Saving Diego

By Matthew Kressel

After a falling out, two estranged friends who meet again on the distant plant of Gilder Nefan, a place where the religious folk smoke a psychotropic drug called "sweet jisthmus" to reach transcendent states of consciousness in order to communicate with god-like aliens. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Kressel
• Release date: Aug 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393762980

Book preview

Saving Diego

By Matthew Kressel

Originally published in Interzone magazine #221 (U.K.), March 2009

© 2009, 2020 Matthew Kressel

Reproduction without permission is prohibited

Cover art Gilder Nefan Sunset by Matthew Kressel

Cover design by Kris Dikeman

For more fiction by Matthew Kressel visit:

http://www.matthewkressel.net

Accolades

Honorable Mention in Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 2. Ed. Ellen Datlow.

Honorable Mention in Year’s Best Science Fiction, 27th Annual Collection, Ed. Gardner Dozois.

5th in the Annual 2009 Interzone Readers’ Poll

Reviews

"My top three stories [from the issue] are ‘Bone Island’ (225), ‘Saving Diego’ (221), and ‘Lady of the White-Spired City’ (222)…The most memorable issue was the outstanding 221." — Bob Lawson, Interzone Readers Poll

Told with cyberpunkish verve, ‘Saving Diego’ takes full advantage of its intergalactic setting to interlay themes of the vast and the unknowable alongside human-scaled concerns of addiction, friendship, and betrayal. — Tangent Online

‘Saving Diego’ by Matthew Kressel is the second of the top-tier stories in the magazine...A highly recommended story. — Garbled Signals

Another very good issue [#221], the standout being ‘Saving Diego’ for me as well. — Aliette de Bodard

Saving Diego’ by Matthew Kressel ..it’s implications are fascinating. — Colin Harvey, SciFiFantasyFiction @ Suite 101

"In Matthew Kressel’s ‘Saving Diego’ Kressel initially keeps the SF elements deceptively light. Add on a satisfying ending to complete the narrative and the result is a stunning slice of science fiction. Highly recommended." — The Barking Dog

SAVING DIEGO

by Matthew Kressel

I had traveled twelve thousand, seven hundred and sixty light-years to see my friend, but the hardest part of the trip was the last seventy one flights of stairs. Goddamn the Nefanesh and their ass-backwards ways! I struggled to catch my breath as I moved down a dim hallway covered with dust. Oil lamps flickered from high places, and the doors sported knobs and hinges, like some virt park for kiddies, a rehash of a dead era. But, no, the Nefanesh preferred their realtime antique, the fucks. Why Diego had come all the way out here, to this world at the edge of the galaxy where the planet-munching numens roam, I could only guess. I hadn’t seen my friend in six years.

At the end of the hallway a door leaned open, and I pushed it aside. An emaciated man sat cross-legged the corner