Short Fiction
Short stories published in Piker Press, a weekly journal of arts and literature.
1,823 articles — page 50 of 61
"I always hated this fairy-tale," says Lydia Manx. "It was a pleasure to give 'Snow White and Rose Red' a new look."
Moonlight, a graveyard, and who can you turn to and call your best pal?
Evil and mystery have haunted the desert nights of the planet Phoenix, but the creature of malice and cruelty, Suada Zacharias, strides confidently under the blazing sun, dining on the pain of others, and quenching her thirst ... with death.
An Aser Story: The evil wizard Fellmount has every intention of tracking down the two shamans who exposed his wicked deeds -- now Aser and Danner have no choice but to pay their respects to certain deceased relatives.
The sun and the moon are found, but how will Raven steal them and put them back in the sky?
Okay, so maybe blowing up the evil wizard Fellmount's house wasn't the smartest thing Aser and Danner ever did. The clans of Ur suggest they not let the door hit them on the ass on the way out.
The encounter was just chance, but both of them knew that there is a fire that can be sought when one is cold and alone. Sometimes the world seems so cold, and a life can seem like such a lone spark in a vast emptiness, that finding fire is the only solution human eyes can see...
Raven has no choice but to visit the scene of the crime, and finds not only a witness and a helper, but the inspiration to sell Girl Scout cookies.
An Aser story. A legal question besets the company: is conjuring an object the same as theft? And just to keep things interesting, is "demanding"a tip for delivering a message the same as theft? Do chickens really count as "theft"?
Raven is accused of stealing the Moon and the Sun. No one believes the trickster, of course, so the only solution is that he is going to have to find the culprit himself!
Staying mad at each other is easy until you realize how silly you look doing so. Cloudraft the Wizard and his hot former apprentice let two angry empaths trade insults for them.
Unexpectedly, McBride is the next best hope for the injured Kaine and Iai. McBride knows that Iai has the power to heal himself, but what about Kaine, who was never expected to survive his own birth? But it is an odd fact that power comes when you're willing to take it ...
The Unknown is out there, waiting, mostly empty, but holding mysteries that may be no more than just memories. Agnes Stephenson wonders if there is more out there than memories, and if she'll ever be more than a rear guard ...
Aser, Danner, and Margot the Troll find a really excellent tavern -- but it has a nasty secret, and not just that a certain bartender has a thing for trolls...
Unexpectedly, McBride is the next best hope for the injured Kaine and Iai. McBride knows that Iai has the power to heal himself, but what about Kaine, who was never expected to survive his own birth? But it is an odd fact that power comes when you're willing to take it ...
Which is more attractive, the dreamer or the realist? Roy became an explanation in and of himself...
Ever wondered exactly who holds that job? Be careful what you say. It might be you. Originally appeared 2002-11-25
The two best days of Alice's week are Saturday and Sunday. Yard sale days. Her house is littered with trophies collected from her bargain hunting, but the clutter and the yard sale obsession aren't the problem, they're just symptoms. Originally appeared 2004-10-23.
While leaves drift from the trees, a pilgrimage must be made, a pilgrimage that will draw old memories to a close, and set feet on a path into the future. Originally appeared 2006-10-23.
They're cute, they scatter beautiful clouds of "pixie dust," and they can tell you what the sky is going to do for the next few days. Who wouldn't leap at the chance to capture one and keep it in a jar? ... And maybe make it a business partner? Originally appeared 2006-04-17.
He looked like Lee Marvin, but was the size of a pick-up truck, and he had a heart as cruel as a set of brass knuckles coming at you at 60 miles an hour -- and one day I just had to push my luck ...Originally appeared 2006-05-15.
The time has come for the prophesy to be fulfilled. From the mysterious realms of a twisted universe, a figure appears ...Originally appeared 2006-12-18.
Everyone knew there was something different about Jack Runner. He had too many 'imaginary playmates' that he talked to, and he knew too much about things that he shouldn't. And he did things no boy his age ought to do -- like befriending a monster ...Originally appeared 2007-02-12.
"This isn't me writing about love, it's me writing about writing about something that looks like love," the author tells me, and adds, "Her name was not Alice. Originally appeared 2007-02-12.
Forgotten and dusty, alone and unwanted. Even the cast out can long for freedom, fulfillment, and the joy of seeing a different life ... Originally appeared 2007-05-14.
The Piker Press recently caught up with the noted ornithologist Bernie Pilarski at his home in Ripon California where he graciously consented to an interview. Seated in a lawn chair next to a fish pond in which a dozen or so good sized gold fish swam lazily about, Bernie answered our questions.Originally appeared 2007-08-20
Poor Jack Runner. He's a serious cop, but his author can't resist tormenting him -- even in his dreams.
No piña coladas for this werewolf. When you've been sold down the river, you're bound to want to take a few with you.