Spaceship Captain Luke Matthews has kept his sexuality a secret. What happens when the crew finds out? is Lieutenant Kent as straight as he always believed? Will he hit him or kiss him, or both?A gay science fiction romance.Except for His miraculous birth and His appearance in the holy temple at age twelve, the life of Jesus as a child has been a well-guarded secret, cloaked in mystery. The few accounts of his childhood that were circulated in the first century following His murder were deemed heretical by the self-proclaimed "fathers of the church," along with many of His more esoteric teachings. Then, in the mid-nineteenth century, by pure chance (or act of God?), ancient manuscripts buried away in caves for millennia to protect them from destruction by these purveyors of catholic doctrine were found. One of these, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, recounts stories about the childhood of Jesus of Nazareth which give insights into His powers as well as His temperament as a young boy. It is upon these accounts - plus numerous other religious tracts, both canonical and mystic - that this fictionalized story of Jesus' early life, the secret life of God as Man, is based. Told largely from the Christ's own point of view, and from that of those closest to him, it shows a side of Jesus we need to know, to fully appreciate who He is and what He has done for us. Views: 713
Boundaries in relationship were made to be pushed, but broken? When Sally Regal gives up her life as a librarian to become the newest member of the Network Security group, will those boundaries be too much?*(this is a work of fan-fiction; events take place after those of Final Fantasy VIII)Boundaries in relationship were made to be pushed, but broken?When Sally Regal gives up her life as a librarian to become the newest member of the Network Security group, will those boundaries cause a pre-mature retirement from Garden, or will she grow into an even better SeeD?And when Zell begins to push her toward a more intimate relationship, will Sally follow or retreat?*(this is a work of fan-fiction; events take place after those of Final Fantasy VIII) Views: 713
It is the year 2066. The American Government has changed dramatically. In a world where anyone can become president, there exists a system that judges the qualities of America's next leader. Its name is UNCLE SAM. Through this highly advanced supercomputer, qualified people are chosen without scrutiny and human fault. What was not foreseen, however, was SAM not choosing the next president of the United States. If something is not done, war will break out, and America will be no more. At a gathering of America's most powerful men, Harry Larkin is secretly sworn in as President. Although he is a political science professor, he manages to pull himself together in order to govern an America on the brink of a political meltdown. Views: 713
Clyde Simmons is one of Britain's most devoted, vocal, and well educated environmental activists. Just ask him and he'll be more than happy to tell you. Goaded into a position where it's time to put up or shut up, Clyde finds himself at an impasse. His friends have a scheme and they need one more pair of hands. Will Clyde prove his mettle, or prove he's a poseur?Time Coins Stolen! An Impossible Crime And The Thief Remains At Large!Greg Thompson is nothing more than an average 16-year-old boy living a carefree life in Grass Valley, California. But that all changes when he witnesses a hit and run accident. Before the homeless man dies, he hands Greg a handwritten notebook leading to a treasure cache.Greg plucks an all too familiar coin from the loot, and is thrust into an adventure he never saw coming.The Keepers of Time are on the hunt for the stolen time coins, and will wreak havoc to recover their loss devices, including unraveling the lives of any who stand in their way.Greg Thompson, aided by a mysterious ally, will jump across space and time to avoid the unimaginable grasp the Keepers hold over the ARROW OF TIME! Views: 712
This is a first person short story about some experiences of Karl - a psychiatric nurseRoam the streets of Ottawa with Charlie, a third year university student bent on recapturing the essence of his first love, all the while doing everything he can to destroy his relationship with his current girlfriend, Natasha. Explore the seedy underworld of Ottawa as Charlie's increasingly manic quest for self-validation quickly leads him down dark and dangerous roads. In his attempts to prove his own morality, Charlie will finally see just how dark the inner-self has become in an increasingly apathetic and superficial world. Views: 712
Nothing is for free when it comes to demons…a fact that Gwendolyn LaRoux finds out the hard way when she summons Laish, a minor demon from the Shadow Lands to help her cook up a little black magic. Unfortunately black magic has a way of growing and soon Gwendolyn finds herself drowning in darkness. Still, she’s determined to clean up her own mess. But when a creature from the Abyss enters our world and threatens her beloved grandmother, Gwendolyn has to admit she needs help—which means summoning the infuriating Laish, even though she swore never to call on him again.
Answering Gwendolyn’s incantations in a moment of boredom was a mistake for a demon who keeps what little heart he has left under lock and key. Laish immediately fell for the Creole beauty with jade green eyes and creamy, café au lait skin and now he’s determined to have her—no matter what the cost. And thanks to Gwendolyn’s sticky dilemma, the price just went up.
When it turns out that the intrepid witch must travel through the Shadow Lands and close the door she left open to the Pit, she knows at once she can’t make the dangerous journey on her own. Of course Laish is more than willing to act as her escort and bodyguard…for a not-so-small fee. Gwendolyn doesn’t want to use her body as a bargaining chip but the lustful demon will accept no other form of currency. And since her grandmother’s life is at stake, she has no choice. Little by little she must give in to his demands.
As Gwendolyn and Laish travel further and further into the interior of Hell, will he be able to keep her safe? And will she be able to keep her innocence? Or with they lose themselves and each other among the… Ruby Shadows? Views: 712
Dead Land is an expansive tale of a post-apocalyptic North America in 2250, seen through the lens of a ranging cast of characters, all striving to survive the violence of unleashed man and nature, without losing the last bit of their own humanity.This is the first six chapters of the post-apocalyptic anthology, Dead Land, currently being developed for an unprecedented multi-media book. If you're an illustrator, animator, a website or game developer, or otherwise interested in being a part of this project, please contact the email address in the front credits of the book.Authors:Richard CunninghamDavid SechrestKalju LeeCurran AltshulClancy Smith Views: 712
When the chips are down, and they certainly are in these desperate times; friends and family stick together. Julie finds this out in an unlikely fashion. As the economy is crumbling around them, people are forced to make hard choices as to where they want to make their stand. They also must choose who to stand by. Julie's life is about to change, but not without a little help from a friend.When Victor Frankenstein crafts his infamous creature in Mary Shelley’s masterpiece, he creates something that is a patchwork not only of men but of ideals, of emotions. Out of many, he is one. Indeed, this anthology you read now is something similar, though I do say quite a bit more pleasant to encounter than the fruit of Victor’s labors!What precisely does the word creature conjure in the imagination? Something frightening? Something unknown? The authors of the stories you are about to read had this question to consider and not one of them came up with exactly the same answer as another of their collaborators. The initial reaction to such a question might be to recoil, to think of something unsettling or scary. But then one must consider the creature itself. How does it react to its state of being? It’s surroundings? Does it enjoy killing men or does it loathe violence? Is it predator or prey? Do humans simply fear it or try to combat the creature themselves?It’s the reaction that makes the creature, not the state itself of being an outsider to mankind. You will read in these pages about various supposed monsters, and they all behave differently. The creatures in these stories are everything from horrifying killers to sympathetic lovers to misunderstood beings trying to fit into human society, each one with its creator’s personal stamp placed upon it. This anthology was born out of a desire to come together as authors, out of a sense of community, and the reader can certainly feel this as well. Despite the occasionally-gruesome or unsettling subject matter, this is a labor of love, we promise!The idea to create a compilation was posed by author B.C. Sirrom on the Paranormal and Horror Lovers group on Goodreads in May of 2012. The idea took off immediately, with eight writers contributing to the work and several others offering to help with editing and cover art. But what was to be the topic of such an anthology?After much deliberation, the topic of creatures was chosen, an emphasis placed on the unique and the cultural. The rules were simple: the story must be in the paranormal or horror genre and between five and ten thousand words. While mature content was allowed, it was not required, and contributors had to be willing to assist with editing. With the ground rules in place, the authors set out to craft their tales.This specific topic is one that not only fit the overall theme of the group itself, but also one that allowed the authors room to breathe, room to create and thus, room to craft a collection of well-fitted stories that will entertain, thrill and horrify.No matter what the word ‘creature’ initially brings to mind for you, the reader, that is only the beginning Views: 711
In this military space opera, fighter pilot Henry Gallant must defeat threatening aliens hiding in the asteroid belt. In an era of genetic engineering, he is the only Natural left in the fleet. Only bright and attractive junior officer Kelsey Mitchel has shown any sympathy for him. Now her life as well as a good many others, depends of Henry Gallant.As the last star fighter in Squadron 111, Midshipman Henry Gallant is on his way from Jupiter to the nearest space base in orbit around Mars. With the United Earth fleet on the verge of annihilation from alien ships, he can expect no help. In order to reach Mars, Gallant must make his way through the asteroid belt and threatening aliens. With so much uncertainty about the alien capabilities and intentions, analyzing the captured computer equipment in Gallant’s possession could prove crucial.The fate of Earth could rest on the abilities of Midshipman Henry Gallant. Unfortunately, it is his abilities that have been much in doubt during his tour of duty. In an era of genetic engineering, he is the only Natural (non-genetically enhanced) officer left in the fleet. His classmates and superior officers have all expressed their concern that he will not be up to the demands of the space service. Only bright and attractive junior officer Kelsey Mitchel has shown any sympathy for Gallant. Now her life as well as a good many others, depends of Henry Gallant.As the last star fighter, Midshipman Henry Gallant must travel through the asteroid belt and threatening aliens. In an era of genetic engineering, he is the only Natural left in the fleet. Only bright and attractive junior officer Kelsey Mitchel has shown any sympathy for Gallant. Now her life as well as a good many others, depends of Henry Gallant. Views: 711
Time Code: The Best Collection of 52 Stories You Should Be Reading This YearThe stories in ‘Time Code: The Best Collection of 52 Stories You Should Be Reading This Year’ are:1- Big Bang Serenade2- Mercury Heaven3- Twilight's Last Gleaning4- Ginkey's Garden5- White Van6- Finding Footprints7- Timid Bunny8- Red Moon9- Some Pig10- When the Doorbell Rings11- Slush Pile12- To Whom It MayTime Code: The Best Collection of 52 Stories You Should Be Reading This YearThe stories in ‘Time Code: The Best Collection of 52 Stories You Should Be Reading This Year’ are:1- Big Bang Serenade2- Mercury Heaven3- Twilight's Last Gleaning4- Ginkey's Garden5- White Van6- Finding Footprints7- Timid Bunny8- Red Moon9- Some Pig10- When the Doorbell Rings11- Slush Pile12- To Whom It May Concern13- Blood Draw14- Are We Superman?15- Moon Tweets from the Sea of Tranquility, 196916- Time Code17- The Ink Beneath18- Christmas Poinsettias19- After the Last Showing20- September Remembered21- Grafting In the Dark22- Test of a Lifetime23- Coffee Lover, Muffin Lover24- Pink Unicorn Gunfight at the O.K. Corral25- All I Want For Christmas...Beets26- Sitting Next to the Bug27- Sir John Falstaff Pleads With HAL: A Sonnet Not Penned By the Bard nor an Odyssey Presented By Kubrik28- Mac Morris…Sick Day29- Maidens and Monsters; Tokyo Footfalls30- The Typist31- There goes a Tenner...Beans32- Excellent to Bad and Everything In-Between: A Quick Glance at Fredrick Culvert-Owen’s Credit Score33-Eating Acrylic Pancakes with the Dictators at IHOP on my Birthday34 -Fallen Hero35- Girl Wrestler36- Everything is Clear37- Five Voice Mail Messages38- Tourists of Apocalypse39- Yellow Hair Lures Them All40- Writer's Time41- After the Game42- Home Renovation TV43- Bard's Muse44- Fan Fic45- Conan the Barber46- Let's Make A Yggdrasil Tree Deal47- Z-Garten48- Stupid Fucking Story49- Free Range Human50- Sounds of Segregation51- Nemo Found52- Nona’s Christmas Cookies Views: 711
An ancient alien ship is found, giving us the ability to travel outside of our solar system. Some view this technology as our savior, and others, our destroyer. In this episode, a prototype test crew disappears, forcing a political cover-up as UNSA Adrian Commander Daniels struggles with the loss of his friends while hiding a truth which could end humaniy's hope for galactic colonization.In the late 21st Century, Earth's ecosystem is rapidly approaching the point of complete collapse. In a stroke of luck, an ancient alien ship is discovered on Mars with technology that could allow mankind to relieve the pressures on their homeworld and settle the stars. Many people view this wondrous technology as a gift, but there are those on Earth who wish to see it destroyed as a danger to everyone. When a team of researchers is lost after receiving an ominous alien warning during a prototype test, UNSA Commander Adrian Daniels is forced to participate in a political cover-up and lead his remaining crew into unknowable danger, while struggling against a tide of deadly intrigue. Meanwhile, Sally Yeung, the young prodigy who leads Commander Daniel's research team, must race to uncover the secrets of a vanished alien civilization to not only save the crew, but possibly all of humanity as well. Views: 710
Once bullied to the brink of suicide, 16-year-old Adam Reaper discovers extraordinary powers within himself. Will he use these gifts to save the world from impending doom or to take vengeance upon his enemies?Once bullied to the brink of suicide, 16 year-old Adam Reaper discovers extraordinary powers within himself. As the ungovernable changes within unleash a burning hatred for all who once wronged him, Adam is faced with choosing between using his gifts to save the world from impending doom or to take vengeance against his enemies. For a time, Monica, the love of Adam’s life, is able to keep the newfound darkness in his heart at bay, but tragedy strikes when Adam’s older brother, PJ, is murdered after insidious forces give rise to a formidable domestic terror cell known as The Strangers. As he pursues his brother’s killers, Adam and his friends, Howie and Ace, find themselves thrust into an unthinkable conflict that could ultimately lead to the destruction of the world. As Adam storms farther away from Monica and deeper down the dark path of revenge, the edges of his own darkness begin to fade once again. Daring, complex, and unforgettable, this unique take on the Hero’s Journey delivers a perfect blend of captivating action and suspense. Views: 710
Neil Black is a run-down assassin desperately looking for his magic hit - the one hit on a drug lord or a dictator that might save thousands from addiction and oppression. So when he glimpses that magic hit in the form of a big time mob boss, he takes the chance and gets his dream hit, not realizing his family will get caught in the crossfire.Neil Black is a run-down assassin desperately looking for his magic hit - the one hit on a drug lord or a dictator that might save thousands from addiction and oppression. So when he glimpses that magic hit in the form of a big time mob boss, he takes the chance and gets his dream hit. He doesn’t, however, predict the horrific cost that his parents and younger brother may have to pay after he succeeds. Now it’s up to Neil and his fellow assassin Trecheon Omnir to use all their skills and knowledge to fight the coming storm – before Neil’s family become the mob’s next victims. Views: 709
