Oddly Concerning

By H. W. Taylor

Oddly Concerning is a book of sci-fi microfiction by H. W. Taylor, author of The Unique Miranda Trilogy, The Yangalese War duology, and the collections Progeny and Rupture. These forty stories will bring laughter, fear, and deep uncanniness to your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: H. W. Taylor
• Release date: Nov 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005771270

H. W. Taylor

H. W. Taylor was born after Star Wars, but watched Empire Strikes Back from his momma's lap. He's read sci-fi from Asimov to Zahn, teaches Languages, Astronomy, and Classic Literature. Sometimes refers to himself as a Medieval Futurist, though he isn't quite sure what he means by it yet.H. W. Taylor's work incorporates his love of classic scientifiction, metaphysical hankerings, and abiding love of adventure.Sign up for his newsletter The Enormous Window for freebies and updates: https://www.altarwise.com/newsletter

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ODDLY CONCERNING

40 Strange Microstories

by H. W. Taylor

Caveat Lector

(with affection)

CONTENTS

PART ONE

31 Strange Microstories

THE SCREAMING STARS AT THE EDGE OF DARK CLIFFS

LUCHADORES AT THE END OF THE WORLD

THE NEON LIGHTS OF THE AQUARIUM SMILE

FAERIE TOOTH FLOWER

DISPOSABLE FINGERS

BELL MOUNTAIN AND THE HIVE OF TOMORROW

POOR TASTE

GOOD LOOKING

THE ONE WITH EYES FOR EVERYTHING

THE HAUNTING OF THE REMAINS OF THE DAY

ANCIENT TUBERS

NEW HOMES AND POSTPARTUMS

INGREDIENTS ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR

A LIFE WORTH LIVING

THE TODDLER’S HOBGOBLINS

PROM NIGHT

WART OF WOOD ELF

UNDER PENALTY OF LAW THIS MIRROR IS NOT TO BE REMOVED

STRANGE BIRTH

BRAIN CTHULHU

NEITHER EARTH NOR SKY CONSENT TO FIREWORKS

BONE OF MY BONE

THE MORE YOU BURN THE LESS YOU FEEL

ALL THE LIGHT YOU CANNOT EAT

THE UNWANTED MOUTH

A GOD OF LESSER THINGS

HYDROTROPIC LEAVES

KILLING STARFISH

THE SOULS OF BLACK ANTS

THE GOBLET OF LANDS AND ANIMALS

ALL DELIGHTED CHILDREN RAISE THEIR HANDS

PART TWO

9 Postcard Stories

NOCTIS

DIRT END

WAX BONES

BLOOMETH

RIVEN

FROM LIMBO

NEW

ALGORITHMS

TRAJECTORY

THE END

AFTERWORD

More from H. W. Taylor

The Unique Miranda Trilogy

The Yangalese War

Progeny

Rupture

PART ONE

31 Strange Microstories

THE SCREAMING STARS AT THE EDGE OF DARK CLIFFS

The stars are disappearing, he said. I read about it in Science Magazine.

No they aren’t, she said. Some stars are disappearing. That’s different.

Some stars are disappearing then, he said.

Stars die, she said. We know this.

But so many are gone in the last ten years. he said.

She said, Maybe something is eating them.

What’s big enough to eat a hundred stars? he said.

A super black hole, she said. Or God.

Why would God eat stars? he said.

The sky above them became a gaping maw.

Maybe God eats things because we don’t appreciate them, she said. Maybe he is upset that he made these amazing, beautiful bombs or whatever and we don’t care, she said louder. Maybe God eats the things that we don’t love enough, she yelled.

The yawning of the night sky widened like a jaw unhinged.

LUCHADORES AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Binky waggled her fist in front of her face. She stomped her size six foot, in a baby blue Converse sneaker, onto the canvas of the wrestling ring. The floor rattled like the bones of a struck silo.

Tootsie wore a bright pink mask with