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Edition 5: Bottlenose by Larry Lefkowitz
The Navy Mammalian Military Program has had some unexplained losses. Captain Sullivan wishes to get to the bottom of it. Will his worst fears be realised when he reveals an insidious cetacean plot? SY
Captain Sullivan was given to waive formalities and allow his crew of dolphin trainers to address him as “Skipper” when his mood was right or the circumstances favorable. Neither beneficent mood nor favorable circumstances prevailed as he prepared to address a meeting he had called of his “Military Dolphins,” a sobriquet his trainers bestowed on themselves in honor of the dolphins they trained.
He picked up a sheet of paper from those piled on the dais in front of him. Simultaneous with his beginning to read, there appeared on the screen behind him a grinning Lieutenant Daniels (junior grade). “November 17—Clifford ‘Smiling Jack’ Daniels was laid to rest today with full military honors. Something had ripped his oxygen tank clear off his body. A shark, possibly. Lieutenant Daniels was added to the investigation which had begun with the first death.”
Despite the solemnity of the moment, seeing Daniel’s cognomen under the photo, Sullivan had to force down a smile at how those in the military loved to bestow nicknames.
Edition 5: A Debt Called In by Michael B Fletcher
An extortion attempt leads to more trouble than any of the parties had bargained for. When a gift horse appears, perhaps it should be looked in the mouth, before it’s too late. Revenge, murder and the supernatural all feature in this great story from an author, whose debut anthology will be published late in 2012. SY
I tightened my grey overcoat as I ran through the busy city streets on the chill morning, sirens already echoing behind me. A weight, hot and hard pulled at the inside pocket of my coat. I supported it with my hand.
The noise, I thought, that’s what did it.
The sound they’d made, a kind of muted popping was hardly discernible from the traffic noise of the city outside. But me? Well I had to defend myself and it was loud; my gun didn’t have a silencer.
~~~
Edition 5: CSS by Warren Goodwin
Detective Pol Broadleaf is stuck with the baffling case of a slippery serial killer. When the murderer is as skillful as a chameleon, Pol cannot get a grip on him. The danger is closer to home than Pol knows, and he may already be too late. Set on a space station, Warren Goodwin’s story is gritty and gives us all idea of what it means to work a tough beat. We look forward to seeing more of Warren’s work, as his debut novel is slated for publication in winter 2012/3. SY
Detective Pol Broadleaf stepped through the holographic police barrier and nodded at the patrolman on the other side. The young officer started to say something, then changed his mind. Probably ‘good morning’, which it decidedly is not. Especially for the vic. The door to C-8-14 was open and a female patrol officer stood there. Good. The forensics team hasn’t arrived. Better yet, neither has the press.
“Detective.” The woman was shaken, but only another cop would spot it. “It’s messy.”
“Who found the body?”
“Neighbor. He works the same shift, and noticed the open door.”
Edition 5: Azurewrath by Esme Carpenter
Werewolves and vampires make unusual dinner companions, but in a time of truce, dinner at Azurewrath is for the purposes of peace. Thomas Cromley knows that somewhat is amiss, but cannot figure it out. A story of genteel society, where not even mythological creatures can resist intrigue. Esme Carpenter is one of the youngest authors in our catalogue, but her recent young teen novel, Against the Elements, is definitely a testament to her skill as a writer. SY
Watch your back.
That’s the only piece of advice I was ever given. It’s served me, for the most part. If you don’t watch your back, things can happen back there that you wouldn’t ever see. Dodgy dealings, snide comments. Stabbings. And suchlike. But it’s the piece of advice that I draw on when I’m invited to Azurewrath.
I couldn’t tell you why my Order sends me there. I hate the place, I hate the company, and worse besides they hate me too. Common courtesy, I guess. Keeping the peace. Whatever peace there is. I don’t trust the smiles they give me at Azurewrath. I don’t trust the cutlery.
But even vampires know not to stab a werewolf at a dinner party. I suppose, with the cutlery at least, I’m safe. If I watch my back.
Edition 5: The Memory Eater by Holly Day
Alcohol and cigarettes galore, and there is something John should be remembering. Little Bobby knows, but can he free John before he forgets his former life completely? SY
John sat on the floor, wishing desperately he hadn’t stubbed his last cigarette out. If he was outside, he could smoke; but he wasn’t outside, and the idea of getting up and walking all the way to the front door just to go outside and smoke seemed ridiculously tedious. If he was going to go that far, he might as well just go home. Which didn’t seem like such a bad idea, really.
He climbed to his feet, steadying himself against the wall. His hand was completely encircled by one large yellowed water stain, a blemish that started in the top right-hand corner of the room and widened and narrowed, almost artistically, all the way down to the floor. He stared at the stain for way too long, thinking about how much fun it would be to trace the shape of the stain with a black magic marker, fill in the shape with doodles and squiggles, turn it into a real piece of artwork. He forced himself to take the two small staggering steps that would take him out of the room and into the hallway leading to the living room, the hallway full of family photos framed in cheap flowery metal frames, all the pictures of Keith and Sarah’s family, including the ones of the two children they lost. The little girl, aged five, and the little boy, aged nine, both dead.
This hallway never seemed right to him. There was too much before photographed and cataloged in this walk, and it bothered him. This hallway belonged to a nice house, of a happy family, and of him as a welcome guest, wearing clean clothes and bearing gifts like nice bottles of wine and takeout food and even flowers, like some smarmy character from a feel-good television show. The walk through the short hallway always felt to him like drowning, and it was only with the greatest exertion that he pulled himself along the wall through the congested hallway and into the living room.
Keith was sitting on the couch with a little boy. The room was full of hungover people ruffling the little boy’s short hair again and again, with the boy smiling patiently through it all as if happy to be in the center of attention. “That’s my boy!” said Keith, again and again, his arm around the boy’s shoulders. He also ruffled the little boy’s haircut. Sarah, in the kitchen making Irish coffees for everyone, smiled every time Keith said “That’s my boy,” patting her stomach as though to reassure the baby inside that he or she would also receive similar accolades once born.
Edition 5: Serial Fiction: Avoiding The Searchers (Part 5 of 5) by M.F. Burbaugh
Previously, in Part 4, Johnathan and Tonie discover that the Underground had been compromised, and successfully relay the information to all the hideouts, but not before causing quite a bit of trouble for the Earthers. The Underground main HQ is blasted to pieces, and the pair barely manage to get out of enemy territory with their lives. Johnathan’s arm is broken, but the greatest pain for him is finding out that his uncle was alive and a traitor. John is home recovering and breaks the news to his mother and stepfather that he intends to have a life-commitment with Tonie and Milda.
The concluding episode of this series follows. GH.
Illustration by Jeffery Doherty
“Well, if ya both can accept the possibility of a couple of daughter-in-laws, reckon it is okay with me.” I smiled my best smile.
He shook my hand and said, “Done.”
Edition 4: Serial Fiction: Avoiding The Searchers (Part 4 of 5) by M.F. Burbaugh
Previously, in Part 3, Johnathan and Tonie continued infiltrating enemy territory, witnessing what the murderous pirates do, when unleashed by the Earthers. Tonie discovers they are the same men who killed her family, and Johnathan found it extremely hard to restrain her…for now. They found temporary sanctuary with Pops, and what was left of his family. They nearly blow their cover by wiping out the same pirate force they met earlier, who had discovered Pops’ mine. Continuing their journey, and camping near their target reconnaissance area, Tonie wakes Johnathan, having found something. GH.
Illustration by Jeffery Doherty
I followed her, feeling like I’d had twenty minutes sleep, she said it was more like three hours.
Back by the entrance she whispered, “About ten minutes ago lights came from the main road, then they were shut off, but I heard voices below. They moved off that way.” She pointed to the hill.
Edition 3: Serial Fiction: Avoiding The Searchers (Part 3 of 5) by M.F. Burbaugh
Previously, in Part 2, we found the narrator, Johnathan, and his friend Tonie, begin their dangerous reconnaissance mission. They took a detour at the remains of his old, pre-invasion home, and draw some impressive weaponry and other military equipment that were secretly cached. Later, they made a grim discovery, the remains of Tonie’s mother, father and young brother, who were executed by what appeared to be Earther ground troops. An intense need for revenge coursed through Tonie’s being. Following a close call with Searchers, they encounter a mysterious stranger. GH.
Illustration by Jeffery Doherty
“Well, Seymour, what now?” I asked.
“Look, I just follow orders, honest. I ain’t supposed to let anyone past here,” he said, a touch of fear showing.
Edition 2: Serial Fiction: Avoiding The Searchers (Part 2 of 5) by M.F. Burbaugh
Previously, in Part 1, we find that the narrator, Johnathan Frasier, is a boy in his late teens who lives on a colonized mining planet that has been militarily occupied by ‘Earthers’. The planet has many mines and he is holed up in one of them with a small community of refugees. There are many such groups scattered over the planet, forming a loose resistance organization. The ‘HQ’ have been, much to the frustration of the communities, reluctant to order the execution of any offensive action. Johnathan volunteers for a dangerous scouting operation with one of his childhood friends, Tonie, a young girl who lost her love to the ‘Searchers’, droids designed specifically to kill the colonists. Johnathan prepares himself for the mission, his shoulders lumbered with the responsibilities thrust upon him, as well as his growing attraction to some of the local girls, Tonie included. GH.
Illustration by Jeffery Doherty
Next I knew I was awake. The clock said 1900. Exactly ten hours, like he said.
Edition 1: Serial Fiction: Avoiding The Searchers (Part 1 of 5) by M.F. Burbaugh
In this, the first part of five, MF Burbaugh introduces the reader to a time not too far in the future, where Earth has taken on a rather distasteful role among the scattered planets that humanity has now colonized. Enjoy this pulp-style science fiction, through the eyes of a teenage boy. GH.
Illustration by Jeffery Doherty
Damn it! I almost said out-loud.
I found my mouth was dry and my heart was pounding. The buzzing was grating on my nerves. I ducked behind the rubble as the noise got louder. It meant the damn Searchers either heard me, or smelled me, or, if I was lucky, someone else. Ya right.
SQ Mag 
