Sci-Fi Dark

From far-flung worlds to just-around-the-corner nightmares: four science fiction excursions on the dark side.



The Language of Monsters—A CIA operative and a mysterious being of unknown origin form a deep—and deadly—bond.



Landing Day—A live transmission of first contact with an alien intelligence creates an unlikely backdrop for a bank robbery gone wrong.



The Mushroom King—On a desolate world at the end of time, one man must choose between two terrible alternatives—and decide the fate of the human race.



Cure!—As a super-flu ravages the countryside, civilization starts to unravel. A desperate few will risk all in the arena for a televised shot at an antidote. But will they still want to live afterward?



Approximately 25,000 words of gripping, hardboiled, science fiction.



Michael Canfield writes about monsters, superheroes, couples, bank robbers, babies, astronauts, paranoids, background artists, hobbyists, and other people. He has published mystery, fantasy, science fiction, horror, or just-plain-odd stories on StrangeHorizons, futurismic, EscapePod, M–Brane SF, in dead-tree magazines including Realms of Fantasy, Talebones, Black Gate, Flytrap and other places. His novelette "Super-Villains" was republished in the prestigious Fantasy: The Year's Best series, edited by Rich Horton. Born in Las Vegas, he now lives, works, plays, writes, and watches television in Seattle.