I just finished the second book in the One Way series by S.J. Morden. It's good, really good. Good in that way that made me feel like a super genius for knowing how the plot was going to work out, but even as it was working out the way I thought, I was totally riveted. …
Daddy Issues
"You know what's stupid?" "What?" "This ship," Bruno screeches as the shuttle shimmies in response to a psionic shock wave. He jerks the control stick to avoid a cephalopod tentacle and the Errant Knight barrel-rolls to the starboard. "Any other design we'd be invisible." "But we're not and go fuck yourself.' For Lei, this ship …
Crash Course in Landing
With a jolt, he is awake and watches the injector needle pull cleanly from his chest as white-hot adrenaline courses through his veins. “Welcome back sir, we will be crashing shortly," claims the jovial west-country-accented voice of his ship's system. Around him is the cyro-chamber and the stench of the chemical bath he called home for …
#110 Robert Zubrin
Origin: Stories on Creativity #110 Robert Zubrin On this episode of Origin, science and space author Robert Zubrin educates me on writing hard sci-fi, the history of the space program, and why we need to get to Mars. Visit www.bryanaiello.com for links to subscribe. Robert Zubrin, president of the Mars Society and author of …
It’s Whatever You Want
It looked the same, right down to the stars in the sky. He felt he could open the door and see Darla working the bar, pouring a glass of red, selling yesterdays fish as today's special. Like he was not eighty light years away crashed on an icy moon circling a dead planet, but that …
Looking for Someplace Better
A suicidal Thomas Scanlen scrapes a bit more rock from the initials he works into the soft moss covered stone. Next to his giant T.S. is an ancient bit of writing that could be Latin and next to it a bit of Celt. Satisfied he turns and faces the roar of water behind him. They say it …
What’s Up With Ceres
"Damn it Bob, why didn't you flip the power switch? Now they keep sending that satellite around to focus on us." "Phill please, there are two hundred thousand workers here trying to get a job done. By the time they send anyone to look, our mission will be over anyway. I'm too busy to lose …
A Momentary Snowflake
It's in this small moment that a universe exists A simple creation A flake of ice It falls with glory from the sky as everything Is and in a flash Gone Seeping into the fabric of a wool jacket like it never existed at all
Progeny of Daisy
Retired Navy Captain John Kelly has started his one hundred and twenty-seventh day in space. He has not slept in many weeks and needs to aim the surgical scalpel a second time at the matured plant in front of him, red leaf romaine. While doing so he hums a flat tone. The same tone he …
Hermes II
Art by martydesign - Arriving A transport ship swings down and enters the first runway gate. It moves slow. Its two plasma engines glowing a dull yellow. The craft’s designation on the grey hull is written in chipped white paint, it reads SF 92/902. A little boy sits on his daddy's shoulders watching. He asks, "is that …