By Mehreen Ahmed Then the mountains spoke. Voiced it in chorus, on the ancient land of Turag. A world where trees walked, winds cried, rivers sang and the mountains talked. This place, not for humans to reside anymore, but for natural lives and artificial intelligence. Turag, yes, this place, because humans have long been obliterated, … Continue reading Pink Toenails
The AI Comes
By John David Hanna It had been several weeks since Philip Chambers, his friends called him Frenchy for unremembered reasons, fixated on the same dream. In the dream, some ambiguous character met him outside of his high school. The twenty-something-year-old was dressed … Continue reading The AI Comes
Christmas Contest: 3rd Place Fiction
"Christmas Presence" By Andrew Paul Grell “It’s time, Nick. Are you up for it?” Josh assessed the old man’s visage. It wasn’t like the old days. Larger territory. Vast increase in audience. Security. Changes in entrance and exit protocols. Not that any of that mattered; it was Nick or nobody. “It’s been a while since … Continue reading Christmas Contest: 3rd Place Fiction
Christmas Contest: Fiction 2nd Place
"Christmas Yet to Come" By Len Saculla Peter 181 BM pressed his button nose hard against the polyglass window and gazed excitedly at the winter sky above the capital city. His maternal grandfather, Aaron 797 BM, gently squeezed the boy’s shoulder, grinned like he was still six years old, and asked, ‘Can you see Santa … Continue reading Christmas Contest: Fiction 2nd Place
“Parliament; or Crepe Suzette”
By Thomas Page There was a nation called Newlandia which existed in a time not unlike our own. It had majestic coasts sprinkled with fishing villages. It had glens bearding mountains and mountains cutting into the skies. The little country had no reason to be recorded in history because it kept to itself and … Continue reading “Parliament; or Crepe Suzette”
Hungry
By Kυкι “кooкie” Urιe Grrrrowwwlllllll. The snow fell heavily, engulfing the little military transport and its two passengers in a world of whirling white chaos. The motorcycle half-track rattled furiously as it worked to propel itself forward in the face of the unforgiving winter. A young man, goggles and thick hood obscuring his … Continue reading Hungry
“Dr.Varbo”
By Nicholas Beaupre “Who did this?” He points to the board. Someone had erased parts of the lesson plan. The students stare back, their eyes shining in the purple light spilling through the window. His intricate model of the moons is half gone. Sighing, Dr.Varbo paces. No one says anything. He stops at the window. The … Continue reading “Dr.Varbo”
Big Fight in FortReal Chapter 1
By Chaher Alzaman Chapter One 0. A flying punch pushed through the cold air. It missed, but the fight carried on. Now there were more cheering and rowdiness in the crowd. The fight heated up, and the crowd engulfed more crowd. More punches were thrown, and the crowd asked for more. Outrageously, one of the spectators seemed to be moving … Continue reading Big Fight in FortReal Chapter 1
A Repetition of Fates
By Preston Beatty “It worked!” Kartyr couldn’t help but say it as he looked around the trench he was in. He couldn’t quite determine the date, but he was too excited to care. It took all the self control he had to not run and jump around with excitement. All of the effort he had put … Continue reading A Repetition of Fates
Story Contest 3rd place
The Braille Reader By Deryn Pittar “There’re feathers all over the floor, again,” Mother said, her voice cross and exasperated. “I’m heartily sick of picking them up.” Christina shook her head at this utterly ridiculous statement, considering they didn’t have a budgie or a parrot. Her mother had early-on-set dementia and often became confused. She … Continue reading Story Contest 3rd place
Academy of the Heart And Mind 