James Pyles's Blog, page 144
June 9, 2018
Spirits of the Canyon
“The stars are very beautiful Travis, but I still don’t understand what you expect us to see out here. I mean camping in Palo Duro Canyon under the Milky Way is a very romantic honeymoon, but…” “Cassie, our ancestors lived here for thousands of years before being displaced, first by the Comanche and Kiowa, and […]
June 8, 2018
Saigon
The video footage was grainy, but Taylor recognized them easily. “You’re worth every penny I paid you, Tran. Now blow. I’ll watch the rest alone.” The Vietnamese photojournalist left the darkened hotel room without a word. He moonlighted at this sort of work, taking photos and video of unsuspecting couples, and since he’d already been […]
June 7, 2018
Descent
The little girl had picked up the carrion bird’s feather, the only remains of her connection to the griffon vulture who had delivered the dire news of the Great Gray God, and tucked it in her pocket. For a few short minutes when their minds met, she had seen through his eyes, had seen the […]
June 6, 2018
Anticipating the Anthology “To Be Men”
I’ve become aware of a book soon to be made available through Superversive Press called To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity. It’s an anthology and actually the sort of project I’d have loved to contribute to. The theme is based on a premise currently popular in speculative fiction and in certain social perspectives, that traditional masculinity […]
A Glitch in Time
This was fantastic. He never thought he’d see Lennon, McCartney, and Starr perform together again. They certainly showed their age, their voices not quite as vibrant as he remembered from childhood, but they were legends. Oswaldo Gantz watched his grandchildren holding up their smartphones to take photos just like all of the other kids around […]
Moshe Visits the Met
Moshe Katz was in New York visiting his Tante and Feter, and they made the San Francisco Private Detective play tourist, including a visit to the Met’s Diamond Jubilee. Then things got ridiculous. He’d heard of Marian Anderson, but who the hell were Judy Collins, Yo-Yo Ma, and Itzhak Perlman? “Alright, Mr. Watson, I’m going to […]
June 5, 2018
Subterranean Hideaway
“Grandpas bring a little wisdom, happiness, warmth, and love to every life they touch” –Anonymous Keisha could hear the two Spads veer off to either side just after the machine gun clatter stopped. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she’d bent forward in her chair as far as she could, covering her head with her […]
Oozing
Shame oozed from her pores and covered her in syrup that smelled like sex. No matter how much she washed, it just kept coming, so she sat. It had happened in the kitchen and Lela thanked whatever powers there may be that no one was home besides the cat. But the cat was bad enough […]
Return to Delhi
The Airbus A320 Neo landed back in Delhi after one of its two engines stalled in midflight to Ranchi. Passengers and crew were safely returned to the ground, but not allowed to approach the terminal. Investigators ordered the passengers to be deplaned and escorted to a quarantine area. Captain Laghari was justifiably incensed as federal […]
June 4, 2018
Cheating on the Bechdel Test
“She’s right Monet, Mum, but an expert at oblivescence. Can’t even remember my cell number to call me.” “Stop trying to be epigrammatic, Jilly. Just say that the little tart can’t be bothered with you after your one night stand.” Jilly and her Mum Sophia were having their weekly chat over tea at Starbucks on Conduit […]
