In the time when the world was still forming, there were a few animals, some people, and many, many gods. At this time, there was a dry valley that had [...]
Fantasy
The Queen in the Poplar Forest
All the omens meant it was a good morning for a hunt. Legends of the Bronze-Backed Bear have said that one drop of his blood dripped, into eyes, would cure [...]
Jessamine
High in the bluffs, with its tower and its wicker-woven hut, we watched the long north road. We saw her as she came, head held high and her beating heart [...]
The Weatherwoman
They came for him in the stillness of shadow and artificial moonlight. It could not even be called midnight: there were no nights in the Citadel but those requested by [...]
A Little Bit Like the Tooth Fairy (Only Not Quite)
There are three hares in my bedroom when I wake up on Wednesday. Long-legged and soft-furred, they hop about agitatedly. One of them has made a nest out of yesterday’s [...]
Der Führer’s Bunker
The Soviet artillery is a steady heartbeat above our heads now. Reminds me of a child stomping about the house inside his daddy’s oversized boots, moving from room to room. Footsteps instead of detonations. I rather like the image. So do a few others in here with me. It lessens the fear. And down in our hole, there’s a lot to fear these days…
Viy
An ogre’s worth five minutes. Demons are ten. Double that if you’re working with two people; triple it for three. Multiply it by six if you want a horde. Increase [...]
Pullen & Bumber’s Catalogue of Particulars
As we at Pullen & Bumber are familiar with your particular proclivities, we hope to interest you in a series of items that have just come into our possession. They were delivered to the auction house mere days ago, and I assure you that no other customers yet know…
The Boy Band
You have to understand: I’m putty in the hands of sad Asian men. Ever since I saw Jet Li’s wife get killed in “The One,” I’ve been the world’s biggest [...]
The Mistress of Baby Breath
When I find little babies left alone by their mothers, I take them and kiss them until their bright baby eyes shine with laughter, with joy. I carefully tuck the [...]
Safety
“Care to buy me a drink?”
“No.”
Sandra blinked. Clearly this man had not learned the script, and without the script she didn’t see how he thought he had a chance. His [...]
Within the Castle Walls
Beauty could no longer remember how long she had lived in the Beast’s castle. It had been late winter when she came; she was sure of that, for it had [...]
After
The glare drilled its way through Colin’s eyes as he landed with newborn-calf grace on his knees.
“Ow—Jesus!” He choked, clutching his left leg with one hand and shielding his eyes [...]
The Moth Collector’s Daughter
Remember, remember when you were born.
When Ti-ti was born, the Aunties came to anoint her with their declarative magic.
“Oh, her fingers are so short she won’t ever play piano,” said [...]
B’alam
Her grandmother had traveled through the jungle and stood under that same dark canopy many years before. She had been younger than Ix Kan when she walked this path. Thus, [...]