The Fifth Di... December 2013

By J Alan Erwine

The Fifth Di... features some of the best science fiction and fantasy fiction and poetry. In this issue: H. David Blalock, Myke Edwards, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Francis W. Alexander, John Grey, and Rebecca Melanie Sunquist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: nomadicdelirium
• Release date: Nov 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311760760

J Alan Erwine

J Erwine was born Oct. 15, 1969 in Akron, Ohio. Early in his life he was exposed to science, and specifically astronomy. From there on, J's passion turned to science fiction, a passion that's never died. Due to family issues, J eventually found himself in Denver, Colorado, where he still lives (well, right outside now.) From the time he could put subject and predicate together on paper, J has been writing stories. None of those early stories exist anymore (thankfully), but that passion for writing has never waned. After several years of rejection, the story Trek for Life was eventually sold to ProMart Writing Lab editor James Baker. It wasn't Asimov's, but it was a start. Since that time J has sold more than forty short stories to various small press publishers. In addition ProMart also published a short story collection of J's entitled Lowering One's Self Before Fate, and other stories, which is still available. ProMart also published a novel from J entitled The Opium of the People, which sold a few copies before going out of print. The relevance of the novel after the events of September 11th caused J to self-publish the novel, as he felt the story had a lot to say in the new reality we now find ourselves living in. Now, this same book has been re-released by Nomadic Delirium Press. Eventually J would become an editor with ProMart. Then, after the untimely death of ProMart editor James Baker, J would move on to ProMart's successor Sam's Dot Publishing. J also spends most of his time working as a freelance writer and editor. J's novel was voted a top ten finisher in the 2003 annual Preditors & Editors contest, and his short story The Galton Principle won a ProMart contest for best story over 5,000 words. In addition, a number of his stories have been voted "best of" in various issue of The Martian Wave and The Fifth DI… and have been included in Wondrous Web Worlds Vols. 2, 3, 4, and 6. In 2009, the Ephemeris Role Playing Game was released. J is the co-creator of this game, and has written numerous supplements for the game. J has now sold three novels and four short story collections, all of which are still available from various sources, including Smashwords. J currently lives with his amazing wife, three wonderful children, three cats, and a very quiet turtle.

Book preview

THE FIFTH DI…

December 2013

Edited by J Alan Erwine

Copyright 2013 by Nomadic Delirium Press

All stories and poems are copyrighted in the names of their respective authors

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage and retrieval system, without the written consent of the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passes in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, broadcast, etc.

Published by Nomadic Delirium Press at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Nomadic Delirium Press

Aurora, Colorado

Table of Contents

Fiction:

Manners Live by H. David Blalock

Quantum Stasis by Myke Edwards

A Better Place by David C. Kopaska-Merkel

Poetry:

The Watchers of Life by Francis W. Alexander

The Outer Reaches by John Grey

The Last Rub of the Lamp by Rebecca Melanie Sunquist

Manners Lives

by H. David Blalock

The human mind refuses to comprehend the illimitable depths of space even when one is staring directly into that infinite abyss.

Flight commander Anton Mika Mikalhov closed his eyes and shook his head, turning away from the observation port. When he re-opened them, the consoling gray of the ship's bulkhead soothed the deep shuddering that had begun in his mind.

"You never really get used to it, do