Ten With a Flag

By Joseph Paul Haines

Originally published in Interzone Magazine, and reprinted in TEN WITH A FLAG, AND OTHER PLAYTHINGS, and John Joseph Adam's BRAVE NEW WORLDS:DYSTOPIAN STORIES.

In a starred review, Publishers Weekly had this to say about BRAVE NEW WORLDS: "Familiar classics by such luminaries as Shirley Jackson, Ursula K. Le Guin, and J.G. Ballard rub shoulders with new standouts in this dark anthology of 33 dystopian futures and alternate worlds. In Joseph Paul Haines’s “Ten with a Flag,” a government uses confusion to manipulate the governed. Sarah Langan’s “Independence Day” shows a tyrannical future U.S. through a teenager’s eyes. Matt Williamson’s “Sacrament” offers the torturer’s perspective on his “art.” Adam-Troy Castro’s “Of a Sweet Slow Dance in the Wake of Temporary Dogs” asks how much of our souls we would surrender for nine days of guaranteed happiness plus one of horror. Grinding inevitability runs through Vylar Kaftan’s interactive “Civilization.” Most of the stories are bleak, many are hopeless, and all serve as powerful warnings of what we may let ourselves become.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gryffynperch Books
• Release date: Mar 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458065049

Joseph Paul Haines

Joseph Paul Haines was born in Canton, Ohio, into a family of eight children. He grew up in Ohio, West Virginia, California, and too many other places to count. His stories have appeared in a variety of magazines, including Interzone, Aeon, Abyss & Apex and his story, "Ten With a Flag," is forthcoming in John Joseph Adam's dystopian anthology, "Brave New Worlds." His fiction has been recognized multiple times with honorable mentions in various Year's Best anthologies and, together with Samantha Henderson, he edited the speculative war anthology, "From the Trenches." He lives in Colorado with his wife, Catherine, and Buddy the dog where he finds himself at the karaoke bar all too often. You can find him online at www.josephpaulhaines.com.

Book preview

TEN WITH A FLAG

by

JOSEPH PAUL HAINES

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

GRYFFYNPERCH BOOKS AT SMASHWORDS

TEN WITH A FLAG

Copyright © 2005, 2010 by JOSEPH PAUL HAINES

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TEN WITH A FLAG

Johnnie didn't talk while he was driving. Normally it would drive me a little crazy, sitting there in traffic and not saying a word, but this time it didn't bother me. There was too much on my mind. Truth was, I hoped he wouldn't talk so that I could have some time to think. But when he pulled onto