CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This week’s verse moves from an urban fantasy verse about the sphinx and Egyptian myth to a speculative verse about the future of April Fools Day. It is taken from Another 365 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2019. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Future of April Fools The second month of spring starts as a farce with jokes dressed up as real to bribe and bait, and tease the honest folk until the morning’s past, and fact is fact, and fiction has to wait. One would have thought this practice failed to make its way past the most modern centuries, that ‘neath another sun, it would not bake, and that falsified facts would simply cease. But this was not a practice eas’ly downed since laughter lives in each and ev’ry man and trickery in mankind’s heart abounds so travels time, and space and many lands On April First, must ...

This week’s short story takes us from a fantasy world where elven raiders ride spiders and ghosts are real , to a distant colonial world trying to break free from raiders. Welcome to The Starman's Arrival. Knocking over those crates of beer was a death sentence. I did it on purpose, in front of everyone, and then I did the only thing I could—I ran. I think I saved the starman. Now, the only way I’ll know, is if the supply ship comes in time to drive the raiders away—and I get back out of Blacklegs’ Forest alive. Wish me luck, okay? I’m gonna need it. The Starman's Arrival (Extract) He came in a shower of light, a beam that shot out from the orbiting starship and set him precisely in the centre of the town square. It was lucky the bandits shot him before he had fully formed; the round passed right through. His look of surprise, however, is etched, forever, on my memory. And then I screamed, and knocked over an entire rack of beer, shatteri...

LAST WEEK, Tiger told Simone he was on his way with help. This week, Simone and Delight are teaming up and planning on wreaking a little havoc. Chapter 7 (Extract) – Planning Troubles Dear Tiger Well, Delight and Haskell made it here safely—and so did the rest of their team. I don’t know what made the scientists think they could figure out a cure-all for the Queen-Bee effect without actually, you know, testing it? But they failed. Haskell’s acting just as weird as he did last time, and I’m already sick of apologising. Maybe you can work it out when you get here, or someone on your team? You know, someone who might actually know what they’re talking about. Either way, Delight isn’t impressed, but Gunny thinks it’s as funny as anything she’s ever seen—and we both know that oldster has seen a lot. Oh, yes, we woke her up. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete series is available as short, indiv...

This week’s verse moves from a fantasy verse about fallen heroes remembered to an urban fantasy verse about the sphinx and Egyptian mythology. It is taken from Another 365 Days of Poetry , a collection of mixed-genre poetry released in 2019. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Resurgent Sphinx Mythic mysterious great riddler of the gates guardian of the pharoah’s tomb it waits A hawk, ram, or human head on lion’s body made, a guardian, and fearsome legend the sphinx in stories waits. A tomb, a treasure, long-lost or remade the sphinx the guardian will re-awake and rise when summoned by the pharaoh’s line whose blood still flows forgotten lost, reviving as its ties to blood lines living re-take. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can f...

This week’s short story takes us from a science fiction setting where mythical creatures walk the stars to a world of fantasy where elven raiders ride spiders and ghosts are real. Welcome to The Soul in the Sword. When an Arach raiding party attacks a wagon train and moves on to take on the next town, Dannon is part of the out-riders who must clean up in their wake. The dead girl on the wagon is just one of many reasons he doesn’t like spiders, or the elves that ride them. The Soul in the Sword (Extract) The spider reared, raking down with its forelegs. Allun threw himself sideways, dodging the blade-like spines of one leg and blocking the other leg’s cutting edge with his sword. The spider lunged after him, wicked fangs flashing, their points gleaming dully in the dawn-light. Allun rolled from beneath them, turning to face the beast and its rider again. The spider’s rider raised his lance and sliced at the man below him. Allun tried to par...

LAST WEEK, Simone told Tiger how she'd dealt with a ship full of infected people . This week, Tiger tells Simone that help is on the way - and so is he. Chapter 6 (Extract) – On My Way Hey, Simone I’m fine. We got off the FedExplore base a couple of days ago. The liner that picked us up is called the Sugarsides . Can you believe it? Sugarsides ! I have to admit, though, it is a pretty sweet ride. That was a joke, Simone. You’re supposed to laugh. I might not be able to see you, but I know you’re not laughing. In fact, you’re probably trying to think of ways to send me to my room, and that is sooo not going to happen. I just thought you might need a laugh. I know you must be feeling very alone out there, and a bit shaken up by what you were able to do. Don’t be afraid of that. You are still the old Simone to me, even if you’ve been given a few add-ons. I can deal with that. You need to deal with it, too. I’m glad you managed to get ever...