Prose

“Hellbend for Leather,” Jude-Marie Green

Aug 20th, 2009 | By

My business card reads “Russell Light, Impresario to Hell.” I hand it out to acts with potential and we do business at Flames Bar & Grill. I like the décor here: deep booths upholstered in maroon leather, flocked red velvet wallpaper, chromed barstools. Pete the bartender keeps the lighting low and moody. My clients like the

[continue reading…]



“(S)tresses,” by Christi Krug

Aug 20th, 2009 | By

A high tower rose in the craggy wilderness, a vision in the night, a shadowy glove pointing at the sky with a bony, accusing finger.   Like that, or a guy with really bad arthritis. Closer, one could see figures. Two figures. One figure with a figure, and one that was shaped more like a splinter.

[continue reading…]



“Wednesday’s Promenade,” by Mary Baader Kaley

Aug 20th, 2009 | By

A wizzard, a bird, a pig. On a stroll yesterday with Henry and Fredrick, I told Fredrick, my parrot, to be sure to straighten his language a bit. His profanity was altogether embarrassing, though many marveled at his flair – – he could verbally outfox anyone with his erudite vocabulary peppered with competently placed cursing.

[continue reading…]



“Reverse Metamorphosis,” by Bill Waters

Aug 20th, 2009 | By

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible insect. –Franz Kafka, “The Metamorphosis” One night, when Grgrsmszzz woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his sleeping place into a horrible human the size of a bug–life inside the kitchen wall would never

[continue reading…]



“The Demihumans Three Meet Their Match,” by Christopher Jacobsmeyer

Aug 20th, 2009 | By

The trio of adventurers walked down the woodland path, still an hour away from their scheduled stop at The Screaming Wench. They were looking forward to tankards of Nexik’s best. They called themselves the Demihumans Three: Wild Weasel (halfling thief), Agnon (dwarven cleric), and Yerond (elven fighter). They were in a good mood, having just

[continue reading…]