"Reality, Interrupted"
Synopsis:
Stories by Lisa Tuttle & Steven Utley, F. Brett Cox, Scott Nicholson, Steve Rasnic Tem, Mélanie Fazi, Lynda E. Rucker, Andrew Humphrey. Electric Darkness by Stephen Volk. Japan’s Dark Lanterns by John Paul Catton. Case Notes by Peter Tennant (includes interview with Mick Scully). Interference by Christopher Fowler. Blood Spectrum by Tony Lee. Night’s Plutonian Shore by Mike O’Driscoll. White Noise. Cover and all original art by David Gentry.
Book Excerpt:
Blue motioned to his half-empty cup of chai. "Watch."
The liquid in the cup trembled, then began to swirl counter-clockwise all by itself. The swirl inverted and twisted up into a braided cone, which rose several inches above the lip of the cup. A droplet detached itself from the top of the cone and hovered in a perfect milky sphere in front of Goran's eyes. He stood up quickly and backed away, knocking his chair over with a clatter. At his abrupt movement, the chai in the cup returned to its normal placid state, and the sphere dropped to the table's surface with a quiet plish. Goran's mouth hung open.
"How?"
"Goran, sit down. You're attracting attention."
"Me? You are the one who -- "
"No one else saw," she hissed. "Sit down."
He righted his chair, then sank down slowly as if expecting to be burned by it. Sweat stood out on his brow and upper lip, and he trembled slightly. The other patrons were still staring, and Blue smiled to indicate everything was all right.
"How is this possible?" Goran breathed. "This should not be so."
Type of Work:
Publishers:
Awards:
Honorable Mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
Original Published Source:
The Third Alternative #42
Publishing Notes:
Reprinted in Infinity Plus, Jan 2006; and in Agua/Cero (Colombia), Sep 2007.
Formats:
Magazine
- Share With:
