Description:

Ellie Simmons lost the love of her life, her husband Daniel. And now, two years later, baby Daniel is born — a clone of the man she lost. But human cloning is illegal, and Ellie must be very, very careful. Daniel’s and Ellie’s friend Greg knows Ellie’s secret. And his feelings for Ellie should keep him from betraying her. In fact, he can keep Ellie and little Daniel safe — if Ellie can walk the tightrope between his feelings and her own. Which would be tricky — even if the tightrope held still…

Author bio:

Karen A. Wyle was born a Connecticut Yankee, but eventually settled in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University. She now considers herself a Hoosier. Wyle’s childhood ambition was to be the youngest ever published novelist. While writing her first novel at age 10, she was mortified to learn that some British upstart had beaten her to the goal at age 9.

Wyle is an appellate attorney, photographer, political junkie, and mother of two daughters. Her voice is the product of almost five decades of reading both literary and genre fiction. It is no doubt also influenced, although she hopes not fatally tainted, by her years of law practice. Her personal history has led her to focus on often-intertwined themes of family, communication, the impossibility of controlling events, and the persistence of unfinished business.

Why readers should check out the story:

"The Baby" is the first of a planned series of stories dealing with issues that may arise if human cloning becomes feasible. For now, I’m offering these stories for free on Smashwords (and on Amazon when feasible).

Better Than The Movies

Do you remember all those “Earth gets destroyed by an asteroid (or comet)” movies in the 1990′s? I do. “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” come to mind. Some of them were good, some not so much. This story is, to me anyway, more proof that writing is always better than cinema! Yay – go written SF!

Non-Spoiler Summary

Captain Robert Singh is part of the crew that has been sent to the asteroid Kali. Their job is to build the thrusters that will alter Kali’s course enough to avoid collision with Earth. It has taken a long time, lots of money and plenty of politics to get to this point, and now that they are ready to start the burn that will push Kali out of its current orbit, the crew is about to discover that things don’t always go as planned. What’s that saying about the true measure of a man being shown when he is under pressure? Well, Captain Singh and his crew are about to find out what they are really made of – and all the people on Earth are hoping it’s the “right stuff.”

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word count: 4,458 (8 pages)
• Did you know that Arthur C. Clarke spent some time as chairman of the British Interplanetary Society? Yep. You can learn more about this giant of science fiction literature at Wikipedia.
• This short story was the basis for Arthur C. Clarke’s 1994 novel also titled The Hammer of God.

Where To Find The Hammer of God

• This short story first appeared in October 1992 in Time magazine.
• You can read "The Hammer of God" for free online at the web site of Lightspeed magazine.
• You can find this story in many anthologies, including the prestigious book The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "The Hammer of God" then you may also enjoy another of Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s stories: “The Star” – about a Jesuit astrophysicist aboard a starship that is investigating the Phoenix Nebula.

It’s a Bunch of Stories!

This is a strange story… if you can even call it a story. It’s more like an article written by an alien researcher who is describing the views and beliefs surrounding star drives. It is cool though, and some of the ideas are truly unique ones that I have never seen before – and that is worth something indeed.

Non-Spoiler Summary

Mrithaya, Mother of the Conflagration, and her priests believe interstellar travel to be one thing. The Iothal, who bind forest chronicles, believe it to be something entirely different. The same goes for the Dancers, the Kiatti and the civilization whose star drive always kills them. That doesn’t stop any of them from traveling among the stars, though. Learn all about their strange and exotic beliefs in this short but fascinating piece by an excellent author.

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word count: 1,966 (5 pages)
• You can learn more about Yoon Ha Lee by reading her author profile on Tor.com.

Where To Find A Vector Alphabet of Interstellar Travel

• This short story first appeared in August 2011 on the web site Tor.com – where you can still read it for free.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "A Vector Alphabet of Interstellar Travel" then you may also enjoy another excellent story by Yoon Ha Lee: “Flower, Mercy, Needle, Chain” – about an ancient woman who possesses a uniquely powerful weapon.

Time Travel. What a compelling, uniquely seductive science fiction theme! The chance to correct a wrong, witness an historical event first hand, or simply escape to a better time when the world made sense; you know – the “good old days”.

Often described as the “sequel” to H.G. Wells’ “The Time Traveler”, this 1976 short story by Richard Cowper breathes new life into the classic tale and extends the adventure.

Told in a rich, antiquated British literary style, Cowper adds an authentic feel to this masterful tale as he transports us back to 17th Century England.

The Story In A Nutshell:

Upon the death of his Great Aunt Victoria (a dealer in old books and antiquities), Francis Decressie is left the Hertford Manuscript – a volume written and produced in the late 17th century.

Serving mainly as an historical register, this boring volume would remain undisturbed, collecting dust if not for the inexplicable fact that, bound up with the original contents, Francis discovers several sheets of different paper, written in a different hand, outlining a journal of someone from the early 20th century!

The journal unfolds thus;

The journal goes on to detail his desperate attempt to effect repairs and return to his own time.

The Good:

• Very well researched and written.
• A vivid portrayal of the period is presented and our vicarious journey is enhanced greatly in 2 ways:
  1. The diary/journal format creates the belief that this is indeed a factual account.
  2. The overall style with which the story is told lends a degree of credibility for the period in which it takes place.

The Bad:

• Those who want great “Science” in their S.F. won’t find it here. Personally the Science factor is a non issue unless it is key to the story and THEN it better be at least good. A great plot, human drama, wonderful characters are all more desirable to me than the mechanics of how light speed or anti-gravity is achieved.
• For those who are NOT Dicken’s fans, the old British style used here may be a turn off.
• My absolute favorite Science Fiction theme is Time Travel so I am heavily biased in my love of this story!

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word Count 13,493
• Page Count 18
• Appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction October 1976
• Included in Donald A. Wollheim Presents The 1977 Annual World’s Best SF

Chocoholic

Yes, I admit it – I am very nearly addicted to chocolate. It’s funny because I can resist pretty much all kinds of sweets… but put something chocolatey in front of me and my resolve weakens by the second! Mmm, mmm, mmm! Oh well, it is good to know that this delightful substance tempts not only Earthlings but people on other planets as well!

Non-Spoiler Summary

Romee is an inhabitant of the planet Notcid. It is a pretty easy going place, but now that the “traders” have been replaced by more concerned Earth people she is having difficulty purchasing her favorite Earth food: chocolate. So when she is given the chance to participate in a study on “response to environmental stimuli” she literally jumps at the chance – especially since she will make a load of money for doing it. The study turns out to be a little bit scary and frustrating, but her experience with it proves to be invaluable after she learns to apply it in truly dangerous situations. Now if she can just teach the others to learn these new ways they will have chocolate galore! Yum!

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word count: 6,857 (14 pages)
• Did you know that in the early 1970s Howard L. Myers was poised to become “one of science fiction’s top authors” when he suddenly died at the age of 41? Yep. You can learn more about this fantastic, yet nearly forgotten, author in the Preface to his book.
• Special thanks to Variety SF for pointing out this great story!

Where To Find Health Hazard

• This short story first appeared in the January 1973 edition of Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact – over a year after the author’s death.
• You can read "Health Hazard" for free online at The Fifth Imperium.
• It is also included in the book of Howard L. Myers short stories The Creatures of Man.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "Health Hazard" then you may also enjoy “Finisterra” by David Moles – about an engineer from Earth who contracts out to help poachers on a distant world make their biggest kill yet.

I Should Have Joined the Circus!

When I was 16 I won the state talent show with my mad juggling skills. Afterwards I was invited to go backstage at the circus – where I was eventually offered a job! I was sorely tempted, what with all the talented people and weird freaks… but I turned them down. After reading this story (and working all day at my office job) I sometimes wonder what life would have been like had I become a carnie. Probably a never ending stream of good times, right? Right!?

Non-Spoiler Summary

Merton D. Kamal always wanted to be a clown – and he still does even though he recently lost his circus job. Now that he has moved back in with his mom and has no job prospects he decides to follow her advice and ask for work from a former high school sweet-heart. That does the trick (in a round-about way) and he finds himself transporting a drugged monkey to New Mexico. The problem, however, is that the monkey wakes up early and its “unique” abilities give Merton a hilarious fright!

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word count: 3,636 (12 pages)
• Did you know Ken Scholes spent time working as a sailor, soldier, preacher and musician? Yep. You can learn more about this fascinating author at his web site.
• If you liked this story be sure to check out Ken Schole’s short story collection Long Walks, Last Flights & Other Strange Journeys.

Where To Find Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair

• This short story first appeared in January 2011 on the web site Tor.com – where you can still read it for free.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair" then you may also enjoy “In The Pound, Near Breaktime” by Kent Brewster – which explores what the world would be like if unwanted pets, strays and pesky animals were intelligent enough to talk.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Adrian Reynolds is the first person to receive a new type of punishment for his crimes.  He has been sentenced for killing his father, mother and two sisters.  His sentence?  A controversial new procedure that will delete his memories and his personality.  A sort of mental death, allowing the state to educate and program him as they see fit, and then send him back into society.

The story gets juicy when the outcome is not what was predicted, and now the attorneys and doctors have to decide what to do next.

MY THOUGHTS

I have to say, this story has already made this years Top 10 List.  (And No!  Not just because it’s the only story I have read this year…)

Softlight Sins ignites a fascinating moral debate.  Questions from “How can we play God?”, to “Is there even a God?” are raised, yet it is not these questions that make the story so compelling.  It’s the mystery!  What happens?  How does it end?  I highly suggest you take the time to find out, it’s a conclusion you won’t see coming!

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Word Count: 5,731
• Page Count: 16
• About the Author: Peter F. Hamilton began writing in 1987.  Find out all about him at his website.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

You can read Softlight Sins for free at Infinity Plus or at Peter F Hamilton’s Website.

A Few Nifty Surprises

Ok, I admit that this story left me scratching my head a bit, and wishing that there had been a better ending. However, there were some extremely cool and unique science fiction ideas in it. Heads on ice, the greening of Australia, Earth Hour and bicycle cross-bows were just too good to pass up! So, take a deep breath, don’t expect everything to be resolved, and just enjoy the story.

Non-Spoiler Summary

Angus Cameron is kind of a jerk, and as such has made a lot of enemies in his lifetime. Thus he finds himself lucky (but not too surprised) when he survives an assassination attempt on his life. His quick thinking and business acumen turn the attempt into a power ploy, but will he be able to accomplish the grand schemes he has laid for the continent of Australia? Hmm… good question.

Some Interesting Tidbits

• Word count: 5,507 (10 pages)
• Be sure to check out Ken MacLeod’s blog and see the truly fascinating stuff he talks about.

Where To Find Earth Hour

• This short story first appeared on the web site Tor.com in June 2011 – where you can still read it online for free.
• It is also slated to be included in Gardner Dozois’s upcoming anthology The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Ninth Annual Collection.

Craving More SF Stories Like This One?

If you liked "Earth Hour" then you might also enjoy “Who’s Afraid of Wolf 359?” also by Ken MacLeod – about a man who agrees to investigate an abandoned experimental civilization around a distant red dwarf. Or check out his very cool Engines of Light novels.

“Hello,” Said the Gun is a 2011 science fiction short story written by Jay Lake. The story is about a 12 year old girl who finds a talking gun in an old oak tree, it explores the issues of trust and survival.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

The girl (who remains nameless) is out in the woods picking up acorns when she hears a voice talking to her from somewhere. Through small conversation and the girl’s own thoughts we find that she is living on her own and mankind’s population is dwindling. She depends on herself and trusts no one yet longs for interaction with someone else. But who can she trust and what will she decide to do with the gun?

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Pages: 2
• Word Count: 1,093
• The author Jay Lake is the winner of a John W. Campbell Award for best new writer.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

• “Hello,” Said the Gun is available to read for free at DailySciencefiction.com.

NON SPOILER SUMMARY

Brent is excited to get his hands dirty in the vast green wilderness that, according to all the current start charts, has never been explored. He sets out into the dense, rolling jungle and encounters a wide variety of life. Plants, animals, birds, all foreign to his eye. And just as he is congratulating himself on being the first person to set foot there, he sees something very disturbing… a house.

MY THOUGHTS

Philip K. Dick is very adept at making the reader feel the emotions of the characters in his stories. I love getting into a character’s head, to see what they see, hear what they hear, touch what they touch. While all stories have a setting, I think it takes a talented writer to make you feel like YOU are the character. I enjoyed Strange Eden, being in a wild and beautiful place, feeling the shock of discovering I wasn’t the first one there, and the pure delight at meeting the other inhabitant of this world.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

• Page Count: 11
• About the Author: Did you know Philip K. Dick published 44 novels and 121 short stories? Read more about him at Wikipedia.

WHERE TO FIND THIS STORY

• Strange Eden is included in the collection of short stories The Philip K. Dick Reader.