Concept Sci-fi - Issue 02.pdf - Concept Sci-fi - allforjesus2001

September 2008 Issue #2

WWW.CONCEPTSCIFI.COM

INSIDE:

Short Stories...

- Daniel 7 by Lee Gimenez

- Daddy's World by Walter Jon Williams

and many more! Plus...

- An exclusive interview with Marianne De Pierres

- Writing Realistic Dialogue by Gary Reynolds

JULY 2008 ISSUE #1

WWW.CONCEPTSCIFI.COM

In This Issue

Editorial................................................................................................................................................................................3

Daniel 7................................................................................................................................................................................5

by Lee Gimenez

Area 51...............................................................................................................................................................................10

by Aurelio Rico Lopez III

Ready or Not.......................................................................................................................................................................11

by Andrew Males

An interview with Marianne De Pierres..............................................................................................................................13

by Gary Reynolds

Darkness to Darkness..........................................................................................................................................................16

by Ben O'Neill

88 Miles Per Hour...............................................................................................................................................................19

A regular column by Andrew Males

Creeping Justice..................................................................................................................................................................25

by Susan Murray

Writing Realistic Dialogue..................................................................................................................................................31

by Gary Reynolds

Attack From Behind............................................................................................................................................................35

by Michael Kechula

Daddy's World....................................................................................................................................................................37

by Walter Jon Williams

JULY 2008 ISSUE #1

WWW.CONCEPTSCIFI.COM

Editorial

Welcome to the second issue of the Concept Sci-fi E-zine. Since the first issue back in July, I've been working hard on

adding new content to the website and, of course, ready numerous e-zine submissions. I'm still moving steadily towards

my goal of a site that embraces science fiction while providing writing resources and advice and giving new writers the

opportunity to gain exposure for their work. Huraaah for me!

In this issue, I've decided to continue my 'theme' of breaking the 'no reprints' rule for established authors. This issue

includes a short, Nebula-winning story called 'Daddy's World' by Walter Jon Williams. Walter's book 'Voice of the

Whirlwind' was one of the first 'serious' sci-fi books that I read, so I'm honoured that he has agreed to let me reprint his

story.

And I'm also delighted to be able to include an interview with Marianne De Pierres conducted back in early August.

Marianne's Parrish Plessis novels are some of the best modern post-cyberpunk novels I've come across in recent times.

They're well worth a read if you haven't done so already.

Finally, I'd like to welcome Andrew Males to Concept Sci-fi. Following his publication of Fatal Vision in issue #1,

Andrew will be writing regularly for Concept Sci-fi in his column 88 Miles Per Hour .

As always if you have any suggestions or comments, please email feedback@conceptscifi.com . And if you'd like to

subscribe and get future issues directly to your in-box for free, then please visit http://www.conceptscifi.com/ezine.htm . I

hope that you enjoy reading issue #2.

Gary Reynolds.

Editor.

Artwork

Sam Shishekli at www.virtualgeneration.co.uk

Fiction

Lee Gimenez, Walter Jon Williams, Andrew Males, Susan Murray, Benjamin O' Neill, Michael Kechula

Non-fiction

Andrew Males, Gary Reynolds

Poetry

Aurelio Rico Lopez III

Special Thanks

Marianne De Pierres

JULY 2008 ISSUE #1

WWW.CONCEPTSCIFI.COM

Daniel 7

by Lee Gimenez

January, 2048

I pick up the Glock and take off the safety. The handgun feels cool to the touch. I aim and fire; the roar from the

blasts echoes in the range. Dr. Krupp reels in the paper target and inspects it. Three perfect shots to the heart.

He turns to me and smiles. “Daniel, you’re ready”

I grin back. “My mission can finally start.”

It all begins the next day.

The military jet flew at 60,000 feet, three miles above commercial flights. I look out the small window and see

only a dark blue sky.

My name is Daniel 7 and I was “born” a year ago. If you saw me on the street you’d have trouble picking me

out from the hundreds of other male androids walking around. We all look pretty much the same; it’s the

programming that makes me superior. I’m six foot tall, slender, mid thirties in age with human looking features.

Almost human. The eyes are never perfect.

“How does it feel to be on your first mission?” Dr. Krupp asks.

“Strange,” I say. “It’s what I’ve worked for all this time…yet…I’m not sure I’m ready.”

“You’re ready. I’ve programmed you perfectly.”

“But what about the problems with the series 6?”

He gives me a stern look. “Don’t worry. I fixed those problems. You series 7’s are the best droids money can

buy. And the Pentagon is paying top dollar.”

I fidget in my leather seat.

Dr. Krupp hands me a thick envelope. On the outside it simply says, Instructions “You’ll find everything you

need inside there. In Frankfurt you’ll meet your contact. If you run into any problems, they’ll provide local

support.” He paused and took off his glasses. “Once you step off this plane, you’ll no longer be Nelson

Robotics property. And you won’t be a Department of Defence employee. You’ll just be a reporter.”

“I understand,” I say. But I don’t really. Krupp has been the only father I have ever known, and odds are I

won’t see him again. I feel like hugging him right now but I know androids don’t have emotions.

***

The plane touches down at Frankfurt airport, then taxies to a remote area away from the terminal. I grab my

duffel and walk down the plane’s ramp. It’s snowing heavily.

A large black BMW pulls up and a door swings open. “Get in,” a voice says from inside.

I get in the car and throw the bag in the back seat.

A woman is at the wheel. “I’m Erika,” she says. “I’m with the BND, the German intelligence service.”

I see her eyes are a dull grey, with no iris. An android, like me.

“I’m Daniel 7.” I stare at her. She’s stunningly beautiful, with shoulder length black hair and an hourglass

figure. She’s wearing a blue, form fitting jumpsuit. One of the newer sex droids, I guess.

She stares back. “Daniel, if we’re gonna get along, let’s get one thing clear up front. I don’t do sex with

androids.”

I look out the wind shield. “What do you mean…”

“Look, I know what you’re thinking. I’m a sex droid, but I’m only programmed for human contact. And

anyway, the sex thing is to help my cover.”

I look at her again. “Sure, no problem. Dr. Krupp told me you people would be the local support.”

She frowns. “You Americans kill me. You fly in here and think we’re your servants.”

“No, no,” I say. “I didn’t mean to insult you…”

“I’m not losing any sleep over it,” she says, laughing. As if droids needed sleep.

I see she’s just playing with me and I start to relax. Maybe this mission won’t be so bad after all. “Listen, I just

have a job to do. I appreciate your help.”

“I bet you do,” she says, and winks at me.

***

We take the autobahn south toward Stuttgart, then east to Munich. The snow continues to fall, piling into deep

mounds by the highway. At days’ end we reach the Austrian border. The border police scan her ID chip and

then mine; they wave us through. Erika drives another two hours, and we reach the outskirts of Vienna. We stop

at a small inn several miles from the autobahn.

“You’ll be staying here,” she says, pointing to the hotel. “We’ve left an Audi parked in the lot. Here’s the key.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

She smiles. “No. This isn’t our mission. I’m just here in case you run into problems.” She hands me a phone the

size of a quarter. “If you need help, call me on this.”

I put the phone in my pocket and grab my duffel. “It was good meeting you, Erika.”

“You’re awfully polite for an android reporter,” she says.

She drives away and I wonder what the hell I’m doing here.

***

I check into the hotel and lay down on the soft mattress. I don’t need sleep, but I power down my electronics to

Rest mode. I close my eyes and think about Erika.

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