December 2005

"For the Fairest," by Marie Brennan
Author's site: www.swantower.com/marie/stories/retellings/ftf.html
For the fairest, the inscription read . . .
Publication: Son and Foe, December, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"The Twa Corbies," by Marie Brennan
Author's site: www.swantower.com/marie/stories/retellings/ttc.html
In all the fairy stories, when the hero is magically gifted with an understanding of the speech of birds, it actually does him some good.
Publication: Talebones, Edited by Patrick and Honna Swenson, December, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"BehaviorNorm," by Sue Lange
Publication site www.challengingdestiny.com
A miner on a salt planet must confront her feelings of failure in order to move on.
Publication: Challenging Destiny, Edited by Dave Switzer, December, 2005
Genre: Science fiction / Category: Short story

"Erasure," by Jennifer Pelland
Publication Site: www.apexdigest.com
A woman is haunted by the memories she's had erased.
Publication: Apex SF and Horror Digest, Edited by Jason Sizemore, December, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Song for Two Voices," by Janni Lee Simner
Author's site: www.simner.com
Shared-world story set in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar; a man and woman living among Valdemar's patriarchial, polygamous Holderkin discover they are bonded to one another, even though Holderkin men are expected to be loyal to many wives.
Publication: Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar, Edited by Mercedes Lackey, December, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

November 2005

"The Final Blessing," by Carol Hightshoe
Author's promo page: www.klyssia.com/FBlessing.html
With more than 100 pieces from writers all over the world, and the gracious efforts of prominent editors and graphic designers, Stories of Strength is a tribute to the human spirit: celebrating true stories of courage and endurance in challenging situations that range from the death of a child to living through natural disasters, to smaller-scale trials, like dealing with returning an overdue book to the local Library Troll.
Publication: Stories of Strength, Edited by Jenna Glatzer, November, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Immortal Sin," by Jennifer Pelland
Publication Site: www.totu-ink.com
When you're a doctor, medical immortality is the best way to avoid the fires of hell.
Publication: Tales of the Unanticipated, Edited by Eric Heideman, November, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"MarsSickGirl," by Jennifer Pelland
Publication Site: www.andromedaspaceways.com
Unemployed and stranded on the Galilean moons, a Marsie sells her dreams to stay alive.
Publication: Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, , November, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Boy Twelve," by Jessica Reisman
Publication site: www.ttapress.com
Hover ships, giant fish, glowing spacedust, and a woman with a dark and haunted past in a rousing piece of pulp-style adventure sf.
Publication: Interzone, Edited by Andy Cox, November, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

October 2005

"The Meateaters," by Sue Lange
Publication site: www.apexdigest.com/index.shtml
Illustration of our tendency to view other cultures as strange or wrong while unquestioningly accepting our own rituals and morals-regardless of how sick and cruel-as normal.
Publication: Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest, Edited by Jason Sizemore, October, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"The Captivity of Princess Sallya," by Katherine Mankiller
Author's site: www.katherinemankiller.com
Can the brave Princess Sallya escape the clutches of the evil Monstoro? And will she ever get a new dress?
Publication: Alien Skin, Edited by Katherine A. Patterson, October, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"The Long Walk," by Lyda Morehouse
writing with Naomi Kritzer
Publication site: www.totu-ink.com
Publication: Tales of the Unanticipated, Edited by Eric M. Heideman, October, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Novelette

"Grandmother's Road Trip," by Cat Rambo
Publication site: www.chizine.com
2nd Place winner in Chiaroscuro Short Story contest; a young woman is haunted by a stuffed toy on a cross-country trip with her grandmother and mother.
Publication: Chiaroscuro, Edited by Brett Alexander Savory, October, 2005
Genre: Horror / Category: Short Story

September 2005

"Mountain Man's Toothpick," by Susan Urbanek Linville
Author's site: www.sff.net/people/susan-linville/default.htm
In a future society where following God's laws are paramount, a loving husband must commit the ultimate sin and use the old science to have a child and save his marriage
Publication: Northwest Passages: A Cascadian Odyssey, Edited by Cris DiMarco, September, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Smoking Dragon," by Virginia G McMorrow
Author's site www.virginiamcmorrow.com
Young adult fantasy about an embroidered dragon jacket.
Publication: Sciencefictionfantasyhorror.com, September, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short story

"Big Sister/Little Sister," by Jennifer Pelland
Publication site: www.apexdigest.com
When mother dies, Big Sister finally gets her revenge on Little Sister.
Publication: Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest, Edited by Jason Sizemore, September, 2005
Genre: Horror / Category: Short Story

August 2005

"Amanda's Father Is Fine," by Sue Burke
Publication site: www.totu-ink.com
Amanda, a high school student, tries to evade her problems by obsessing over the Moon colony crisis.
Publication: Tales of the Unanticipated, Edited by Eric Heideman, August, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"The Sword of Power," by Carol Hightshoe
Author's promo page: www.klyssia.com/SPower.html
Excalibur - The ancient Sword of Power. With the death of Uther Pendragon; the Christian Abbot tries to claim the ancient sword so the church can control the next High King. The High Priestess of Avalon comes to Glastonbury to reclaim what was once the property of Avalon. Who will be the one to claim the Sword and thus decide who will be crowned High King?
Publication: Illuminated Manuscripts, Edited by Lazetter Gifford, August, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Dusty Wings," by Nancy Jane Moore
Publisher site: wheatlandpress.com/
From the story: "[Y]ou can't laugh at yourself and commit suicide."
Publication: Polyphony 5, Edited by Deborah Layne and Jay Lake, August, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Novelette

"The Fall," by D. Lynn Smith
Publisher site: www.darkdel.com/
Ryan's mother and siblings are destroyed by a vampire. As he watches his father's dark descent to obtain revenge, Ryan himself must make a choice between heaven and hell.
Publication: Dark Delicacies, Edited by Del Howison and Jeff Gelb, August, 2005
Genre: Horror / Category: Short Story

July 2005

"Shadows' Bride," by Marie Brennan
Author's site: www.swantower.com/marie/stories/retellings/sb.html
Their laughter is the silence of empty rooms, the hush of dust lying decades thick.
Publication: Shadow Box, July, 2005
Genre: Horror / Category: Short Story

"Silence, Before the Horn," by Marie Brennan
Author's site: www.swantower.com/marie/stories/retellings/sbth.html
In the end, we all chose sleep. Skuld was the first to go; they say she went to Svalbard, to the glaciers that never melt, and locked in ice she dreams the centuries away.
Publication: Jabberwocky, Edited by Sean Wallace, July, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Tides," by Melanie Ann Fletcher
Publication site: www.quantummuse.com/
A randy merman with a taste for human women runs into a rather pointed problem when his latest "date" turns out to be not quite human.
Publication: Quantum Muse, Edited by Michael Gallant, July, 2005
Genre: Horror / Category: Short Story

"For Every Action," by Susan Urbanek Linville
Author's site: www.sff.net/people/susan-linville/default.htm
A Martian based ore hauler with a crew of women decide they are not going to let either side in the war between Earth and Mars gain control of an alien artifact.
Publication: Triangulation 2005, Edited by Barbara Carlson, July, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Smoking Dragon," by Virginia G McMorrow
Author's site: www.virginiamcmorrow.com
Teenage girl with Chinese embroidered dragon jacket finds herself suddenly filled with confidence to right wrongs.
Publication: Sciencefictionfantasyhorror.com, Edited by Dan, July, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Hallowe'en Party," by Nancy Jane Moore
Everyone is welcome at our neighborhood Hallowe'en party.
Publication: Future Washington, Edited by Ernest Lilley, July, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Dryad's Kiss," by Cat Rambo
Read this story at: www.kittywumpus.net/pubs/dryad.html
In the port city of Tabat, a mage named Leaf finds his words about love turned back against him.
Publication: Gryphonwood, July, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

June 2005

"The ABD," by Sue Lange
Publication site: www.astoundingtales.com
The hullabaloo surrounding a quirky invention serves as a backdrop in this story illustrating the good and bad sides of modernizing a town in western U.S.
Publication: Astounding Tales, Edited by Arthur Sanchez, June, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Diamond Girls" by Louise Marley
Publication site: www.scifi.com/scifiction
Story of the first women to play major league baseball; one is genetically enhanced and one is "a natural."
Publication: SCI FICTION, Edited by Ellen Datlow, June, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short story

"Gormlo the Green," by Christie Maurer
Publication site www.mytholog.com
In this grim fairytale, a little fellow gives his life to save a feckless fairy from a wicked witch--and from himself.
Publication: Mytholog.com, Edited by Asher Black, June, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Snow Day," by Jennifer Pelland
Read this story at: http://escape.extraneous.org/2005/06/09/ep005-snow-day/
Snow, sex, and androids - narrated in MP3 format.
Publication: Escape Pod, Edited by Steven Eley, June, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Winter's Season," by Sherry Thompson
Publication site: amazon.com page
"F/SF" contains stories with a Golden Age slant.
Publication: F/SF v.1, Edited by David Bain, June, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Don't Make Me Tongue You," by Martha Wells
Publication site: www.benbellabooks.com/
An essay in BenBella Books Pop Culture series.
Publication: FARSCAPE FOREVER, Edited by Glenn Yeffeth, June, 2005
Genre: Non-fiction / Category: Smart pop article

May 2005

"The Diminution," by Stephanie Hammer
Publication site:
Oversize parents obey daughters wish to grow smaller. And how.
Publication: CRATE, Edited by Jonathan Speight, May, 2005
Genre: fantasy / Category: short story

"Men are from Mars," by Stephanie Hammer
Publication site:
All right. I admit it. I had sex with a Martian. Single woman has sex with Martian man in 7/11 near the slurpee machine. Mayhem, madness, and boils that turn into tentacles that turn into creatures ensue.
Publication: CRATE, Edited by Jonathan Speight, May, 2005
Genre: science fiction / Category: short story

"She Called Me Baby," by Vylar Kaftan
Story www.strangehorizons.com/2005/20050530/baby-f.shtml
A cloned daughter of a celebrity deals with her mother's death.
Publication: Strange Horizons, May, 2005
Genre: Science fiction / Category: Short story

"Quilt Cirq," by Susan Urbanek Linville
Publication site: www.onspec.ca
In a future where status rank is important to teens and Christianity has become a fad, one teen finds friendship is the most important thing of all.
Publication: On Spec, Edited by Diane L. Walton, May, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"The Princess on the Rock," by Elspeth Potter
Publication site: www.anaisdotmfk.com/
Lesbian erotica. There's only one way to save the princess Mariamoni from being eaten by the sea monster.
Publication: anaisdotmfk.com, Edited by Martha Linbo-Terhaar, May, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Passing," by Nancy Jane Moore
Publication site: www.utexas.edu/law/publications/issn/blackacre/blackacre_info.html
Clones and the Supreme Court -- proof that legal science fiction exists. This story originally appeared in the National Law Journal as a contest winner.
Publication: Blackacre, Edited by Meera B. George, Robert Benton Lowe, May, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story
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"The Burning Bush," by Jennifer Pelland
Publication site: www.bradanpress.co.uk
"What will it take?" I asked. "A burning bush?" And then my pubic hair caught fire.
Publication: Here and Now, Edited by Jenny Barber, May, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"The Accordion," by Cat Rambo
Read this story at: home.sprynet.com/~awhit/rambo.htm
Someone woos the woman on the floor below, aided by mariachi bands, mimes, chickens and assorted musical instruments.
Publication: Cafe Irreal, Edited by Alice Whittenburg & G.S. Evans, May, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Faith In Unicorns," by S. J. Reisner
Read this story at: www.sciencefictionfantasyhorror.com/article.mgi2?article=faith-in-unicorns
A young, cynical astronomer unexpectedly loses the love of his life when he becomes a warrior of the gods, and learns the true meanings of love and faith.
Publication: sciencefictionfantasyhorror.com, Edited by Dan C. Rinnert, May, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Practical Villainy," by Janni Lee Simner
Author's site: www.simner.com/fiction.html#villain
"The first thing I want you to know is that I drowned those kittens for a reason ..." A story about the challenges of being a single parent and the proper use of sinister eye patches.
Publication: Say ... Have You Heard This One?, Edited by Christopher Rowe and Gwenda Bond, May, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"The White Geese," by D. L. Smith
Publication site: www.pangaia.com
It takes seven unwanted children to teach an older woman that knowing is much more powerful than believing.
Publication: Pangaia, Edited by Anne Newkrk Niven, Elizabeth Barrette, May, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

April 2005

"The Princess and the . . .," by Marie Brennan
Author's site: www.swantower.com/marie/stories/retellings/tpat.html
Sixty years on, I'm amazed at what they've done to the truth.
Publication: Flash Me Magazine, April, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"A Key to the Illuminated Heretic," by A. M. Dellamonica
Read this story at: www.baen.com/chapters/W200504/0743498976___1.htm
An alternate history about a middle-aged Joan of Arc.
Publication: Alternate Generals III, Edited by Harry Turtledove, April, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Novelette

"A Game of Marbles," by Carol Hightshoe
Author's promo page: www.klyssia.com/GMarbles.html
This fun little story is an imaginative tale about the creation of the Asteroid Belt.
Publication: Beyond Centuari, Edited by Tyree Campbell, April, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Hell Notes," by Mary C. Hobson
M.K. Hobson
Read this story at: www.scifi.com/scifiction/originals/originals_archive/hobson2/
A soulless marketing executive discovers that the horrors of bad Chinese food extend beyond the grave.
Publication: SCI FICTION, Edited by Ellen Datlow, April, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Hippocampus," by Mary C. Hobson
M.K. Hobson
Publication site: www.chizine.com/
Winner of the ChiZine Flash Fiction contest, this short-short is about memory, betrayal, and seahorses.
Publication: ChiZine, Edited by Brett Alexander Savory, April, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"The Last Wave," by Kay Kenyon
Author's site: www.kaykenyon.com
Deep in Loch Ness swims a creature cut off from his fellow-monsters, collecting nautical junk, waiting for the chance to go home. Today, however, he meets an old woman in a row boat who is his last chance for escape. . . but her price is very high, indeed.
Publication: I, Alien anthology, Edited by Mike Resnick, April, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"The Phone Company," by Racheline Maltese
other www.amazon.com/Horror-Between-Sheets-Michael-Amorel/dp/1933293012/ref=sr_1_1/102-0561469-1209755?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185910534&sr=8-1
A comedic cyberpunk romp through New York City's subway system and phone company bureaucracy.
Publication: Horror Between the Sheets, Edited by Michael Amorel, Oliver Baer, Benjamin, X. Wretlind, April, 2005
Genre: Horror / Category: Short Story

"Thief of Dreams," by Sheri L. McGathy
Read this story at: www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=1-55404-240-2AU
(audio novelette) On the edge of sunset, hidden within the blue-gray hues of the coming night, dwell the realms of twilight-- places where dreams become realities and reality is nothing but a dream. Within this quiet nothingness, nestled just on this side of starlight, the realm of Faery exists, safely tucked between the never was and the evermores. At least, this is what I believe. I hope you enjoy Thief of Dreams.
Publication: Double Dragon, April, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Novelette

March 2005

"The Spear Carrier," by A. M. Dellamonica
Read this story at: www.scifi.com/scifiction/originals/originals_archive/dellamonica4/index.html
Another story from the Slow Invasion universe. Opal wants desperately to be the human Ambassador to the fierce alien Budj, but an opportunistic old man has cost her her big chance at promotion. To add insult to injury, she is expected to protect him from the many hazards of Budj society.
Publication: Sci Fiction, Edited by Ellen Datlow, March, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Novelette

"Paradise," by Paige Kimble
Publication www.fourthhorseman.com/Revelation
A classic trope in a one act play: If you could escape your world's end by giving up everything you knew, would you?
Publication: Revelation, Edited by Brian A. Dixon, March, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: script

"La Paloma Blanca," by Diane Whiteside
storyauthor www.dianewhiteside.com
Standalone short story in the Texas vampire universe. A young Bostonian lady meets two Texas vampires in 1867.
Publication: Blood Surrender, Edited by Cecilia Tan, March, 2005
Genre: fantasy / Category: short story

February 2005

"The Cathedral," by Pamela K. Taylor
In a world determined to reduce religious extremism, sometimes the solutions are worse than the problem.
Publication: Citizen Culture Magazine, Edited by Jonathan Feit, February, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

"Mortal Choice," by Lynda Williams
Publication site: www.dandelionmagazine.ca/
Live forever or reproduce? Mortal Choice is the story of one family's struggle to decide.
Publication: dANDelion Magazine, Edited by Andre Rodrigues, February, 2005
Genre: Science Fiction / Category: Short Story

January 2005

"Sharksheep Suit," by Vylar Kaftan
Story www.lenoxavemag.com/lenoxavemag/issue4suit.htm
A man who raises sharksheep makes a suit so he can visit the city.
Publication: Lenox Avenue, January, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Flash fiction

"Mist Nets," by Mary Pat Mann
Publication site: www.pangaia.com
Hannah noticed fluttering down in the far corner of the mist net. She looked, and looked again. This was not a bird, or a moth. This was... a tiny person with wings
Publication: Pangaia, Edited by Elizabeth Barrette, January, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

""Eft" or "Epic"," by Sarah Micklem
Publication site: www.lcrw.net/issues/lcrw15.htm
Being a translation with explication of a four-line fragment of the great, lost 30-line epic called the Lay of Roebland, circa third century AD. Additional notes are provided on the difficulties of translating from Roeblish.
Publication: Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, Edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant, January, 2005
Genre: Fantasy / Category: Short Story

"Five Rivers of Mourning," by K. Z. Perry
Read this story at: www.chizine.com/fiverivers.htm
A dark tale of loss
Publication: Chiaroscuro/Chizine, Edited by Brett A. Savory, January, 2005
Genre: Horror / Category: Short Story

"Don't Make Me Tongue You," by Martha Wells
Publisher site: www.benbellabooks.com/
An essay in BenBella Books Pop Culture series.
Publication: FARSCAPE FOREVER, Edited by Glenn Yeffeth, 2005
Genre: Non-fiction / Category: Smart pop article