A. L. Kaplan

Tag: Science Fiction

  • Young Adventurers: Heroes, Explorers & Swashbucklers Available on Amazon

    Young Adventurers

    WELCOME TO A WORLD OF ADVENTURE Enter here for cool stories of action, adventure and intrigue, featuring heroes and heroines who prove you don’t have to be a grownup to save the day. Inside you’ll find: A teenage spy trapped on a train with men who want to kill her. A young man earning his pay hunting dragons in a hot air balloon. A girl who talks to wolves in a frightening dystopian future. And Young Jack solves a mystery years before he grows up to be F. Paul Wilson’s Repairman Jack. PLUS 14 more thrilling tales set in the past, the present, the future, and in worlds of fantasy, written by Jeffrey Westhoff, Jeff Ayers, Kevin Lauderdale, Victoria Pitts Caine, Kevin Singer, C.A. Verstraete, David Perlmutter, M.M. rumberg, A. L. Kaplan, Deborah Walker, Anne E. Johnson, Chantal Boudreau, David Turnbull, Milo James Fowler, Jack Mulcahy, Nathan Hystad, and H.L. Pauff.

    Order now on Amazon

    Don’t forget to check out the Facebook page for contest information.

  • ALIEN PAINTBRUSH

    “Check out the weird goop covering all the trees,” said Jimmy. “It looks like Starburst vomit.”

    “You’re disgusting,” said Rachel. “It wasn’t here yesterday.”

    Jimmy laughed. “Maybe your imaginary space aliens left it last night.”

    “The UFO was real.”

    “Sure it was.”

    “That’s enough,” said Professor Goodwin. He didn’t have the patience for their bickering.

    Every shadow in the refuge made his skin prickle, like they were being watched. This place normally teamed with wildlife, but they hadn’t seen a single bird all morning. The rest of the students clustered together as silent as the woods. Only Jimmy and Rachel seemed unaffected.

    He studied the vibrant yellow and orange growth coating the tree. “Let me collect a sample then we’ll go back to the classroom.”

    “I got it,” said Jimmy, as he yanked a handful of the stuff. A second later he collapsed.

    “That hurt,” said a strange warbling voice. “How’d you like your skin pulled off?”

    Rachel screamed and pointed at two eyes on what the professor had thought was a tree.

    “What…who…?” Professor Goodwin couldn’t seem to put two words together.

    The tree like creature poked at Jimmy’s prone form. “Your boy tried to mutilate me.”

    “Tr…tree.”

    “Yes, I’m a plant. You humans are so animal centric. The name is Michelangelo Bernini Trillian.”

    The Professor pointed a shaking finger at Jimmy. “Dead?”

    “I thought you creatures were supposed to be intelligent. He’s breathing. My natural bio-toxin just knocked him out. Now get out of my sculpture.”

  • FUTURE SHOCK

    “Congratulations, Mr. Baker. You’re officially cancer free. Welcome to the year 3015.”

    I grabbed the doctor’s hand and pumped it up and down. Not bad for a recently thawed popsicle. My billion dollar investment to cheat death paid off. Now I’m healthy and far from my nagging ex-wife.

    “Thanks doc. Check me out of here. I’m due for a double bacon cheeseburger and a walk on the beach.”

    “I’m sorry, Mr. Baker, but outside toxicity levels are inhospitable and the ingesting of animal products was outlawed years ago.”

    “Aw, heck. Sounds like my ex’s heaven.”

    “There’s also the matter of your bill,” said the doctor. “You’re going to have to work off the remainder as an indentured servant.”

    “What?”

    “Don’t be alarmed. Your basic needs will be met.”

    “So I’m supposed to be some guy’s slave?”

    “Only for fifty to sixty years.”

    “That’s absurd. I’ll be dead by then.”

    “Sorry, but you’re the property of New Life Incorporated until paid in full. The Long-Life serum will keep you young for many centuries. You should feel honored that the president herself requested you as her servant.”

    “Well I won’t stand for it. I’m no one’s slave.”

    The familiar clicking of high heels made the hair on my neck stand up. I spun around and stared at my ex-wife. She looked as young as the day I left.  My heart pounded as she examined me through narrowed eyes. This was impossible.

    “Well according to the law you belong to me.”

  • SHOWDOWN AT SMITH ROCK

    Sweat dripped down my back as I studied Smith Rock canyon. I’d tracked Blackjack McDougal all day. The trail had been just a little too easy to follow for it not to be a trap, one especially designed for me. Blackjack was a cheating, lying SOB, but not stupid. He had to know I would come after him. Two weeks as sheriff and the town already questioned my right to the job. After all, it was my ex that robbed the bank and blew up the cavalry commander.

    “What do you think, Tin?” I asked my four-legged partner. “Do we wait for X-troop cavalry or take him ourselves?”

    Tin’s tail flopped, creating clouds of parched dirt. His whimper echoed my thoughts. There was no way we could do this alone. My shoulders drooped and I turned away, almost stepping on a rattler. Tin growled and we retreated to a safe distance.

    “I got an idea, Tin.”

    It didn’t take long to make the necessary preparations. The sound of hundreds of rattlesnakes echoed around the canyon followed by Blackjack’s screams. Swaying brush marked Blackjack’s trail as he charged out of the trees and smacked into a wooden fence overgrown with weeds. A full flip landed him at my feet. I grinned and pointed my laser riffle at his chest.

    “Problems, Blackjack?”

    “Rattlers, hundreds!” Blackjack’s eyes were stretched wider than I thought possible. “For old time’s sake, save me!”

    The rattling reached a defining pitch as Tin leaped over the fence and stood over Blackjack, steel teeth bared. Blackjack’s face was whiter than a daisy. I struggled not to laugh.

    “Nah, that’s just Tin, my new electronic deputy dog. I reprogramed his bark synthesizer. Always said your rattlesnake phobia would be your downfall. Just be glad I found you instead of those X-troop cavalry robots.”

  • “SUPPOSE” Is Now Available In Print

    “SUPPOSE” Is Now Available In Print

    Suppose

    For those eager readers who have been asking, “Suppose” is finally available in print: A collection of over sixty riveting tales, with new and expanded stories.

    Suppose: Drabbles, Flash Fiction, and Short Stories has undergone a complete rewrite, with new and expanded stories: over sixty tales of humor, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and life experiences so unbelievable that they have been disguised as fiction.

    Suppose you saw something you couldn’t explain. And then suppose it turned out to be something far stranger, or funnier, or more horrifying than you ever expected. That element of surprise, and a different way of looking at things, is what this anthology is all about. Most of the short stories take less than fifteen minutes to read, and the ultra-short drabbles take less than thirty seconds.

    Kathy Steinemann, Amber Hayward, A. L. Kaplan, and Donna Milward share their tales and fantasies in this book of drabbles, flash fiction, and short stories.

    Why would the government force an artist to paint portraits of despots or drug lords? Why would healthy people die for no obvious reason? Do you suppose that wishes could ever be dangerous? What’s a BioInterFace Fluxxatron? Do aliens watch reality shows? Why would someone pay double the usual rate to move a heavy trunk? Why is the mud from Sludge Flats so valuable?

    Discover the answers to these questions in this eclectic collection.

    For a limited time, readers can receive a discount on the print edition at CreateSpace, the company that produces books for Amazon. The reduced price of $9.99 USD is further reduced by $2.00 with the discount code below:

    DISCOUNT CODE: FPHUKVQB

    https://www.createspace.com/5572855

    And here are the other formats currently available.

    Digital Editions:

    Amazon.com – Amazon.ca – Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.de – iTunes – Barnes & Noble – Smashwords

    Paperback Editions:

    Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.de – Createspace

  • SHORE 2: HOSPITABLE SHORE

    “Tom, please get our guest another drink while I fix supper.”

    “By all means, Catherine.”

    The prim and proper manner of my hosts still struck me as odd. They sounded like an English couple, yet looked… well, they looked like huge cats. I was fair pickings when they found me washed up on their doorstep, but instead of being supper, they invited me to the meal.

    “Here you go,” said Tom. His long tawny tail swished back and forth. “I’ve added a restorative. Wouldn’t do for you to get sick after Catherine prepared such a lovely meal.”

    I took the cup, thanked him, and turned away. Tom’s luminescent gold eyes made me shiver. They’d been nothing but kind and gentle, but it was hard to ignore long sharp fangs. Not to mention, the retractable claw Catherine used to gut tonight’s dinner. The pan seared fish smelled magnificent, but I couldn’t help but wonder what was on tomorrow’s menu.

    I pushed that thought away. It wouldn’t be good form to turn into a bowl of quivering Jell-O.  “Where are you folks from?”

    Catherine’s golden bronze fur rippled as she cooked, making her dark spots move around. “We originally came from planet Mau, although Tom and I grew up just outside of London. Our ancestors have studied your species for several thousand years.”

    I put the cup of juice on the table before it spilled. My mind struggled to wrap itself around aliens and sentient cats. “A tiny, pacific island is a long way from London.”

    “This isn’t an island, dear,” said Catherine. “It’s our spacecraft. London got too dangerous with all the cell phones and cameras. That’s why we don’t go outside until after dark. Humans have come a long way, but you are still way too unpredictable and violent.”

    Sad to say, but she was right. And I was nothing but stray dog, a wild animal.

  • Balticon

    This Memorial Day weekend is Balticon, Maryland’s premier Science Fiction/Fantasy Convention. It’s loads of fun with activities that range from writing workshops/panels, readings, science programs, anime, games, costumes, and so much more. It runs from Friday through Monday. I’ll be doing a costume panel this year. My friends, daughter and husband are doing their first panels as well.

    If you are in the area, come check it out. For more information on the convention go to Balticon and check the list of my friend’s panels at http://marylanddreamweavers.wordpress.com/ 

    Hope you see you there.