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Online Fictionby Alan Smale
In recent years I've been concentrating almost entirely on alternate
history, twisted history, secret history, and historical fantasy. The
first few stories featured here definitely fall into that category.
Fossil Fuels[ First published in "Realms of Fantasy", February 2009 issue ]
"Fossil Fuels" is a secret -- one might even say 'underground' --
history, set in the north of England between the two World
Wars. Buried(!) along the way are some of my own personal thoughts about
how we perceive the future, as well as how we treat the past. But having
said all that, it's basically an adventure story.
"Fossil Fuels" on the Web
Saint's-Paw[ First published in "Realms of Fantasy", October 2010 issue ] Here we're in somewhere like England, sometime near the twelfth century.
I note in passing that "Saint's-Paw" is still eligible for award
nominations.
"Saint's-Paw"
on the Web
A Trade in Serpents[ First published in "Realms of Fantasy", August 2007 issue ] "A Trade in Serpents" is set in eighteenth-century England, a little before the American Revolution. And that's all I'll say, except to note that the quotes attributed to Benjamin Franklin are all genuine.
"A Trade in Serpents" on the Web
Quartet, with Mermaids[ Online, at Abyss & Apex, Issue 25, First Quarter 2008 ] "Quartet, with Mermaids" is set in the present, though it was written a little further back in my own history of trying to think about traditional fantastical topics in a grounded, real-world way.
"Quartet, with Mermaids" on the Web
High Art[ Online, at Abyss & Apex, Issue 36, Fourth Quarter 2010 ] Here's a rarity for me: a story set in the future, and even in space. Although it's only just appeared I wrote it quite some time ago. I can't decide whether it feels more or less subversive now than when I wrote it. The Flower[ Online, at Scape, Issue #1, April 2011 ] Just to prove it wasn't a fluke, here's another story set in the future, and even on an other planet. So it still counts as SF even if the science is, like, exobotany. Bridges[ First published in "Dark Regions", May 2001 ] "Bridges" is the oldest piece here, in terms both of its protagonist and how long ago I wrote it. And yes, it's a vampire story, although more accurately it's a gentle meditation about two people who pass in the night while traveling down their own -- rather different -- roads. It's still one of my favorite shorter stories.
"Bridges" on the Web
And if you want more, I have more.
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