Transient Tales Volume 2

12 stories of science fiction, fantasy & horror

The second in the Transient Tales series collects 12 short stories of science fiction, fantasy and horror, totalling 20,000 words and ranging from light to dark and all shades in-between.

Volume 2 features a Halloween game with a chilling price, a call-centre at the end of the world, an unconventional quest for a portal to fairyland, a mother dealing with the loss—and the return—of a child, a desperate woman's letter to her future self, a repentant scientist's lament, an envious boy who gets more than he bargained for, and a misguided attempt to gain closure on a very dead love affair.

'One Free Go' - Darren and Kate threw a huge kids' party on Halloween, but now they're not quite sure why.

'Not With a Bang' - Answer the calls, read the script, enter the data. And when certain words or phrases come up, type out the alarm codes.

'No Regard for Narrative Convention' - Some people thought it was a great opportunity, when the dimensional portals opened up. Others, like Michael, weren't quite so sure.

'Sale or Return' - In the future, money can buy you anything. Or can it?

'Nor Any Drop to Drink' - Lynsey might look like a little girl, but she's got a big thirst.

'You Wish' - You've always got to be very careful about what you—or other people—wish for.

'Dear Ingrid' - Is it still a bad deal if the one who makes it isn't the one who pays for it?

'Babysitting' - Looking after Jilly—who really, really, really wants a puppy—is an exercise in tolerance. Who's going to crack first?

'On Blackened Wings' - Dionne doesn't believe that Rachel's built a psychic hotline to the monsters out of wires and roadkill. But that doesn't mean she wants to try it.

'No Apples for Mother' - Artificial Intelligence and Old Testament religion. Not a good mix.

'Gifted' - What makes the new girl so special? What's she got that Francie and Everett haven't? They're about to find out.

'Closure' - Carmel's relationship didn't end well. She'd like another go.