CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This week’s verse moves from a science fiction poem about exploring space to a science fiction poem about why people might abandon a world. It is taken from 366 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2016. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Planetary Relief Outward flows the river of people, past the sky, past the moon and sun, the nearest worlds and closest stars. “Where are you going?” the planet cries. “To a newer world,” comes the reply. “And what of I?” the planet begs. “What of I?” “You have served us well, but now we have to leave. Your water now lies fouled and scarce, insufficient for our needs. The land’s infertile, too hard to fix.” “So you’d abandon me, to the stink and waste, a world broken by your hands?” But they did not reply, gone. Leaving nothing of their presence, but a vapour trail, and engine song...

This week’s short story takes us from an urban fantasy tale of nettles, teens and fairy princes to a science fiction story about the survivors of a crashed starship. Welcome to Nothing . Jerome is glad to finish the last patrol of the evening, and head in to the security of the base for the night, but, if the base is so secure, why can’t he sleep? Nothing It was dawn on the prairie. The sun rose, red-gold, in a sea of pale blue sky, and was reflected in apricots and peaches on a sea of ice-green grass. The soft morning wind did nothing to ease the winter cold from the air. Jerome watched the sun, and the prairie waking slowly beneath it. The colors of land softened the brown in his eyes, tainting it first with emerald, then with gold. He would have been horrified had he known. He had been a technician in the starship’s engine room, but now he was a soldier. He stood on a rise in the rolling prairie, the grass lapping around his knees and steaming gently...

LAST WEEK, Simone told Tiger help was on the way. This week, Tiger reveals that Simone has fallen prey to the same mutagen that Marrietta and the others have. Chapter 15 Excerpt – Almost Reunited Hey Simone, Well, you made it… or the rescue team did. You were right about the worm turning things back on as it needed them—and that included the life support when it noticed the implant needed stronger electrical impulses from the brain to optimise—it’s words, not mine. I may have created my own symbiotic artificial intelligence. Odyssey are keen to take a closer look at the thing, but it’s not being cooperative, and they’re fond of their electrical systems working. I’d laugh if they weren’t so disgusted with me. Apparently, I’ve made the worst kind of virus, and I’d better keep it under control. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete series is available as short, individual ebooks, and ...