Timberland Writes Together by Timberland Regional Library

Author:Timberland Regional Library
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: short stories, science fiction, optimism, library, northwest
Publisher: Timberland Regional Library

Laura Koerber

Laura Koerber lives on Hartstene Island with her husband and dogs.

A retired teacher, she works part-time as a care provider and volunteers at Adopt A Pet, a dog rescue in Shelton, WA. Laura comes to creative writing late, having spent most of her adult life as a ceramic sculptor and painter. Her stories are derived from her experiences in dog rescue combined with her understanding of life in a region of entrenched rural poverty.

***

What On Fleem

Edward Marcus

1.

Why is it, wondered Plajnikka Xarc, that every damn science fiction story he had to read took place in space?

Well, not quite every one, he admitted to himself. There was the occasional post-apocalyptic screed. A few stories involving underground civilizations had crossed his desk. And once in a red moon someone would come up with something new about robots, and even set the story on good old planet Fleem for a change.

But all the other tales took place in space. Somehow most aspiring writers seemed to think that all they had to do was write a regular story, throw in some stars and a sleek metal spaceship, and — presto! — they were writing science fiction. For the love of Oof, Xarc thought, can’t people be even a little imaginative?

Xarc rubbed the spot on his left tentacle he had bruised in the company hairball game over the weekend. This felt good, not only because rubbing the spot relieved the pain, but because it brought back the memory of how he had gushed into third base on that close play. Xarc had never been much of an athlete, and he still reveled in the success of the play and the surprised appreciation of his teammates.

Xarc glanced at his watch. Two more hours, he realized grimly. Half a workday left. The time would go faster if something worthwhile would pop up, something just a little original and interesting from this stack of submissions. Where were this generation’s new voices? Who would fill the void left by the old masters? Carbfil Geez was gone; Plepnep Hy Fiznup was an old woman in a nursing home; and Sarb vun Habb, though still in his 130’s, had ruined his livers with too many methane cocktails over the years and was no longer able to write. Xarc’s front eyes still teared up at the thought of this terrible waste of talent.

Xarc oozed slowly around his office for a few minutes, just staring at the walls and trying to calm himself down. Yes, he was frustrated with how things were going, but he also had to consider himself fortunate. There were not all that many jobs available to recent Briggish majors. Many of his fellow graduates were still looking for work, two years out from obtaining their diplomas. The recent resurgence of interest in science fiction had helped provide Xarc with an opportunity. Xarc had married right out of school, and that, combined with his naturally strong desire to earn a living, had convinced him to put aside lofty and esoteric literary dreams, for a time, and apprentice as an editor for Bleak Vacuum Magazine.

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