CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This week’s verse moves from a science fiction poem about colony oversight to a science-fantasy poem about alien allies. It is taken from Another 365 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2019. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Winged Salvation Long-lived, the Rogel call Their voices echo from the sky Migration has arrived. And we are waiting for their call, for their wingbeats’ rise and fall. The Rogel shine so bright we can see them in darkest night Their eerie song delights We rush to meet them on the sands For between us and death they stand Our shining armoured knights they swords of lightning wield for us Driving away the shades Our foes from landing’s dawn when we first came between the shadows and the sea. -------------------------------------------------------------------

This week’s short story takes us from the creation of a science fiction vigilante to the urban fantasy world of pixie-dust crime and paranormal investigation. Welcome to Memory's Return . I don’t remember how I got in the alley, at least, not when I first wake up—and I don’t remember the names of these friendly faces making sure I’m okay, but it’s coming back. I just wish it would come back faster, because one of these faces is all kinds of wrong underneath the friendly veneer, with an agenda all their own, and they don’t mind putting my team in danger. If I don’t remember the whos and whats and whys real soon, one, or all, of us is going to end up dead, and who’s going to save the pixies then? Memory's Return is available as a stand-alone short story at the following links: books2read.com/u/bxgP8q . You can also find Kristine Kathryn Rusch's latest free short story over on her blog: kriswrites.com . Why don't you go and check it out?

LAST WEEK, Simone told Tiger just how angry FedExplore were with him. This week, Tiger reveals that someone sent an assassin after him, and he's running scared. Chapter 9 Excerpt – They Tried to Shoot Me Dear Simone, Today, someone tried to shoot me. I think it was with a stunner, but I can’t be sure, even if the bounty FedExplore are offering is for bringing me in alive. Now, I’m wondering if there’s another one out there that just wants me dead. Tell me it’s not Odyssey. Tell me they’re okay with me, that they’re not going to hurt me when they bring me in—because I don’t know what’s going on. It all started when we got to the end of the run. They did the usual download at the comms node, and then the captain called me in. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete series is available as short, individual ebooks, and will become available as an omnibus, later this year. In the meanti