Science Fiction Anthology “Fangs Out: Aerial Combat Chronicles” Is Available NOW!

fangs out

Cover art for “Fangs Out: Aerial Combat Chronicle”

The science fiction anthology Fangs Out: Aerial Combat Chronicles is available now. It features my space combat short story “The Jupiter War.”

For five years a mysterious adversary in Jupiter’s atmosphere has been attacking human colonies on three of Jupiter’s moons. Today a defense pilot called Irish finds out why.

The action starts above the moon Callisto where Tango Squadron including hotshot pilot Irish has yet another encounter with a group of alien fighters called “pups” delivered by a mothership referred to as a “whale.” While Tango successfully fights off this latest attack, Irish in attempting to follow and destroy the last few alien pursuit vessels is accidentally captured by the whale space craft.

Trapped inside, he has only one hope left: contacting Ganymede’s space defense group during a close flyby. But even if by some miracle he can be freed, can Irish and the other moon’s air support force discover the reason behind these relentless assaults?

Here’s an excerpt from my short story “The Jupiter War:”

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Duel in Freak Alley

freak alley

PHOTO PROMPT © James Pyles

They called it “Freak Alley” for a good reason. It was summer when they faced each other. Zephyr realized he didn’t quite remember the argument’s source. Then he saw Jaison at the other end and his blood virtually boiled recalling something about a matter of honor.

“You ready for it?” Jaison yelled with scorn.

“Who needs to be ready for you?” Zephyr spat back.

“Then let’s do it!” Jaison relaxed his hand and let the bag he was holding fall open.

Zephyr did the same and pulled out his first can of spray paint.

The graffiti duel ran for hours.

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One Last Icing On The Web

ice web

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

“Ah, crap.” Jackson looked out the window expecting to see his salvation. Beyond the shed’s single window frame on the abandoned farm, he did see what he hoped for, but right before that, there was something much worse.

“You never give up, do you?” He almost let his fingertips glide along the lengths of frozen webbing. “So close.”

Outside it was Spring, the first Spring since he was a little boy. The climate was turning again in favor of life. But the ice giants were taking one last shot at him before they went.

Then he saw the first spider.

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Yield Sign To Heaven

sign

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

“I have to solve a puzzle if I want to get into Heaven?” Henry was standing next to St. Peter who was really a short, balding Jewish guy named Shimon bar Yonah and told a lot of Dad jokes.

“Not a puzzle,” said Shimon. “A reflection of how you treated Hashem and faith in life. Hey, what kind of shoes do frogs wear?”

“Never mind the jokes, Pet…uh, Shimon. Oh wait.”

“Open-toad sandals.” The gatekeeper started laughing maniacally.

“Traffic going down has priority,” said Henry. “Is that right?

“Got it. Too much traffic going down, not that much going up.”

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“Far Futures Book Four” On Pre-order Now!

far futures

Cover art for “Far Futures: Book Four”

Update on the anthology Far Futures: Book Four published by Blue Planet Press. It’s available for pre-order NOW for download onto your Kindle device November 25. Yep, it’s could be a great Christmas gift.

The anthology required all stories to be written on or about Saturn’s moon Titan, so I wrote “Awash on Titan’s Shores.”

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The Second Wave is here!

second wave

Promotional image for the upcoming Starry Eyed Press anthology “Second Wave.”

Ten of my drabbles (the maximum number allowed) are featured in this anthology.

A SINGLE MOMENT –– A HUNDRED WORDS –– A UNIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES
What happens after the unknown has arrived? When the echoes of first contact fade, humanity is left to navigate the tremors of change — new alliances, fragile peace, simmering conflicts, and the birth of strange, dazzling futures.

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Podcast Promoting “Shoot the Devil 3: Martyr’s Miitia” This Friday

promo podcast

Promotional image for the “Shoot the Devil: Martyr’s Militia” podcast.

UPDATE – February 1, 2025: Here’s the public link for you to view the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/live/qIGZAddSpk4

I’ve been promoting the anthology Shoot the Devil 3: Martyr’s Militia for a number of weeks now. It features my short story “The Book of Names.”

The anthology is on sale at Amazon through this weekend (February 1 and 2) for only 99 cents. Great time to buy (and read and of course, review).

A nearly-immortal man who is currently known as Griffin has been searching for the letters and syllables that make up the Name, the one word that will banish evil from the Earth and bring a lasting peace.

He is pursued by a seemingly inexhaustible horde of demons known as “Legion” who want to stop him. Along the way, Griffin has collected the Book of Names, which includes the appellations of many demons. To say a demon’s name in its presence will destroy it.

However, on the threshold of achieving the final letters, Griffin is stopped, not only by Legion but by a woman who may hold the secret to completing his quest. Will she help him or aid his enemies, thus dooming all of humankind?

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Coming Soon: Ann and Ruth’s Guide To Time Travel, Volume 2

ruth and ann 2If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Coming soon! (Before the end of November)
Featuring a Foreword written by Henry L Herz.

With 30 stories written by:

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My Short Story “The Other Place” to be published in the anthology “The Super Generation”

super cover

Promotional art for the Raconteur Press anthology “The Super Generation.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Update: You can now buy The Super Generation on Amazon!

My short story “The Other Place” will be published in the Raconteur Press anthology “The Super Generation.”

Imagine there was a one-time cosmic event that gave certain people superpowers. The event was never repeated and the superpowered people couldn’t pass their abilities on to their children. Only these people in their generation would be the superheroes and villains.

That’s the challenge each author whose stories are within these pages faced. Here’s a small example of my tale:

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Junk

roger

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

“What are you doing with that big stick, Mike?” Then Jessie saw what he was doing. “Wait. Those were Mam’s favorites. She paid a lot for them.”

“Mam is dead and she willed this junk to me. Now get out of the way, Sis.”

“She loved all her little pieces of junk. At least you…” She tried to grab the club out of his hands but he wouldn’t let go.

“You got the house and the car.”

“Sure, I’m older and I’ve got two kids.”

“She made me throw out my vintage silver age comic books when I was fifteen.”

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