Beauty and the "Beast" Once upon a time a merchant set off for market, where he planned to sell some his freshly harvested weed. Before he left he asked each of his three triplet daughters what she would like as a present for their 19th birthdays. The first daughter wanted a brocade dress, the second a pearl necklace, but the third, whose name was Beauty –...
Hammer reclined on a comfortable chair, feeling quite refreshed after many long days in a drow's skin and under miles of rock, in lightless corridors of rough-hewn earth. He wore comfortable, loose pants and a wide-necked tunic. He didn't even bother with his usual boots. Lura's chamber was carpeted with soft material that was pleasing to the touch. He smile...
Yasmin in Canada When Nazrim made me an offer to join his computer company, so that I could take customer service and troubleshooting from his hands, I enjoyed my new roles. I also found myself doing quite a bit of training. In-house, people found they could come to me to sort out problems with their computers. Previously Nazrim would be short-tempered wit...
The summer of 1979 had most of the "chosen ones" on the paths that they were destined to follow. Robbie Seldon and Crystal North were dating and realized there was something building between them as they started college that summer. Brad Seldon and Jay Hanson were starting their jet fighter training at Edwards Air Force base... and both their wives were preg...
XIXThe Good of the CountryEric Esterhazy MP2045 Eric was infuriated. The Prime Minister had just humiliated him in front of the whole Cabinet. What kind of a woman was she? An out and out bitch, that's what. Moreover, it wasn't as if he could defend himself by claiming that he'd been misquoted since his words had been broadcast live on national television...
Chapter 21 - A problem, a question, and a solution The following day the reception area of the University Memorial Center was reserved for conferences and the visiting Danubian leaders. The university president, the governor, and several local politicians and union leaders awaited the foreign delegation, while Cecilia Sanchez and Cynthia Lee stood waiting w...
The scientists of Earth Friendly Futures were working as fast as they could to complete tests on the soil and water samples they'd gathered from around the U.S. during 2004 and 2005. Then they started on samples that were being sent to them from other environmentalists around the world through the IOPF. Most of the next few years would be spent doing nothin...
Kingdom of Pierra, 3,548th year of Galen, Planet Adamah of the Weiran Solar System CHAPTER ONE Ariana slipped into the queen's chambers just after midnight. The guards on either side of the ornately-carved wooden doors stood to let her through. They did not ask her to announce herself, for Ariana was Queen Maya's favorite slave, and was allowed to come and...
(What follows is an extract from the diary of Lady Elspeth Flashman, wife of the celebrated Victorian soldier Sir Harry Flashman, Hero of Afghanistan, the only man to stand with the Thin Red Line and charge with both the Heavy and Light Brigades at Balaclava, winner of the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny. Lady Elspeth's diary consists in the main of...
Justine smiled excitedly as she drove her V.W. through the darkening Carolina hills on her way to the country home of her godfather Leo and his wife Sophia. It was her first spring break, and her boyfriend had to stay on campus. Her roommates were headed to Daytona to chase boys and get wasted. They teased her about her decision not to go, said she was too i...