Short Fiction Archive

  •   Colonel Sassenach looked like quite the dandy in his brown uniform. “We dinna practice Christmas here,” I told him, “It hae been banned by law since the days of...1December 22, 2011

    We Dinna Practice Christmas Here, by Dave D’Alessio

      Colonel Sassenach looked like quite the dandy in his brown uniform. “We dinna practice Christmas here,” I told him, “It hae been banned by law since the days of…

  • [reus id="6967" meta=""] Uncle Peter died six weeks ago on Tuesday. But Aunt Julia kept on him—about the state of the garage where the daddy long legs tossed up cobwebs...3April 22, 2011

    Moth and Rust, by Tim Kane

    [reus id="6967" meta=""] Uncle Peter died six weeks ago on Tuesday. But Aunt Julia kept on him—about the state of the garage where the daddy long legs tossed up cobwebs…

  • This work of fiction is part two of a four part series. Read part one here.   —  The sunset over Riverside baked the sky in hues of copper, orchid,...3March 25, 2011

    Prophecy, by Stephen Dewey

    This work of fiction is part two of a four part series. Read part one here.   —  The sunset over Riverside baked the sky in hues of copper, orchid,…

  • Silly little king of kingdom, What does your crown bring? Can you find girls fairer? Can you hear more sparrows sing? Silly little king of castle, Seated on your throne....14February 18, 2011

    Seeing Ghosts, by Stephen Dewey

    Silly little king of kingdom, What does your crown bring? Can you find girls fairer? Can you hear more sparrows sing? Silly little king of castle, Seated on your throne….

  • It was two years since the end of war with the garuda. My friend and I were again sharing conversation and lentils beneath the shade of a tree. He loved...4February 4, 2011

    Two Friends, by John Payne

    It was two years since the end of war with the garuda. My friend and I were again sharing conversation and lentils beneath the shade of a tree. He loved…

  • Note: This is the second half of a story begun here, last week. This situation led to the sale of curiosities such as a wooden bed frame that makes men...0January 28, 2011

    Haunting House, Part II

    Note: This is the second half of a story begun here, last week. This situation led to the sale of curiosities such as a wooden bed frame that makes men…

  • Art felt relieved to discover his house stolen. Though Arthur prided himself on being a practical man he sensed something fundamentally wrong with the First House, although the would-be home...1January 21, 2011

    Haunting House, Part I

    Art felt relieved to discover his house stolen. Though Arthur prided himself on being a practical man he sensed something fundamentally wrong with the First House, although the would-be home…

  • Today marks Edgar Allen Poe’s 202nd birthday. Happy Birthday! To celebrate, were presenting our fans with a reading of the timeless poem “The Raven”.2January 19, 2011

    Celebrating Poe: The Raven

    Today marks Edgar Allen Poe’s 202nd birthday. Happy Birthday! To celebrate, were presenting our fans with a reading of the timeless poem “The Raven”.

  • EDITORS NOTE: Today we give you another poem celebrating Edgar Allen Poe’s 201st birthday on January 19th. Until then, “enjoy” this grim poem from Daniel Mullen. In December It was...1January 14, 2011

    Celebrating Poe: In December

    EDITORS NOTE: Today we give you another poem celebrating Edgar Allen Poe’s 201st birthday on January 19th. Until then, “enjoy” this grim poem from Daniel Mullen. In December It was…

  • EDITORS NOTE: For the next couple Friday’s we’ll be celebrating Edgar Allen Poe’s 201st birthday on January 19th. Hopefully we’ll have something extra special for you on the 19th too!...0January 7, 2011

    Celebrating Poe: The Hangman.

    EDITORS NOTE: For the next couple Friday’s we’ll be celebrating Edgar Allen Poe’s 201st birthday on January 19th. Hopefully we’ll have something extra special for you on the 19th too!…

  • The sorority barbarians came in at high noon, their voices raised and in need of a fix. Their leader was a scratchy-voiced junior with a 3.0 and blond hair and...1December 3, 2010

    Barbarians at the Cafe, by Charles Dickey

    The sorority barbarians came in at high noon, their voices raised and in need of a fix. Their leader was a scratchy-voiced junior with a 3.0 and blond hair and…

  • The Mexican Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a day dedicated to celebrating and remembering loved ones who have died. Altars adorned with offerings, called ofrenda,...2November 26, 2010

    Calavera, by Christian Martinez

    The Mexican Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a day dedicated to celebrating and remembering loved ones who have died. Altars adorned with offerings, called ofrenda,…

  • “The restoration is progressing as planned,” Dr. Alan Forsythe spoke into his voice recorder. This current project would be the crown jewel of his 30-year career as a renovative historian;...1November 18, 2010

    Living Room, by Daniel Mullen

    “The restoration is progressing as planned,” Dr. Alan Forsythe spoke into his voice recorder. This current project would be the crown jewel of his 30-year career as a renovative historian;…

  • Professional EMTs see disturbing things. 2November 16, 2010

    EMT

    Professional EMTs see disturbing things.

  • Self-Mummifying Monks Rather than seeking enlightenment, bhrastasakti seek annihilation. Rather than the cultivation of rta, the natural order, their practice leads to the cultivation of nirrti, the fundamental force of...0June 23, 2010

    Bhrastasakti

    Self-Mummifying Monks Rather than seeking enlightenment, bhrastasakti seek annihilation. Rather than the cultivation of rta, the natural order, their practice leads to the cultivation of nirrti, the fundamental force of…

  • This is the second part of Bixby Quartertail, a series of speculative fiction written by Daniel Mullen set in the world of Loaerth & Feywyrd. Part One can be found...0April 23, 2010

    Bixby Quartertail (2), by Daniel Mullen

    This is the second part of Bixby Quartertail, a series of speculative fiction written by Daniel Mullen set in the world of Loaerth & Feywyrd. Part One can be found…

  • This is the first part of Bixby Quartertail, a series of speculative fiction written by Daniel Mullen set in the world of Loaerth & Feywyrd. The rough waves between the...1April 16, 2010

    Bixby Quartertail (1), by Daniel Mullen

    This is the first part of Bixby Quartertail, a series of speculative fiction written by Daniel Mullen set in the world of Loaerth & Feywyrd. The rough waves between the…

  • Kuvaja began preparations to travel south. The journey would require two or three weeks, even though the road leads directly to Daayata. Kuvaja has originally planned to travel alone with...1April 5, 2010

    Road to Daayata, by John Payne

    Kuvaja began preparations to travel south. The journey would require two or three weeks, even though the road leads directly to Daayata. Kuvaja has originally planned to travel alone with…

  • “You want to see who?” asked the dirty barkeep behind the counter, his back turned to the equally grubby woman. Audrey spoke louder, but her voice remained barely audible, somewhere...2March 18, 2010

    The Girl From Brussels, by Daniel Mullen

    “You want to see who?” asked the dirty barkeep behind the counter, his back turned to the equally grubby woman. Audrey spoke louder, but her voice remained barely audible, somewhere…

  • Stuttgart, 01:15, 12Mar42 “Ich hab’s gefunden!” the soldier whispered to himself as he stuffed the fluorescently glowing canister into his satchel. Wilmot Schröder hurried along and heaved himself up and...0March 8, 2010

    Operation Omniscience, by Daniel Mullen

    Stuttgart, 01:15, 12Mar42 “Ich hab’s gefunden!” the soldier whispered to himself as he stuffed the fluorescently glowing canister into his satchel. Wilmot Schröder hurried along and heaved himself up and…

  • What a pleasure! I'm glad to see you again, and this time around lets chat some more about the Fey.0March 1, 2010

    Interview with Felix Sundown (Part 2)

    What a pleasure! I’m glad to see you again, and this time around lets chat some more about the Fey.

  • The feytroll Felix Sundown begins his long interview with Nevermet Press. Ask him anything.3February 8, 2010

    Interview with Felix Sundown (Part 1)

    The feytroll Felix Sundown begins his long interview with Nevermet Press. Ask him anything.

  • "Fool!" The demon stopped and looked down at the gash, one that would have killed a mortal man. It was already beginning to mend. "You cannot deny the inevitable. I have ruled the infernal realms and now I will rule this world!"0November 4, 2009

    The Binding of Mnemysyx, by Paul King

    “Fool!” The demon stopped and looked down at the gash, one that would have killed a mortal man. It was already beginning to mend. “You cannot deny the inevitable. I have ruled the infernal realms and now I will rule this world!”

  • The metal soldier charged towards the fat dwarf, an action that forced the flanking dwarves hands and pulled them towards him with the hopes of collapsing his flank. Seeing their thick hammers rising for a synchronized strike, Sentinel Five swept his sword-arm low and horizontally across his path. The sword swipe was so sudden, yet so strong and fluid, the dwarven warriors immediately dropped the heads of their hammers to block the vicious cut. The moment the dwarf to Sentinel's left lowered his hammer, the steel soldier raised his free hand level with his foe's face. A spring-loaded dagger jumped from his wrist and sank into the dwarf's skull.3September 11, 2009

    Changing Directives, by Matt Cicci

    The metal soldier charged towards the fat dwarf, an action that forced the flanking dwarves hands and pulled them towards him with the hopes of collapsing his flank. Seeing their thick hammers rising for a synchronized strike, Sentinel Five swept his sword-arm low and horizontally across his path. The sword swipe was so sudden, yet so strong and fluid, the dwarven warriors immediately dropped the heads of their hammers to block the vicious cut. The moment the dwarf to Sentinel’s left lowered his hammer, the steel soldier raised his free hand level with his foe’s face. A spring-loaded dagger jumped from his wrist and sank into the dwarf’s skull.

  • “What is this?” Jango sat up in the dark with a start. The dead silence, the acrid smell of mildew, the moisture on the back of his neck: all his...0August 14, 2009

    Jango–Dead Master Living, by Jonathan Jacobs

    “What is this?” Jango sat up in the dark with a start. The dead silence, the acrid smell of mildew, the moisture on the back of his neck: all his…

  • The overstuffed leather office chair protested loudly on its wheels beneath Laok’s weight. In their natural form, imps were rather light creatures – most being under three feet tall and composed primarily of hot gas and loosely concentrated nightmares – but it was no secret that Laok was immoderately obsessed with his “bargaining form,” Mr. Ambrose. “Besides,” Laok had argued on several occasions, “to sit in a chair properly, one must shed unnecessary shoulder baggage. Wings make the entire experience of relaxing substantially more difficult.”1July 31, 2009

    A Day with Mr. Ambrose, by Stephen Dewey

    The overstuffed leather office chair protested loudly on its wheels beneath Laok’s weight. In their natural form, imps were rather light creatures – most being under three feet tall and composed primarily of hot gas and loosely concentrated nightmares – but it was no secret that Laok was immoderately obsessed with his “bargaining form,” Mr. Ambrose.

    “Besides,” Laok had argued on several occasions, “to sit in a chair properly, one must shed unnecessary shoulder baggage. Wings make the entire experience of relaxing substantially more difficult.”

  • ... Caragen turned to face the crowd as a loud cheer erupted from his men. As he walked to the podium a noticeable amount of sweat beaded on the new Mayor’s brow, suddenly Caragen doubled over and began screaming, "Get it off! Get it off!" ...1July 10, 2009

    Stories in the Ether: The Ceremony

    … Caragen turned to face the crowd as a loud cheer erupted from his men. As he walked to the podium a noticeable amount of sweat beaded on the new Mayor’s brow, suddenly Caragen doubled over and began screaming, “Get it off! Get it off!” …