The Rounder’s Curse never applied to Casey Jones. The song written after his death called Casey Jones a rounder. Mrs. Jones said it wasn’t true, her husband was a family man… e was mean, crass and coarse, a rogue and a rounder too. A real, old-time railroad man, rough and ready through and through. Drank […]
The Ghost of the Fireball Mail
The Ghost of the Fireball Mail? Stories of old drinkin’ buddies… ohn Willy was a miner, lived down by the railroad track. Never had much of nothin’, his house was a run down shack. His daddy died when he was young, takin’ a shortcut on the rail, caught in the middle of the trestle by […]
The Neighborhood
Come on… The Neighborhood? It’s the same everywhere… he warmth of Qnenmund upon you, Omnadth.” “Upon you as well, Adradth, Nest Sibling. But I perceive, do I not, that you are in a state of distress and concern? Am I to understand some twoomna, perhaps a nest mate, one who may dwell down by the […]
Tuit’s Time Out Bar
Sooner or later, anyone who writes Science Fiction has to write a bar story. Here’s Tuit’s Time Out Bar, with a big nod to Spider Robinson. ’m a salesman for a pharmaceutical company. Single, I travel a lot and live mostly in hotels. It’s a lifestyle that doesn’t lend itself to having hobbies like gardening […]
Perception
Perception? Sure, but some things are universal… he pain! Oh… bad! Mind racing… Slow down… catch consciousness…, I’m alive but I have been badly injured! Ahhh… I should not dwell on that at the moment, the messages my body is sending are enough. Rest! Sleep is the escape… So…, still here! Ohhh… yes, still here… […]
Lysis
It’s one thing to dream of sending colonists out to the stars. Lysis is about when they return… ascinating stories, Reyard, absolutely amazing! Sounds as if it was truly the opportunity of a lifetime for a journalist! Galactic Adventurer must have thought highly of its star reporter to have sent you Out for so long. […]
Turing Love
You can’t be surprised, can you?… You knew it would happen, just not quite like this. Turing Love makes it easy… Paul Wang straightened his tie as he walked up the steps to the entrance of the Wellman Medical Center. His Digim/Holo Specialist Tony Naughton walked a pace behind carrying his equipment case. They had […]
Dear Mom
The Ghost and Nellie Bee
The Ghost and Nellie Bee The Ghost and Nellie Bee was written for an NPR radio contest. They gave you the first and last line and you had 600 words to tell the tale. It did not even place. I still like it… ome people swore that the house was haunted. For over two […]
The Cheboygan Discorde
Just what is music anyway?… and the Cheboygan Discorde? ULTRA TOP SECRET: PRIORITY ONE by direction of Commander, Emergency Military Command South (EMCS) Document created by prisoner 1246 (Classified 1A) Copy to Commander, Emergency Military Command Continental (EMCC) Copy to Emergency Archive Group 1 (EAG 1) {Original to follow} “Music can change the world.” – […]
The Barzicon
The Barzicon Sometimes it is a bit confusing as to which one is the dream… The girl, The Barzicon? he Barzicon had his head jammed between the back of the shotgun seat and the door pillar of the truck. His thick lips were pulled back from the double incisors as he hepped and roumaled […]
The Answer Shop
I had been reading Avram Davidson’s 1983 anthology “Magic for Sale” and decided that I would like to make a “contribution”… at least to the genre. The Answer Shop came drifting up out of the dark… hat with the upheavals at home and work, Carl was tired and more than a little distracted. Paul Johnson, […]