Category: science fiction

The Sympathetic Universe Part 4

Photo by Jens on Pexels.com

Ta tipped spears. Spears killed mammoths. The tribe shared mammoth meat with Ta. Ta wove baskets. Baskets carried nuts and berries. The tribe shared nuts and berries with Ta. Ta had two children, Ko and Da. Their fathers were not around, but she didn’t need help. She had plenty of food from her basketmaking and…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 4

Mycon Clamn, King of Mars

This artist’s impression shows how Mars may have looked about four billion years ago. The young planet Mars would have had enough water to cover its entire surface in a liquid layer about 140 metres deep, but it is more likely that the liquid would have pooled to form an ocean occupying almost half of Mars’s northern hemisphere, and in some regions reaching depths greater than 1.6 kilometres.

In 2046,  tech entrepreneur Mycon Clamn established a Mars colony. It was the first time in history a western civilization established a colony without displacing or subjugating anyone, and was for that and many other reasons a cause for celebration.  Being in complete control of the space travel equipment required to access the colony, Clamn’s company…… Continue reading Mycon Clamn, King of Mars

The Cleaners: Epilogue

Sitting on the cold cement floor of my cell, I tried to lose myself in the exquisite lunch perched on my bed. Roast chicken, roasted on a bed of… Sweet potatoes with wine… White wine, interestingly. I would have used red wine, but I had to admit that Krystal Feeder’s choice may have resulted in…… Continue reading The Cleaners: Epilogue

The Cleaners Part 37: Disruptive Technology

For the third day in a row I was glued to my computer, trying in vain to figure out if I had saved everyone or doomed them. “This apparently unassuming old woman, former Internet celebrity ‘Angry Grandma’ is the brains behind the fall of democracy and free enterprise and the rise of totalitarian techno-communism. Some…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 37: Disruptive Technology

The Cleaners Part 36: Placing an Order

I jolted up in my bed, but stopped at the scraping stabbing pain in my hip. “Diane!” Shouted a Caretaker beside me, “please be careful! You have a lot of healing to do. You’re lucky you don’t need surgery!” This was not my bed. I grimaced and eased myself back down. Then I took in…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 36: Placing an Order

The Cleaners Part 35: The Dream

The light was so bright. I raised a hand to my eyes, but I still couldn’t stand to open them for all the blinding brilliance. “Diane” said my husband, taking my hand in his, “It’s all right.” I tried opening my eyes again. It didn’t hurt anymore, but there wasn’t much more to see. White…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 35: The Dream

The Cleaners Part 33: The Other Grandma

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

Abruptly, I realized I had not spent this much time looking directly at Kaitlin even as her hostage. Somehow it hadn’t even occurred to me at the time that I might be her hostage. It seemed so transparent that Henry was leading the show. Now in my own invaded dining room I felt like I…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 33: The Other Grandma

The Cleaners Part 32: We Must Stop Them

“We have been watching you for a long time, Diane,” said William, staring out from behind his :). He spoke haltingly, as if repeating words heard from a silent other speaker. “You have already been told this in part, but the truth is, you are an object of immense interest on the Helpernet.” William paused…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 32: We Must Stop Them

The Cleaners Part 31: My Friends

At first I was touched by the immediacy which Christine made time in what must be a terribly busy schedule to speak with normal people, but I had to remind myself that I was not a normal person. “Diane,” chirped Christine, curt but pleasant. “I am so glad to hear from you after that awful…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 31: My Friends