I’m currently reliving a youthful passion for science fiction – check out light-hearted time travel, horror, and alternative reality short stories published on external websites below.
Short Stories Published in ezines
Short stories in published books/eBooks—some viewable—can be seen below by following this link.
I am Mary (published by The Colored Lens)
This morning is not good, like yesterday. Mr. Jones is unwell. He hasn’t been well since we came here. I am sad about that. I am a wife, Mary, Mr. Jones’s wife. I used to call him ‘Bob’, but everyone here calls him ‘Mr. Jones’, so I do too….I love Mr. Jones.
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Modernity (published by Spank the Carp)
Richard had completed his training contract, and was now a fully-qualified solicitor. Yet once the euphoria had faded, he began to have doubts. Had all the hard work been worthwhile? What future did the law have in an increasingly technological world…?
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Zap! (published by Antipodean SF)
Would you believe it, we’ve had a murder! A lightyear out, fourth roster, yours truly Steve Mack as captain, no help or advice from anywhere, and we’ve got ourselves a corpse.…
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Seen it before (published by Bewildering Stories)
“Well, how do you find us?” The Director looked at Siu-mei sharply through her heavy spectacles.
In truth, Siu-mei was disappointed. The scuffed carpet, the faded paint; altogether, the Starway Centre could do with a revamp. And the Director’s office, crowded with memorabilia and overlooking London’s Russell Square through an ivy-framed window, looked aged. But her youthful enthusiasm surged back. “I’m just so glad to be here,” she said simply….
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Asset class (published by Antipodean SF)
“We recommend a fully-diversified portfolio for a person — Ahem! — for a family,” the adviser nodded to Marissa sitting by Sullivan’s side, “at your stage of life.” With his greying hair, gold ring and comfortable paunch, the adviser was in fact of a similar age to his clients.
“What would that mean?” Marissa wanted to know….
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Doing business (published by The Colored Lens, Winter 2018 Issue)
The lift was crowded, and Bertrand felt sorry for the tramp squeezing his way from passenger to passenger with his dirty hat. The fellow looked more deserving than some he could name. But it was money; Bertrand looked away, hoping the tramp wouldn’t get to him. Then the lift stopped with a, ding!, everyone else got out, and the tramp confronted him squarely. “Any change, gov’nor?”
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The chocolate bar (published by Antipodean SF, October 2017 Issue)
Mackay at last had the chance to raise the question of funding. But Henderson the Project Director just sat, fingers pressed thoughtfully together, gazing through the window at the rolling parkland outside the headquarters. His bald head segued into his round smooth-shaven face as if the whole had been an inflated ball. Strange, Mackay thought — he hadn’t noticed that before. A chocolate bar, lying among the papers on Henderson’s desk, was the only redeeming note….
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Blink! (published by Fiction on the Web)
Joshua was anxious. It was his third day in Melton’s litigation department, but he had nothing to do. And he had worried about having too much! Maybe the lawyerly life was easier than he had thought….
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Zeno’s Corporation (published by Bewildering Stories)
Dave couldn’t believe what the data was telling him. He checked and checked, even consulted his girlfriend Alicia who was better at stats, but he always reached the same conclusion. According to his time and motion study, his colleagues at Infinitesimal, Inc., were never working. How was that possible…?
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Induction (published by Hofstra Windmill, October 2017 Issue)
It was Peter’s first day at Subjugation plc, and as he looked around the meeting room with its truncheons and handcuffs in the glass cabinets around the walls, he was a little nervous. The HR manager who was welcoming him didn’t provide much comfort either….
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Woman’s world (published by Aphelion)
The thump of high heels on the carpet, that piercing laugh – it was the boss! Jimmy’s heart beat faster; he put aside the newspaper he had been reading. She would be passing Jake now, Jimmy could almost feel the Beast smirking at her. And now Bill – well, she wouldn’t look at him. The heels thumped still nearer. Jimmy tried to control his breathing. At any moment, the tang of perfume, the hand on his shoulder….
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Virtualised (published by 365tomorrows)
“Good morning, Robert, how nice to see you,” Jenny said. “What do you want to do today?”
Robert smiled as he settled down at his PC, even though he knew Jenny couldn’t see him, wasn’t even a person. She was the little chat-bot icon at the top right-hand corner of his screen – just the head with rather fetching wavy brown hair, and expressions and mouth movements that matched her speech. She reminded him of a girl he knew at school….
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The Large Trade Collider (published by The WiFiles)
Securities investigator Joe Kormak knew that he had to crack the case, the Attorney General was waiting. But how? He couldn’t understand the thing, let alone solve it. And having such young assistants didn’t help either….
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The curator (published by Eyedrum Periodically)
It was almost a textbook case of how not to communicate, Styles thought, trying to maintain his detachment. In his long career as a Hong Kong communications consultant he had not seen anything like it….
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Zeno’s train (published by Flash Frontier)
“You know Achilles and the tortoise?” asks the man opposite. In the station’s sunlight his hair, parted down the middle, glows like a halo, but his eyes are deep in shadow. A handlebar moustache, checked suit and waistcoat, and leather suitcase complete the picture – a traveller from another age. But this is Alpha Rail, with its ergonomically-designed seats, wi-fi, apps….
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The climbing frame (published by 365 tomorrows)
Susan led Tommy by the hand into the kindergarten forecourt, past the big red climbing frame. “No, not yet,” she said, dragging him back. “Wait until the break.”
“You know,” she said to Marjorie, who was likewise preoccupied with her son, “I don’t feel useful any more.”
“Yes, it’s hard to keep up,” Marjorie agreed. “Don’t, Jerry!”
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All too human (published by Farther Stars Than These)
The mood in the meeting room, dominated by the large screen, was subdued. Only the tall silver-haired figure of James sat unperturbed, yet like the others he was waiting. The younger executives fidgeted.
“How long’s it going to be today?” said Marty, unable to keep silent any longer. “It’s getting worse and worse.” Curly-haired and sharp-suited, he was the rising star of the company – and looked as though he didn’t want to be there at all….
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The difference-splitter (published by Bewildering Stories)
Sam was always cheerful, even though he got into dreadful scrapes. Situations that would have floored a lesser man seemed hardly to ruffle his bespectacled composure. Friends envied him. Yet beneath his calm exterior, Sam was already beginning to come apart. And that had consequences which were quite unenviable.
It all began with a rather intimate situation in which, to be fair, most of us would have been rather torn. “Do you love me?” Rita was saying at Sam’s flat one evening….
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City limits (published by AntipodeanSF)
Here in the Electoral Registration Office (Policy Section), you got some interesting assignments, Kevin mused. Like this one. He read the header in his Inbox — ‘Application from a small city’.
“Here, look at this!” he called to fellow analyst Sabina, although with the holo in front of them there was hardly need to call….
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Young blood (published by AntipodeanSF)
“What makes working in Nathan Rose so special?” the girl gushed.
Samantha saw from the badge that her name was Hermione. She looked healthy — rosy cheeks were always a good sign — just that she was a little slimmer than the firm preferred.
“Well, Hermione,” Samantha began, “that’s a very good question….”
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Wine-pairing (published by Papercuts)
“I don’t really like wine,” Jason said nervously. But Randolph, the senior partner, was already holding the restaurant door for him.
“Nonsense!” Randolph said jovially, ushering him in. “Everyone likes wine.”
Jason admitted to himself that he didn’t mind a tipple now and then; it was the pairing that made him nervous….
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Demand (published by Papercuts)
“More, Sir? They’re very good.”
From the dish, the waiter offered Rick a new choice; potato – parsley-sprinkled and glistening with butter. Yet the sympathy in his eyes belied the words. The spoon holding the potato stayed back.
Rick fought down his nausea, and struggled to control himself. His whole body wanted to reject the offering. But the sensors were watching – he had to appear resolute….
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Copy that! (published by Hofstra Windmill)
Robbie only had himself to blame when the policeman stopped him and said they would like to ask a few questions. He had been walking along minding his own business – and you just couldn’t do that, at least not in such a normal kind of way. His brother Mark had said so, and Mark was a lawyer. It was all right for him, Robbie thought bitterly – lawyers ruled…
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The bank account (published by Fiction on the Web)
It was at supper that Arthur dropped his bombshell. He wanted an investment account.
His son Chris who had come over for the evening was appalled. “Dad, you’ve already got a current account! God knows, getting that was hard enough…”
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Downsized (published by Aphelion webzine)
Tanya liked working in HR — except for the blood. Would there be any this morning? she wondered, looking down at her dress; dismissals often got messy. But the Department Head beside her, balding and bumptious, didn’t seem the violent type.
There was a knock on the door, and Tanya’s heart quickened…
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Dirac’s cellar (published by Farther Stars Than These)
Chief Accountant Masie Heisenberg was a very pragmatic girl. When she heard that the other Chief Accountant of Planck Industries was paid more than her, she went straight to her boss Max Fermi to complain. Max, however, was not a practical man. Instead of justifying her lower pay on grounds of seniority or relative performance or the randomness of corporate existence, he said, with a mysterious smile…
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The World Rejuvenation Project (published by Antipodean SF)
Harry was a little nervous now that he had arrived, he hadn’t expected something so industrial. True, he was in a comfortable waiting room, one of several greying but hopeful individuals sitting on upright chairs, yet the building itself seemed more like a factory than an office.
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Chained! (published by Fiction on the Web)
Steve hadn’t read the small print of his marriage contract, and with the honeymoon over, the breaches began mounting up. From his cubicle in the Finance department of Proscribed PLC, he glanced up at passing female colleagues, even talked to one of them…
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The custodian (published by Farther Stars than these)
“So you’re a…” the lady squinted at Clive’s business card, “a Chief Identity Officer. What do they do?” She laughed, sweeping back her tawny hair, which made the glass pendants hanging from her ears tinkle. A hint of perfume touched Clive’s nostrils.
Clive accepted a glass of wine from the drone, and explained…
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Josh (published by Bewildering Stories)
Mark Horton, IT project manager at PicoBank, was in trouble. And it didn’t help that the user, head trader Tracy, was also his girlfriend. His algorithm had failed, and Tracy was less forgiving than a normal user would have been…
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First steps (published by Farther Stars than these)
“I’ll take Toby to kindergarten today,” Michael said. “I’ll–”
A blizzard of update notifications swept down in front of vision, projected by his glasses. He tried to read them – some looked important, about the car – but he lost track, and took the glasses off in despair. Too late he saw Toby teetering at the top of the stairs…
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Supplied (published by Quantum Muse)
John was waiting in his barn for the new rep from Omnivore. Intermittent gusts of wind were driving the rain into the barn, splashing the piled carrots and beetroots. With the pitchfork, John shovelled some of the vegetables out of the wet. Then, putting the pitchfork aside, he stood back surveying the scene grimly. The weather wouldn’t put the supermarket rep – what was his name, Lesley-something? – in a good mood. That meant trouble…
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Alive (published by 365 tomorrows)
It was a struggle, but they managed to get the trainees ready just in time for the cocktail. “I don’t see why we need to bother,” Simon said as he surveyed the work. He had crumpled his suit, and didn’t have a spare. “We can just explain the firm to the candidates ourselves.” His partner Maggie, elegant despite the rush, would have none of it. “To attract the best law interns, we have to show them we have the best trainees.”
“And it’s not just getting them ready,” Simon went on, as if he hadn’t heard her. “They have to perform…”
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The cake-off (published by Pure Slush)
The three wedges of golden sponge were laid out, innocent-looking but deadly. Martin drew himself together, and marched out onto the stage. His rival Steve finished joking with the MC and gave Martin a mock thumbs-up, but he ignored it. This was his moment – he had to guess right.
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Positivisation (published by The Airgonaut)
Maeve found it hard teaching the young children to speak correctly, their minds were so freewheeling. And when it came to arithmetic…
“Let’s say it again,” she directed the class, “positively, now. Two plus two is four.”
“Two plus two is four,” the class intoned.
“And four is two more than two,” she said.
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Gunworld (published by Aphelion Webzine)
Johnny rounded the final hedge–and saw a body lying in front of the school side-gate, but he didn’t stop to gawp because Mr. Mann the janitor was standing over it. Mr. Mann was carrying a shotgun, and the edgy way he was looking this way and that showed he meant to use it. Johnny had only a .22 in his school bag, worse luck! So he ducked smartly back behind the hedge.
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Beans on toast! (published by Sediments Literary Journal, Issue 8)
“He’s still holding out, sir,” Ken said. “Keeps insisting he’s French, was swearing at us in French just now – at least I think that’s what it was!” The young man laughed nervously, indicating through the one-way window the suspect sitting in the brilliantly-lit interrogation room.
Malcolm, His Majesty’s Senior Inspector of Taxes, indulged his assistant for a moment. Then he said, “You didn’t know whether it was French?”
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The timekeepers (published by 365 tomorrows)
“Tell Mr Hoffmann, Jimmy,” said his father.
The noonday sun outside had been dazzling, and Jimmy’s eyes were still adjusting to the dimness of the shop. The old jeweller loomed formidably behind the counter. But at his father’s prompting, Jimmy piped up, “It’s my watch. The time is wrong.”
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You’re wanted (published by Planetary Stories)
On deep space voyages things can get pretty strained, but it was the first time I’d had a situation like this.
“I’m afraid he’s lost it, Captain,” Wheeler was saying. Wheeler is the ship’s engineer, a stooped, crabbed individual but good at his job.
“Lost what?” I demanded. I don’t have much patience with officers who don’t speak directly.
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The water boys (published by Planetary Stories)
“You go in there and you get it out.” Wilson’s jowls wobbled with his own vehemence. “No messing, just get it out and leave.”
Tom didn’t quite understand the intensity. “We’d hardly want to stay,” he said mildly. “All that radiation–”
“You know what I mean,” Wilson interrupted. “It’s a big job, Interplanetary has a lot riding on this.”
He stood up, and glanced through the window to the street below. “Bastards are still out there. It’s going to be a close thing…”
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Galleon (published by Beam Me Up)
There was a knock on the door. Annoyed, Premier Barnes of Epsilon Indi Ab hurriedly switched off the holo. The brilliant tropical light that had filled his office, the shouted Spanish, the sounds of creaking spars, all faded. He sat back in the green-tinged light from the windows trying to recover his composure. A familiar portly figure lumbered in. What did the fool want now?
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‘Timeslip’, in Dear Diary (published by Infective Ink)
21 September 2250, 23:05
I feel a bit self-conscious dictating this to my hand-held since her scanners are recording everything anyway, but here goes.
On second thoughts, maybe I’d better introduce my hand-held first. Say, Hi, Mina!…
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True to yourself (Published in The end of the world, Infective Ink)
Nate Wilkinson’s identity had been compromised. The red-haired, freckled, blue-eyed North London-dwelling young male average-height persona that he habitually lived – of certain fingerprint and retinal specifications – no longer registered on the sensors. And that made things rather awkward…
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Rated (published by Liars League)
Rick took deep breaths and tried to steady his shaking limbs, wanting desperately not to let himself go. He had prepared himself for this, but now that the time had come it was just overwhelming. In his distress, he hardly noticed that the little man in black was speaking to him…
Read more with audio MP3 version>>>
Wrong way round (published by Infective Ink)
Steve knew he wasn’t normal. And that was a problem because his job was to enforce normality.
His colleague Jake was normal. This was Jake now, bursting into Steve’s office with a big file under his arm. Slamming down the file, he took out a photo and brandished it at Steve: “Makes you fishing angry, this!”…
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Machines on top (published by Every Day Fiction)
At breakfast, his mind half on the car, Jack struggled with the kettle, but couldn’t make it work. The thing sputtered and fussed and wouldn’t come to the boil. Annoyed, Jack unplugged it and drank his tea tepid. And then he wished he hadn’t. You depended on machines, you couldn’t confront them, not like that…
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Suburbia (published by Elohi Gadugi Journal)
Arthur’s life was rather normal. Chief accountant of a small company, he lived in the leafy London suburb of Palmer’s Green. He had in his wife Heather a steady companion of twenty-five years. His journeys to work varied only with the vagaries of London transport. Altogether, he was the last person to whom something extraordinary should happen…
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Dreamtime (published by Every Day Fiction)
It should have been Schaeffer’s moment. He was on the bridge, before the gleaming instrument panel, and through the port he could see the revolving carousel and the stars. Nine years out from Earth the ship still looked like new. And she was his command…
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Sold (published by On the Premises)
This was Ron Brewer’s big moment. He had made his fortune, he wanted to spend it, and there through the window of the hover-cruiser was the house of his dreams, brilliant in the afternoon sun. Ron stopped the cruiser, and opened the door for his wife Tina. Getting out, Tina blinked at the brightness. The splendid double-fronted house stood in its own landscaped garden; a small fountain played in the center of the pond. “Are you sure, Ron?” she said…
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Demon story (published by Deep Water Literary Journal)
The story was born fierce and feral. It seized Ben and tried to possess him. Gasping, Ben fought off the threat, struggling to survive. But the story only clung more tightly, eager to consume him and sustain its own life. At last Ben broke free, pushing the story from the forefront of his mind. Panting, he stood there, shaken and trembling from the assault. What had happened?…
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Revenge (published by The Moon Magazine)
THE BROWN FAMILY is going to eat at their local steakhouse. It’s been a struggle to decide, because Sarah, the youngest, is a vegetarian and feels sorry for the cows. But the boys, Stephen and James, insist, and Mr. Brown also likes to have a good steak now and then–and why not now? It is quite tedious living with Sarah and having lentil soup and nut cutlets all the time. What did he bring the child into the world for?…
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Anything (published by The Moon Magazine)
The People Manager was so out of Jack’s class it hurt him to look at her. She was strikingly beautiful, thirtyish he thought, in a brown silk dress that shimmered as she spoke. And now she was looking at him. “So that’s it,” she concluded. “Anything goes.” “Anything?” Jack repeated numbly. He hadn’t been paying attention…
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A scent of lavender (published by Every Day Fiction)
In the New York division of the Financial Supreme Court (Automated Section), there were some odd cases in for adjudication today. The Director and his assistant were reviewing the files on holo. “What’s this?” the Director asked. “Spraying lavender water on Wall Street? That’s a crime?”…
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Portfolio (published by The Moon Magazine)
That summer we had a glimpse of infinity, Cathy and I. Being young we soon forgot what happened, and carried on with our lives. But as the years passed, I recalled that summer and thought about it more and more. The implications of the deal we struck then are coming home to me now…
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Granted (published by The Red Line)
That morning, George had quarrelled with his wife Heather. That always unsettled him—and what was his friend Robert saying? Robert, head of philosophy at Church College and as solemnly grey-bearded as an Old Testament prophet, was talking about levitation…
Read more Issue 10, Faith p11>>>
A consumer’s rights (published by Infective Ink)
Asking for my money back was a really terrible idea. I should have realised that when I saw the assistant’s face, but like a fool I persisted. “You’ve had your holiday, Mr Hargreaves,” the assistant said sweetly, but with a cold glint in her eye. “I know,” I said firmly, “but I still want my money back. Elsa.”…
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Guilt (published by Every Day Fiction)
Solicitor Roy Marsden wasn’t keen on animal cases. But in these sensitive times, fewer and fewer prosecutions involved people. With so much behaviour ascribed to medical condition, human guilt had dropped out of the equation. You had only to say, “Depression, M’lud,” and you were let off with a caution and a course of treatment
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Epigram (published by Every Day Fiction)
Over a drink one evening, Ethan and Alvin were debating the future of mankind. It was no joke. With quantum computing, robots could now do nearly everything — win a chess game, diagnose a disease, even pour a pint (Ethan nodded at the drone behind the bar). There was less and less scope for humans. Of course, there was still consumption, but that wasn’t nearly as much fun as you might think…
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Time enough (published by The Moon Magazine)
Time’s passing varies with our mood. When we feel good, time passes quickly. When we feel bad, time slows down. That’s how it is for most of us. But for Sancho it was the reverse. It didn’t start that way. For most of his life, Sancho experienced time just like everyone else. When he was arrested and the police were beating him, time passed slowly…
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A change of scene (published by AnotheRealm)
Annie liked theatre but Tom didn’t, and that was the trouble. They were in the London Pantheon, and the curtains had just parted to reveal a beautifully furnished stage. “Isn’t it splendid?” Annie whispered. Tom scowled. The play was an adaptation of Annie’s favourite detective story…
AnotheRealm.org is down
Roast meat (published by AnotheRealm)
I always follow Henry’s lead in culinary matters, he has so many ideas. Since I moved to Hong Kong he’s been quite my mentor, really. I’m basically an unadventurous sort of chap, but once in a while I do like things spiced up. And I can always count on Henry to tickle my tastebuds…
AnotheRealm.org is down
Flip back (published by Every Day Fiction)
Usually the algos handle a show like this, I’m too stretched, but Harry wants me to monitor this one myself. It’s T56, the morning mag everyone watches, and they’re interviewing someone called Joe Farrell. Is he is a celeb? No, Joe’s just an ordinary guy, forties, living in a suburban block somewhere. T56 is interviewing him on time travel…
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Side pocket (published by Every Day Fiction)
Dr Judith Marsham was growing old. Or at least it seemed that way. She could no longer concentrate, even on small things. Like when she touched her keyboard. (Judith was old-fashioned enough still to have a keyboard.) She had a momentary image of her finger coming down on all the keys, and on other places too, before settling on the key she had in mind…
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True love (published by AnotheRealm)
My friend Joey walked into the bar. He attracted two bids, chose one of them, and when the girl revealed herself walked off with her on his arm. That’s how it’s supposed to work – Joey is an attractive guy. The only thing is, I upped the winning bid myself. Of course, that’s not supposed to happen. But I work in the company that makes the sensors for those things, and it’s not hard to fathom out the software…
AnotheRealm.org is down
Short Stories in Published Books/eBooks
Timeless (published by Midnight Circus)
They needed another jug of Pims; Martin gestured to the waiter.
It was an endless English summer afternoon. The sun, motionless, cast a reddening light on the lawn and on their party as they sat on the verandah of the redbrick Victorian hotel deep in the woods. They had talked themselves out in this college reunion, old friends and girlfriends, and were just sitting in the breathless hush before dusk, waiting, waiting as the time lengthened….
Published anthology, ‘Summer 2017’, on Amazon.com >>>
No need to worry! (published by Pure Slush)
Siu-ming had been accepted for a Chemistry Masters in London, but he really didn’t want to go. Another year of Chemistry was bad enough, but on top of that you had the English weather, and the food as well! How could you survive for a year on fish and chips…?
Published anthology, ‘Happy’, on lulu.com >>>
Savage shore (published by Splikety)
From the prow of the motor launch, Nwokoye gazed out on the desolation. The waters of the Thames were narrower here, and the reek of death that hung over the shores was unmistakable. A corpse bumped against the hull….
Published anthology, ‘Literary Time Warp’, on Amazon.com >>>
Whatcha got? (published by Tigershark, Issue 14)
“Now, I want you tell me what makes your race special. Take your time, no need to rush.” The alien sat back, smiling benignly.
Rob was still scared, although not as scared as he had been when they’d whisked him up from the university campus. Then he had soiled his pants,….
Published ebook, page 13 >>>
The notice (published by Pure Slush)
I’m standing outside a Japanese restaurant on Hong Kong Island – I won’t say exactly where, it’s a little secret of mine! – and I’m reading the notice on the wall. It has a cartoon of a waitress crying, with the caption, ‘Please excuse us for the deficiencies in our service’.
Now, I am rather particular about words – I’m an English teacher here – and when the actual waitress comes, I say, “Your service hasn’t got any deficiencies – at least not yet!” I explain that I have been to her restaurant before, and the service has been fine. There is every prospect that it will be fine this time….
Published anthology ‘Inane’ on Lulu.com >>>
The descent (published by Simone Press)
As he neared the mountaintop, Peter smiled scornfully. Marjorie had been so anxious when she saw him off, her brow quite furrowed with concern. Yet barely two hours later, here he was, almost at the summit. The path up had been winding, not overly steep; he had not even taken off his anorak. He felt good – he could walk miles more like this. It was almost a pity that he would have to return. Still… He sent his wife a text, and put her out of his mind….
Published anthology ‘Selected places’ on Amazon.com >>>
Honey, I’m back! (published by Bards & Sages)
I know the suitcase is wrong, but I was thinking it would come right as the effects of the timeshare wore off. Yet it hasn’t. I’m Peter Thornton – and isn’t this my house the taxi’s brought me to? – but the label on the suitcase is still Michael Dwyer’s. Hopeless!
I suppose this Michael is my share-mate. I’ve just been on one of those timeshares – you know, the kind where you swap life impressions with some random person….
Published in July 2017 issue of Bards & Sages Quarterly >>>
Cruising (published by The Colored Lens)
The cruise seemed to have been going on forever. How many days now since they had left Vancouver? Brad leant into the breeze with his elbows on the rail, gazing disconsolately at the distant snow-capped mountains that slipped slowly past. And there was the curious way the sea seemed to curve up to the horizon, almost as if the ship sat at the bottom of a great bowl…
Published anthology on Amazon.com >>>
Surfing (published by Constellations Literary Journal)
“Hey, turn it down!” James said sharply as the reggae beat from the next cubicle grew louder.
Rick, the cubicle’s occupant, did not respond. The reggae continued, adding its syncopated base to the tinkly musak and the patina of other sounds that permeated the London office of Disruptive, Inc. In his irritation, James got up to deal with the problem directly. He marched three paces along the aisle, and slapped Rick’s desk…
Published anthology on Constellations-lit.com >>>
Rotifer (published by Pure Slush)
Mr Wilson’s announcement was a great disappointment.
“We’d been hoping for the white mouse,” Mrs Bennet said, sniffing. “Susie’s got one at home – show Mr Wilson the photo of Tibbles, Susie.”
“Oh, Mum!” Susie groaned. This was not the way to apply for a biology course. She wished she hadn’t brought her mother at all.
Published anthology on Lulu.com >>>
You have five (published in See into the dark, Slim Volume, Volume 4)
Leaving the office, Brian took out his mobile and quickly tapped in the password. But instead of opening to reveal its little array of icons, the screen remained locked. The message appeared:
‘You have five attempts remaining.’
Brian always found this message, with its pompous finality, annoying. What if you didn’t get it within five? Would your world end? Ridiculous!
Published anthology on Amazon.com >>>
Safe to say (published in Pilot, Sediments Literary)
At Jessie’s prompting, Martin rose to present the results – and the wind surged against the Boardroom windows. Directors looked at him questioningly. Martin took a quick breath, and began. At first it went well. With Jessie’s comforting presence the right phrases come to him easily – “giving the punters what they want”, “hitting the high notes”, “leveraging our assets”…
Read more – eBook page 11 >>>
Encounter (published in Starwheel Issue 1)
On Sundays, Benjy liked to play in the playground with his toy truck, pushing it over the bridges and platforms of the apparatus there. Today a cold wind was blowing, making his nose run, but absorbed in the game he just sniffed.
An odd little figure appeared …
Read more – eBook Issue 1, page 15 >>>
‘OMG!’ (published in Starwheel Issue 1)
Nate was chortling over his Whatsapp messages when the door of his room opened and Tim’s face appeared, wrapped in scarf. The two young men were students at Oxford’s Bodley College – Nate in English, Tim Philosophy. “Don’t know why you waste time on that.” Tim indicated Nate’s phone. “How do you know the people you chat with are real?”…
Read more – eBook Issue 1, page 19 >>>
‘A Caring Company’ (published in What went wrong? Legendary Stories)
“You’ve just joined us, Daniel, of course we’ll be looking after you!” The HR lady, Sandra, swept back her tawny hair and smiled reassuringly.
Danny didn’t believe that, he’d only just got out of his last company in one piece. But this was the induction programme, and what else would HR say? He nodded. “That’s good to hear.”…
Published anthology – Smashwords.com >>>
‘Lucky’ (published in In the Age of Miracles, Midnight Circus)
Barnes was trapped. The policemen had suspected him at once, and while the officer went to search his room the sergeant kept a watchful eye on him in the parlour. His lordship, in a state of shock, was mumbling over the loss of the diamond, “Can’t understand it… solid steel safe…,” and the housekeeper was trying to comfort the old chap with tea…
Published anthology – Amazon.com >>>
Fidelity (published by Nous Magazine)
Mark and Lily we might call them, although they did not need names – and quite a couple they were. They had been sleeping as their starship sped through the vastness, but now they were nearing their destination the command module woke them for the tasks they were required to perform…
Published anthology – NOUS Magazine >>>
Love you, ducks (published by Love and Marriage, Leann)
Sam knew he shouldn’t have left Jackie crying in the porch. His, ‘See you,’ over the front garden roses wasn’t enough, she probably hadn’t even heard it. But he had a right to go to the pub, he went every Sunday, didn’t he?…
Read more – eBook Leannan 2, page 105 >>>
The Third Way (published by FTB)
Roy Makepeace was hopeless with women. And he didn’t fancy men. So when Androgynous Inc. came out with its ‘Third Way’ line of androids, Roy was right up there for the first release…
Published anthology – Amazon.com >>>
Immersed (published by White Stag Publishing)
As she helped me into the pod the girl smiled, and shook her tawny-brown hair. Her co-therapist, a muscular tanned man, looked on approvingly. I stepped down into the warm saline solution, and then had a moment of doubt. “Is this safe?” I asked…
Published anthology – White Stag Publishing >>>
Making it real (published by The Broken City Mag)
It was the end of the shift. The airlock door opened with a hiss, stirring the cabin’s fine red dust which then settled gently in the low Martian gravity. A helmeted head appeared.
“Coffee, Pete?” Steve greeted the head…
Read more — eBook page 9 >>>
Smelling gold (published in The Dragon’s Hoard hardback)
Carter, the first mate, looked warily at the café entrance. Their spaceship needed a new navigator, and the candidate hadn’t shown. Carter was half hoping he wouldn’t show.
“This one’s a dragon-slayer,” Captain Mason said slowly, reading from the screen on his wrist…
Published anthology – Amazon.com >>>
Smartphones and zombies (published in Hazardous Material—Zombified Book 3)
Police chief Beth Randall was having a difficult day. She had scolded her daughter for texting at breakfast. And now one of her SWAT teams had slaughtered six civilians in a shopping mall.
“Was that really necessary?” she asked Rick, the team captain…
Published anthology – Amazon.com >>>
Booked it (published in Midnight Circus: Holidays Volume 6)
Stan and Tess were in their living room booking a holiday in Greece. The garden outside looked dull in the grey light of an English afternoon–and their relationship at that moment was hardly better. “Let’s just give it a try,” Stan pleaded. “It’ll be good for us.”…
Published anthology – Amazon.com >>>
