Sometimes a story comes along in which one character captivates you, or one person steers events in surprising and satisfying ways. Or one act that makes a meaningful difference. Or one life that, only months before, had not existed but whose story needed to be told for the benefit of the cosmic alignment of stars and universes.We have three such stories this month.First, a story from Leslianne Wilder, "Cliona's Coat." I remember first reading this story some months ago. I re...

During the month of February, dreamy-eyed girls often dot their I's with little hearts, flower shops are overrun with frantic husbands, chocolates come in heart-shaped boxes, romance is everywhere, we hope, for everyone who wants it. All thanks to St. Valentine who, I suspect, would not have recognized the day that bears his name.But love is more than chocolates and flowers and dinner dates and passionate love affairs.Bruce Lee (Yes, THAT Bruce Lee) said this:"Love ...

An ancient Irish carol says, "The darkest midnight in December, no snow, nor hail, nor winter storm / Shall hinder us for to remember the babe that on this night was born."Those haunting lines speak of hope in the midst of the the deepest despair.Our Christmas story this year is just as haunting. "Hairbrush, Socks, Pencils, Orange," by Kate Heartfield, is a story in which a daughter learns something about her father that changes the meaning of Christmas. You may be surprised ...

"The Cell I'm In" by Eli Hastings. For the boy in our first story, school means facing hard truths – about himself, about the world, about compassion. "The Vitruvian Farmer" by Marcelina Vizcarra. A teen's father leaves home for the future, taking the time machine he keeps in the barn. Caroline M. Yoachim, "Honeybee". In our protagonist's time, some near-future world, there are no honeybees. Big deal? It's a big deal. Lovely story with a lovely ending. editorial by Suzanne Vincent. Origina...

The March 2014 issue of Flash Fiction Online. "A Song, Against the Metronome" by D.T. Friedman. Heartbreaking. There is nothing else to say. "Straying from the Path" by Charity Tahmaseb, a new take on the classic fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood. And finally, a time bending take on the evolution debate with "Mrs. Darwin Has Visitors" by David Harper. An editorial by Suzanne Vincent. Original artwork by Rich Ware.

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."I read a book recently. I won't reveal the title. But it seemed like an awful lot of people died. Just when one family finally got a handle on life and things were looking up for them, Wham! the father would get killed in a logging accident. For such a heavy-handed book it became, sad to say, almost laughable, a game to guess who would die next.Why do I bring this up in an issue of Flash Fiction...

In "Anywhere and Nowhere," by Alexander Harris, Nemi must change to survive. But it's not something she's willing to do for herself.And from Shane Dent, a widower finds the desire to change his attitude in honor of his wife and her passion for cars in "Old Roads, New Roads."Last up this month, a soliloquy to the rich heritage of the B movie horror flick, "To the Monsters, With Love," by Merc Rustad.

When a boy is given a box by an angel who asks him to care for it, the task shapes his entire life.Originally published in DRAGONS AND DREAMS (edited by Jane Yolen) this is one of Bruce Coville's personal favorites among all his stories.

Rima Laforce is a Russian woman who lives in France. Over the last several years, she has written between 750 and 800 poems. They are about such topics as love, nature, health, philosophy, and fairy tales. She hopes that her Russian poems will be enjoyed by the Russian community all over the world and students of Russian language.This book is about love poems and it contains 88 pages with 40 poems.

I do not fear death. I do not tremor at the thought of my eternity. I do not plea for mercy. Set in Elizabethan England a young girls choices lead her to face her few final breaths. But are her choices her own?

Porepronounced \pór\verbMeaning:to be absorbed in the reading or study of.From the Middle English pouren, to ponder.

LIGHTSPEED is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine. In its pages, you will find science fiction: from near-future, sociological soft SF, to far-future, star-spanning hard SF—and fantasy: from epic fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and contemporary urban tales, to magical realism, science-fantasy, and folktales.This month, we present our special anniversary issue, Women Destroy Science Fiction!, an all-science fiction extravaganza entirely written—and edited!—by women.Gu...