Sci-fi Short Stories, and more
Recently, my novel writing has taken a back seat. I’ve been writing short stories, some more fantastical than the others. I write both sci-fi and fantasy, though I’d say there is a whimsical charm to even my darker tales.
Not all my stories are posted on Medium. For a complete collection, head to my website. All my stories and essays are available for free there.
All my stories exist in the same universe, but there is no reading order or prior knowledge required. Characters rarely make repeated appearances in different stories. …
For fun and profit
(as well as three used Moleskine Pocket Notebooks)
I don’t journal a lot these days. Instead, there is comfort in quickly scribbled words in a tiny pocket notebook.
I’ve been using many from my Field Notes stockpiles, going through about one book per month. At the same time, I’m also using a Moleskine-styled pocket notebook with a sky blue cover that’s dedicated to school notes. I’ve been jotting down my thoughts that way.
Just quick words about what’s going on in my brain. What I observed, and the media I consumed. That sort of quick brain dump really shouldn’t replace regular journaling. …
A Sci-fi short story about long lost treasures
Though Rusto dislikes children, he can tolerate the orphans running around the station market. As long as they keep to themselves, only steal from the oblivious travelers stopping at Rodan 8C for resupply and not his spacecraft parts, he let the children roam free around his stall.
They like shiny things, the orphans. They like ghost stories and the latest weary stranger arriving at the station. They gossip, a lot, like a pack of sparrow drones. They are good at gathering information that way, and trading them for shiny things. …
The Terran‘s unspoken language
Exhausted and as dusty as the hauler spaceship, us crew members gathered in the mess bay to discuss our next step.
The long haul was over. The cargo delivered. The Antiquity was going home.
How long had it been? Months? Years? I no longer knew which calendar I should count. Time seemed endless when drifting through the void.
Our conversation started civil, then descended into teasing and jokes, like it always did. We lived like a family in the cramped quarters of the ship.
It was time for us to part. The Antiquity made several stops, returning each of us…
A Sci-Fi short story about interstellar refugees
“How long is it gonna take?” 5765 laid on the operation table, asking the doctor. “Would I be late for dinner?”
The doctor introduced herself as Calypso. The name sounded fake, but 5765 wasn’t in the position to complain about names. Doctor Calypso was kind to him and didn’t treat him like a child. So that’s good.
“Probably,” Doctor Calypso said. “It’s not that good anyway. Canned beef stew and potato again.”
“Okay.” It didn’t stop his mouth from watering. Any food was good food. A stew in the war zone would have been heavenly.
He tried staying still on…
and vote, you should
Ever since March, there was a feeling in my bone that this year would be different. And different became an understatement. The global pandemic and all the millions of things happening at once. Somehow all these events pointed me to November. Like something big is about to happen. As someone living in the US, it’s the election season.
Currently, I’m under a lot of stress from work and school, but I’m starting to find joy in a world seemingly mad.
You must’ve heard it from a lot of people, but go vote. Other people say it…
On “Outlanders”, one of Apple Arcade’s better offerings
So I played Outlanders.
Outlanders by Pomelo Games is this town-building simulation game. It’s on Apple Arcade and that’s why I played it. I was away from home with only the iPad I bought earlier this year, missing my console but still want to play a game.
I decided to try the Apple Arcade free trial, because, well, it’s free. There are quite a few gems on the platform. I want to write about them when I have the time.
Comparing to the mobile games stuffed with ads and micro-transactions, Apple Arcade as a service offers quality games without distraction.
…
A Sci-Fi short story
“The portal is ready, Kyan — wait, why aren’t you in your costume?”
Startled by the sudden opening of her office door, Kyan turned to face her colleague, Beryl. His presence was always anxiety-inducing, since it either meant more work or bad news.
Or both. She was just about to take a sip of coffee from her “world’s best boss” mug when he barged in. It would be a shame if she dropped the precious cup.
“What portal?” She asked, dumbfound. “There’s no scheduled portal opening today, I don’t think. Also, what costume?”
“Well, check your calendar again. The Moongate…
Keep a journal, now.
We don’t need preface for the time we are living in right now. Everyone is using the euphuism “the current situation” for the global pandemic. It’s a hard time for anyone, including creatives like us.
Artistic expression can take a backseat when the most pressing matter is your physical health and survival. Does the world still need your writings? It’s a difficult time, but you should still keep writing. It’s not the time to give up, even when the world situation seems bleak right now.
What should you write about, when we are at a special point in history?
Keep a journal
Now…
