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    The Fifth Di... March 2016
    The Fifth Di... March 2016
    The Fifth Di... March 2016
    Ebook74 pages1 hour

    The Fifth Di... March 2016

    By J Alan Erwine

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    The Fifth Di... returns to print in 2016!
    The first print issue in many years features the fiction of Robert N. Stephenson, Ian Brazee-Cannon, Robert P. Hansen and John Grey.
    A man is driven to desperation in his effort to find his father. An immortal finds himself among mortals seeking his secret, a secret he can't give them. Another man has been taking advantage of the misfortunes of others after an asteroid impacts Earth, and now he must face the consequences. And a mission to find life on another planet has failed again and again...now what will happen when they are forced to go to yet another planet?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNomadic Delirium Press
    Release dateFeb 29, 2016
    ISBN9781311205513
    The Fifth Di... March 2016
    Author

    J Alan Erwine

    J Erwine was born Oct. 15, 1969 in Akron, Ohio. Early in his life he was exposed to science, and specifically astronomy. From there on, J's passion turned to science fiction, a passion that's never died. Due to family issues, J eventually found himself in Denver, Colorado, where he still lives (well, right outside now.) From the time he could put subject and predicate together on paper, J has been writing stories. None of those early stories exist anymore (thankfully), but that passion for writing has never waned. After several years of rejection, the story Trek for Life was eventually sold to ProMart Writing Lab editor James Baker. It wasn't Asimov's, but it was a start. Since that time J has sold more than forty short stories to various small press publishers. In addition ProMart also published a short story collection of J's entitled Lowering One's Self Before Fate, and other stories, which is still available. ProMart also published a novel from J entitled The Opium of the People, which sold a few copies before going out of print. The relevance of the novel after the events of September 11th caused J to self-publish the novel, as he felt the story had a lot to say in the new reality we now find ourselves living in. Now, this same book has been re-released by Nomadic Delirium Press. Eventually J would become an editor with ProMart. Then, after the untimely death of ProMart editor James Baker, J would move on to ProMart's successor Sam's Dot Publishing. J also spends most of his time working as a freelance writer and editor. J's novel was voted a top ten finisher in the 2003 annual Preditors & Editors contest, and his short story The Galton Principle won a ProMart contest for best story over 5,000 words. In addition, a number of his stories have been voted "best of" in various issue of The Martian Wave and The Fifth DI… and have been included in Wondrous Web Worlds Vols. 2, 3, 4, and 6. In 2009, the Ephemeris Role Playing Game was released. J is the co-creator of this game, and has written numerous supplements for the game. J has now sold three novels and four short story collections, all of which are still available from various sources, including Smashwords. J currently lives with his amazing wife, three wonderful children, three cats, and a very quiet turtle.

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      Book preview

      The Fifth Di... March 2016 - J Alan Erwine

      THE FIFTH DI…

      March 2016

      Edited by J Alan Erwine

      Published by Nomadic Delirium Press at Smashwords

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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 person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Copyright 2016 by Nomadic Delirium Press

      All stories and poems are copyrighted in the names of their respective authors

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage and retrieval system, without the written consent of the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passes in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, broadcast, etc.

      Nomadic Delirium Press

      Aurora, Colorado

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      The Notion of Sacrifice by Robert N. Stephenson

      This Crime Immortality by Ian Brazee-Cannon

      Impact by Robert P. Hansen

      Life on Other Planets by John Grey

      Crisis Averted by Laura Givens

      What constitutes being human?

      Why are gods so bad at poker?

      How would you square dance in zero-gee?

      What is the alcohol tolerance of a superhero?

      When is a good time to visit the universe next door?

      Why does Buffalo Bill want a T-Rex?

      Is Buggs Bunny transgendered or just a drag queen?

      None of these questions are answered herein, but asking them is half the fun.

      http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/crisisaverted.htm

      The Notion of Sacrifice

      By Robert N. Stephenson

      The woman entered the restaurant with a self-assured confidence only power could give. Her straight back told him immediately to be on his guard. This could be the woman who called him and convinced him to come across town to the evening meeting. She would also be the one to tell him about his father. To Alistair she looked no more than twenty five years old, tall; attractive with black hair to her shoulders and a small smile that suggested she knew something no one else did. This had to be her; every other table in the restaurant had couples or families. How could this young woman know about his father and what had happened to him, she would have been 15 when he disappeared. He’d listened on the phone with disbelief at first, but she described him in minute detail and revealed things only he would know.

      Alistair didn’t have what she requested, of course, that was just stupid, but he assumed it was some kind of moral test and his showing at the restaurant alone would prove his moral fibre. His father had said many people had tested his morality in his line of work.

      Mr. Regina, the woman said, approaching his table and offering her hand.

      Lilith, he replied, standing and taking her small hand and feeling the cool, firm grip of a woman who meant business.

      Please, she said, waving him down. So here we are. She sat, placing her small, black bag on the table top near her side plate. She looked bemused. Where is the baby?

      He didn't know what to say to that. I... I thought you were joking. I thought it was a moral test. Maybe this was still a test, he thought. Seriously, where would I get a baby? The look on her face said he'd been mistaken.

      Lilith offered the barest of scowls before she opened her bag and pulled out a black stone, about the size of a dollar coin, and placed it on the table between them.

      Mr. Regina, the deal was I would tell you about your father and you would deliver to me a baby, a girl and no more than five weeks old.

      She wasn't joking. I don't know how to get a baby. Seriously, I thought you were joking. He shrugged and felt quite small in front of this diminutive woman. Her black dress suit, black stockings and black blouse highlighted her extremely pale complexion.

      I do not joke. If you cannot deliver then I cannot help you.

      She touched the stone with the fingertips of her right hand and it felt like everything stilled. All talk in the restaurant ceased, the traffic passing outside in the neon lights stopped and pedestrians froze in place. He looked to Lilith; the slight smile was gone, replaced by a disappointed look much like his mother gave him when he did something distasteful. Please don't be alarmed, Mr. Regina, time is of the essence and I find no reason to waste it on a misunderstanding.

      He looked around the restaurant, everyone was motionless, drinks part way to mouths, hands hovering above plates of food and the steam coming from the kitchen looked like a still life painting. What was happening? Alistair blinked, but everything was as it had been, frozen and lifeless.

      What is going on here?

      "Something that does not concern you, but it does allow me to make myself clear on the baby. You see, if you do not agree to deliver what I need tonight I will

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