James Pyles's Blog, page 160

Reluctant Partners

“Come on. You’ll have to be my partner because everyone else has one, Steph.” “It’s not my fault I was out with the flu when Mr. Hanson was handing out assignments, Jeff. Everyone knows you’re useless. That’s why no one picked you.” “Ms. Henshaw. Mr. Flynn is right.” It wasn’t the voice of God, but […]

The Imagination Tree

The snow had finally melted around the big imagination tree. He took his laptop out and sat alone. The kids were all grown and the grandkids had their sports. The missus was visiting their daughter across town. All the chairs around the table were empty except for his. But not for long. He started writing […]

Unlocked

“It’s got to be around here somewhere, Jamie. Maybe on the other side.” “No, I’m positive that we put it on this side, Dex.” “You’d be positive that the sky is green and grass is blue, but that wouldn’t make you right.” “How would you know, you loser? You haven’t done right by me since […]

Surveillance

“Citizens. You are being watched. It is now safe to cross the street.” The simulated voice from the cross walk camera sounded both melodious and ominous. “I think it’s creepy how the government is allowed to put up surveillance cameras everywhere.” Joan was complaining to her co-worker Fran as the two of them continued their […]

Worlds: Stupid Sci-Fi Film Tricks, The Nuclear Option.

Originally posted on G. Scott Huggins:
A version of this post appeared earlier on my Patreon site, but I thought it was worth exploring here. Let me introduce you to one of my pet peeves about SF movies in general, through that awesomely terrible film, Independence Day, a film that apparently existed for the sole purpose…

The Guardian

Glenn Carroll had to do something, so he arranged to work nights and spend school hours as a cross walk guard. He was surprised to find he really enjoyed talking to the elementary age kids (and he had three of his own), and between getting children across the street mornings and afternoons, he acted as […]

Disaster

“It’s so serene here. I’m having a hard time believing you’e right, Craig.” Geologist Joanne Palmer looked out over Yellowstone Lake from Mary Bay, which was thought to have been created sometime in the last 14,000 years by a Hydrothermal explosion. It was a favorite spot for Park tourists and reminded her of family vacations […]

Trial at Sakhr

Janellize’s gaze was fixed upon the dragonrider standing before her as were the other four elves, if elves they really were. Mandy kept looking in disbelief back and forth between the Mistress of Direhaven and her new found friend. What secret did the teenage girl possess that was a threat to Direhaven, to the dragons, and […]

Visitors

NEW YORK - Anne Cenzeno, Associated Press - 22 March 2176 - In the aftermath of the return of Earth's first interstellar ship the "Aquila" commanded by Colonel Allen Parker, the delegation of four alien beings whose ship they encountered in space are being taken on a guided tour of Manhattan in the company of […]

The Woman from Ogygia

Gilberto Curry wandered into Gleneagles Bar, probably one of the more famous landmarks on Gozo, and sat at the nearest vacant table. He’d become bored with nearby Malta the minute he entered the airport gift shop and saw endless replicas of the cinema’s “Maltese Falcon.” Sipping on his second beer of the day, he was […]