The anthology totals about 73,000 words and contains a novelette, four short stories, a theater play, and a screenplay.These seven spellbinding stories spanning several styles and genres include a dramatic romance, a satire of the mega-rich, a somber and soulful reflection on the problem of evil, humorous dating adventures, and stories driven by philosophical musings.1) THE DOORMAN - A NOVELETTEAlex seems to have it all: a great penthouse apartment, a lovely girlfriend, and a prestigious Wall Street job. But below the surface he is sure of nothing but his angst-ridden doubts. And when he realizes that his doorman may be God, or sent by God, he will question things like never before.This novelette is a story of New York doormen, tormented love, empty office life, and the theological questions that arise in response to the horrors of evil.2) CENTRAL PARK SONG - A SCREENPLAY (ROMANCE)Can love really conquer all? Rodney is a passionate black man with brilliant talents but a mental illness that leaves him homeless. Melinda is a white Manhattan law partner with an artistic soul, trapped by the pressures of corporate law, her wealthy father, and her three-year boyfriend. A charming, chance encounter leads to a magical courtship and life-changing choices that make an unlikely New York romance possible.3) THE GRAND UNIFIED STORY - A SHORT STORYWhat happens when a man and a woman meet in a way that magically involves the entire universe? When both are so keenly aware of their place in the cosmos that their connection seems to transcend their union and capture the very essence of life. This story shows how each person is a world to be discovered and how sometimes, when two worlds collide, the universe seems that much closer.4) CITY SOLIPSISM - A SHORT STORYHave you ever been on a train, bus, metro/subway - or any other shared space with strangers - and started to wonder what that person right next to you is thinking? This story takes you on a journey into the mind of a man in a suit and tie on a New York City subway car, as he thinks about the woman standing awkwardly close to him. They are total strangers but their proximity is almost intimate as their hands share the same metal subway pole.5) WAITING FOR 2000 - AN ABSURDIST COMEDY OF BILLIONAIRE PROPORTIONSInspired by and reminiscent of Samuel Beckett's absurdist stage play "Waiting for Godot," this Y2K theater comedy satirizes the frivolous extravagance of the mega-rich.Bob's Billionaire Boat boasts the world's 2,000 richest people on it, and will enable them to celebrate the arrival of the year 2000 twice in a row by crossing the International Dateline on New Year's Eve 1999. The co-captains of the boat -- two regular guys -- keep themselves amused with endlessly silly banter while occasionally debating whether the whole thing is just a fictional stage play.Meanwhile, two Wall Street traders who are bitter about missing the wealth cutoff for the billionaire cruise are determined to blow up the boat and thereby become the two richest people on earth. In this satire, the zaniest billionaires ever to gather on a single vessel prove that there's still plenty to complain about at the top.6) MY BEST VALENTINE'S DAY. EVER. - A SHORT STORYSammy Laffowitz is legendary for his dating disasters and sex mishaps. This time, misfortune strikes on Valentine's Day - but with a fun twist that makes Sammy seem studly for once.7) MY WORST VALENTINE'S DAY. EVER. - A SHORT STORYYi Wang is a NY bad boy who plans to make history on Valentine's Day with his female exploits. The handsome, alpha-male, Asian-American is a corporate lawyer who usually gets his way with women, but this time he makes a stupid mistake that leaves everyone but him laughing hysterically.

    The novellas in this collection—Betty Superman by Tiff Holland, Here, Where We Live by Meg Pokrass, Shampoo Horns by Aaron Teel, Bell and Bargain by Margaret Chapman, and The Family Dogs by Chris Bower—are compact and specific, yet whole and universal, using the flexibility of the form to offer a polyphony of setting and emotion. Accompanying each novella-in-flash is a craft essay by the author, making this anthology an ideal text for both entertainment and instruction, as well as for use both in the classroom and out. Additionally, the editors’ introduction by Abby Beckel and Kathleen Rooney offers a detailed history and discussion of the evolution of the versatile and hybrid novella-in-flash genre.

    After he’s seen the post-post-mortem glow of stars a few millionths of a second earlier than he does on earth, a few hours after his dessert of dehydrated ice-cream and playful mimicry, Houston we have a problem, one small step for man, and all that, after the white whir of cameras and the blue and silver slap of bulbs, after the last guests, official or friendly have left and the twins are tucked, tousled and kissed, after shutting out the lights on his bedside table, after a lifetime of preparation for his first trip to the moon, Jack, the astronaut, returns to earth and, wrapping his arms around her from the back, says to his wife “There are whole planets, whole galaxies, whole worlds where you and I don’t exist,” and, she, noting the wonder in his voice, asks if he had to go to the moon to discover what she’s always known simply lying beside him at night.

    These flash fiction stories from one of today’s emerging literary stars grasp to determine whether life can "come with fewer qualifications and be less equivocal,” a world where friendships are negotiated, love is one-sided, imagined, absent, or discovered, and where “going crazy is more subtle than you'd think."

    With sly humor and daring, Stohlman weaves tiny tales reminiscent of Etgar Keret, but with her own inimitable stamp. 'The Vixen Scream and other Bible Stories' is an amazing collection. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of reading it." – Kathy Fish, author of 'Together We Can Bury It' "'The Vixen Scream' is a collection of compelling and strikingly original stories – an imagination functioning at full throttle. Nancy Stohlman is a word-alchemist, and here is her book of wonders!" – Robert Scotellaro, author of 'Measuring the Distance'

    Morano is a collection of 100 horror stories, each written in exactly 100 words, and accompanied by over 50 illustrations. Inside, you’ll find monsters—both imagined and real. There are vengeful specters, characters with impaired psyches, dark fairy tales and stories and illustrations inspired by bizarre creatures of Japanese folklore."100 Nightmares is completely sick, twisted and perfect all at the same time. If you don’t manage to find this collection of writing great then you didn’t pay attention..." - David Spell, The Scary Reviews"Such a brilliant concept with no two stories alike. Timeless enjoyment to be reread over and over..." - Paula Limbaugh, Horror Novel Reviews"There's an art to writing an effective story in so few words and the author nails it." - M. Brookes, The Cult of Me"Each and every page kept me enthralled and on the edge of my seat the entire time... I've read a lot and seen a lot but have to admit Morano caught me by surprise..." - NecroStein, Texas Terror Entertainment“Some of the most original and powerful Micro-Fiction that I’ve seen to date in the horror genre...” - Jon R. Meyers, The Horror Fiction Review"Thanks to her masterful phrasing and wonderfully chilling imagination, 100 Nightmares will delight any fan of horror and the supernatural." - Amanda Ferris, the Absolute Magazine“Great idea! Great read! Great Book!” - Horror inside the Box UK

    Over 250 pages of robot rebellions, alien pornography, high society cyborgs, orgasmic planets, space-time disruptions, and futures both likely and unlikely. New or previously uncollected work from Jonathan Lethem, Lynne Tillman, Charles Yu, Alissa Nutting, Ted Chiang, and many more. Hardcover with color interior art and a cover by Michael DeForge.

    57 amazing speculative fiction capsules that transport you into thrilling worlds of imagination and ideas, suggesting that everything is possible—aliens, time travel, other worlds, and the mysteries of Earth—in breathtakingly fresh combinations. This is the perfect book companion for a quick break or a relaxing afternoon. The Future Is Short: Science Fiction in a Flash presents 57 micro stories by talented authors. Relish each story in tiny bites of speculative fiction entertainment and adventure, catching glimpses of miniature worlds of the future in breathtakingly fresh flights of science fiction imaginings. As you step across the border of reality and escape into this fascinating collection of 725-word stories, you are instantly immersed in the dazzling visions of 31 talented science fiction authors—ranging from writers with published books and many publication credits, to others new to the writing world. In this sparkling collection, you will wander into realms where imagination rules and time is conquered. Discover tales of alien love and hate, inspiration, and revenge. Visit time’s ghosts on Mars and wonder, with aliens, at human lifestyles, reproduction, and actions. Explore a universe of heaven and hell redefined—where the wonders and horrors of science thrill and amuse. Paula Friedman, Jot Russell, and Carrol Fix bring together stories by an international group of authors who share their stories in the LinkedIn group, “Science Fiction readers, writers, collectors, and artists.” Jot Russell, creator/director of the Science Fiction Microstories Contest and executive director of this contest’s anthology, says, “From themes of green or blue, future or past, animal or mineral or alien, a catalyst is formed that sets creativity in motion. By the random nature of synapse, a story forms from thin air, like magic. Bounds that Einstein placed upon light itself cannot hold back a thought. For, imagination is beyond the bars of time and space. Within the mind, and with fewer words than those needed to paint a picture, a full science fiction work is derived in micro-scale.” New members are always welcome to join the monthly contest. Submissions must follow the monthly theme and are limited to a single LinkedIn post, roughly 650 words. The Future Is Short Anthology Authors: J.J. Alleson, Sam Bellotto Jr., Mike Boggia, Richard Bunning, Lars Carlson, Kalifer Deil, Carrol Fix, W.A. Fix, Paula Friedman, Andrew Gurcak, Ami L. Hart, Gene Hilgreen, Thaddeus Howze, S.M. Kraftchak, Helmuth Kump, Andy Lake, Joanna Lamprey, Jeremy Lichtman, Andy McKell, D C Mills, JD Mitchell, Karl J. Morgan, J.R. O’Neill, Amos Parker, Marianne G. Petrino, Jon Ricson, Jot Russell, Tom Tinney, Nōnen Títi, Allen Quintana, J.F. Williams.

    Native to the intense competition of the Internet flash arenas, the Flashdogs are an international pack of flash fiction writers committed to pushing the envelope of the form. Collected here in the first-ever Flashdogs anthology for charity, you will find one-hundred and ten stories by thirty-four writers from around the globe. Running the gamut from dark comedy to science fiction to poetry, this anthology showcases the diversity of the pack with open submissions as well as a prompted story from each writer. In these pages you will find addicts and astronauts, dragons and demons, mothers and madmen. Charmed by magicians and haunted by ghosts, you may find yourself reading straight through supper. The Flashdogs’ stories will sweep you into a hundred universes served in small bites anyone can enjoy. Any proceeds from the book will go to The Flashdogs' chosen children's book charity. See the website for more details.

     The 100 stories in this quirky collection range from a few sentences to a few pages. Included are stories nominated for the 2013 Pushcart Prize, Micro Award, and Wigleaf Long List. Nearly all of them have been published before individually, in numerous print and online magazines and anthologies. Tales vary from realistic to humorous to surreal, and family-friendly to adult. Repeating themes include: people-as-animals, people losing themselves and finding themselves (and sometimes wishing they hadn't), childhood in the psychedelic seventies, reality TV, marriage, twisted religion, and of course the gotta have 'em he-done-me wrongs. Enjoy!

     "Kevin Lucia's writing is both scary and smart, a lethal cocktail that makes for mesmerizing storytelling." -- Tosca Lee, New York Times Bestselling Author of Demon: A Memoir "Lucia is a true craftsman of the horror story, with a fine sense of the genre's best traditions." --Norman Prentiss, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Invisible Fences and The Fleshless Man "Lucia writes tales that stick with you, that are memorable. And believe me, they are the best kind." -- Bram Stoker Award Winning Author, USA Today Bestseller Tom Monteleone

    The novellas in this collection—BETTY SUPERMAN by Tiff Holland, HERE, WHERE WE LIVE by Meg Pokrass, SHAMPOO HORNS by Aaron Teel, BELL AND BARGAIN by Margaret Patton Chapman, and THE FAMILY DOGS by Chris Bower—are com­pact and specific, yet whole and universal, using the flexibility of the genre to offer a polyphony of setting and emotion. Accompanying each novella-in-flash is a craft essay by the author exploring the form’s power, uses, and unique characteristics. The book opens with a genre-defining introduction to the novella-in-flash by editors Abigail Beckel and Kathleen Rooney, which also offers historical and contemporary context.Although the family struggles presented in these five novellas-in-flash are as old as time, the authors use the form to make them new and vital, each one presenting a self-contained galaxy of characters, while expanding—like the universe itself—into vaster realms of experience.“The five novellas-in-flash in MY VERY END OF THE UNIVERSE are excellent type specimens of the genre, and the accompanying craft essays help give this chimeric form a theory and a practice. Writers interested in story structure owe it to themselves to add this book to their office bookshelves, but it's adventurous readers who will surely benefit the most, finding themselves thrilled by the surprising tales within.”—Matt Bell, author of In the House Upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods

    Now as she is troubled by recurring nightmares, her boyfriend decides to take her to a doctor for help. But this isn't your ordinary doctor...

    'Immensely Visual' and 'Highly Versatile' are by far the most frequently recurring descriptions of the author's bold style of writing given by early reviewers of 'Impromptu Scribe', his début short story collection.