Category Archives: Short Stories

Some free short stories and story sketches

Rotifers (1)

Posted on July 15, 2018 by dan

Behold! The Trochate Rotifers! Like all rotifers, trochates have three body segments: head, trunk, and foot. The head and trunk are supported internally by a calcified skeleton evolved from the mastax (used in basal rotifers to process food). The mastax’s … Continue reading →

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Tandem: a better story

Posted on July 13, 2018 by dan

Earlier this week, I asked for writing prompts, and the inimitable Emil Minchev responded: “Remember Solo? Do the opposite” Okay, so…IN THE DISTANT FUTURE, IN THIS VERY GALAXY… A wealthy, middle-aged woman named Foong Tandem stays on her comfortable, safe, … Continue reading →

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Shiftin’ shapes!

Posted on July 12, 2018 by dan

Yesterday I asked for writing prompts, and Lew Delport responded: “Shapeshifters with language that changes according to shape” and upon follow-up questioning: “No idea, you’re the writer! Seasonal, maybe?” So I got to thinking: V. nonhuman idea: alien sophonts go through … Continue reading →

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Five Factor Warriors: Wada Junko

Posted on July 6, 2018 by dan

(first)(previous) Make me a lawbender All equalized Saved from the chill and heat — Vienna Teng, “Landsailor” KoInu-chan reached out of the camera’s frame and grabbed the pillow shaped like the Earth. She smiled at the off-camera friend who had … Continue reading →

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Tipi from outside of Tuta

Posted on June 28, 2018 by dan

I finished The Centuries Unlimited this week, so you’re getting some conlanging! This project’s goal was simple: derive the tenses (and voices and aspects) of verbs from prepositions. For example, the epic poem   Tipi-kan-tan-Tuta (Tipi from outside of Tuta) has … Continue reading →

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Five Factor Warriors: Jody Ann

Posted on June 22, 2018 by dan

(first)(previous) “Lightbringer Tamer of night Blossom of hours unleashed” — Vienna Teng, “Landsailor” Nothing ever surprised Jody Ann Farewell. She had walked out of her flat in Kingston, scanned the street, and found the red-plate taxi that would take her … Continue reading →

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What if the Mongols had Invaded Japan?

Posted on June 15, 2018 by dan

From a question on the Alternate History Online facebook forum: Kublai Khan’s invasion fleet is wildly successful, and establishes a firm beachhead on Hakata Bay, from which they subjugate the island of Kyushu by 1275. From there, they conquer Shikuku and … Continue reading →

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The Lands by the Waters – An Ucaptian Myth (3)

Posted on June 13, 2018 by dan

(start, previous) And thus Obedient Ptahh built of cedar wood a boat and caused it to be loaded with things. (He) caused it to be loaded with the grain(1) and the date. (He) caused it to be loaded with the sheep … Continue reading →

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Culinary International: the Rising Agent

Posted on June 8, 2018 by dan

You thought I was kidding about writing this story? The dial rotated, and deep within the device, a circuit flipped from the OFF to the ON position. Electrical current began to flow through a nickle-chromium coil. Nichrom is a poor … Continue reading →

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The Lands by the Waters – An Ucaptian Myth (2)

Posted on June 6, 2018 by dan

(previous stanza) To Knowing Ptahh(1), Merciful Shamaak sent(2) an ibis. And the ibis told him, “Perfectly thou art formed, Former, the only one (who is thus). Therefore, only thou wilt survive the coming flood(3). Thou wilt live, Ptahh, thou Builder with … Continue reading →

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