David Mowry

“All These People” by David Mowry

Good God, I hate all these people. As I listen to the drones drone on, as drones are wont to do, I reflect on how much I despise each of them. Every single damn one of them. Okay, there’s only five, but still. None of them look like they want to be here any more than I do. And the expressions on their faces certainly indicate that their opinions of me and of each other are probably right about the same as mine. Still, it’s not like we have a choice. The five us make up what the media is calling the “War Council,” although we don’t have an of...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Byron's Hero” by David Mowry

Look at him up there. Smiling, waving, lapping up all the attention coming his way. The flash of the cameras, the screaming sycophants, the silver bulbs of microphones rising above the crowd like metallic weeds in an overgrown field, ones that’s surely as infertile as the minds of his followers. I’m sure he only sees all of this as his due. Apparently I’m the only person on the station that sees him for the bastard that he really is and the owner of -quite possibly- the galaxy’s most punchable face.I take another drink as...

0 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Devil On My Shoulder” by David Mowry

Submitted to Contest #95

I’ve been staring at the wrist transmitter on the table for about an hour now, hoping that a convenient solution to my current dilemma would manifest itself out of thin air. Or failing that, maybe I could just die from a hitherto unknown, but suspiciously convenient medical condition that only afflicted people in moments of crippling indecision. Given the general pattern of my life so far, I’m probably perfectly healthy at the worst possible time though. On the other hand, given that I’d spent most of the last hour discussing ...

16 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“And The Fool Shall Be Servant” by David Mowry

Submitted to Contest #82

“This is Fleet Captain Ralston. All ships report in.”I’m not a fan of technology. Let me rephrase that. I’m okay with technology in general, what with it currently being the only thing between me and the vacuum of space. However, I think that even a cursory glance through human history shows that, rather than solving our problems, it just lets us be humans faster and more efficiently than ever before. Sometimes that’s good, I suppose. Other times, not so much.Take for instance, my current situation. I’m the...

12 likes 4 comments 4

Read story

“All The Pretty Stars” by David Mowry

Submitted to Contest #80

I took another drink as I looked at the stars silhouetted against the night sky. There were so many of them tonight. Looking at them through the evening news on the screen above the bar, they looked almost pretty. If you didn’t know any better. Or if you did, but were drunk enough not to care. Or even if you did care, but were drunk enough to ignore that caring feeling.I didn’t remember all the chemistry I should have. I’d spent the last ten years teaching biology after all. I know that oxygen burns orange.&nbsp...

6 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Dawn Quixote” by David Mowry

Submitted to Contest #78

Contrary to popular belief, most of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales don’t actually begin with the line, “Once upon a time.”  There are a variety of openings, but the most common one is, “In the olden days, when it was still of use to wish for things…” At least, that’s what Dawn’s dad had told her.  Dawn then considered that, for a person in the future, right now would be considered “the olden days” and it might still be of use to wish for something. So, she wished for a dragon, as any respectable second grader would.  Her s...

7 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“Apocalyse Cow” by David Mowry

Submitted to Contest #76

“Why are we still out here Sarge? I’m tired of following this cow around.”“Do you want the world to end Private? ‘Cause this is how you make the world end! Now pick up that shovel!”“Yes Sarge. But I mean, do we really have to follow it around? Even if the stupid cow swallowed that bomb, why can’t we just wait until it comes out with the cow pies and pick it up then? We been out here all day.”“We can’t afford that kind of mistake you numbnuts! I thought I explained to you that this was the new, top-secret ion bomb! Powerful eno...

4 likes 0 comments 0

Read story