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...

This week’s verse moves from  a poem about city traffic to a science fiction verse about colony oversight. It is taken from 365 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2014. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   Taking Care They live within the star-filled dark, fearing neither night nor day. They sing their songs in voices stark, teaching us their way. Teaching us their way, as tirelessly as suns, repeating every lesson until they know we’ve learned. Until they know we’ve learned just how to live and give the planet care, so that long upon this world we’ll dwell, beneath their unforgiving stare. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can find the first two poetry collections at the links below - although there are plans to reissue them with more genre-appropriate co...

This week’s short story takes us from the fantasy world of Tallameera and two siblings discovering the power of magic to the creation story for a science-fiction vigilante. Welcome to Melerom Leads the Dance . When Melerom escapes the aftermath of his people’s massacre of the humans on Jehornak, he sets himself up as a wealthy wanderer on the Odyssey luxury liners, and acquires the one thing every gentleman needs—a valet—but when his valet begins showing unusually perceptive spurts of initiative, Melerom realises the man is not everything he seems. The only question is, can the man be trusted to help him survive multi-billionaire, Frederico Coleman’s, next party, or betray him? Melerom Leads the Dance is available as a stand-alone short story at the following links: books2read.com/u/bMG9a7 . 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, Tiger revealed he had barely escaped another alien incursion with his life. This week, Simone lets him know how much trouble he's in with FedExplore, and says she is very worried for her parents. Chapter 8 Excerpt – Catastrophes Dear Tiger, Glad you are okay—and safe. So glad you are safe. Odyssey made it onto Deskeden with GalPol. Said they had an anonymous tip-off that there’d been a catastrophic event on the colony there, and had the FedExplore indictment overturned. And a catastrophic event would have been the only way they could have overturned it. They passed on the tip, and GalPol insisted on an investigation, and what they found there put FedExplore in a lot of hot water. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete series is available as short, individual ebooks, and will become available as an omnibus, later this year. In the meantime, you can find them on this blog, un...

This week’s verse moves from a verse about a terrorist incident way back in 2004 to another piece of social commentary about mankind's future. It is taken from 366 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2016. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------   City Traffic Traffic thunder rumbles, roars, surges like the tides. In every city, it forms the background noise of where we strive, of where we live, and work, and play, of every moment of our lives. Tell me, when the traffic stops, will mankind still survive? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can find the first two poetry collections at the links below - although there are plans to reissue them with more genre-appropriate covers in the future. The third collection will be released later in the year. books2read....