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Issue 218 Volume 21 June 2017
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Editorial
Dan L. Hollifield
The Senior Editor's usual rants about whatever…
Serials and Long Fiction
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The Lady in the Attic
Susan Savage Lee
Dylan couldn't understand how his parents could afford the grand Victorian mansion they were moving into …
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The Best Long Fiction of the First Twenty Years
New Columbia
J. B. Hogan
Ari Blanque is a citizen of a futuristic world which has been divided, race against race, class against class, civilian versus military.
As a rich young man of privilege, he has never had to work or accomplish anything. However, he has one skill. He is a demon when he gets
behind the wheel of his car. This talent attracts the attention of rebels, who need a driver to help them reach their base near the
legendary paradise, New Columbia. Against his will, Ari undertakes a long and dangerous journey, during which he learns the secrets of the
brave new world which people like his father helped create.
(This epic tale originally appeared in three parts, from October 2009 through December 2009 / January 2010.)
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Short Stories
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Beyond the Blade
Jarrett Mazza
Making the correct choices can be difficult. Especially if you didn't have all the necessary info.
Caged
Stephen Tillman
Better be careful about what you put in a cage. It could turn around and bite you…
The Creeper
Alexis Child
There are times when your heart's desire is merely the bait.
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The Doll Factory
Graham Catt
Finding a job after a long spell of unemployment is supposed to be a GOOD thing…
Dymond In The Rough
C. E. Gee
When Russ Dymond was called to Mars on a mysterious case, the detective though he was prepared for anything…
The Hexchanted Book Of Spells
James J. Murphy III and Lisa G. Murphy
Three bored teenage girls, a handsome boy in their school classes, and an old book. What could go wrong?
Lineage and Legacy
Gregory Cioffi
People often want to leave something behind for their families, or for the future.
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The New Valve
Laura Solomon
Stress can be very bad for your health.
What the Sky Can Hold
Patrick Niemeyer
Dreams, nightmares, whatever you call them—sometimes they have deeper meanings than you suppose…
The Tests
Claire McMurray
Societies change gradually. And some changes are not exactly for the better.
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The Best Shorts of the First Twenty Years
2005
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The Stone Curse
Verna McKinnon
Seda was a witch of considerable power and skill, and, she thought, a good person. She had abused her gifts to take revenge on
the woman who had stolen the man she loved, only to find that she could not live with what she had done. Now, with the help of
Valda, her teacher, she had to undo the damage she had done — no matter what the price.
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Of Blood and Fire
David Alan Jones
"How many times have you made the Loop?" asked Kelysen.
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Field Trip
E. S. Strout
The Higgs boson was the theoretical key to everything—without it, matter could not exist. Dr. Leonard thought that
Dr. Paula Lynch had given him a sure path to a Nobel Prize—but there was a catch.
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2006
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Cold Stone Killer
Craig
Cornwell
Dave Handel, the detective with the door to anywhere and anywhen, is called in to investigate the suspicious death of a big
Philistine named Goliath. And matters are a lot more complicated than the version that made it into the Bible…
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Miranda Solves the Case
Mary Brunini McArdle
Cece was to be a bridesmaid at her friend Marcia's wedding, and was suffering the usual wardrobe anxiety. But when Marcia
was murdered on the day of her bridal shower, and Cece became a suspect, wardrobe seemed a lot less important. Fortunately,
Cece's cat Miranda had a few ideas about catching the killer…
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The One-Eyed Dragon
Brian C. Petroziello
Something big, nasty and savage has been leaving a trail of fire and death from the Far East to New York City. Of course, now
that it's on their turf, it's up to Detectives Minelli and Mulhearn of the Special Crimes Section to find the beast —
and put it down.
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Flash Fiction
Due to Technical Difficulties, the May Flash was held over an extra month
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Approaching Titanic
Gary
L. Robbe
Survive. You can do it, really you can. Can't you?
The Boar's Head
Susan
Anwin
A nocturnal visitor changes one girl's perspective forever.
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Little Girl vs.
Hercules
Clint Lowe
No one could best the mighty Hercules… except Junebe tiny Sue.
The Modified
R.D. Harris
What does it really mean to be human?
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Legs
Neil Floyd
He didn't have the one thing he needed to get away.
Dust
N. J. Kailhofer
Boy, that old woman sure hates the dirt in your house.
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The Aphelion Flash Fiction Contest
We run a monthly flash fiction contest in the "Fun and Games" folder in Aphelion's forum. In the contest we
post a challenge with a specific theme and genre and participants write a flash story based on the challenge guidelines. The contest is a
great place to hone your writing skills, meet some fellow writers, receive some feedback, and possibly win a prize. New participants are
always welcome. Submissions for the contest are done through the forum. Flash stories from all of our previous contest challenges are
archived in the forum as well.
Over 500 stories are included in our archive. To start reading some of these great flash stories, check out either
Index 1 or Index 2.
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Poetry and Filk Music
The Best Poetry of the First Twenty Years
2005-2006
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Articles and features
The Dark Visions of C.M. Kornbluth
Best of the Best Part 1
Mark Ricard
"Cyril M. Kornbluth was something of a child prodigy – he graduated from high school at 13 and sold his first story at
16— a writer from the science fiction's golden age of the 1940 and 50s."
 The Best Mare Inebrium Tales from Our
First Twenty Years
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Rerun
Bill Wolfe
In the back of every mind, a monster lurks—chained in the mind's dark recesses, kept away from the light of day for all
eternity… but chains can break. Corbeatee’s ability to control biological systems was absolute; he was merely very good
with mechanical devices. But he was learning fast.
A
Fish for Orion
Lee Foster
"I hunt everything. Hunt dangerous things, no one else will hunt." He touched the butt of a bone-handled weapon on his
belt. "I hunt great cat-creatures. I hunt giant white, crushing creature. Use skeleton for trophy room. I hunt mutated giant
killer quadruped." He fingered his white furred GEEB polar bear cloak. He leaned close to me and said in a conspiratorial tone,
"But I run out of things to hunt. No more great killer beasts. I become building-stick." Then he smiled his toothsome smile
and looked up towards Kazsh-ak Tier…
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Sociology Experiment
Wishbone
"I was only trying to get an idea for my thesis on Non-terran sociology…' A little knowledge can be a dangerous
thing.
Where Angels Fear to Tread
Bill Wolfe
When a gathering of Gods found that they needed advice, they knew to ask a bartender. They usurped the bodies of a handy group of
Abvarnan farmers and marched them purposefully into the Mare Inebrium on the busiest holiday of the Bethdish year. Fortunately for
the Devine, Larrye was the one who took Their order…
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Sheffield's Eleventh
Jeff Williams
"Mr. Grym… gives you this challenge. Virtually all of City of Lights is…'open'…shall we say. To the
enterprising entrepreneur, there is an entree into virtually every business, every bank, every shop, if the cards are played right and if
the man or woman is quick, smart, and intelligent. Every building is transparent to your skills and talents under the right circumstances.
Every building, that is, except one… The Tower, my friends—The one building that has never been burglarized beyond petty
drunks stealing petty bags of petty peanuts. Nothing more than the occasional ashtray or shot glass. Nothing of any consequence besides
bathroom towels. No one in this room, indeed, no one in the history of Bethdish has ever broken into the Mare Inebrium Tower and stolen
anything of value."
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Aphelion Webzine is © 1997-2023 by Dan L. Hollifield
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