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    J Alan Erwine's Tales of the Solar System
    J Alan Erwine's Tales of the Solar System
    J Alan Erwine's Tales of the Solar System
    Ebook83 pages1 hour

    J Alan Erwine's Tales of the Solar System

    By J Alan Erwine

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    About this ebook

    Seven stories from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine that look at possible futures for our species throughout the solar system.
    Some stories are optimistic, most see us carrying our Earth-bound limitations into the future and out to the planets.
    These may be cautionary tales, but no matter what, they’ll leave you feeling that humanity does indeed have a future of exploring our solar system...if we can learn to survive on Earth.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJ Alan Erwine
    Release dateJun 10, 2016
    ISBN9781311965363
    J Alan Erwine's Tales of the Solar System
    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

      J Alan Erwine's Tales of the Solar System - J Alan Erwine

      J Alan Erwine’s Tales of the Solar System

      Published by J Alan Erwine 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.

      All stories appearing in this collection are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

      All stories Copyright: J Alan Erwine

      CONTENTS

      Seedlings on the Solar Winds

      The Progenitors

      Hunted

      A Singular Solution

      The Martian Orphans and the Moons of Jupiter

      Twist of Fate

      Adrift Amidst the Cooling Fires of Creation

      SEEDLINGS ON THE SOLAR WINDS

      The blood was just starting to dry when they dragged Edward Verhoeven from his office. He didn’t go kicking and screaming; he just went. His last view through his office window showed him the far limb of the LEO station brightening as the Earth below slowly turned into the sunlight. It was a beautiful sight, one he knew he’d never see again. Of course, he’d known that before he’d killed the man lying on the floor of his office, slowly staining his beige rug red, but he’d had no choice, or had he?

      The men dragging him, military officers both, were doing it gently. At least, that’s how it seemed to Edward, but his mind had gone numb hours earlier. They could have dragged him by his hair and he probably wouldn’t have noticed. He thought about suggesting to the men that they allow him to walk, but decided not to. He was enjoying the ride too much.

      The soldiers dragged him past the infirmary. Edward noted the blood red lettering on the door. That was when he began to scream. The guards dropped him, not knowing what else to do. Edward curled into a fetal ball, refusing to move. One of the guards finally went into the infirmary and got a gurney. Together, the guards moved the curled mass of quivering flesh to a hospital bed. They were supposed to have brought him to a cell, but getting medical attention for him suddenly seemed like a better idea.

      *

      Edward awoke to find himself restrained. He wasn’t sure why. Had he been on a date with Elizabeth? No, that wasn’t it. He looked around. He was in the infirmary and there were two heavily armed and very dour looking military types glaring at him. What had he done?

      Just then, an orderly came along. Edward examined the tight white outfit, noticing it clung to her everywhere he wanted it to. He quickly forgot about the military men until he noticed the blood red cross on her lapel. That was when it all came back to him.

      Jenkins had come into his office, demanding to know why there was a discrepancy in the ore rights paperwork. Jenkins was his subordinate. He had no right to demand anything of Edward, so Edward…No, he couldn’t have.

      Mr. Verhoeven, a voice said, jerking him away from the memory he didn’t want, the memory that couldn’t be. I’m Inspector Dergin.

      Edward examined the man. He was tall and thin with a smile that made you want to trust him. Edward didn’t. If the man was questioning him, then the impossible memory could only be possible, which meant that Edward had killed somebody. Impossible.

      Mr. Verhoeven, can you tell me what happened when Mr. Jenkins came into your office yesterday?

      I killed him, Edward was surprised to hear himself say.

      Inspector Dergin also seemed surprised. Why? He knew Edward had killed Jenkins. Why should the truth surprise him? Why did you do it, Mr. Verhoeven?

      Please, call me Edward, he responded, trying to offer his hand, forgetting he was restrained. He shrugged. They made me.

      Inspector Dergin seemed even more surprised. Who made you, Edward?

      The creatures from the asteroid.

      Inspector Dergin looked at a tall woman wearing a doctor’s coat. Edward knew that she must be the shrink analyzing him during the interview. She must think he was crazy. If she didn’t, then she was crazy because Edward was sure he was. Creatures from the asteroid? Inspector Dergin asked. Could you be a little more specific?

      Edward laughed. Oh, I don’t know if they’re actually from the asteroid. I just know that’s where they’re living now.

      I see. Can you describe them for me?

      You can’t see them.

      Inspector Dergin looked confused. Was that a question?

      Edward laughed again. No. You can’t see them. I can’t see them. The shrink over there can’t see them. I just know they’re there.

      And how do you know that?

      They talk to me, of course.

      Inspector Dergin nodded. Thank you, Edward. I’m sure I’ll have more questions for you later. The shrink then came forward and stuck a needle in Edward’s arm. He knew it was sleepy time again. That was okay. Sleepy time was when the creatures talked to him.

      *

      You can’t say any more about us, the creatures said in his mind.

      Why not?

      No one can know about us.

      Edward thought about that for several nueronal firings. A part of his brain wondered who these beings were. He felt that part of his mind being soothed. Obviously these creatures could read his mind and control him in whatever way they saw fit. He felt that part of his mind being gently caressed back into docility. Finally, he slept.

      *

      Tell me more about these asteroid creatures, Inspector Dergin said.

      Edward looked at him in confusion. Was the man mad? What kind of creature could live on an asteroid? Certainly no lifeform he could imagine. What are you talking about?

      You said yesterday that creatures from the asteroid talk to you.

      Edward laughed. That’s crazy. He tried to move and found himself restrained. Hey, why am I tied down?

      For your own safety.

      Edward didn’t understand.

      Inspector Dergin shook his head. Don’t you remember killing Jenkins?

      What? Edward tried to sit up. How could he have killed Jenkins? He just saw him earlier in the day, or maybe that was yesterday. Suddenly, Edward saw the corpse on his office floor slowly turning his beige carpet red. Was that Jenkins? Oh, my God.

      "Now, can we

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