This is not a happy tale. Be forewarned, if you want a happy ending, do not read; if you are looking for a feel-good story, pass this one up; if you seek a heart warming tale, move along move along, there is nothing here for you to see. This is a tale of woe, unadulterated, unwavering anguish. Enter at your own risk and do not forget gentle reader; you have been warned.This is not a happy tale. Be forewarned, if you want a happy ending, do not read; if you are looking for a feel-good story, pass this one up; if you seek a heart warming tale, move along move along, there is nothing here for you to see. This is a tale of woe, unadulterated, unwavering anguish. Enter at your own risk and do not forget gentle reader; you have been warned. If anyone ever tells you that what you read does not affect the way that you think, they are dead wrong. The story that lies before you is proof positive of that. I was reading "The Road" when I wrote this. Usually, the stories that I write have a happy ending, at least somewhere in the journey through the pages, but not this one. This is a dark tale born from the despair that "The Road" raised in my soul during the reading of that epic, yet horrid tale. I hope that those brave enough to read this tale will at least appreciate the shadow of utter despair and misery that I fed into this story. Enjoy or not, read or not, but warned you have been. I humbly pass my creation into your capable hands, open or closed, the choice is yours.

This short, stand-alone tale is also the precursor to the first novel in the Sandar Saga - Topaz.It tells how scheming, and yet enterprising, business men implant five different civilisations on a small planet somewhere in the Milky Way. How were they able to afford such an undertaking and what were the civilisations chosen?All Her Teeth Were IdeasBy Rebecca LooseAll Her Teeth Were Ideas is a modern adaptation of three of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. The collection consists of Berenice, The Black Cat and The Tell-tale Heart. This book has been published as part of a university project for the Creative Writing department at De Montfort University, Leicester.

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives, only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code and the oppressive rules of Matrarc Olivia. Meanwhile, two brothers claim her attention as they attempt to understand the environmental trap that keeps the people of Sylum captive, and suddenly Gaia must contend with the exciting, uncomfortable, and altogether new feeling of being desired. But when someone from her past shows up, Gaia discovers that survival alone is not enough and that justice requires sacrifice.

Rafe Murray, his sister Jillian, and Jillian's husband Paul Gaines, like many other out-of-luck spacers, had come to newly-built Endeavor Station to find their future. Their tiny ship, Lindy, had been salvaged from the junk heap, and fitted to mine ore from the mineral-rich rings which circled Endeavor. But their future proved to be far stranger than any of them imagined, when a "collision" with a huge alien vessel provided them with the oddest first contact experience possible! --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

In Tokyo, in Los Angeles, in Antarctica, in the Solomon Islands . . . an intelligence agent races to put all the pieces together to prevent a global catastrophe. In Tokyo, in Los Angeles, in Antarctica, in the Solomon Islands . . . an intelligence agent races to put all the pieces together to prevent a global catastrophe.

This sequel to FORREST GUMP follows the protagonist of that book on his adventures in the 1980s. As in is predecessor, Gump manages to be present at momentous events; his impressions of them, leavened by his naivete, make up this book. Forrest Gump captured our hearts in the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Forrest Gump, and in the blockbuster film, winner of six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor. Now he returns in the long-awaited sequel to the book hailed by Larry King as "the funniest novel I have ever read." A little older, and wiser in his unique way, Forrest is still running -- this time straight into the age of greed and instant gratification known as the 1980s.Whenever I really get stumped, I go visit Jenny's grave. She tells me she's always rooting for me. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. has gone bust and now Forrest is flat broke, sweeping floors in a New Orleans strip joint, when a fresh opportunity to play championship football puts him back in the limelight -- and in the money. But fate turns fickle again, and he's soon out on the road selling phony encyclopedias and trying to raise his son, little Forrest, who needs his father more than ever. Forrest's remarkable, touching, and utterly comic odyssey has just begun: in store for him is an explosive attempt at hog farming; his own dubious recipe for adding life to New Coke; an encounter with Oliver North of the Iran-Contra affair; and a chance yet again to unwittingly twist the nose of history.

James H. Schmitz was a 20th century American author who was well known in the science fiction community for his work, many of which were featured in various magazines during the mid-1900s.

For a thousand years, Commander William Johnson has guided the humans toward joining the Coalition, an alliance of advanced civilizations in the galaxy. Soon after they finally do, the Kaitians--the servant species of the long-extinct Hwzeenn--launch an all-out assault against other species in the galaxy with only one goal: extermination.For a thousand years, Commander William Johnson has guided the humans toward joining the Coalition, an alliance of advanced civilizations in the galaxy. Soon after they finally do, the Kaitians--the servant species of the long-extinct Hwzeenn--launch an all-out assault against other species in the galaxy with only one goal: extermination. In order to survive, William and others in the Coalition must find a way to stop the Kaitian attack before it’s too late. “It's either them or us. And I'd rather it'd be them, even it means a seat in hell for us.”The Kaitian War is the fifth story from the Strangers’ Universe and it’s a direct sequel to Truths, Half-Truths and Lies.

The year is 2044 and it is a grim time in America. Hundreds of California refugees are dead and Commander Marcus Adario finds himself jobless and outcast from society. Can an obsolete protection officer find a reason to go on living in a world where society rewards and punishes people by casting “Positive” and “Negative” votes on the Cloud? Perhaps this despised hero has one more adventure left.The year is 2044 and it is a grim time in America. Hundreds of California refugees are dead and Commander Marcus Adario finds himself jobless and outcast from society. Can an obsolete protection officer find a reason to go on living in a world where society rewards and punishes people by casting “Positive” and “Negative” votes on the Cloud? Perhaps this despised hero has one more adventure left in this lifetime. Obsolete Protection is a Short Story.

Orb plays magic in her harp, but seeks Llano, the song that controls Life. Natasha is handsome, charming, teaches her more spell tunes, but is he Satan? Her mother Niobe, Fate, warns of a prophecy she will marry Satan, and offers her the job of Nature. ~Author's Note 12-pg, bio 1-pg.

Orphans of the Celestial Sea is a Steampunk serial chronicling the adventures of Tom Cain and his misfit crew as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding their airship Hecate and the plague of psychosis-inducing Mist which is slowly destroying human civilization.Orphans of the Celestial Sea is a Steampunk serial chronicling the adventures of Tom Cain and his misfit crew as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding their airship Hecate and the plague of psychosis-inducing Mist which is slowly destroying human civilization.The airship Hecate is badly in need of repairs, so after their escape from Milton, the crew travels to the nearest repair station. There they run afoul of local crime boss Ponderoy Charkart. They must escape his clutches and take Hecate back, quickly, or risk losing the only home they have.This is a free download, all I ask in return is that you come back and post a review when you've read it.

A short story. In a post-apocalyptic world survivors take shelter for the night in a shack while trying to care for one of their members who is sick.A series of short interconnected tales set in the Ark Project Universe.Several hundred years in the future and humanity has reached the stars. Great fleets are sent out to look for intelligent alien life, little do they know that first contact will come from a most unlikely place.What should have been a momentous and great occasion instead turns into something that leads humanity down a dark and dangerous path. There are some who refuse to follow this new path and plan in one form or other to rebel. However, these plans prove futile in the face of a truly alien and deadly foe that threatens everyone. A Novelette of 14,800 words, this is a future science fiction story.This is the first book in The Ark Project Trilogy. The complete Ark Project Trilogy is also available as a complete set.

As parts of everyday life begin to fade away, one teacher struggles to keep a semblance of normality for the teenagers in her classroom. But what can she teach to students who know they will one day be the final remnants of mankind? THE LAST TEACHER is a story about realizing which lessons are most important in life.A Great De-evolution short story.Clay Thompson is an American writer based in a small English town outside London, where he enjoys a comfortable lifestyle with Claire, a recent love interest. After years of enjoying good fortune, Clay experiences a calamitous setback that threatens his livelihood and even his new found relationship. Desperate to get his life back on track he seeks out a renowned local gypsy to “fix” his recent misfortune. Clay’s encounter pays dividends that exceed his expectations...at a price. Will Clay successfully navigate through this maze of a nightmare? Or will he find out...When you dance with the Devil, the music never ends.A paranormal thriller Inspired by true events

Tozer had splendid plans for his life as a salad seed before he was rocketed into space. Terrified, but determined to save the day, he soon discovers he’s under the care of British astronaut Tim Peake on board the ISS. Based on the Rocket Science Experiment of 2016 in which thousands of UK schools participated, it's now possible through Tozer's diary to follow the journey those seeds had to make.Tozer had splendid plans for his life as a salad seed before he was bundled onto a rocket and propelled into space.Terrified by these happenings, but determined to save the day, this highly-strung seed soon discovers he’s part of the amazing Rocket Science Experiment and is being looked after by none other than British astronaut Tim Peake on board the International Space Station.This important role only serves to further inflate Tozer’s already over-sized ego - but he’s about to come back down to earth with a bump!The story is based on the Rocket Science Experiment of 2016, which caught the imagination of children across the UK as thousands of schools took part. Now through Tozer's diary, it’s possible to follow the remarkable journey these seeds had to make.

The Defenders of the Dead live in the past while they destroy the future. They face a revolt of the Young--a band of rebels led by two teenagers, Cerasi and Nield. Thirteen-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn are not supposed to take sides in any war. But once Obi-Wan meets Cerasi and Nield, he feels he must join their fight...even though Qui-Gon forbids it. The rebellion has become personal. And Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are on opposing sides.