“Why the hell would I want to become a car?” I flicked the pamphlet at my son’s face, but it fluttered down to the bleach-white sheet, against the metal bed rail.Carlos said peaceably, “You hate this nursing home.”“Brain in a box isn’t my idea of leaving.” I scoffed, or tried to, and a cough yanked […]
In order to flirt with Raven, I have to leave the engineering hub, trudge through the entire reclamation wing of the spaceship, cross the mess hall, and search the farm dome. If I’m lucky, Raven is picking or pruning or digging in the soil beds and is not off in some secret hidey-hole grabbing a […]
Those who like order and routine need not apply at the Department of the Lost and Found at the Center of the Universe. We vacillate between frantically storing red dwarfs, starships, even mislaid species and months of boredom. We barely survive the first, and fill the latter with the delightful pastime of matchmaking. Our unofficial […]
Somsei RepublicImportant historical or cultural figures, usually male, prefaced with SRS (Somsei Republic Ship). Ships may petition the Central Diet for a name change if they wish, but all names must come from an approved list and the appeal process is long and arduous.* * *KfuulPhilosophical concepts, references to obscure texts, and complex word games […]
CONTENT WARNING: suicidal ideation 1. Haste Ceres Shipyard had enough emergency shuttles for almost everyone. But because of you, none of that mattered. The managers cut every corner they could, but they were wrestling with an AI loyal to the company’s aspirational mission statement. Building the Belt Strong, not the managers’ Making All the Money. […]
March 23rd, 2051The first time you walk out of a blinding white door suspended in mid-air, I’m hiking the CT to forget the accident. Your sudden appearance makes me trip over a tree root and bust my nose. We hike for three days after that, but you have no supplies, only a stick of gum […]
Larry accepts the transcranial advertising patch on his way into the supermarket. The next step in this—his Sunday morning grocery ritual—is to drop it into the return bin, where others have done the same. Supermarkets can compel you to accept the patch in exchange for entry, but they can’t force you to put it on. […]
Chapter 1: The Last Man Sits on a Bench He sat on the bench and looked down the empty street. Some abandoned cars, some trash here and there. A cardboard box someone had smashed a long time ago. The trees seemed quiet. There was no wind. There were no birds. The Last Man thought about […]
I came home to Dad yelling at our CookBot again. There was a wok of fried rice on the stove. Dad said, “The damn machine can’t get it right. The garlic goes in when the oil is hot, not with the oil. And the ginger should be chopped fine. Really fine.” Cook said, “Please define […]
Brooka bowed over the engine of the ranch’s lander, her back aching from hours of contortion, and thought of recipes. She most always recited her recipes in a silent mantra. Sometimes she started with the first one and proceeded straight through; other times, she chose a number at random—like thirty-three, the last one collected by […]