Stephen L. Thompson's Blog, page 62
June 21, 2011
30 Stories in 30 Days #15 – "The Time Will Come"
The Time Will Come
"Birth" of a new species?
Oslo, Norway – For those of you still uncomfortable with the notion of people uploading their thoughts and memories to live immortal virtual lives, you may not want to read any further. Researchers led by Doctor Stian Stang at the Norwegian School of Information Technology have announced that they have written a program that would allow two – or more – Uploads to conceive a "child." Much as a flesh-and-blood child inherits traits from each parent...
June 20, 2011
30 Stories in 30 Days #14 – "Talking With Ants"
Talking With Ants
With the arrival of warmer weather, the end of the school year, and the fact that the grades were already in the system, the attendance in Jason Cole's senior class had plummeted. Today, only three students had showed up. There was Andrea Winters, the class salutatorian who hadn't missed a day in five years, and her boyfriend Chris Chamberlain who never left her shadow. The third was Patricia Wasser, the class misfit, who was probably the smartest one in the class, but...
30 Stories in 30 Days #13 – "Indivisible"
Indivisible
"This is not a good sign," April remarked with a smile. "You're sitting there pen in hand with your eyes glazed over."
"I was thinking," Sam replied.
Sitting down at the table in the bookstore café, April asked, "Should I get you some aspirin?"
"Oh ha-ha."
"But you should get that glazed look off your face before Tony shows up. This is the Writer's Write! meeting remember. We're not supposed to think, just write and fill page after page with words."
Sam shrugged. "I do have an...
June 19, 2011
30 Stories in 30 Days #12 – "Dust to Dust"
Dust to Dust
As Pete walked from his front door to his car, his eyes never left the screen of his phone. He had already checked and replied to the messages he had missed while asleep, so now he checked football scores, the weather, his stocks. He did glance up when he reached his car and was confused by what he saw. The normally bright blue coupe had a layer of grey dust on it. He wiped his finger through it, leaving a clean streak. Looking around, he saw that the other cars on the...
June 15, 2011
30 Stories in 30 Days #11 – "From Out of Town"
From Out of Town
"We have arrived at your destination."
"Thanks," Amy said as she passed her hand over the reader, which deducted her fare from her Ident chip.
"You are welcomed," the automated cab replied.
Amy stepped out and glanced around at the grey office buildings. Without thinking, her hands clutched at her stomach. When she realized she was doing it, she forced her arms to her sides, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. After a moment, she let it out and opened her eyes. Calmer –...
June 14, 2011
30 Stories in 30 Days #10 – "A Bitter Man Can Dream"
A Bitter Man Can Dream
Cameras clicked as the short, balding man stepped up to the podium. He was flanked by the Selection Committee Chairperson Marylise Decazes, who stepped to the side. The man gave a quick smile and said, "Hi. Um, my name is Gregory Sanders. I have just been told by Madame Decazes that out of some ten thousand applicants, I have been selected by the aliens to be their 'connection' to humanity."
Every reporter raised a hand and shouted a question. Almost immediately...
June 13, 2011
20,000 words!
I keep track of how many words I write each day. My goal this year is to write 50,000 words. Well today I hit the 20,000 word mark. If you're quick with math, you notice that I'm 2/5 of the way to my goal about 1/2 of the way through the year. So I better get to work.
June 12, 2011
30 Stories in 30 Days #9 – "Mercy"
Mercy
Turning a page, Tom muttered, "A 'time travel maze.' What the hell was that?"
"As I recall, it came from a dream where a man was trapped in a dimensional maze where he kept meeting older and younger versions of himself."
Tom groaned. "That's helpful." After a moment's thought he added, "It's interesting, but I don't remember what I was going to do with it, if anything." With a sigh, he put an 'X' next to that story idea.
He silently read through the next few in the list, vaguely...
30 Stories in 30 Days #8 – "Fluid History"
Fluid History
July 1
My dearest Anna,
There looks to be a battle today. We've been chasing the Rebs for days, but we've finally caught up to them outside this town named Gettysburg. In case I don't survive, I wanted you to know of my undying love for you and that I will await you in the next world. All my love to my mother and the kids.
Joshua
July 4
Anna,
The Rebs broke through the line yesterday cutting us in half. I doubt I will survive the battle today. I love you.
Joshua
July 9
My dearest...
June 9, 2011
30 Stories in 30 Days #7 – "Give it Time"
Give it Time
As Champ67 selected which of the cows in his herd would be transferred to his T-Rex pen, he heard a buzz. It took him a moment to realize it was the bell to his virtual door. Who the hell still uses doors? he wondered. In a blink he was at his door, which open to reveal the avatars of two, plain women. "Who are you?" Champ67 asked.
The one on the left smiled and replied, "I am Gamma 015282, and this is Beta 005879. We are here to ask if you've ever considered joining the...
