Happy New Year’s to All

Here’s hoping 2018 will be a really good year

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Here for the Reading, 2017:

You can get one year subscriptions, or subscriptions for calendar year 2017 or 2016 here. You can comment on any of our stories at The Forums

Dec 28, 2017: Fantasy, “Revolution Days“, by Gary Kloster

Xin believed that on Revolution Day, she would kneel in the courtyard of Prosperity House and feel the razor’s touch.

Instead, a black car brought her and Scholar Tan to Smiling House, home of the Honest Guard. Men with white uniforms and black clubs escorted them into the towering building where the enemies of the Path were interrogated, judged, and executed.

            On a hard wooden bench in a bare grey room, Xin waited.  She served the Common Path. She had nothing to fear.  But when she was called into the room, when she saw the man, the thing, tied to the table, she wished they had left her to the clean emptiness of her meditations, to her silent slavery.

Lead Illustration: James Zapata thumbnail this page: Fran Eisemann

Dec 15, 2017: Science Fiction, “Watchers”, by David A. Gray

Around Husker, the Eyrie was hushed, the night shift expectant.

Junior members listened closely to the banter between Husker and Murphy — they were the only two of the shift with the skillsets needed to Flask, to ride the input tide of millions of minds and datastreams measured in zettabytes, take in the street-level physical inputs of the smooth as silk flask body, and not end up with an electrical storm for a brain.

Illustrations by Giovanni Palumbo and  Maciej Rebisz Background by Daniel Fleites

 Nov 29, 2017: Young People of all Ages, “The Moon Fox”, by Amy Fontaine

  The little fox showed up after a big shooting star streaked across the sky.  He couldn’t remember who he was.  But he knew he wanted to run, to glow, to leap through the air.  But he also wanted to please all those very strange people, and they didn’t want him doing any of those things

 Nov 20, 2017: Science News and Information, The Size-Luminosity Relationship in Extra-Galactic Astronomy, by Alex Drozd

An article on the curious case of the density range shared by all modern-day elliptical galaxies. Some physical process we don’t understand is driving all elliptical galaxies to evolve towards a certain common density. Is this an attribute of galaxy structures themselves, or a consequence of an undiscovered physical law? The size-luminosity relationship is a mystery – evidence of a major trend that astronomers never would have expected. Alex Drozd explores the phenomenon.

Nov. 14, 2017,A Trip to 3rd and Starlight: An Interview with the Editor

We interviewed Robert B. Finegold, M.D., AKA Dr. Bob, the editor of 3rd and Starlight, an anthology of new voices in science fiction and fantasy.  He is our assistant editor for the Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales department.  In emails I address him as Doc, but secretly I think of him as First Lensman Finegold. His kickstarter for this year’s Starlight Anthology – 3^rd and Starlight —  has started today. The Starlight Anthologies provide wider audiences for edgy new voices in science fiction and fantasy. All authors are winners, finalists, or semifinalists in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. They have published in Asimov’s, Intergalactic Medicine Show, and Galaxy’s Edge, among others, been nominated for Hugo, Campbell, and the Sir Julius Vogel awards, and/or are winners of the Aurealis and the Jim Baen Short Story contest award.

∼ Happy Hallowe’en ∼

to All!

October 31, 2017, Myths, Legends, & Fairy Tales, “In a Field of Bone-Bonnets”, by Aimee Picchi

The old witch climbed into bed, drew her quilt to her chin, and spoke. The hut settled on its haunches, listening. “I know in my bones my end is near. You have served me well, with more care than I would ever have imagined. But you are a magicked thing.  You need a witch’s power to remain alive. I’ve used the last of mine to grant you three days to find a new witch.”

Then softly she mumbled some last advice.

October 18, 2017, Eldritch , “Bolaji Has a Heart“,, by Osahon Ize-Iyamu

When Bolaji’s husband died, people cast her aside as if she were dead, like she didn’t exist anymore without her man, that dead woman. But lots were drawn and it was her turn at the night job, and with it, all the things unseen in the dark, the loneliness of the task, the tales of Masquerades and demons, marauders and spearrangs that had a little too much fun spinning up people’s insides.  There were people that took their turn and came back different, never came back, died in strange ways. Who taught them to fear the night? Who taught them this darkness was evil, sinister, a hand trying to bind them? Why did the fear persist? She stood, shoulders high and back tense, eyes alert. And when everyone was shut in for the night, when it was pitch black, she set out.

September 30, 2017, Young People of All Ages, “The Noisy World Before the Doors“,, by Melion Traverse

If you were a dog,

if you were in a cage waiting for someone to take you,

to take you out the Good  Door and home with them,

if you could change your size and shape and color to please them,

of course someone would pick you right away —

wouldn’t they?

August 28, 2017, Eldritch, “The Glanconer”,, by LJ McLeod

It was too wild, all jagged rocks and sun-bleached driftwood. But it suited me, this beach and this night, a night one could believe in monsters….

Just as the last of the sun disappeared I saw him. He emerged from the grey waves dripping wet and perfect. His hair was black as sin and his pale skin shone like the moon. His body was slender and his face all strange angles, but he was heartbreakingly beautiful. My Irish grandma had told me the old stories and I could see the danger — but his fathomless black eyes fastened on me, ensnared me.

August 24, 2017, Fantasy,  “What Fools These Immortals Be“, by Evan Dicken

I’d only glamoured him so I could get a better look, maybe ask a few questions, but when I looked back the man was dead. Riding a storm down from the snowline, cloaked in swirls of wind-driven ice, I went to find his family, to explain, to help. But when I found her sitting next to the embers of a dying fire, she was cursing the storm, the unseasonable cold, the dying crops.

She was cursing me.

August 18, 2017, Science Fiction,  “The Icy Breath of Enceladus”, by Liam Hogan

The stars are hard diamonds against a jet black sky and yet still it snows — not from clouds: in the near vacuum there are none  — from the geyser two klicks away, the ice crystals sent high above the crusted surface of Enceladus.  The falls are heavier now that the geyser is getting closer. Much closer. Two hundred kilos of ice crystals and water vapour every second

The one thing we never expected, we didn’t plan for, when we established our base at a ‘safe’ distance.

July 21, 2017, Young People of All Ages, “Tree with Chalicotheres”, by Vicki Saunders

Magda practically lived in the tree, and she wouldn’t leave it to the mercy of Harris and his chain saw, in spite of Carla and her pizza bribes, policemen, firemen, dire threats from Child Services, rain, hunger… and that beast from the Paleolithic.

July 8, 2017, Young People of All Ages, “The Stork and the Crone“, by Barbara A. Barnett

What was this woman doing disturbing Deifilia’s nest on the belfry?  Offering frogs and asking for a baby for her daughter!?  Hah!  From the looks of the old crone she probably  wanted the infant for some unsavory purpose. Perhaps to boil into a stew.

No deliveries for her.  Deifilia was sure of that.

June 24, 2017, Fantasy, “Conspiracy in Theory and Practice”, by Mike Reeves-McMillan

The dignified woman in gray and the little man in loud tweed were both in Lincolnsville about the goblin reports.  To her they were marsh gas and poppycock.  To him they were certain proof of his theories.  And he had plenty of theories.

The battle lines were clear, but the outcome was not.

June 7, 2017, Science Fiction,  “Mistress Molly and Krell”. by Jared VanDyke

Scout Krell hadn’t expected to crash land on her first mission.  But then she hadn’t expected a pack of frenzied humans to stuff her infiltration pod with beer and stumble off into the woods with it.  To get it back before she froze in the snow would require psionic contact with these primitives who reeked like spawning pits and perceived an interstellar pod as a beverage locker.

The sooner it was over, the better.  But then, she hadn’t counted on Mistress Molly.

May 31, 2017, Eldritch  “The Undine & Pain’s Brother“. by Lucia Iglesias

The Undine is a pain-artist  In the perpetual dusk that haunts the caverns, she strains the shadows for prey, seeking her next masterpiece. The stranger who sweeps from the shadows, his smile pale and puckered as a scar, his breath spiced with smoked marrow and charred bones, offers her a spoilt city to paint in pain, on one small condition,

May 28, 2017, Fantasy  “Souls of Dinosaurs“. by Alexandra Balasa

Iulian has hunted this soul for eight years, eight long and painful years. It is a horror dredged up from his nightmares to hear it so close. . But Iulian is the Empire’s bloodhound, and tonight he must take back that soul.

April 28, 2017, Science Fiction  “Defender of the People”  by Bojan Ratković

Nemesis bragged about his hacks –  cash machines spitting out currency,  CEOs donating money with no recollection of doing so, government ministries leaking data.  And now the cy-brain hack that drove Henry Muross to jump to his death from the roof of his own skyscraper had electrified protesters to the point of revolt.

It was a blow to the Special Taskforce. People were saying Nemesis had supporters in police and government. The Taskforce was turned over to Marcel.  But who was Marcel?  And who was Nemesis?

April 26, 2017, Science Fiction  “Weatherbuns”  by Diana Hauer

“Rudolph, is that you?” bellowed the old man. The wind was starting to pick up again, blowing his baker’s apron behind him. Sandra could see the code of her Autumn Day shredding under the power of the storm. The bubble of calm was shrinking fast.

“I hoped I’d be the one to bring you down, lunatic. Now here you are, in my bakery.” Weatherman Fawkes laughed and strode forward, unconcerned as the clouds closed in on him. “And it’s not even my birthday!”

March 29, 2017, Fantasy  “Sweeter Than Lead”  by Benjamin C. Kinney

She stood atop the wall and stared at the shifting black towers of the Nameless City, as if this time she might spot the shadows of its bygone masters. She flexed her toes against the rampart’s top, the basalt as cold and solid as ever. Only the wall and her vigilance held the City in check, but one of those would not last.

March 25, 2017, Literature and Media:  “The Essential Fairy Tale”,  by

Sam Muller

An article on the dark side of fairy tales…

The original villainess of Snow White’s story was her mother.  Grimm Brother’s first edition was faithful to the tale they heard and recorded, the tale of a mother who orders the murder of her adolescent daughter out of jealous vanity and devours what she believes to be the dead child’s lungs and liver…

Feb 27, 2017, Fantasy: “Repo Priest”, by Joel E. Roosa

“In here. Name’s Ben Wilton.  Been possessed thoiteen times now.”  She held out her crosses as if they were shields, and shuttled backwards.

            “Ma’am, it’s not a vampire.  Crosses won’t help.”  Father Belloch unlocked the decrepit old door, and let it slowly creak open.

            The walls were covered with blood-red heretical writings, curses, evil symbols, and dirty limericks. The green ooze covering the floor added a foul smell to the overall ambience. What he didn’t see was the victim in question.

            He rummaged through his backpack and brought out a small umbrella.  He popped it open and stepped cautiously through the doorway. 

Feb. 18, 2017: Science Fiction:”Ghosts of Bunker Seven“, by Derrick Boden

Her skin was mottled blue, like storm clouds on a night sky. On days when the stares got to her, she’d throw on her old military coat and a pair of sunglasses.  If it were up to her, she’d be wearing a pair of concrete shoes at the bottom of the surf. The bacteria coursing through her veins had other ideas.

And now, after all the cover-ups and slashed pensions, the brass was back. Calling for her to clean up their mess again.

Jan. 31, 2017: Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales: “Thief or Felon Bold“, by Alter Reiss

She laughed. “We are within the hill and beyond the stream that stains like blood,” she said. “I will tell you now one true thing: when you bargain with those who live within the hollow hill, you give us things which it amuses us to take, and we give back things which it amuses us to give.”

Jan. 30, 2017: Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales: “Fruits of Victory“, by Jonathan Shipley

In the darkness overhead, Ilianthe saw a point of light flash into being.

  Flash and hold steady. Another way station in the void. Another star, created of angel light and dragon fire. Their victory allowed them to create stars, to reshape the Cosmos  Hundreds more would be scattered through the darkness of the heavens, and the Holdings would no longer hang cold in the lightless emptiness.  Yet victory had not brought peace.

Jan. 26, 2017: Science Fiction: “In Zarbok’s Kitchen“, by Matthew F. Amati

“Tell him no! Absolutely not!”

I groaned inwardly.

In my six years as sous-chef at Zarbok’s Of Aldebaran, I had told Chef Z again and again that the customer is always right.

But Zarbok was an auteur. You don’t get to run the galaxy’s only fifty-star restaurant by compromising your compound vision.

Jan. 25, 2017: Fantasy: “With the Breath of his Bare Hands“, by Tyra Tanner

Elu smelled demon.

It was a raw scent, like blood in the mouth. The smell that promised a belabored death, a clawing death, a fangs-upon-flesh death.

Sometimes, the memories of his ancient heroics played themselves out in his mind, and the gore colored his sight, but the scent of demon was always there.

It kept his fear alive.

And fear had kept him alive.

Jan. 24, 2017: Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales: “Black Annis and the Barguest“, by Sarah L. Byrne

They call me Black Annis, the village folk do.   I walk the woods alone, my voice gone dry as old leaves, and I’ve not forgotten how to make me a glamour when I need one, with claws of iron and hair like duckweed.

But what does that do against a bargeust from the lands to the north, fangs like blades, breath a bellows blast, eyes of flame?

Jan. 11, 2017: Science Fiction: “A Meeting of Spirits“, by Russell Adams

I just knew the lights were looking for me, so I ran for my life and forgot about that old played out Sun Lizard silver mine. Suddenly I was lying at the bottom of a fifty‑foot shaft.

I hope I got a decent funeral.

 I was instantly stone cold sober, and that’s when I figured out the lights hadn’t been looking for me. Stupid idea, aliens flying across the universe to get back a few goddamned gold nuggets.

But I wasn’t wrong thinking they were looking for something.

lead illustration: “By the Light of the Moon” digital illustration © Eugenius330   Textures courtesy of Renderosity.com

Jan. 10, 2017: Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales: “Godmother Death”, by Kate O’Connor

At first, I thought I had been sent for her. She was so very small, barely a breath in her tiny body.   But no, it was her mother, eyes fixed on me, on the tipping point between life and death. And her mother said, “Will you look after her?”

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digital painting “I Waited”, by Kim Myatt

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Dec 31, 2016: Science Fiction: “Life, Or Something Like It”, by J. Michael Neal

Salazar Niskanen had just initiated the burn that would take him out of the system when a voice he’d never heard before began a conversation with him.  It was his ship, and she had some unexpected news for him.  

Dec 29, 2016: Fantasy: “On Rising One Snowy Evening”, by Karen Bovenmyer

When she clawed her way up out of the frozen earth she tried to gauge how much time had passed – were all her kin asleep, gone this time?  Her husband had died before his time and she had vowed never to leave her children, for death or nobody — she’s always come back when they had need of her.  

Dec 28, 2016: Young People of All Ages: “Dead Things “, by Lawrence Van Hoof

My grandmother picks up dead things. She brings them home. Sometimes she scares people because they don’t understand. Nobody does. Except me. And that’s the scariest thing of all.

  Lead illustration “Peregrine Ghosts” photograph © Dave Cox

Dec 17, 2016: Science Fiction: “The One and the Many”, by William Ledbetter

Opono had spent the entire first third of her life convincing peers and family that there was sentient life in the cosmos and she could find it. They had finally believed her, financed her, and some had even contracted future offspring to combine with hers so their lineage would have memories of the momentous occasion. She had failed them all.

Dec 3, 2016: Fantasy: “The Tears of the Dead”, by Mark Rookyard

I think Father has forgiven me now. He’s been telling me of upstairs, where people live in buildings taller even than Joe’s tunnel. He says they have ‘windows’, big holes filled with glass that they can look through and watch the City. He says there is no sludge up there, and people have soft skin and clothes that aren’t torn and muddied. He said he once saw one of the Four that came on the Ship and rule over the City with an iron fist. I don’t know what iron means…

Young People of All Ages: “Sea Full of Stars”, by Siobhan Gallagher

digital illustration by Alexander Rommel

Zef was finishing up repairs on the space telescope when a stream of glittering, translucent bodies passed overhead.

Hallowe’en 2016, Eldritch,  “Mr. Pony”,  by Stephen S. Power

The bus wheezes to a stop, the door squeaks open, and Mr. Pony trots on.

This time, the bus isn’t empty.

All the way in back, a skull mask peeks out of the last seat.

He’s always there, you just can’t always see him.

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Happy Hallowe’en

Oct. 18, 2016, Myths, Legends, & Fairy Tales: “Laila Tov — Good Night — “, by Robert B. Finegold, MD

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  The small sward of earth and patchwork hut where the crippled tailor and his demon bride once lived was shunned for its evil, or so the villagers would claim.

But whether it was for the evil that once dwelt there or the evil that was inflicted upon it —

none would say.

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Sept 10: Science Fiction, “Word from Home”, by Mark Rookyard

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They didn’t hear it, but it was always there.

Then the ship from home arrived, with the people from Earth.

And some of them heard it all too well.

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          photomanips and digital illustrations by Fran Eisemann

Oct. 4, 2016, Eldritch: “My Heart Is a Prayer”, by Ryan Row

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My heart is a prayer.

My heart is a temple, is a church to an absent god.

Is an egg for all the misery of the universe…

Oct. 1, 2016, Science Fiction: “Mobius”, by Elian Crane

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If Ahab captained a starship 

— a brief, lyric vision

Sept. 25, 2016, Science Fiction: “Leon’s Last Meal”, by Shayna Coplan

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Leon liked human law.

Just not the meals it served him.

But there was someone who decided

to help improve the situation for him.

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Sept. 22, Fantasy: “Hunters of the Dead” by Laurie Tom

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When the wild magic meant to the win the war backfired, the king abandoned the people of the wild borderlands. Now there were only hunters between the living and the wandering dead.

Sept. 19, 2016,  Science Fiction: “Time Trial”, by Liam Hogan

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The device appeared in his parlor.  He was only trying to make it work.  And now here he was, somewhere and somewhen, charged with perverting the  course of time and space.

July 27, 2016: Science Fiction:  “How Your Mother Killed Me”, by Evan Dicken

Illustration: “Star Citizen” photomanipulation by Enrico Frehse

A quest of many lifetimes begins with a single slice

July 24, 2016: Science Fiction — “Negotiations”, by Matthew J. Streett

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Where does the commercial domain end

What can it take when you’re not looking

How do you get it back

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July 18, 2016: Stories For Young People from 4 to 499: “The Mountain Farmer’s Bootlace”, by David Sklar

Sometimes, when you’re planting mountains, you may not notice the little things.

June 18, 2016: Eldritch: “The Rental Heart”, by Kirsty Logan

June 14, 2016, Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales:  “The Wild Hunt of Sliabh Mannan“, by Philip Brian Hall

When a Goddess asks you to stop a God…

June 8: Fantasy:  “Gatekeeper, What Toll?“, by Mike Reeves-McMillan

Photograph: “The Final Gate” by Mark Humphreys

 June 6, Science Fiction: “Derelict“, by Derrick Boden

What you remember when you forget everything else

Illustration: “Legacy” by Norbert

June 4, Science Fiction: “Mister Bob“, by Dan Campbell

Like it says on the door, when you need to know the unknowable… ask Mister Bob

Illustration: “Crab Mutant Creature“by sParzZ

The price of change

Illustration by Mark Purzycki

Stories for Young People from 4 to 400: The Lady and the Moon, by Matt Dovey

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Why we must love the sea

illustration by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

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April 25, 2016: Science Fiction, Sonical — Locker X     This fractal animation video was created by Brian May.  He wrote the music first.  While writing it, images of science fiction scenes came to him, and inspired him to make the video! Sonical — Locker X has found it’s way into six festivals so far, in Germany, Australia, UK, Martinique, and Hong Kong! Sonical Locker X images and sound  © Brian May

April 23, 2016: Fantasy,  “Lacrimae Knows“, by C..J. Jessop Even in the dark, especially in the dark, she knows.

illustration by Omnia

April 9: Science for Young People from 4 to 400: “Touching the Stars – Primordial Hydrogen”, by J. Eckelkamp

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A very short history of our universe, and a cool experiment you can do at home with Hydrogen, that very ancient element that was created just about at the beginning of the big bang — nearly 14 billion years ago.

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      April 9, Science Fiction: “With the Taste of Oblivion in Her Mouth“, by M.E. Garber

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illustration: “Cosmic” © Leozo

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                March 23, Fantasy: “Dawn Blossom“, by John Eckelkamp

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March 6,   Fantasy:  “The Magpie of Souls” by David Tallerman

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Sword, sorcery, and enchanted castle

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  March 5,  Myths, Legends, & Fairy Tales:  “Out of Brambles“, by Leenna Naidoo

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A short, spooky Halloween story to make you smile.

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Feb 28, Eldritch: “The Clockwork Sky“, by Alexandra Davydova, translated by Anatoly Belilovsky.

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Repairing the World, one page at a time…

And here it is in the original Russian version: Нажмите здесь для языковой версии русской..

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Feb. 27, Science Fiction: “Boomerang Zone”, by Robert Dawson,

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When even that thin lifeline is cut, what do you rely on?

Illustration “Make a Wish” by Karim Fakhoury, photographs courtesy of NASA

  Feb. 17, Science Fiction, “Then We Stood Still“, by Bojan Ratković

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An homage to the works of Isaac Asimov

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Digital Painting “Silence” by Priya Johal.

Feb. 14, Eldritch, “Lunatic“, by Kate O’Connor

· Oh, what the moon can do to you… · · ·

Photograph, “She, Eidolon”, ©Jennifer Rhoades

Photograph of Moon © Wyldraven

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Feb. 10, Interviews, A Talk with Howard David Johnson   

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We talk with David about his latest projects, and he shares with us special previews of his paintings of Norse mythology he’ll be sending on international tour, and images from his latest project — a fantasy book on Atlantis.

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David combines media and legends to bring us his own take on the fabled city.

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Feb. 10, Science Fiction: “Bob, JustBob”, by Liam Hogan.

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  A reprise of the story of Bob, who carries a spaceship in his pocket.

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        Jan 23, Eldritch:  “Tryst”, by Brian K. Lowe —

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Why won’t you forsake me, oh my darling?

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photos of women © Peter Allert

photo of stairway © stengchen

photo of candle © Jeet Sen

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            January 14, 2016:   Science Fiction:  ” A Walk in the Sun”, by Geoffrey Landis

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  Reprise of the classic hard science fiction story.

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January 5, 2016:    Article:  “A Practical Guide to the Proper Positioning of Space Stations”, by Nancy Fulda —

For those of us writing a story that includes a space station, or have a space station but just don’t know where to park it, here is a handy little article to help out.

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January 4, 2016:  Eldritch: “The Wendigo”, by Algernon Blackwood,

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 The classic, chilling tale

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illustrated by Cathal Ó Hanlon and Alexandre Mahboubi.

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Midnight, New Year’s Eve, 2015 into  2016.

Greetings and Happy New Year.  Here is the very first of our stories — Fantasy: 

“TO THE MONSTERS WITH LOVE”, by A. Merc Rustad,

A short wild ride.  Have fun!

illustrated by Rob Shields  

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