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Issue 139 Volume 13 December 2009 / January 2010
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Editorial
Dan L. Hollifield
The Senior Editor's usual rants about whatever…
Serials and Novellas
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New Columbia - Part Three of
Three
J. B. Hogan
Ari Blanque's danger-filled flight passes through the lawless Outworld and culminates in the discovery that New Columbia, the
mythic, hoped for land, may truly exist.
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Evolutionary
Chris Hertz
Humanity had its chance and blew it. Now, it is time for some other species to take a crack at running the earth.
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Lady of Knives
Chad Banks
Figuring out who killed a member of a rival gang is the easy part for Monkey and his companions. Stopping her and her knives is
much more of a problem.
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Short Stories
NOTE: We have 20 stories this issue, ranging in length from just over 1,000 words to over 6,000 words. For those who prefer
particular genres within the rather elastic Aphelion range, I have tried to categorize the stories into four categories:
- Science Fiction — no "magic", and at least some semi-plausible technology or scientific elements;
- Fantasy — almost anything goes!;
- Heroic Fantasy, — a.k.a. "Swords and Sorcery"; and
- Horror — somewhat overlapping with Fantasy, but tending toward the grim and sometimes gory.
If this seems like a good idea, let me know…
Science Fiction
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Thy Kingdom Come, My Will Be
Done
Frederick Rustam
The starship TerraNav carried scholars for every major discipline on a mission of exploration. Unfortunately, it also
carried a frustrated Chaplain and an A.I. that was eager to hear The Word.
In God's Image
DoA Worrell
Leonardo Toure found the key to immortality. His discovery would change the world in ways that no one could have
anticipated.
Antimatter Dreams
David
Wright
Ayesha was a psychologist, a family therapist on her way to her dream job on board the planet-girdling International Antimatter
Collector station. It was too bad that she couldn't connect with her own teenage son.
Scimitar of God
E. S. Strout
The terrorist group Scimitar of God has unleashed a lethal plague. Millions have died, included most of the population of Europe
and North America. All Eli Morrison can do is try to survive — and plan his revenge.
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Imprint
Jack Skelter
Ethan Laurence used an old typewriter to write because he thought computers had no soul. His old friend Bill had other
ideas…
UnHistory
Lee Gimenez
Insurance investigator Sam McCall had seen every kind of fraud ever attempted people trying to pry money out of the companies he
worked for. Or so he thought.
Starport
Joe Pezzula
Allison was frustrated. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make an emotional connection with her exotic (and
artificial) pets.
Dust Mote
T. N. Dockrey
Kate had something in her eye, something that gave the term "foreign object" a whole new meaning.
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Fantasy
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All That He Plants Takes Root
Michael Hitchcock
Martin of Do'aash couldn't go home until he learned the meaning of the riddle-song given to him his Teacher. In the
meantime, living in the barren wilderness gave him plenty of time to think.
Receipt for a Dragon
Stuart
Sharp
Brian was between jobs, and about to be between girlfriends, thanks to his love of reptiles. Investigating the odd receipt he
found in an old book would at least occupy his time.
Hermesian Parameters
Kim
Rush
Archibald Hermes, harried medical equipment sales representative, asked for peace, and got it — sort of.
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The Deeper the Lust, the
Sweeter the Flesh
Kimberly Grenfell
The reward for the heart of Legendfire was too good to pass up, even if adventurer Orrin had a really bad feeling about the whole
business. Dragons were not known for surrendering their hearts without a fight…
Perchance To Dream
Bruce
Memblatt
The doctors didn't know why John Stewart kept having heart attack after heart attack without regaining consciousness —
but somehow refused to die. But while his body was failing, his mind was lost in dreams — or nightmares.
History Lesson
Shane
McKenzie
Gabe hated detention, but the substitute teacher "Mr. E" made it interesting. Too interesting.
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Heroic Fantasy
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Near Neighbor, Far
Brother
Kristen Lee Knapp
Riccor would fight for his fiefdom, his honor, and his daughter's life, even against a man he thought of as a brother.
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No More Heroes
Mark Ward
From the beginning of time, men have called upon the gods and the spirits of past heroes to help them in battle. Depending
on that help has never been a good idea.
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Horror
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Zombies and Demons and Feds (Oh
My)
Franchot Lewis
Ray's demon lover had turned him into a zombie of sorts — almost mindless, hungry for flesh. Ray's Homeland Security
bosses would have put him down if they knew — but his mother, brother, and ex-partner all had other plans.
Loneliness Or A Warm Gun
Dwayne Bunney
All John and Dylan wanted was a drink or two and a willing woman before they set sail on the long journey back to England. They
found something much darker in Port Arthur.
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On the 6th
Philip Roberts
Sara was a nurse. She had seen death often enough before. But there was something different about the homeless man who had died
tonight. For one thing, he had been killed the car Sara was in.
The Last Wonder in the
World
T. N. Dockrey
Cala knew the strange plant she found in her yard was special. Her new neighbor just didn't understand…
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Poetry and Filk Music
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Articles and features
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Aphelion Webzine is © 1999-2023 by Dan L. Hollifield
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