Stories Starting with P

"Well, Corporal Westerburg," Doctor Henry Harris said gently, "just why do you think you're a plant?" As he spoke, Harris glanced down again at the card on his desk. It was from the Base Commander himself, made out in Cox's heavy scrawl: Doc, this is the lad I told you about. Talk to him and try to find out how he got this delusion. He's from the new Garrison, the new check-station on Asteroid Y-3, and we don't want anything to go wrong there. Especially a silly damn thing like this!

Bron is the offspring of infamous space pirates but instead of following in the family footsteps he decides to become an electronic engineer. Unfortunately, every time he tries to get out, something pulls him back in.

The trail of vanished space ships leads Grant Pemberton to a marvellous lake of fire.

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
In the final months of the nineteenth century, Paris revels in being the City of Light. Yet it is hard, and often dirty, work to maintain its place as the pinnacle of civilization. Someone must deal with mysterious sightings, thieves falling from the sky and breaches in State security. Someone like M. Vautrin, confidential investigator... ~9,000 words. [Advisory: aeroships and orange cats play significant roles in this story]

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
London, 1829. Two criminal enclaves battle for supremacy south of the Thames. Second in a steampunk collection from 2015 (notice: no real or virtual steam was applied in this particular story). ~5,200 words.

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 ... ~5,560 words.

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
It's 1957. In a Toronto waterfront warehouse, a group of automatons are having a religious experience. WHAT? ~4,700 words.

From the Phantom of the Louvre collection
Bunny Boyce was happy to serve in a unit where aeros didn't crash: they had landing incidents. On a New Year's test flight, both his attitude and luck began to change. ~ 4,000 words.

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.

A short tale of relationships: faithful vs fractious, human and automaton, father vs son. A companion story to The Brothers Keeper. ~ 2,900 words.