James Pyles's Blog, page 225
December 13, 2016
Rocketship to Mars
The four glittering, silver tail fins of Space Ship Ares One settled firmly on the red sands of the planet Mars as Colonel Bradley Graham flipped the toggle switch cutting the rocket thrust. Then he picked up the microphone and depressed the transmission button on the side. “Space Ship Ares One to Earth Space Control. […]
December 12, 2016
The Good Old Days
Alexander May had created a way to save the world. Unfortunately, the rest of the world found out about it. Dr. Alexander May, Ph.Ds in Particle Physics and Temporal Mechanics, retired Owner and CEO of TimeTeck, one of the largest and most profitable technology companies in the world, had watched that world continue its downward […]
December 11, 2016
Dreamless
“Why is it so hard to wake up?” “Because I don’t want you to wake up.” “No, I’ve got to get out of bed. I can’t be late for work.” “You are a lot more late for work than you think.” “How do you know? Who are you? Why can’t I open my eyes?” “Because […]
December 10, 2016
Human for Sale
Megan Kelly wept and tried to cover her nude body as best she could while on the selling block. “She’ll fetch a fine price,” the Slave Hunter said to his V’thakian customer. The Slave Hunter was human, a collaborator with the V’thak, a man who would hunt and sell his own kind to inhuman butchers […]
December 9, 2016
The Bubble
Friday, October 21, 2016 I might have lived alone in that 1920s bungalow that I inherited from my Grandpa for the rest of my life if I hadn’t discovered the Bubble. That’s what I call it because that’s what it looks like, a big soap-bubble suspended between the trunks of two Elm trees behind the […]
Tomb of the Pilot
“I can’t believe we finally made it, Kent. We’ve made it to the tomb.” “We aren’t there yet, Bethany. We still have to make it across this field.” Kent and Bethany had been traveling by horseback for weeks, following the ancient maps and clues left by the Predecessors. They weren’t entirely sure how long ago […]
December 8, 2016
Thoughts on the Death of John Glenn
I’m sure most of you have heard that former Astronaut John Glenn passed away today at the age of 95. I was only seven years old, the age of my grandson right now, when Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule on February 20, 1962. Obviously, I […]
Desire
“I think it’s working Gregor. I’m beginning to feel something.” “Me, too. It’s kind of strange, embarrassing even.” Gregor and Aabha were in bed together in a small, spartan, dimly lit room. They were sitting up, their backs resting on pillows pressed against the headboard. A blanket chastely covered them both up to their collar […]
December 7, 2016
The Dragon Quest of Peres the Knight
Even for a Knight with the valor of Peres the Worthy, entering the lair required all his courage. He had never faced such a formidable foe as this fiend. She had captured the fair one, presumably for a meal or two, and Peres knew her kind grew hungry at sunset. The sun was all too […]
Misfit
Why can’t anyone hear me? Okay, get a grip, Michelle. I can hear myself, so there must be some logical explanation besides the rest of the world going deaf all at once. It all started when I was getting breakfast. Dad was pouring a cup of coffee. His back was to me when I said […]
