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The Ticket — a short story

May 28, 2018

“You are exceeding the speed limit.” “I’m late for work.” “The posted speed limit for this highway is sixty-five miles per hour. You are driving at seventy-three miles per hour, eight miles over the limit. If you persist, I am required by law to issue you a ticket.” “Don’t you dare, Car! You belong to […]

What Are Friends For? — a short story

April 2, 2017

“We need to talk.” “Uh, okay.” “I’m leaving.” “What, you’re moving?” “No. I’m leaving you.” “You’re leav— what? What do you mean? What did I do?” “Nothing. You’re fine. But I have to leave. I’ve … I’ve fallen in love with someone else.” “Someone else? Wait, don’t do this. Let’s talk about it.” “It’s over. […]

Why God Smiles — a short story

June 12, 2014

If God is Love, then He must be smiling. All the time. No matter what fate befalls you, no matter what distress, God’s benevolent smile beams down upon you. If you are happy, God is smiling. At death’s door? Enraged by the caprices of God’s universe? Regardless, his sunlike radiance pours its warmth onto you. […]

Onward, Fools, into the Future — a short story

April 24, 2014

The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is or has been is but the twilight of the dawn. — H.G. Wells We think our civilization near its meridian, but we are yet only at the cock-crowing and the morning star. — Ralph Waldo Emerson I’ve a feeling we’re not in […]

Creepy Thoughts for Adults at Halloween

October 31, 2013

At Halloween, kids dress up as scary monsters, pushing back their fears by acting as the creatures that scare them. Often they’re afraid of things we know to be unreal, like monsters under the bed or in the closet. (My favorite comes from a TV fantasy episode where they warned against “head spiders” that have […]

God and the Type 5 Civilization

June 27, 2013

I’m agnostic about gods. Maybe there is one (or many); maybe not. How should I know? I’m just one guy tootling along on Planet Earth. Perhaps there’s a being who has complete control over the universe, who can shape or destroy it at will, and who can interfere with events as needed. So far I […]

Best TV Quotes

May 23, 2013

Years ago, I posted on my website a page of great quotes from motion pictures. Readers chimed in with their own favorites, and pretty soon the page got really long. But that was fine: we were having fun. Since then, I’ve thought about adding a page of best TV quotes. Finally — to paraphrase […]

The Warrior’s Song of Death — a short story

April 15, 2013

We dropped onto the retail mall’s parking lot from a silent anti-grav paratroop plane. My commanding officer hit the pavement first, then waved up at me, and I followed. The fall was eighty feet, and we had no chutes, but we were cyborgs, so the landing did us no damage. The tarmac got some dents […]

Paranoia — a love story

January 28, 2013

Since she returned from inside, I’m feeling much better. I think. She and I have been meeting like this, every weekend, for about two years now. She’ll cook dinner, then we move outside to her patio, where we drink wine and chat, enjoying the late-afternoon sun as it filters through the trees of her backyard, […]

Bradbury

June 6, 2012

A witch confronts a boy in a dark corner of the stacks of a library. She pushes him down and begins to sew shut his eyes. The boy, realizing she means to kill him, yet struck by the absurdity of his situation, bursts out laughing. The stitches unravel and the boy’s eyes are freed. The witch […]