Tag: Short Stories

Let’s Look at Your Planet Smells Like Wet Dog

I love this line, and the title came long before the plot of Your Planet Smells Like Wet Dog.

I wrote this story during the second quarter of 2018.

Background

The title or at least the idea of it came from a series of fan fiction stories I wrote during the 2010s. But this story has nothing to do with those, apart from the fact that the aliens in both instances are rather canid in both appearance and aspect.

Plot for Your Planet Smells Like Wet Dog

When Private Rachel Corcoran, a data specialist, arrives to work with a canid alien species to merge their database with ours, she commits an unpardonable diplomatic gaffe almost immediately.

Characters

The characters are Rachel Corcoran, her unnamed supervisor, the canid alien supervisor, and Rachel’s alien counterpart, Gray. There’s a third alien, but they never speak and I do not describe them at all.

Memorable Quotes

The three aliens standing with us were fluffy, with foxlike ears and pointed snouts. As one, they all tilted their heads to one side as they listened to the translation through their version of earbuds. I tried not to chuckle.

Their leader, who was reddish, spoke and we waited for the translation. “What does that mean?”

My superior officer was about to answer for me when I just said, “Forget it. I’m an idiot. I’ve got no diplomatic experience, and it shows.”

My superior added, emphasizing the first word, “Private Corcoran here is not used to the niceties of embassies. Her background is in data. She’s here to help you integrate your records with our own.”

“Yes, yes, of course. My right hand here is versed in such things. We are all anxious to see how our two technologies can merge.” The canid leader indicated a shorter alien with a kind of blue merle fur pattern. They were all canid, but at least they were wearing clothes. Thank God for small miracles.

“We’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” my superior said. Then she whispered to me, “Try not to make an ass out of yourself again, Rachel.” I nodded and they left.

Genre and Overall Mood

The genre is hard science fiction. And while the initial bit would make you believe that we might even suffer an attack for Rachel’s inability to keep her trap shut, it turns out all right. And so, the overall mood is positive.

Rating for Your Planet Smells Like Wet Dog

The story has a K+ rating. There is some very mild language in there, and at the start, it does feel as if things could go south rather quickly.

Takeaways from Your Planet Smells Like Wet Dog

It is a wonder, in science fiction, how anything gets done properly. And perhaps one of the biggest issues, I believe, is that there could always be someone a lot like Rachel, who would engage her mouth a lot earlier than she would engage her brain.

Oops. But at least she didn’t start an interplanetary incident. So, we’ll give her a gold star for that one. A really, really small star. Let’s not get carried away here.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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A Review of Blue Card

It’s time to look at Blue Card, another story where the government is a tyranny.

I wrote this story during the first or second quarter of 2018.

Background

Since for many people, it’s necessary to carry a kind of identity card, this idea sprang up relatively naturally and easily.

And now, given the current presidential administration, it could become a reality for even more people, heh. Not a pleasant thought, not one bit.

Plot for Blue Card

A blue identity card left in the street, a bit of litter, mars the otherwise ‘perfect’ world of a child of a couple who are members of an unnamed fascist party.

As the only deviation and ‘defect’ in her life, the girl fixates on this imperfection and obsesses over it until her curiosity gets the better of her.

Characters in Blue Card

The characters are the narrator, an unnamed girl in a distant, dystopian future, and the people of her society.

Memorable Quotes

There is a blue card in the street. It’s dirty and a bit folded. The writing is hard to decipher. The wrinkles in it make the printing hard to make out. But it’s there all right.

I stepped over it the first time I saw it, trying not to get my new shoes wet and dirty because it was right near a puddle. I was going to school for the first day of the autumn-winter term and I wanted to look my very best. That’s because we’re party members – or at least my parents are. And that means we need to set a good example. It would never do for me to look dirty.

The second time I saw it, it was a few weeks later. The puddles had frozen and it had been trapped in one of them, and that’s why it was obscured. There was a slight thaw and one corner of it was visible, peeking out of the side of the frozen puddle, as if it were a crocus.

Again, I avoided it; this time, I sidestepped it.

The winter came and went. The spring term began.

When the weather got warmer in earnest, I walked a different route so I did not see it. I walked through the town, showing off my clean coat and polished shoes, my fresh-scrubbed face and my two perfectly symmetrical braids. I knew I was being looked at. And I knew I was making a good example. Someone has to, after all.

Rating

The story has a T rating. There are a lot of not too pleasant things that go on in this one. You have been warned.

Takeaways from Blue Card

I had thought that this story was on Wattpad, but it turns out that it isn’t!

Although I believe I did make the rounds of querying it for a while there.

With a little expansion, I think this could become a rather good story. It’s a bit like The Resurrection of Ditte in a lot of ways. And, perhaps, the POV character will get a chance for atonement just like Edith does in Ditte.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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Let’s Look at None of This is Real

Check out None of This is Real.

I wrote this story during the first quarter of 2018. Although it may have been earlier.

Background for None of This is Real

It is entirely possible that I was thinking about the old Star Trek: Voyager episode, Fair Haven when I wrote this piece.

But do keep in mind: I never actually saw that entire episode! I just know about it from the internet.

Plot

Everything in Laurie’s life has the ability to change as she wishes, as a part of her overall entertainment program. This even includes what’s to be seen outside the windows of the offices where she works.

When she hires a new Vice President of Marketing, sparks fly. And as the café where they have lunch changes, so do dozens if not thousands of other little details.

But what’s real? Why, nothing, of course, except for Laurie herself. It’s just like the title says.

Characters

The characters are Laurie and Jason. The story is told entirely from Laurie’s point of view. She is the CEO of an unnamed company. Jason is a new hire, the Vice President of Marketing.

Memorable Quotes

Laurie stared out the windows of her high rise office. The view of Boston was, as always, spectacular. She waved her hand over the scene in a very deliberate way – left to right, fingers splayed, at eye level, and the outdoor scene changed to Jakarta. Another wave and it was Pittsburgh. Another and the scene became Nairobi.

A cough behind her interrupted her reverie. She turned around. “Oh, Jason, you startled me.”

“Sorry,” he said. “I can see what the perks are of being the CEO. A variant window! I never thought I’d see one.” He fiddled with his tie.

“Yours is nice, too.”

“It’s just Liverpool. Which is fine. It’s good to see home and all. But it never becomes anywhere else. At least the picture moves.”

“Right. You could be stuck with one of the stationary ones in Sales.”

“Or just a regular old view of Mars, like in Clerical.”

“Why did you come here? Are you dissatisfied with your new job and your new office?”

“Oh no, not at all,” Jason said. “It’s more that I was wondering if I could ask you to lunch. Is that allowed?”

“Hell, we could call it business, and it would all be deductible,” Laurie said, smiling.

“I, well,” he played with his tie some more, threatening to wrinkle the expensive green Chinese silk creation from the best-known Italian fashion house.

“Hmm?”

“I was kind of hoping it wouldn’t have to be business.” He paused and then face palmed. “I mean all business. I’d rather it wasn’t strictly, 100% business, if that’s okay with you.”

Genre and Overall Mood

The genre is hard science fiction. And so far as the overall mood goes, it’s kind of dreamy and a bit romantic. On balance, it’s a positive story.

Rating

The story has a K rating.

Takeaways from None of This is Real

I really love the premise for this one, and I think it’s got the makings of something more. But not necessarily about Jason and Laurie, per se. I think it’s a lot more likely that the concept of variant windows would work well in a universe.

Since this story already takes place on Mars, there is virtually nothing stopping me from setting it in the Obolonk universe and calling it a day. Hell, I might even add something like this to the third trilogy.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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Let’s Look at A Path Not Taken … Much

While I suppose that I can never really be sure as to exactly what I was thinking when I wrote A Path Not Taken … Much, I can say that the narrator ends up having a particularly bad day.

I wrote this story during the second quarter of 2018.

Background

I was most likely thinking about the old Ray Bradbury story, A Sound of Thunder when I wrote this one. Although the story and the endgame are just a little bit different.

And plagiarism/copyright violations have never, ever been my intentions.

Plot for A Path Not Taken … Much

Without too much of a plot to speak of, the narrator is somehow relating their complaints about the rules for visiting this particular alien world. And I say somehow, because it seems as if, by the time you get to the end of the piece, that that would not be possible.

In any event, little do the narrator and the reader, for that matter know—those rules are there for a damned good reason.

A casual disregarding of the rules leads to the main character’s spectacularly bad day.

Characters on a Path Not Taken Much

The only character is a narrator who I neither name nor describe. But the whole short story is rather sketchy, so that totally tracks.

Memorable Quotes

The first thing they tell you is not to stray off the path. And I did, so that one’s on me. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

But what they don’t tell you is that the parts off the path are kind of the most fun. Although I’m sure the tour guide wouldn’t say so.

It’s an alien world, they said. The natives might not take too kindly to someone just barging in, they said. And every visitor is an ambassador for Earth, they said.

Oh, please. It’s not like I’m some diplomat or something.

Rating

The story has a K rating.

Takeaways for A Path Not Taken … Much

I think this one works pretty well as a kind of ultimate FAFO story. You know, fuck around and find out.

I can see a few places where I could cut some words and trim down the prose. Since it’s 174 words right now, it is not outside the realm of possibility that I would be able to cut it down enough for it to be accepted as a drabble somewhere.

And so, this little dollop of a creepy short story just might find a home after all.

And then I can dedicate it to all of those annoying people who I have ever known, who thought that the rules did not apply to them. Well, they did, and they still do.

Jerks.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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Let’s Look at Fragments

Fittingly, I only have fragments of memories of this ultimately haunting short story. I do know, however, that I wrote this story during the third quarter of 2018.

Background

With only the one word title most likely serving as the prompt, I do not have much to go on, reviewing it a good seven years later.

Fragments of a Plot

Deep Space Mission #14 finds a small system where a gas giant planet with four intact moons also has the remains of a fifth. But what secrets does the debris hold?

And then when the crew finds evidence of textiles, and dyed textiles to boot, it seems obvious. There had been some sort of civilization there. But what the hell had happened to it? And, more importantly, why?

Characters

The only character is the unnamed narrator. It is his or her report which has been dictated and is being sent to headquarters. Those headquarters are presumably still on Earth.

Memorable Quotes

Report to HQ: Deep Space Mission #14

It was once a large moon. But then the gravity from the planet must have hit it, hard, and it fell to pieces.

But ‘fell’ is not the right word. Because that is so not the right word. It’s more that it smashed. It seems to have essentially exploded.

We wouldn’t have known, not really. It looks like small asteroids. And that would have been quite the find by itself. An Asteroid Belt outside of the Solar System! But we checked and rechecked once we arrived, and there weren’t a lot of things we thought of as asteroids. Besides, they would have to be older. Older space debris, if it’s large enough, tends to collide and coalesce and become as close to spherical as it can. But this stuff hasn’t.

And so, it’s up to me and the science mission I’m running to try to figure out what’s going on with this cosmic Humpty Dumpty.

Fragments of a Rating

The story has a K rating.

Takeaways

It is highly possible that I was thinking about The End when I was writing this one. Either consciously or unconsciously.

But it doesn’t quite jibe with the end of, heh, The End, where fossil hunters find a much more intact planet with much clearer evidence of a fully functional civilization at its demise.

But that does not matter to our purposes right now.

I just hope that, if it ever turned out that it was our own civilization on the receiving end of such a mission, that the people making such a heartbreaking discovery would show even one-tenth of the compassion and sympathy of the narrator.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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Let’s Look at Jealousy

Jealousy is the same kind of odd little bait and switch story as A Kitten. That is, I take you down a little garden path to make you believe a character is one way. But it turns out that this jealous characters is not who or what you expect him to be.

I wrote this story during the first quarter of 2021. The prompt word was just the title of this little piece.

Background for Jealousy

I absolutely love the canine point of view, and have tackled it before, in stories as different as Will’s Dog and Cynthia. But in this case, the narrator does not get an actual name.

Er, sorry, puppy.

Plot

As the narrator complains that someone or other is coming between him and a female special somebody, he eventually owns up to the fact that the inevitable is just plain going to happen. Whether he likes it, or not.

But it’s every soldier’s right to complain. And I suppose it is every spaniel’s right as well.

Characters

The characters are just the narrator and the two unnamed people they are referring to.

Memorable Quotes

She spends way more time with him than with me. Now, I strongly suspect there’s something going on. I mean, here’s my evidence.

He calls and she comes running. With me? Not so much. He comes over, and she pays a lot more attention to him than to me. In fact, they sometimes go into another room and make it impossible for me to get in! Surely she knows my limitations in this area. Yet she ignores my pleas.

Rating for Jealousy

The story has a K rating.

Takeaways

While this story may seem a little silly, the truth is, dogs really do exhibit certain forms of jealous behavior. And they can sometimes make their displeasure known in a rather violent manner. But I don’t suggest that here.

Our narrator is more perturbed than anything else.

But don’t eat his food.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

Short Stories

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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Let’s Look at Mythic

I like the word mythic, but I am not so sure that it’s the best title for this particular short story.
I wrote this story during the second quarter of 2021.

Background

So, the original prompt word was just the word that became the title. I wanted it to be a bit like a bedtime story that person might tell or read to a child.

And then it turned into a story where the parent was essentially threatening the child. I did not mean to turn us all, collectively, into the boogeyman.

Ewps.

Plot

I did not honestly expect that this one would have such a nasty kicker. But, heh, here we are. Er, sorry, not sorry, gentle readers.

Characters

The characters are just the narrator and their child.

Memorable Quotes from Mythic

The smallest drops of water carve the mightiest canyons. Drip, drip, drip.

Water is all over this world, my child. And this is how we knew there was life here.

Most of that life was good, or at least neutral. That is, outside of true morality or ethics.

But there was one species which did so many wicked things and destroyed so much that they could not be allowed to continue.

Rating for Mythic

The story has a K rating. But don’t mistake that for this being any sort of a sweet or pleasant story. It is a rather nasty one, truth be told.

Takeaways for Mythic

Welcome to another ‘record scratch’ type of ending. Because the truth of the matter is, we should never, ever be surprised if an alien civilization ends up having values that we feel are significantly different from our own.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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Let’s Look at The Bleeper

The idea behind the bleeper was to create something that, on the surface, almost feels wholesome. But the reality is, it’s a slippery slope right on down to our destruction. And this invention has just greased the wheels.

I wrote this story during the fourth quarter of 2020.

Background

This short story arose from a bit of a thought experiment on my part.

So, here’s what I was wondering. What if the seeds of our destruction were sown by someone who just plain needed the money?

After all, it is entirely possible that whoever invented the torture mechanisms used in the Spanish Inquisition was looking for whatever that era’s equivalent of a paycheck was. As opposed to just wanting to maim and kill as many nonbelievers as possible.

Or maybe the inventor would see it as some sort of a ‘side benefit’. Eek.

The Uncensored Plot for The Bleeper

An inventor, a man living just to this side of the poverty line, has just learned that he is about to become a billionaire.

Why? Because he has invented a device which imparts a mild electric shock whenever someone swears. And now the United States government has just asked him about expanding the unit’s voice recognition capabilities and has ordered four hundred million units.

That is, enough for every single citizen of the United States, regardless of age, gender, citizenship status, or criminal record.

Characters

The characters are the narrator (who I never name. Er, sorry about that, character!), his wife Marynel, and their children, Kelly, Betsy, Louis, and Jimmy.

Plus, there is the Johnson boy, a schoolmate to Kelly. And the Johnson boy’s sister and little brother, and his father. Also, there is the pastor of their church, along with the pastor of a mega church in nearby Kansas megachurch.

Given the time frame and the location, it is entirely possible that this family could run into MJ Tanner and/or her extended clan.

Memorable Quotes

It isn’t often that you get off the phone with someone and know you’ve just become a millionaire.

And that’s me! I’m rich! Oh my God, I – we – are gonna be rich!

I should buy a tux. I need a tuxedo. Wait, do rich people actually own tuxedoes? Do they rent them? Maybe they just buy them, wear them once, and burn them. You know, like tossing the champagne glasses into the fireplace. That reminds me, I need champagne. And glasses for it.

Oh God.

Marynel’s gonna want an evening gown. Maybe two. Or forty. I don’t know. It’s not like we’ll need to economize anymore. The sky’s the limit!

And the kids – holy cow – all four of the kids are all gonna get to go to college. Something me and Marynel never could do. There was never enough cash. Well, there is now.

Rating

The story has a K rating, but you know that it is going to mean the ruin of us all. For, once the Bleeper is adjusted, there is nothing stopping the government from shocking anyone who criticizes the president or the party or anything they’re doing.

Takeaways from The Bleeper

At this point in time, the concept behind this device looks more and more plausible. And it is more and more scary. Plus, let’s face it, more and more like something that the government would love to be able to do.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

Finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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A Review of Side by Side

Come on in and check out the somewhat creepy Side by Side.

I wrote this story during the second quarter of 2020. I do not recall any particular prompt word or phrase. And I do not believe there ever was one.

Background

The idea of being able to see alternate timelines did not really mature in my writing until I started to write the Time Addicts trilogy and embody the whole shebang into the character Josie James. So, in a way, this is almost a trial run for the concept.

Because if anyone ever had to, truly, live their life this way, they would be constantly tripping and running into things!

As a result of that obvious issue, I retooled the idea considerably before finally settling on how Josie would actually see and experience the other timelines. This also meant removing her from a detached observer situation and instead turning her into a somewhat active semi-participant.

Plot for Side by Side

Rather than much of a plot, the story (such as it is) consists of the narrator explaining their ability to essentially see an alternate timeline.

The narrator sees in a kind of split screen, and so they are able to see the points of divergence as they occur.

Characters

The characters are just the unnamed narrator and whoever they are talking to.

Memorable Quotes

I have been able to do this ever since I could remember. In fact, until I was in school, I didn’t realize that other people couldn’t do it, too.

I have different vision in each eye. And that’s not too terribly remarkable, I know. I get that. But it’s not because my nose is in the way or a difference in visual acuity like with most people.

Instead, for me, I see a different scene with each eye. Now, you may be wondering just how I could go through life without falling flat on my face every moment of every day. But it’s not as if I see London with one eye and Timbuktu with the other or anything.

The truth is that I see the same external scenes. And no, I haven’t just lied to you. Rather, the difference is not in the scenery, not for the most part. I see the same tree, the same street, and the same clouds, probably the same as anyone else.

The difference is that I see two different versions of the present. They aren’t too terribly different from each other, and very often they are virtually indistinguishable. In my left eye, I might see a woman walking toward me wearing a red shirt. And in the right, she might be wearing a blue shirt. I’ve asked people with me, and they have confirmed it’s always the right side that is, well, right. The shirt doesn’t split the difference; it’s not purple. And no one else sees the red.

Just me.

Rating for Side by Side

The story has a K rating. While the end of a timeline can be messy and concerning, there is nothing really on-screen.

In addition, the reader can almost chalk it all up to a hallucination on the part of the narrator.

Takeaways

I kind of like the idea of there being some way to see a pair of timelines, and to watch the convergence. But at the same, heh, time, it would be rather nerve-wracking to watch another version of the human race in the process of utterly destroying themselves.

Also, as noted above, I believe that converting this experience from detached observations to proto-active participation makes for a more compelling storyline. Which would follow, seeing as I am a far better writer these days!

Side by Side is on Wattpad, where you can read it in its entirety.

Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, then please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.

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