and dad couldn’t afford to rent mom anymore. It was supposed to be temporary. In a few weeks, months … Continue reading →

Salvage by Clare L. Deming The ghost ship hung in silent splendor, festooned with steel antennae and coppery solar arrays – a passenger liner, lost from contact a decade past. Information scrolled across instruments – no survivors, of course, and … Continue reading →

Christmas Carol by Michaele Jordan “O holy night,” sang Ilana. She sang seriously and well. She sang well because she’d been taking voice lessons since she was nine. She sang seriously because she was practicing for the school Holiday Concert … Continue reading →

The Book Worm by Jon Hansen Monica gritted her teeth. She’d become a public librarian to help people, get them the answers to what they needed to know. Meaningful work. Heck, she’d even settle for the branch’s grumpiest regular, Mr. … Continue reading →

Terms of Service by Sharmon Gazaway We all knew the internet was sucking the life out of us. We laughed about it even as we sped through our steps logged in, weather apps, news apps, checked for new text messages … Continue reading →

Mixing Your Own Apotheosis by Brian Hugenbruch You read through the ingredient’s list one more time, just to be certain. You’re not the sort of person who normally does mise-en-place for cocktails, but this was never just about intoxication. Quite … Continue reading →

Eye Record by James Dick For future generations For our children For my grandchildren For my own peace of mind For posterity —E.C. *Transcript—TRANCE team meeting, 05/09/2035* Participants: …………Principal Investigator Dr. Edward Carraway …………………………….Assistant Mission Manager Janet Bishop …………………………….LIZARD Instrument … Continue reading →

Faceless by Jim Robb If a wizard is invited to appear before the Council of Mages it is usually a good thing, but if summoned it is invariably bad. Tharnic had been summoned. He stood before the Council, wearing the … Continue reading →