Fiction
BOOK II
Those new regions, which we found and explored with the fleet... We may rightly call a new world... A continent more densely peopled and abounding in animals than our Europe or Asia or Africa; and, in addition, a climate milder than in any other region known to us.
In order to quell any doubts that may in future arise, I hereby attest to the painstaking research and investigation that has gone into verifying the accuracy of all information that is part of the historical or archaeological, record. These facts then, like all such information, should be taken with a grain of salt and thoroughly questioned by the reader.
- Written by: Stephanie E Barr
- Category: Fiction
The alarm pounded through Maureen Hunter's dream like a hammer, shattering it in a million pieces. As she slammed it to silence and looked at the time blearily through her sand-encrusted eyes—she must have forgotten to take her contacts out again—she groaned quietly. It was her damn project. Why the hell had she agreed to a 7 am meeting after she'd had the meet-n-greet last night with the bigwigs from Washington? Even a brain like hers required more than three hours of sleep a night.
- Written by: Jesse Rucilez
- Category: Fiction
The great machine approached the dead planet with reverence, descending to the edge of its ionosphere. There it hovered with infinite patience. Searching. Recording temperatures, atmospheric conditions, radiation levels, and orbital speed. Scanning for any and all signs of life or sentience.
Just as it had been programmed to do.
- Written by: Stephanie E Barr
- Category: Fiction
The lights have been left on.
Stephen growled at the car and slammed the door shut with unwarranted violence. Through the door, he could still faintly hear the pleasant voice of the car's computer:
- Written by: Stephanie E Barr
- Category: Fiction
Read Pt 1
"No, Rachel, you don't understand! We can be together,
forever, now. God, Rachel, don't you know how I need you? I'm lost—lost!"
"So, I'm trapped in this damned house, with nothing to do but hold your hand?"
- Written by: Stephanie E Barr
- Category: Fiction
Lynn bit her lip and gripped her hands so tightly she could smell blood from them. Or maybe it was her lip. Or both. Brenda was weeping in her sleep again. Begging. "Please...please don't! Petey please!" Lynn had heard it before. Several nights before.
Too many nights.
- Written by: Stephanie E Barr
- Category: Fiction
Nina Lynn Brody smoothed her hand over the glassy surface of the tiny metal coffin.
It seemed too small to hold all the joy and energy, the magic and mayhem of her son. Surely he'd been bigger than this? Only nine, so of course he was small, but he'd always felt so much larger than life, a bundle of smart comments and endless questions, scraped knees and freckles, temper and smiles. How had they crammed all that into a tiny box?
- Written by: Stephanie E Barr
- Category: Fiction
This story was written for a SF contest with a really stupid title prescribed (which I discarded), and premise that was, though I didn't really appreciate it at first, inherently sexist: Genetic changes so that women had the same physical and mental capabilities as men. (a) That's stupid. We already have the same genes (except women have an extra half chromosome) and (b) just the argument that women were inherently lesser in either physical or mental ability was insulting. Yes, on average, men are stronger, but none of them can carry a child. The argument that one is inherently "superior" is stupid. But my subconscious caught it right away and generated this story which was not only a slap in the face to the premise, but provides a reminder that the issue is far more complicated than many of us appreciate. It is not the first time or the last time, I took something ridiculous and took it to its logical conclusion.
- Written by: Stephanie E Barr
- Category: Fiction
Precursor story to the novel, The Taming of Dracul Morsus releasing Aug. 1
When the light of day finally found her, Xana woke, stiff and cold, with the smell of freshly turned earth in her nostrils. The clean scent of earth—not mildew and sweat—made her startle awake as she realized she wasn't in the room they confined her to. She jerked up, wary of pursuit, and bit down on a gasp as her caned back protested. Hopefully, they couldn't hear her.
