Ethereal Worlds: Ethereal Worlds Anthologies, #2
By R. L. Copple
()
About this ebook
Looking for a vacation? How about a trip to Alpha Centauri with Santa? Or the Garden of Eden with a wizard? Or maybe a trick-or-treat outing with an orc? Or why not all of them and so many more in Ethereal Worlds, Volume 2?
R. L. Copple’s short stories and flash fictions will allow you to visit the places you could only dream about, explore the mind-worlds of interesting characters like an executive with a fairy secretary or a superhero. Nineteen adventures await your visit: some are light, some are humorous, others are dark—all are a fun read.
Pick up a copy to enjoy your own vacation trip for pennies on the dollar!
R. L. Copple
As a young teen, R. L. Copple played in his own make-believe world, writing the stories and drawing the art for his own comics while experiencing the worlds of other authors like Tolkien, Lewis, Asimov, and Lester Del Ray. After years of writing devotionally, he returned to the passion of his youth in order to combine his created worlds and faith into the reality of the printed page. Since then, his imagination has given birth to The Reality Chronicles trilogy from Splashdown Books, and The Virtual Chronicles, Ethereal Worlds Anthology, and How to Make an Ebook: Using Free Software from Ethereal Press, along with numerous short stories in various magazines. In his Texas Hill Country residence, he continues to create and give wings to new realities so that others might enjoy and be inspired by them.
Read more from R. L. Copple
How to Make an Ebook: Using Free Software Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRebellion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpaced Out Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShip to Ship Rumors Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEthereal Words Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVirtual Hero Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Peasant's Rule Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClever Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDragon Stew Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJustice in the Balance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Ethereal Worlds
Titles in the series (1)
Ethereal Worlds: Ethereal Worlds Anthologies, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2016) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWizard Dream Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Curse of the Arcadian Stone: Nameless Fay (Vol. 3 Chosen Path) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHigh School Writing Project 2.0 Anthology Short Story Collection: High School Writing Project 2.0, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Order of Things: An Indian Legend Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFallen: Smoke & Magic, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTales of Power Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Deadly Pursuit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Garden of Death Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wastes (Underdog Book #2): LitRPG Series Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In A World of Fantasy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThree Pounds of Flax Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew New Testament Gospel of Mark Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Musings of the Milliner: The Magical Misadventures of Mr Milliner, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Journal 1: 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIsa Rising Darkness in Andalusia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAngels and Indians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnd Hashticharot Smiled: Conversations On Radical Liberty Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHand of God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNot That Fairytale Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBestsellerBound Short Story Anthology Volume 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTales From a Twisted Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHidden: The Mars Diaries, #2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sufi Path of Annihilation: In the Tradition of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi and Hasan Lutfi Shushud Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Shadows of the past and other stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVampire: Gods and Goddesses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond the Fire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Seven Day Dragon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Shadow in the Moonlight: A Thirteenth Hour Prequel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Forest Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Fantasy For You
The Lord Of The Rings: One Volume Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Empire of the Vampire Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sarah J. Maas: Series Reading Order - with Summaries & Checklist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warrior of the Light: A Manual Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tress of the Emerald Sea: Secret Projects, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This Is How You Lose the Time War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fellowship Of The Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Priory of the Orange Tree Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Phantom Tollbooth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Malice: Award-winning epic fantasy inspired by the Iron Age Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nettle & Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mistborn: Secret History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hell House: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piranesi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Eyes of the Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wizard's First Rule Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Daughter of the Forest: Book One of the Sevenwaters Trilogy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Pirate Lord: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Desert: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Talisman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Perelandra: (Space Trilogy, Book Two) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Ethereal Worlds
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Ethereal Worlds - R. L. Copple
Ethereal Worlds
Volume 2
An anthology of science fiction and fantasy with a touch of mainstream fiction.
by R. L. Copple
––––––––
Published by Ethereal Press
Marble Falls, TX
http://www.etherealpress.com
Copyright 2016, R. L. Copple. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced—mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying—without written permission from the author.
Cover photo courtesy of NASA.
All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Ethereal Worlds
Table of Contents
Part 1: Fantasy
The Pain of Paradise
Love is a Many Crazied Thing
The Three Little Pigs, or How to Invest Wisely
Mayhem Negotiations
The Battles of Life
A Shadow in the Dark
Broken Loneliness
Hallow Fright
Death by Injection
What Does the Tree Say?
Santa Claus Is Leaving Our Planet
Part 2: Science Fiction
The Balloon Ark
The Eternal Clock
The Hole
Orion’s Integration
The Fountain of Christmas Cheer
Nobody's in Town
Part 3: Mainstream Fiction
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Gas
The Fullness of the Void
The Fountain of Christmas Cheer
Appendix
Santa Claus Is Leaving Our Planet
Allusion Key
Part 1: Fantasy
The Pain of Paradise
Author Note: Josh is an important secondary character from my three-volume series: The Reality Chronicles. This and the following story are two spin-off short stories featuring Josh as the main character. These two stories were written in April of 2013.
_____
Josh breathed heavily as he lugged an urn of water into the clearing. Milnore's black house lay in the center of it, surrounded by axes, grass cutters, a small plow, and a wooden storage shed toward the back. Green, knee-high grass surrounded the small house.
Milnore exited the house. Josh, I'm going to town for supplies. Finish filling the water urns and then work on your transport spell.
Josh groaned. Master, I've practiced that spell hundreds of times. Can't we do something else?
Milnore stopped his progress toward the trail and turned toward Josh. Basics first, my apprentice. You have to know it so well that you can do it without thinking.
Josh sighed. He mumbled the words of the transport spell. His perspective shifted from the edge of the clearing to the porch of the house. How's that, Master? Now can we move on?
Milnore stroked his beard. Not bad. But there was a slight delay in recalling the words. Keep working on it.
The wizard turned to continue his journey to town.
Josh shook his head as he let out a breath. This may be the only spell I ever learn.
Then learn it well,
returned the wizard's voice from the forest.
Josh opened the door and entered. He wound around the couch perpendicular to the fireplace, and set the urn of water next to its companions by the kitchen basin. He turned to get a drink of water before practicing his spell when he noticed a book lying on the kitchen table.
He stepped toward it and examined the open page. The title at the top said, Revealing Aura Spell.
Josh raised his eyebrows. This is Milnore's spell book!
The wizard always kept it hidden. He must have been using it and forgot to put it away before leaving.
Josh flipped the page. Mental Communication Spell
labeled the page. Cool. I could use that with Sisko at some point.
He grabbed some paper and ink, then copied it down, and stuffed it in his vest pocket.
He flipped through a few more pages until he read, Visit Parallel Worlds Spell.
Josh widened his eyes. Really? There are parallel worlds we can visit?
He studied the words.
Then he read, Warning, remember the following words to return from the spot you entered: Reverse the last spell I uttered. Which means, you can't cast any spells in between.
Josh smiled. I can do this. I'll just go there and come back. What could go wrong?
He read over the spell, memorizing the words.
Once he thought he had it down well enough, he stepped back and straightened. He whispered, Worlds of old and times abound, pick one for visiting today, we pray.
The furniture of Milnore's house vanished. Trees and dense foliage replaced them. Birds tweeted happy songs as wind grazed the grass and leaves of the trees.
Josh gazed at the wonder. Every tree, every branch, every leaf, shown as if it had a light of its own. Indeed, he could see no sun in the sky, but light existed around everything.
Where am I?
he wondered aloud.
Paradise,
a hissing voice said behind him.
Josh turned to see a long lizard-like creature wrapped around the branch of a tree. Its tiny claws held tightly to stems. Its face flared when it talked.
The creature moved closer. Would you like to partake of my tree? It is delicious and will make you the most powerful wizard ever.
Josh stared at the fruit of the tree. Really?
It did look enticing. It begged to be eaten. How can it do that?
By making you like God, the most powerful wizard of all.
The most powerful? That was tempting. Josh shrugged. It was just a piece of fruit. Worst that could happen, he'd eat some food. Best, he'd become the most powerful wizard ever.
He reached out to pick some of the luscious fruit.
I wouldn't do that, if I were you,
a new voice rang out.
Josh jerked his head around to see a man clothed in bright light walk toward him. Josh had to squint. Who are you?
I am man. Don't eat of that tree. It is commanded by my creator to not eat of it.
Josh reached and grabbed one of the fruits. What's the harm? It's just fruit, isn't it? Why can't we eat of it?
The radiant man waved a hand at Josh. Because, the creator said the day we eat of it, we shall surely die.
The lizard hissed. Surely you shall not die.
Josh realized not only where he was, but what time. I don't think that is a good idea.
He withdrew his hand from the fruit.
The lizard flicked its tongue and slid out of the tree, and fell on Josh, wrapping himself around Josh. Take me to your world.
I think you're already there.
Josh mumbled the words of the transport spell. His perspective shifted further away from the tree. The long lizard fell to the ground, then climbed back onto the tree.
Josh gasped. I've done another spell! I can't get back.
The man lifted his hands. We're in paradise. Why the desire to go back?
He did have a point. And yet... Sorry. I don't belong here. I need to get back to my world and time.
Josh rubbed his forehead. Maybe if I do it twice?
He opened his mouth and stopped. Wait a minute. If I do that twice, it will only undo the undo spell.
Josh stomped his foot on the ground. I'm trapped here!
The man shrugged. Not a bad place to be trapped.
But you don't understand. Look at me? Do I look like part of this world?
The bright human rubbed his chin. You are clothed with something other than light. Why is that? We're you not created?
Josh smiled. Uh, long story.
He snapped his fingers. At least I can stop it. I can change history.
The man cocked his head to the side. Change history? What is history?
Josh pointed at him. Right, you don't have much of it yet.
A rolling thunder shook the ground. Trees swayed as a rushing wind swept over the area. In the midst of the noise, Josh could hear a resounding voice. Josh, where are you?
A brilliant light grew as the being approached. Josh cringed at the sound of His voice and shielded his eyes. Unbearable pain throbbed through him, so he ran to a fig tree and ducked into its leaves. He gripped the trunk, and shut his eyes, praying he wouldn't die.
Josh, what have you done? Why are you here?
Josh tried to steady his shaking body, to no avail. I'm sorry, Lord. I can't get back.
Use 'next to the last.'
Josh almost opened his eyes, but slammed them shut. It was all he could do to not focus on the pain searing his body. He'd have serious burns if he survived this. I don't understand, Lord.
He hated asking the question, for he couldn't bear the thunderous voice speaking to him.
In your spell, Josh. Next to last.
Oh!
Josh winced from the sound of His voice. Good idea, Lord.
The pain vanished. Josh cracked his eyes open. The blazing light no longer filled the area. He relaxed his grip on the tree, though his arms and legs still shook from the experience.
The shining man spread the fig leaves apart and stuck his head in. Of course it's a good idea. He is God, after all.
Josh stood on shaking legs and pushed his way into the clearing. I thought I was going to die.
He examined his arms. Why, I don't even have as much as a sunburn.
The man's forehead wrinkled. Have you already eaten from the tree before?
Who? Me?
Josh stretched his fingers and arms, attempting to get the shakes out. Not really. Well, in a manner of speaking, you could say I did, through...
Josh froze for a second. It's a really long, long story. So long, it would take at least 66 books to tell it all.
The man crossed his arms. You are a strange fellow. What is a book?
Josh bowed. You'll find out.
Josh shook his hand. Thanks for your help. I'll take my leave now.
Josh straightened. Reverse the next-to-the-last spell I uttered.
The forest vanished and Milnore's kitchen reappeared before him. Josh let out a long