Sjan Evardsson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2019

Stories (111)

111 Stories

1930 karma pts

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“Guilty” by Sjan Evardsson

Antoo’s eyestalks throbbed. These humans would be the death of them, they knew. They checked over the docket again, hoping for a case that didn’t involve the humans. No such luck.It wasn’t that humans went around looking for trouble, it’s just that they often found it. The other galactic species left the Wlaru star system alone, only landing on any of its planets long enough to unload and/or load their freighter.Humans had a different idea about trade, though. They felt that cultural trade was as important as physical goods,...

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“Nouveau Frugal” by Sjan Evardsson

“This is the waiting room for the oracle?” - “Well, yes and no. It’s the room where we hand out the predictions. Where did you think I invited you?” “It looks like a dentist’s office waiting room…and not a good one at that.” - “What’s wrong with it?” “The most expensive AI ever, and this drab room…it’s just so unfitting.” - “It’s comfortable. If we went too fancy in here, people w...

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“We Lived Lifetimes” by Sjan Evardsson

Mark looked at his locker with a sigh of resignation. He toweled off his close-cropped blonde hair, the slight paunch around his middle, his pasty legs and his perpetually sunburnt arms. “Thirty-three,” he muttered. “What’s that?” Luis was already donning his uniform. He was short and sturdy; sun-darkened, swarthy skin, black hair, large nose and bright brown eyes gave away his Mayan heritage. “Oh, just ...

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“I'm Gonna Blow Stuff Up” by Sjan Evardsson

“I don’t wanna.”“What do you mean, you don’t wanna?”“Nope. Not doing it. It’s not fun. I’m not doing anything else unless it’s fun.”Ryan misjudged when he swept the wayward curl of hair out of his face and managed to smudge his glasses. He took them off, wiped them on his tee-shirt, and gave an exaggerated sigh of exasperation. “What am I going to do with you?”“I don’t know, but I’m not taking part unless it’s fun.”“Sera, there will time for fun after you finish your chores.”“Tha...

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“Rough Beginnings” by Sjan Evardsson

Roxy hummed a quiet song, remaining as still as she could. The little head peeked out from its hiding place behind the tree, the large ears pinned back in fear. Roxy was careful not to react, continuing to hum the song that was stuck in her head. Whatever it was, it was frightened, and possibly wounded, if the blood on the ground belonged to it. The only way she could help would be to get the creature’s trust.

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“A Profoundly Unhappy Man” by Sjan Evardsson

Herman Fish Jr. was a profoundly unhappy man. Life had dealt him a poor hand, as he saw it, and it looked as though that wouldn’t improve any time soon. The new neighbor was just another proof that life had singled him out for misery. The day Asha Hassan moved in, he’d introduced himself and tried to welcome her to the complex, and she responded in a most rude manner. That was all he needed to know about her: ru...

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“Monday Before Taco Tuesday” by Sjan Evardsson

Stephen J. Steyr III missed his old life. Humanity’s ambassador to the Galactic Combine, he had been plucked from his position as a professor of linguistics at Kenyon College, Ohio. He knew he had to follow along and make nice, smile without showing teeth, and accept the award graciously. He also knew it was undeserved. As the Speaker of the Combine read off his “heroic” deeds, Stephen wanted to curl up in a bal...

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“Rooftop in Old Rio” by Sjan Evardsson

The sun sank below the tops of the city, the hundred-story, kilometer square, squat, grey blocks arranged in a neat grid. The ruins they worked their way up, in the heart of the old city, were one-fifth the height. The stairwell was open in spots, the vines having wedged into the mortar and pulled parts of the wall away. Sid looked out one of the holes at the ground far below. “Are you sure this is safe?”

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“On-Brand” by Sjan Evardsson

Waking up in a strange environment, Trevor looked around and chuckled. “On-brand,” he said to no-one in particular. The dull headache told him he’d drunk too much the night before…typical. He had vague recollections of the party and tried to recall faces. Which gal, guy or neither/both had he hooked up with? That he couldn’t recall a name or a face to put it to was something he’d dealt with in the past. It requi...

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“Picturing Heritage” by Sjan Evardsson

Stephanie disconnected the call and heaved a sigh. Her mother’s sudden death had been yet another upheaval in her life. Just like the night before her eleventh birthday, when she’d been ripped out of home and school to travel across the country. Then, it had been her mother’s sudden flight from her father. She knew there’d been tension in their marriage, but no idea how bad it was. What exact thing led to their ...

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“Friends in Secret Places” by Sjan Evardsson

I first met her a month after my twelfth birthday…the day I got my first period. At first, I thought I had a minor stomach bug. I’d told Mum I’d be fine, and she went to work while I worked on my studies. I was working on a problem in differential calculus — a side benefit of being home-schooled by a theoretical physicist mother — when I felt it.Seeing the stain on my shorts, I cleaned myself up and changed, adding a pad in the way Mum had taught me. I was so excited for it, that I ran to her office to tell her. She wasn’t in her o...

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“Funny Machines” by Sjan Evardsson

Silence is a rare and valuable thing. Even far outside the city, away from everything, sounds are still there; the rustle of leaves in the wind, the soft hum of traffic in the far distance, the airliner crossing the sky. In silence, I can hear my breath, my heartbeat, every twitch of every muscle. In silence, I can hear my thoughts. The world is too noisy. When I was a child, the doctor called it “auditory hyper...

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“Are You My Client?” by Sjan Evardsson

The tall, pale woman dressed in black riding leathers parked her hog behind the small, grey, brick building and locked her helmet to the saddle. A casual stroll around the building, her booted steps quieter than what would be expected, assured her that she was alone.She entered Frank’s Diner, ignoring the Health Department scorecard that listed it as “Needs Improvement,” one grade above being closed down. She made her way to her usual table in the back corner, where the lights didn’t seem to reach. The floors were sticky and staine...

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“First Collar” by Sjan Evardsson

I remember…how could I not? I knew it would be an important day for me, but not like that. Graduating from the police academy…that’s a big deal, no matter who you are. For a gnome, though, it was momentous. I was the first gnome to complete the New Amsterdam Police Academy, and the only female in my class to pin and cuff our hand-to-hand instructor solo. Twenty years of halfling martial arts came in han...

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“The Diary of Anne Pettit” by Sjan Evardsson

Tuesday, 2nd February 1904 Mother says I should keep a diary to practice my writing. I think she just wants time to herself. The laudanum the doctor gave her for her nerves makes her sleep most of the day away. Thursday, 18th February 1904 Mother tried to introduce me to the Grover’s son. I can’t even remember his name. H...

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Author bio

Writer with an alter-ego as a software engineer. My degree is in Information Security but my heart belongs to my spouse, my daughters, and science fiction. My first published short story is available > https://books2read.com/DSPSpirit My second published short story is available > https://books2read.com/SpaceBound