Feb 22, 2023Member-onlyThe Cowgirl’s NightmareBy Chris Pawar “Oh my God! It’s you!” It’s the reaction Bill hopes for (at this point, needs) as he rounds the corners and crests hills in his FORD EVerest. It’s 2040, but his company refuses to opt for self-driving cars and makes even the managers pay for streaming radio…Science Fiction15 min readScience Fiction15 min read
Feb 15, 2023Member-onlyA Ride with StuBy Chris Pawar “Mommy, the man is here.” A pause. Then slightly louder with a nudge. “Mommy, the man. About the car.” Doreen opens one eye and sees her daughter has already turned to leave. Minutes later, she stands robed, in her garage, watching the wrecker make a ‘pow,’ ‘bow,’…Horror10 min readHorror10 min read
Aug 28, 2022Member-onlyFaith in a FogMiriam can’t look away, not anymore, at least. Of course, the sight of smoke rising above this or any camp is expected, but not this early. And she’s not one to talk to strangers, but in this situation, for some reason, she has to. So she begins her story paying…Science Fiction7 min readScience Fiction7 min read
Aug 6, 2022Member-onlyThe Artisan’s IntelligenceBy Chris Pawar Illiana can’t wake up. Not because she doesn’t want to, but because she doesn’t realize she’s asleep. And so she lies unaware, in her room, on the eighth floor of St. Raphael’s Hospital while an ocean of opportunity churns on the streets below. “You know, you never…Artificial Intelligence30 min readArtificial Intelligence30 min read
May 24, 2022Member-onlyThe ResemblanceBy Chris Pawar Miracles are overrated-at least when it comes to medicine. Every new pill or skin prick offers a life complete with laughing grandchildren, tai chi, and the tango. It isn’t easy or advisable to state the obvious: medicines prolong or enhance life. That would remind us of the alternative. But as…Science Fiction24 min readScience Fiction24 min read
Apr 22, 2022Member-onlyThe Ski Lodge MistressThe Ski Lodge Mistress Marion has given in for too long. So this morning, she does battle. Her weapon of choice is a palm-sized hairbrush that she’s using to attack the knots in her blonde curls. Paul is already downstairs, loudly zipping his suitcase as if to emphasize that he has to work, and…Science Fiction36 min readScience Fiction36 min read
Mar 12, 2022Member-onlyThe Alien LettersBy Chris Pawar — The hilly fields of wild grass sway and continue their reach upward. Once in orderly, fruitful rows, the farm’s corn must fight for the sky above and the ground below. Cursed with maturity, absent of a farmer’s toil, everything here accepts struggle as its sole purpose. By day, to any…Fiction13 min readFiction13 min read
Feb 24, 2022Member-onlyThe Dream CoupleBy Chris Pawar Will wasn’t sure if therapy was a good choice, but these first five sessions were free, courtesy of his health insurance. So you see, it’s not the fear of therapy making him a lesser person, but rather the sheer nakedness of it all. No, on second thought…Science Fiction31 min readScience Fiction31 min read
Jan 28, 2022Member-onlyThank-You, SagittariusBy Chris Pawar 7:06 pm — Wednesday, November 24th, 2021 “Look, honey, you’ve left two messages, you’ve texted, and you’ve even emailed, and she hasn’t responded,” Dennis Spence said to his wife. …Science Fiction28 min readScience Fiction28 min read
Jan 14, 2022Member-onlyThe Perilous Pleasure of EmpathyBy Chris Pawar Sanjeet Patil sat in his Volvo wagon, thrumming his fingers on the steering wheel. Dr. Elijah Arness’s office was easy enough to find. It stood in a small plaza that shared a lot with the SaveNow grocery store in Dover, Ohio. Independents (those not working for a…Black Mirror20 min readBlack Mirror20 min read