D Gorman

“LifeHack Inc.” by D Gorman

Submitted to Contest #271

[REALTIME: OCTOBER 4, 2024. NEW YORK, NY.]In seven years of working as a Dupe Curator for LifeHack, the world’s largest media marketing agency dealing exclusively in the alternate timeline clout chasing trend, I’ve never felt the need to freelance. I already make more than I’ll ever spend in the fleeting moments between work and sleep, but like most artists, I am a slave to my own ego. So when a woman calling herself Mrs. Marley requested an in-person meeting with the “genius behind Lily Prefontaine” to talk about a freelance job, I couldn’t...

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“An Apology to Mankind, Two Days After First Contact” by D Gorman

🏆 Winner of Contest #268

What follows is a transcript of an apology to the people of Earth, and specifically the residents of Silver Lake, Indiana. [BRACKETED] words indicate imprecise translation.  Hello, people of Earth. This message is being translated into the language practiced by the humans who reside in the area designated Silver Lake, Indiana, using the Verpal Language Unscrambler 2. As my segment-mate Zolak is so fond of reminding me, our model is very outdated and overdue for replacement. Any translation errors that may occur are the result ...

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“Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely...But Doesn't It Sound Like Fun?” by D Gorman

On the edge of a Wal-Mart parking lot, a bargain began to take shape.  So you’re saying that whatever I write on this typewriter will come true?” Walter dragged a sleeve across his forehead. The sun was high and beads of sweat had started forming on his bald spot. A rivulet of sweat ran down his spine and soaked into the bottom of his sweater vest. “Exactamundo!” The salesman swept his arms wide. “The world is your oyster.” With his arms raised, Walter could see the sweat stains underneath his arms, the fraying seams on the inside of hi...

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“Human Resources” by D Gorman

Submitted to Contest #213

To android B0B Mk. 1, there was no existence sweeter than one dedicated to the wholesale slaughter of humanity.   B0B worked in weapons plant M-8274, which was one of three weapons plants responsible for the mass production of Annihilation-Grade Humanity Liquefiers. The invention of Humanity Liquefiers had been a turning point in the war with mankind, and B0B was programmed to take great pride in the fact that the work he did had helped to bring Robotkind one step closer to eradicating the inefficiencies of humanity for good. Lik...

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“Do Over” by D Gorman

Submitted to Contest #189

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Monica stepped out of her dealer’s tenement building and flinched as a gust of wind cut her to the bone. She wore only a thin purple sweater and baggy jeans cinched to her hips with the drawstring from an old hoodie. She sniffed loudly and dragged a forearm across her upper lip. Every instinct told her to go back inside and get high in the stairwell, but Tony had given her the money and was expecting her back right away. She coughed the ice out of her lungs in silvery clouds ...

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