The Odin Chronicles • Episode 24: “The Ocean of Story” • by Paul Celmer

 A young man rushed into the bar, jolting Ingrid from a daydream. He had a wild explosion of wiry black hair, with eyes like inkwells set between jagged cheekbones. Ingrid saw that his hands shook.“Mikhail?” She wiped the counter in front of him. “You look like you’re running from a ghost.” She had seen the young monk come in a couple of times over the last few weeks. “He’s...

Read More

The Odin Chronicles • Episode 23: “The Disappearing Cat Trick” • by Carol Scheina

Tanya’s parents refused to let her get a cat. No matter how many times Tanya argued that the planet’s environment was fully approved for cats, or that cats had already made their home among the rocks and dust and blue bamboo plants of Odin III, they wouldn’t budge. Tanya suspected they didn’t want the responsibility of a pet, so she did the next best thing and showered attention...

Read More

SHOWCASE • “Even Vampires Have a Speed Limit” • by David VonAllmen

  Standing in the dimly lit intersection of two streets, I’m the only living thing for miles in any direction. Humans abandoned these crumbling brick apartments years ago. Even pigeons and rats scurry away when they feel the evil chill that grips the night here. “Whatch’yer got there?” the Cockney bat on my shoulder asks. I startle. The vampire moved so fast, so quiet,...

Read More

TALKING SHOP: What Do HARRY POTTER, CHUCK (TV Show), STAR WARS (Original Trilogy), a new band called DURRY, and SPIDERMAN – Have In Common?

Short answer: HELPLESSNESSLong answer: read on...HARRY POTTER appears in the first book as a baby in a basket, being dropped off at his aunt and uncle's house by a witch, a wizard, and a guy riding a flying motorcycle with a sidecar. According to most Earth biology, you can't get much more helpless than a baby.Most of you are familiar with the story, but if you’re not (“What...

Read More

The Odin Chronicles • Episode 22: “Friends Like Binary Stars” • by Travis Burnham

 As the large, battered robot at the deli whirred to life, a lonely eleven-year-old girl named Vivi watched the repairs with rapt attention. The robot repair team was composed of Ingrid who was fixing the hardware, and Sloane-51, a recently emancipated AI, who worked on the software. Ingrid ran the local bar, but she was a fair hand with a wrench and was substituting...

Read More

The Odin Chronicles • Episode 21: “Hunt” • by Jonathan Sherwood

There is a moment when you realize it’s gone too far. You’ve lost control and in the blink of an eye everything is about to become horrific. Hadiza kept the butt of her rifle tight to her shoulder. One eye looking through the scope. Finger hovering over the trigger. And realized this was that moment. “Joe,” she whispered, hoping she spoke loudly enough for her ear comm to...

Read More

The Odin Chronicles • Episode 20: “Faith and Good Works” • by Pete Wood

 Father Francis climbed into the transport back to Odin III. He smiled and greeted the young woman in the pilot’s chair.“Just the two of us today, Father,” Mazaa, the pilot, said. “Kinda weird. Usually miners are lining up to get off this rock.” “They don’t switch out the crews until midweek, I think,” Father Francis said. Odin II was so grueling with its higher gravity...

Read More

SHOWCASE • “Maggie’s Confessional” • by Branden Linley

“Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It’s been, hell, probably a couple years since I last confessed.” “Language, Maggie.” “Sorry, Father.” “What brings you here today?” “I’m not exactly sure what sin I committed, but I’m pretty sure it’s one of them big ones.” “Tell me what happened, and we’ll sort through it.” “Sure thing. So, you remember the guy who summoned the demon...

Read More

The Odin Chronicles • Episode 19: “The One Who Walks Out” • by Carol Scheina

 19. “The One Who Walks Out”by Carol Scheina Two miners walk into a cavern and— Ronja had heard variations of that joke far too many times on Odin III. She only wanted to finish her beer in peace as she nestled into a dark corner in Weber’s Place. It was just her luck that a bearded man in dusty miner’s overalls cut through the bar noise with his deep, baritone voice.  There...

Read More