“The Tunnel” by Matt Cowens
His home colony faltering under an inhuman attack, Gregor’s world is rocked by a greater threat when he visits “The Tunnel.” [6min] Excerpt: Gregor slipped through the gap in the fence and into the open space of the park. He dashed forward and dive-rolled behind a steel climbing frame, then sprang up into a crouch. [...]
“The Time-Share” by Fred Warren
A dark intersection, a brutal attack, and a moment of panic. They said he was lucky, but there are penalties worse than life in prison. [5min] Excerpt: They time-shared me to Chuckie Lee Wilson after he died. If you take a life, you give your life. That’s the law now. No excuses, no shades of [...]
“Grand-Monster” by Sasha Janel McBrayer
Grand parents can seem very strange. They come from another time, after all. The scariest part about staying in my grandmother’s house was her dentures… or so I believed. [6min] Excerpt: Gram kept her teeth in a glass at the sink. The water inside the glass distorted them. I never could look at them directly. [...]
“Complete Artistic Control” by Bruce Boston
Lester’s state-of-the-art software gave him complete artistic control. He was just about to finish his first novel and become a best-selling author. Then, he got a call from the Publishers Bureau of Investigation. [7min] Excerpt: My implants were sizzling. I was on a roll. Words flashed through my mind. I watched as they transposed to [...]
“Aftershocks” by Craig D.B. Patton
A couple, grieving the loss of their son in Iraq, returns home to find their living room ransacked, and the police have no answers. (6min) Excerpt: It has been four years since their son vanished in a massive truck bomb explosion in Baghdad. Witnesses said he was standing right next to it when it went [...]
“Outsourced” by Shelly Li
Alienation: looking around and wondering when the footsteps of humanity had cooled from the earth. [6 min] Excerpt: The sign in the window says: “Offering Jobs to Non-Humans Only.” Oh my God, I think as I trudge along the street, walking and walking to find an employer that will hire a human. It’s been three [...]
“Pennangalan” by Paris E. Crenshaw III
A young woman comes to terms with a family inheritance in this flash fiction that will leave you shivering in its wake. Audio version also.
