by Rey Rider illustrated by spicy-wrenagade The first cherry Patrick picks, he plops into his mouth. The skin bursts and reveals soft, juicy flesh, the perfect balance between sweet and ever-so-slightly sour. This has become a ritual: The first and last fruits Patrick finds go straight into his stomach, the rest get neatly organized in […]
Author Archives: ssbb-admin
28
Jun
Big Girl Words
by Etienne Telling There’s a bit of a line getting into Voxis’ gated district, but since it’s a major festival day, that’s not unexpected. Melody bounces on her toes and twists idly side to side as they wait. The dress Eirian got her swishes around her legs, flaring out, and she’s trying very hard not […]
28
Jun
I shelter you with my branches. I taste my fruit on your tongue.
by Devin Ambrosia illustrated by Spicy-Wrenegade, igbyi, & Devin Ambrosia I need to tell you this story, before it’s too late. But already I’m rushing, when what I really want is tree time, a slow yearning, an unfurling of rage and desire, because we both had plenty of each until it blossomed into love. Time […]
28
Jun
Summer Skin
by ChibiSaboten Aleka twisted a dial on the camera until the furthest rapid upriver came into focus. The giant umbrella he sat under sheltered him from the blaze of a midmorning sun which was starting to reflect off surrounding rippling water at an awkward angle, causing an ugly ball of glare to show up in […]
28
Jun
This New Season
by Rowan York You must understand: My assumption that the rusted chains around the great old oak were the remnants of a fertility ritual was founded on a basis of prior knowledge. Women of my mother’s generation whispered about it, in the mornings while they salted fish and in the evenings as they mended nets […]
28
Jun
On the Wall
by Shirozubon Saruko (城図凡然る子) Somehow, the one thing Sën hadn’t been prepared for was that it might be pretty. It was, though. Even going on ten years of his life spent pulling raw ores and gems out of the earth, it was one of the prettiest things he’d ever seen. He couldn’t help holding up […]
3
May
Prospective Participants for Bang*Bang 121
This is a signup for the June 29 issue; the text deadline for the issue is Tuesday, June 16 and the art deadline is Saturday, June 27. Please reply to this post if you plan to submit a story or artwork for this issue, indicating whether you are interested in contributing to the issue as an author and/or […]
27
Apr
re: The Red Blossom Blades [final edits]
by shukyou (主教) Dear Edward, I received your latest round of edits with great interest. Astonishing interest. Unprecedented interest, in fact, because the edits themselves had no precedent either. In the seventeen years I’ve been publishing with Strauss & Baker — oh, I’m so sorry, I forget that you’re BillionsOfBooks4U now, how clumsy of […]
26
Apr
Amber Waves
written and illustrated by spicy-wrenegade Amber appears out of nowhere, like she always does. Like she manifests from the wheat fields, a pale ghost in the sweltering midsummer heat. It had been longer than usual since Lex saw her last. Now she stands on the gravel road, hovering just outside the crowd like she always […]
26
Apr
[▬▬▬▬]
by Chibisaboten The creaking protest of metal disrupts his REM cycle as Dragan rolls into a bright glare. Wearily, he squints through groggy vision. Sunlight? Chert! He bolts straight up, instantly awake, and is alone. Five drab, narrow beds surround him, all empty and perfectly made up with their thin wool blankets plus flat, feather […]
26
Apr
What the Gods Want With a Starship
written and illustrated by Iron Eater It had first gotten complicated between Tjok and his imaginary friend well before they’d had too many shared birthdays. Imaginary friend wasn’t the actual name for what was going on, of course. That was just the closest thing any of the books he read or the video materials he watched […]
