The Absolved

The AbsolvedBy Matthew Binder  It’s 2036. Henri is a wealthy physician, husband, father, and serial philanderer. He is also one of the relatively few people to still have a job. Automation and other technological advances have led to unemployment so severe that many people are no longer expected to work and are now known as The Absolved. Meanwhile, it’s election season, …

The Winter Riddle

The Winter RiddleBy Sam Hooker  Once upon a time, the North Pole was a very noisy place. A kingdom cowered under the maniacal rule of the White Queen, The Vikings raided and pillaged as they were wont to do, and the Winter Witch avoided talking to any of them. When her peace and quiet are obliterated by threats of war and …

Bury the Lead

Bury the LeadBy Cassondra Windwalker  He’s got all the facts. But has he buried the truth? Weekly newspaper editor Jeff Paine’s mind is filled with the detritus of newspaper clippings, presidential tweets, crossword puzzles, and horoscopes. When his artist girlfriend Ada Grigori announces her intention to leave him, he becomes obsessed with finding—or manufacturing—connections between otherwise unrelated events. Driven by …

Come Back to the Swamp

Come Back to the SwampBy Laura Morrison  Bernice loved the swamp. And the swamp loved her back. Working on completing her ecology graduate degree, Bernice is doing invasive species research in Cleary Swamp when she is confronted by a mysterious hag who says she is the swamp’s caretaker. When Bernice discovers that the hag is actually a woman named Rebecca Hallett …