The starways' Lone Watcher had expected some odd developments in his singular, nerve-fraught job on the asteroid. But nothing like the weird twenty-one-day liquid test devised by the invading Steel-Blues.

Chapter 39 is in the queue. Brian comes up with a solution to their problem. But how long can they survive without coffee? All this will be revealed and more, same bat-time, same bat-channel...

A Star Guardian Story (2)
Brian continues his travels among the stars.
Added Chapter 39

Doctor Coffin, in collaboration with other doctors, discovers a cure, but it has a surprisingly strong side effect.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
The Sisters of Battle, get some literary attention.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
A young couple out shopping. What could possibly go wrong...

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
An attempt at a darker side of 40K. Some day I wouldn't mind going back to this and adding more chapters.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
Another tale in the 40K Universe. This story is the sequel to a story I have sadly electronically lost and I'm unsure of where the penned rough draft is :( It's also the prequel -of sorts- to 'Tobias'.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
A parade, on a drill square.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
An idle musing on the actions of the Four Horsemen during a gaming session in a Games Workshop establishment...

The isolated little group they found were doing fine-- but their religion was most strange--and yet quite logical!

She Came to Mars in Search of Something, She Knew Not What, to Give Her Life Meaning. She Found It. in a Way....

A story in the Mage and Magic Universe Universe
A mage in hiding for something he didn't do, has a surprising discovery

A thieft was framed. He needed to clear his name or die. It's a fight for life.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
A bit of assault action.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
Some heavy metal (tank) action.

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
A little bit of space piracy.

A man with a past, not tied to anyone makes a startling discovery that changes his life and his perceptions of it.
Added Chapter 69

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
Airborne troop movements don't always go to plan...

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
Combat Engineer in the 40K Universe

A story in the Warhammer 40K Universe
Sometimes officers have to....go..

In exchange for the promise of an almost limitless fuel, earth agrees to allow the alien Grdnzth people to gather on earth for transit to a planet as their is going to be destroyed. The Grdnzth are ugly, looking rather like reptiles. They also pop in anywhere, anytime unannounced. It's the job of PR men Pete Greenwood and Tommy Heinz to get the public to accept the Grdnzth and the inconvenience...

A gem of short story in the form of correspondence between the leaders of two opposing Political Blocs whose escalation of hostilities is rapidly suppressed from a surprise third party.

A scientist is hunted for what he has created.
Added Chapter 22

A man is taken then returned. He's not the same or is he? Now with a lot of questions he leaves earth to search for the only other one like himself, so far.
Added Chapter 18

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
What is a routine study for his parents leaves a much deeper impression on a 12-year old. A lifetime of loss, disappointment and betrayal is balanced by recollections of a single act of bravery and sacrifice. ~ 4,100 words.

First published in "The Counterfeit Man: More Science Fiction Stories published in 1963.

Just a word to let you know, I've had a death in the family. Haven't felt much like writing, I hope I can again soon. I try to a little each day though it is difficult. Pars001

There's some reaction these days that holds scientists responsible for war. Take it one step further: What happens if "book-learnin'" is held responsible.?

Alien space explorer traveling via warps is now trapped on Earth. And he can't convince anyone he isn't human

I took a few more days to get chapter 34 out. Lots of family commitments going on. I tried a dream scene, which is new for me. I am also using some new grammar checking software to help with the editing. Any feedback, errors or ideas are welcome.

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
A young Australian, resilient and yearning to set her own course in life journeys far to do so: first sailing South to the sea, then North to be free. ~5,560 words.

What a rush! Over the last six weeks, [CORRECTION: SWMBO says it's a good thing I wasn't an accountant - "last ten weeks"] I've posted nine shorts - NOT written, just final edits and posting. For at ... more

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
When a Hamlet-loving crime lord visits Copenhagen on business, a trip to Elsinore looks like a sure thing. For Jeptha Walker, it seems outrageous fortune interferes. But then, this is not the 1890's we thought we knew. ~4,850 words.

They would never live to see the trip's end. So they made a few changes in their way of life--and many in their way of death!

Mary might have learned a more ladylike trade, but one thing is certain: she had a shining faith in that space guy from Earth. Now, about that cake she baked.

Did you ever wonder what might happen if mankind ever exceeded the speed of light? Here is a profound story based on that thought--a story which may well forecast one of the problems to be encountered in space travel.

Many men have dreamed of world peace, but none have been able to achieve it. If one man did have that power, could mankind afford to pay the price?

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
Great achievements arise out of a myriad of small conversations, and sometimes something good comes from being just a little bad: Wil Arnot Barnes. [author points and shouts "hey look, an airship"] ~5,170 words

Chapter 30 is in the queue for posting. I did not know I would make it this far. Thank you for the recent positive feedback. Be sure to keep the safety enabled on your jetpack, while in the elevator...

So, I've set up this series to organize the current run of steampunk shorts. While some are directly related to another story, reading order is not critical. That PL## jazz is just the order they woul ... more

The Flight of the Wicked Flea has been posted. It is the second of twelve stories with a common background. Many will end up here in the next few months. Anyone have thoughts on the value of setting u ... more

Like many, my first exposure to the possibilites in a radical reshaping of the past was "The Difference Engine". My long time goal of writing science fiction turned to telling steampunk tales. Eventua ... more

Chapter 21 is in the queue. Brian gets to eat pizza for the first time. He shares a coffee with the royal princess. Have a great time. Make sure the blaster is pointed away from you before you press the trigger.

Fourth story now posted, and I see a dozen or so have at least opened it. Hope you get something worthwhile out of it. So far, out of 700-plus downloads over four stories, I've only had one comment. ... more

Yet another story from 2017 is in the hopper. Companion story to "A Burning Love ...". I struggled with that temporal perspective thing that happens when one set of characters lives 60 years and anoth ... more

I just posted chapter 15 of Star Guardian 2. I hope you enjoy it so far. I have not had so many comments recently, which leaves me curious if I am doing OK or have I lost you? Is there something I nee ... more

Just submitted A Burning Love Upon A Ravished Land (another piece from 2017) to the queue. Two years ago, I was not really satisfied with the finished story, but couldn't see what the problem was. T ... more

My first post here. Hunger, Hunger, Sister Anne was on top of a stack of short stories that needed that final pre-launch going-over. Committing to posting pushed me to wrap the story (instead of rethi ... more

Whitney and Tommy Leighton are more than they appear to be. The twins were born in our dimension, but it wasn't just a birth. It was a rebirth. They originated in a another dimension that runs along the same parallel as ours. In the other world, Whitney is a Baran-Dok-Toi Prim warrior, and Tommy is a Prectock, but they know nothing about that. Other than the strange dreams that Tommy is beginning to have.
Added Chapter 7 (final)