A Sunny Day in Dallas

“Surely war’s worse than a few compromises?”

Louie sighed. “If Kennedy keeps appeasing them, they’ll just push for more.”

“He’s going to listen to you over advisers he sees daily? Doubt your letter will make it out of the mail room.”

He frowned. “I could stand on the route of the motorcade and wave the letter, like Chamberlain.”

“He could mistake it for a handkerchief. Didn’t someone give him an umbrella with Chamberlain on it?”

Louie leapt up. “I’ll buy a British one so the message is clear.”

I stroll to the payphone. “Rainshield Fumble is go.”

Seven Stones Vol 4 Released

Seven Stones, Vol 3: Innocence Lost, collecting parts 68-97 of my weekly swords-and-sorcery serial, is now available. Purchase it from your favourite retailer today.

Five of the seven stones within the circle have been purified. However, the path to unravel the next stone brings Reverend Kobb and his companions face-to-face with both an old enemy and the conspiracy that stole Haelen’s daughter.

As old secrets and new possibilities are revealed, each of the heroes must face the realisation that there are no black-and-white situations; and that the question might not be how can they purify the Stones, but should they.

Pick up your copy today.

Friend or Foe: A MenoPausal Superhero Short Story Collection by Samantha Bryant

Combining diverse characters with the comic book action, Bryant creates a series of tales of realistic people in a world of superhero physics.

Life as a Shadow Play

White supremacy is a crap thing to want. For the obvious reason; and for it not actually being an uplifting goal anyway.

Fuzzy Instruction

Why am I in here? Because my wife ain’t no good at instructions.

Been married a couple of years when she gets broody. We do what you do, but it ain’t working. Which puts a fold in the duvet.

So, I gets her a girl kitten—as a surprise like.

She loves it. Short story shorter: no stress, yes baby.

Ten months later, wheezing daughter. Doc says chronic allergies.

Wife’s in tears. Tells me I’ll have to get rid of her, and rushes straight to her mother’s.

Weren’t till I got home I realised she didn’t say which one she meant.

Guardian by Matthew S. Cox

Cox fuses psionics and cyberpunk with a political thriller, producing a tale that is equally detective procedural and high-speed action.

What is LARP*?

As mentioned previously, I LARP (live-action roleplay). My wife tried to explain what LARPing was to one of her friends without perfect success, so I’m sharing my description here for the benefit of anyone who doesn’t know what LARP is or wants ideas for how to explain it to others. Remember that moment when you’re watching a suspenseful film and the lead character is about to do something you think no sensible person would do? LARP is a way of finding out that you would do lots of daft things in the same situation without actually getting murdered. For a longer – and potentially more helpful – thought, read on.

A Mighty Tale

Jaspar Fuzzy-Breeks eased himself along the tunnel. Framed in the entrance, Lágr Rope-Bearer sat oblivious. The ground schuffed beneath Jasper’s feet, but Lágr seemed not to hear.

Almost at the tunnel’s mouth, Jaspar paused. Everything was still.

He eased his haunches and leapt.

His paws wrapped around Lágr’s throat. They rolled, each on top then underneath. Jaspar drove his back paws over and over into Lágr’s stomach.

Suddenly, Lágr shot free, his head slipping from Jaspar’s grip.

A rope-muffled shout echoed as Una the Deep Miaowing leapt away, Lágr dangling from her by the rope.

Jaspar leapt.

Then strolled away.

The Shadow War by Stephanie Flint

Flint expands her fantasy world without bogging down the action, creating an engaging tale of magical urban warfare that isn’t merely combat for the sake of it.

This book is the second volume in The Wishing Blade series. Possible spoilers ahead.

Less Than Dust

This short film made me think of both the Strugatsky Brothers’ Roadside Picnic and Campbell’s Music of the Spheres. But also raised a deeper dread: one of being doubly insignificant.