Frank, living in a condo above Earth, chokes on an ice cube and dies quite suddenly. Lillian, his wife, doesn't know what to do and contemplates sending him off toward Earth, hoping that he will burn up when he hits the atmosphere. Cond-Orbit, the controlling entity of the condo project, advises that his body must undergo an autopsy and that they will send a vehicle to pick him up within 24 hours.Not wanting to be stuck inside with a dead man, Lillian tethers him outside their cond...

What goes through the mind of someone who knows that their assignment means certain death? What face do they show to their peers and how does that compare to what they feel inside? This story was inspired by someone who lived through such an ordeal. This is a simple telling of the events that unfolded, illustrated magnificently by Masaaki Kimura.

Every child wants to believe that something is magical. Everyone hopes that their dreams will come true…, if only. Finding an odd rock at the end of a rainbow? What could be more magical than that? Unfortunately, if anything has value, someone else always wants it. Once again, Kyo Takahashi has brought my words to life with his remarkable watercolor illustrations.

Barely escaping with their lives from a time one hundred years prior, Sam, Kathryn, Paul and Melissa thought that the fire stone saga was behind them until Sam received a letter from someone named Sasi, a distant relative who lived in Lampung, Indonesia. It was an invitation to visit and included round-trip airfare. There was no mention of the purpose of the visit, but upon arriving, Sam learned that the fire stone was still very much in their lives.What does one do with something ...

In 1883, Oskar left with his uncle to get an education in the city, but was surprised to learn that he was part of a losing bet in a card game. For one year he was consigned to be a cabin boy for the Captain of Nerissa, a sailing ship headed for Teluk Betung. A storm sends the ship off course,three chimpanzees escape from their cages and Nerissa runs into an uncharted island.While repairs are being made, Bardolf, the owner of the animals, goes onto the island to search for the chim...

In 1964, at age fourteen, Calvin moves with his family to sunny San Diego, leaving behind two feet of snow back in Chicago. On his first trip to the ocean, he discovers what he believes to be a spent water flare and, bringing it home to see how it was put together, discovers that it is still loaded, a quick way to meet the neighbors. He makes friends with Jimbo and together they discover cars, alcohol and marijuana. On a rainy night, working alone in a donut shop, closed for the night, Cal...

Kuchan, a little cloud, is tired of raining and wants to try something new. But she is quickly reminded that, as a cloud, it is her duty to rain. Does that stop her? Would it stop you? Read on.

The manufacture of parts for orbiting condos is the main function inside Cond-Orbit's massive dome, located several miles east of L. A. But, two stories underground, a far more secretive project is taking place, Project Eclipse, the building and testing of a probe designed to explore an alternate reality. What can go wrong? Everything.When Jordan Blake puts Eclipse into manual control and takes the probe to full power, he has every reason to believe that he will be the first to saf...

Roberta had just been dumped by her boyfriend. Sergio was seeing someone on the side. Carly…, well, Carly does what Carly does. Floyd, a big man who was overweight and overworked, was also in for a huge surprise. Jerome had his eyes set on a new employee down from LA. Robby, who had other troubles, was able to learn from and come to the aid of Darin, who was struggling in his new job."It's like herding cats," Martin was thinking. "They don't pay me enough."Can it blow up? Of ...

What does one learn at age seven that is powerful enough to change their whole view of life? 1954, simple times, at least that's how it looks on the surface. Going into the mind of a seven year old, life is far more complicated. Living in a small town in Nebraska while his family breaks apart, he finds a friend but, with lots of freedom and time to kill, anything can happen.

This was just a dream, more like a nightmare. And it was laughable until it started to unfold. Would you cross the street?

Marsi didn't know how to sail, but figured her life would be better than pushing a shopping cart around collecting cans and bottles in the never ending hunt for enough money for her next meal. Madame Nuage advised that a BIG adventure was coming, something Marsi wanted no part of. But, destiny is what it is, and none of us have any choice as to whether, or not, we want to participate.