LIGHTSPEED is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine. In its pages, you will find science fiction: from near-future, sociological soft SF, to far-future, star-spanning hard SF—and fantasy: from epic fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and contemporary urban tales, to magical realism, science-fantasy, and folktales.If you've ever worked a terrible service job, you'll want to take a trip to Robot Country—the weird and sometimes hilarious world of Dominica Phetteplace's new SF short "One Thousand Beetles in a Jumpsuit." Kendra Fortmeyer brings us our second original science fiction short, "No Matter," which wrestles with time travel paradoxes. We also have terrific reprints from Sam J. Miller ("Calved") and Carlos Hernandez ("The Macrobe Conservation Project"). In our first fantasy short, "The Final Blow," Scott Sigler takes us onto the battlefield...and into the mind of one scared young witness. Cassandra Khaw spins a... Views: 237
*mystery novella; the third in the humorous Winston Wong Cozy Mystery series*Winston Wong's wedding rehearsal goes awry after the eccentric Chan family shows up uninvited. Then the patriarch of the clan dies in a strange way.Winston switches to sleuth mode, placing himself and his bride-to-be in perilous danger. With a killer on the loose, can Winston survive long enough to catch the culprit and enjoy his big day? Views: 237
The next generation of Buchanans is almost here! Mason and Shane are pregnant, and she's about to pop any minute now. With everyone awaiting the arrival of the newest Buchanan, they can all agree on one thing... Watching Mason Buchanan freak the hell out is going to be entertaining as hell! Views: 237
This doesn't matter. This doesn't matter. This doesn't matter. This doesn't matter. This doesn't matter. Views: 237
After three months undercover, Detective Liv DeMarco isn't any closer to closing her case. Her target, Axel Kincaid, is smart and ruthless. His forte - stealing cars. His temperament- violent. And his legitimate business keeps half the judges and city officials entertained, so collecting enough evidence to put him behind bars is nearly impossible. But when a parking attendant is murdered and two exotic sports cars are stolen, all bets are off. There's just one problem. Axel claims to have an airtight alibi, but there are more than a few holes in his story. The only thing Liv knows for sure is someone is determined to get away with murder, and now the killer has set his sights on her. Will she stop the murderous thief before he strikes again? Or will she become his next victim? Views: 237
When Scottish antiques appraiser Caitlin Paterson accepts a commission in the Hamptons, 'tis the season for Christmas miracles. Too bad she doesn't have one handy. Successful businessman Holt Ridley resents being forced by his great-aunt's bequest to winter at the family estate he has hated since childhood. Still, the enticing appraiser he finds there is an unexpected holiday gift—or is she? Among the furnishings Caitlin is tasked with evaluating, she discovers the key to a centuries-old heartache that plagues Holt's family. Caitlin longs to help Holt find the happiness that eluded him his entire life—but this secret could destroy everything. Views: 237
I'm a prisoner to their male desires. I was stuck in a throwaway job at place called the Second Star Diner. It was everything you wish it wasn't: greasy, dirty, and with too many gross guys leering at me. But after the Second Star was held up by criminals, I was whisked away by my captors to a completely different setting: The Billionaires Club. Working at their elite underground bar, I was expected to do all the usual waitress things. Wear glittery outfits. Clean up questionable goopy spills. And keep the dominating alpha males happy by any means necessary. The problem is that I've fallen in love with one particular billionaire: Mr. Carmichael. I shouldn't feel this way. After all, they're forcing me to work here. But Mr. Carmichael's got me twisted around in the best way possible, and now it's too late because I'm having the alpha male's baby. Hey Readers... Views: 237
A dazzling debut collection of raw and explosive poems about growing up in a sexist, sensationalized world, from a thrilling new feminist voice. i'm a good girl, bad girl, dream girl, sad girl girl next door sunbathing in the driveway i wanna be them all at once, i wanna be all the girls I've ever loved —Excerpt of "Girl," from Life of the Party by Olivia Gatwood Lauded for the power of her writing and having attracted an online fan base of millions for her extraordinary spoken-word performances, Olivia Gatwood now weaves together her own coming-of-age with an investigation into our culture's romanticization of violence against women. At times blistering and riotous, at times soulful and exuberant, Life of the Party explores the boundary between what is real and what is imagined in a life saturated with fear. Gatwood asks, How does a girl grow into a woman in a world racked by violence? Where is the... Views: 237
Balancing epic and intensely personal stakes, bestselling author Adam Silvera's Infinity Son is a gritty, fast-paced adventure about two brothers caught up in a magical war generations in the making. Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day.Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker... Views: 237
