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    Sci-Fi Shorts
    Sci-Fi Shorts
    Sci-Fi Shorts
    Ebook47 pages35 minutes

    Sci-Fi Shorts

    By Tarry Ionta

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Sci-Fi Shorts is a collection of eight science fiction stories. They have been previously published in several of the author's books containing short stories of mixed genres. They are reissued in this volume to appeal to those readers who, like the author, prefer to read Science Fiction stories, as opposed to the collections generally containing a mix of Science Fiction and Fantasy, masquerading as Science Fiction.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTarry Ionta
    Release dateNov 24, 2013
    ISBN9781311875761
    Sci-Fi Shorts
    Author

    Tarry Ionta

    Born 1933 of Italian parentage. He served in the RAF and worked at various occupations before entering Glasgow University at thirty, to study Maths, Physics, and Astronomy. He completed one year before dropping out to become a telegraphist. Finally, completing his working life with British Telecom Finance Department. His Interests and hobbies comprise mainly of chess, and reading science fiction. He has also had a keen, practicing interest in computing and martial arts (Judo and Shotokan Karate) and music (Saxophone, Clarinet, and Piano - Over twelve years with City of Glasgow Military Band). Now retired and no longer active in those fields, he prefers to concentrate on writing. He has been writing since 1988, having written over fifty varied short stories, a few articles, novellas, novels, and a children's fantasy book. Several short stories have been published in anthologies and on the Internet. A few have also been short-listed in the WRITER'S NEWS monthly competitions. He continues to write.

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      Book preview

      Sci-Fi Shorts - Tarry Ionta

      Sci-Fi Shorts

      by

      Tarry Ionta

      Copyright 2013

      E-book edition ISBN 9781311875761

      Paperback edition ISBN-13: 978-1494253639

      License Notes

      This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to the owner and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Any resemblance to actual people and events is purely coincidental. This is a work of fiction.

      The original image used to form the cover of this book is in the Public Domain and was provided by - Clipartlord.com with grateful thanks. If anyone knows of anything to the contrary please inform the author at:

      ionta.books@outlook.com

      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

      Contents

      * * * * * *

      Almost Human

      Emergence

      Last Chance

      Phobia

      Scoop

      Spiderman

      The Timepiece

      Time Warp

      Almost Human

      by

      Tarry Ionta

      He looked, evaluated, decided, then moved forward silently, unhurriedly. His vision was narrow, ten degrees horizontally, forty-five vertically. Sensors moved constantly from side to side, compensating for his narrow field of view, scanning; gathering information; building a complete picture of all that was before him.

      He crossed the hallway, his brain checking the plan of the house. There was a door on his left. No, that was the spare bedroom. Another on his right - the living room. He paused at the stairs. Noted the obstacle, and negotiated it with pronounced deliberation, a soft hum coming from the treads as they gripped each step in turn. The door of the main bedroom was in front of him. He raised his right appendage and tapped gently.

      ‘Come in, Em.’

      He turned the door handle and entered. ‘You summoned me, Ma’am?’

      ‘Good,’ she said with obvious pleasure. ‘You responded to your new name. It might suit the factory to give you a serial number, but I can’t very well call you MecSer214, can I? Em is much more friendly. Agreed?’

      There was silence for a moment, then he responded. ‘Very good, Ma’am. Thank you.’

      She pulled herself up on the bed, adjusted the two pillows, and rested in a sitting position. The movement dislodged the front of her night-dress, displaying her still youthful breasts. With a little ‘oh!’ of embarrassment she covered her herself, then realized what she had done. ‘Silly me. You’re only a machine. Never mind, I’ll soon get used to you.’

      The expressionless voice responded. ‘Yes, Ma’am.’

      ‘Fix breakfast for me, there’s a dear.’

      Was she carrying the familiarity too far, she wondered. She had been told to speak to it naturally, as though it was a human member of the household. ‘Still, no harm done,’ she said with a wry smile. ‘It’s not as if you’re going to get over-friendly, is it?’

      ‘No, Ma’am. What do you wish for breakfast?’

      ‘Oh... A boiled egg; three minutes please. Two slices of buttered toast and plenty of coffee.’

      She hesitated. Could he really cope with such instructions. Shouldn’t she be telling him to switch on the cooker, fill a pot with water, etc. etc. But she had been assured that it wasn’t necessary. He was almost human. ‘That all right?’

      ‘Certainly, Ma’am. Please allow me eleven minutes.’

      True to his word, he appeared at the door, tray firmly fixed in one mechanical hand.

      ‘That was quick,’ she said,

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