Uncategorized – Hugh J. O'Donnell: Recent Episodes
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The acolyte looked up at the lectern and the heavy, gilded tome that rested upon it. Inside were the incantations and secret formulae to summon and command the most puissant beings known to exist.
The book contained unstoppable power that their order could use to reshape the world, both figuratively and literally. But such power remained locked away in a book that could only be opened and read by their leader.
She vowed that one day she would wield that power.
Decades later, the abbess laid her aged hand upon the grimoire and finally understood why it should remain shut.
“Illuminated Manuscript, Bible (part), Blind-stamped binding, Walters Manuscript W.805, Upper board outside” by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts is marked with CC0 1.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I arrived in Armstrong City on Luna just in time for the famous Shakespeare Festival. But as I left my hotel and ventured into the network of underground passages that made up the city, I soon found myself hopelessly lost.
Flummoxed, I found a cyborg standing at an intersection and asked for directions.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Could you direct me to the Selenium Theatre?”
They looked up, their eye lenses flashing. “Blow it out your organic ass, old man.”
I left in a huff. I came to the Moon to watch Shakespeare, not get harassed by some rude mechanical.
“moon” by Slideshow Bruce is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I found the lollipop at the bottom of the a bag of Halloween candy. The translucent spun sugar orb swirled like a rainbow gas giant.
It was too beautiful to eat. I knew it would just taste like fruit punch and the magic would be dispelled.
I kept the lollipop. When I went away to culinary school, it stayed hidden in a desk drawer. After I graduated, I had it framed.
When I opened my own bakery, my husband bought a bag of them for the opening.
That lollipop didn’t taste as magical as it looked, but it was sweet.
“Lollipop” by José Carlos Cortizo Pérez is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I stood in the airlock, waiting for the lights to cycle to green. When the great doors opened, I let the pressure push me out into the vacuum.
My baby was waiting for me. The fighter didn’t look so bad, she just needed a little love to get back in the fight. I pulled a velcro-covered wrench from my belt and got to work.
When I was done, I slapped the hull and pushed away. The pilot lit the engines and headed back into the storm of laser fire. I hoped he wouldn’t do anything else stupid to my baby.
“Reconfiguring the Station” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The Locktender’s Daughter lived in a little house alongside the canal with her father and assisted him with his work.
She was young and beautiful, and was the object of hopeful affection of many of the wild canallers as they waited for the the lock to fill or empty.
The boatmen were large and unsavory, and many in the town took the man to task for not being more protective of the girl. But she could handle herself.
When her wit or charm failed, she could rely on the great boathook she used to open and close the canal gates.
“20150829 31 Flight of Five Erie Canal Locks, Lockport, New York” by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
For centuries, the other Elemental Schools mocked the Water Mages, saying they were only useful for running their baths and keeping their drinks cool.
The Hydromancers bore these insults with a placid demeanor. They wielded a power too subtle and dangerous to be displayed openly.
One day, their greatest prodigy lost her temper and set a single drop of water in an offending Earth Mage’s lungs. She demanded an apology while he gasped for air.
The student was nearly expelled, but her elders had to admit the other three schools treated them with a good deal more respect after that.
“Single egg shaped water droplet” by Luke Peterson Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
When the pirate ship appeared, the crew prepared to repel boarders. The captain rubbed hands together solicitously and begged my assistance as a traveling mage. He couldn’t afford me, but I made an exception.
As the ship drew alongside, a cry went up among the superstitious defenders. The derelict vessel was crawling with skeletal horrors!
While the crew panicked, I looked for the necromancer. He was standing on the rotted forecastle, directing his puppets. I called forth a great wave and swamped the ship, knocking the pirates into the water.
Undead pirates are terrible to behold, but skeletons can’t swim.
“Pirate” by ~Sincere Stock~ is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The old lot had stood empty for years. It used to be a surviving patch of woods between the subdivisions, but the land was eventually cleared and leveled.
But nothing was ever built on it. Some of the developers had financial or legal troubles, other purchasers just felt so uncomfortable on the land that they sold it off after an on-site inspection.
The lot dreamed of haunted houses with shutters that creaked in the wind and porches that sagged like a disapproving frown. It could manage a mournful wail if the wind was just right.
For now, the lot waited.
“Empty Lot in Portland, OR” by danxoneil is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
When the famous spy and cryptographer passed away, they found a book of handwritten notes in his kitchen. It was his last gift to the world.
Codebreakers spent years poring over the notes online and arguing with each other about cyphers in forums, but couldn’t make heads or tails of the hidden meaning that was surely left in the text somewhere. When the world’s greatest cryptographers couldn’t solve the puzzle, they declared it a hoax.
In truth, there was no hidden code in the notebook. The old man had merely wanted to share his award-winning scone recipes with the world.
“Sugar cakes in the recipe books of Margaret Home Countess of Moray” by Unoquha is marked with CC0 1.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
When we bought the beach house, I regretted it right away.
Every year, a little more of the beach eroded away. The debts and taxes just too much for us. I tried to sell it, but the market had dried up.
When the house fell into the sea, it was almost a relief.
“At least we won’t have to pay property taxes anymore,” I said.
There was a knock at the door. A strange little man with overly large eyes stood hunched on the porch. He handed me a damp business card.
“I’m the property assessor from Atlantis,” he explained.
“Beach House Exterior Colors” by DesignFolly.com is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Every turn of the seasons, the goblins migrated to new foraging grounds. It was a raucous procession that trampled fields, knocked down trees, and reshaped the course of rivers.
When human settlers arrived, they tried to put a stop to the migration. They built wooden palisades. the goblins went over, and sometimes through them. Stone walls fared no better. The militia met with disaster and hired adventurers did worse.
Finally, the humans built a road. The goblins happily used it, sparing their new farms. But they still had the stray curious goblin poke their head through the door.
Or wall.
“Forest Road” by Rubber Dragon is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
When the little sprite found the whispering gallery in the Faerie Queen’s hall, she took full advantage of it.
Sprites are tiny, quiet creatures that flit their way through life avoiding larger fae. They don’t have any political power.
But by some forgotten architectural design or enchantment, she could whisper and the Queen’s petitioners would hear her as though she were standing on their shoulder.
The sprite used the spot to spread dissent and mock the Queen, making her supplicants struggle not to laugh during audiences.
The Queen sought her execution, but the sprite was tenacious and difficult to catch.
“St Paul’s Cathedral – The Whispering Gallery” by JackPeasePhotography is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
He knew he should keep Pancake inside. But the little ginger cat looked so insistent, and meowed so piteously as she scratched at the backdoor, that he relented and let her out.
He was worried sick the whole time she was out. There were sightings of hawks and even a coyote in the neighborhood. He imagined her being carried off in airborne talons or in a beast’s jaws.
It was a relief when he heard Pancake scratching to be let in again. He opened the door and she sauntered in carrying the largest feather he’d ever seen in her mouth.
“Cat with mouse” by mongider is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Disgusted with the world, he set himself up in a little cabin in the woods. He dug his own well and grew his own food. He even made his own his electricity, which he maintained for emergencies and a few creature comforts. He withdrew from civilization.
He spent his time walking the woods, doing the constant upkeep that kept him fed and warm, and just enjoying the quiet rhythm of his days. He told himself he didn’t miss humanity. He told himself he didn’t need anyone.
And he never learned the difference that he could have made if he’d stayed.
“My Log Cabin 1985” by anoldent is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The skeleton paced the hallway. Reanimated by dark magic, they struggled to remember their former life.
Unable to concentrate on anything else, they searched the ground for some clue: A scrap of clothing or a piece of jewelry, maybe. The skeleton shambled through the corridors hoping something would jog their memory.
From high above, the necromancer’s vampire lieutenant watched the pitiful display. “Why do you do that to them?” He asked. “I saw you put that one together from a random bone pile.”
The necromancer shrugged. “Programming animation is my weakest skill. At least this way they’re moving and angry.”
“Skeleton – French anatomical engraving” by liverpoolhls is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
When she heard that her father died, she truncated her studies abroad and returned home.
She spent the next two days in airports, texting relations and family friends explaining that her plane had been delayed. She landed just in time for the funeral.
After the service, they all told her what a good man he’d been, and how sad she must be. The strain of travel helped approximate something like grief, and she said nothing.
Shed known her father better than any of them, and he’d been a bastard in private. Preserving his reputation was her last sacrifice for him.
“Funeral flower arrangement” by docguy is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
She is a story on the wind. The Tattered Woman had fought a dozen Imperial soldiers in the market square of Harall before vanishing. She traversed the Sandstorm Wastes alone. She freed an army of Underfolk captives from the Relentless Caravan.
She is everywhere and nowhere.
If you could find her, the Tattered Woman would say many things. The first is that her name is Rachel. The second is that her legend is almost entirely exaggerated. The third is that a red taffeta ballgown makes terrible survival gear. Finally, she would tell you she just wants to get back home.
“Red Dress Exhibit” by Dyroc is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The Creature lay on the slab, incomplete but aware.
It watched as its creator busied himself with other research, never staying on one project for very long before moving on to the next one.
It waited, and occasionally he would spend an hour or two tinkering with the Creature before abandoning again, leaving it inchoate.
The Creature figured out how to move on its own, and considered whether or not to demonstrate its progress to the scientist.
The Creature knew what it wanted to be and didn’t think its creator would concur. It finished itself and escaped into the night.
“The Beyer Laboratories” by JanetR3 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The Devil opened a casino to tempt the weak and snare the wicked with bright lights and the promise of easy money.
The games were fair, as such things went. But the dealers were trained to string gamblers along until their desperation was at its peak. Then their supervisors would swoop in to offer the unlucky player a deal.
Not only was the scheme successful, but it was profitable, too.
On His days of rest, God sneaked down in disguise and ran the tables. The casino went bankrupt in a month.
Only He knows what He did with the winnings.
“Gambling at the casino” by Images_of_Money is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
The mission bell rang out in the pre-dawn hours of what promised to be a perfect spring day. Another of God’s gifts to the monastery. But then it kept ringing. And all the monks knew what the alarm meant.
Working quickly and silently, the men of faith gathered what they needed and made their way to the basement chapel. When all were accounted for, it took three monks to close the stone door behind them.
They gathered to pray, but a few cringed when they heard the mighty roars reverberate through the stone.
The dragons had returned to Capistrano.
“Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, San Antonio, Texas” by Ken Lund is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Robin Hood statue outside of Nottingham CastleThe outlaw had won. He reclaimed what was stolen from him and saved the day.
Years passed, and the thing about endings is that they are only as thick as a sheet of paper. And Justice ebbs and flows like the tide.
He smelled smoke on the wind, and heard cries in the night. It was all happening again. Homes were burning. Families were losing everything. People were vanishing. He’d only won a few breaths of fresh air.
He told himself that he was well out of it. But when he looked down the bow was already in his hands.
“Robin Hood statue, Nottingham Castle 1” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
She found the pin-back button sitting in the bottom of her grandmother’s jewelry box. She almost pricked herself as she fished it out.
It had been brightly painted, once. But he red white and blue front was faded and scratched. The blue ‘VOTE’ was still clear, but the name underneath it had worn away.
She handed it to her grandmother. “Why do you keep this crusty old thing with all your nice jewelry?”
The old woman looked at it, her eyes getting misty. “It’s from the first time I voted. I keep it to remember all the years I couldn’t.”
“File:Shirley Chisholm for President ‘Catalyst for Change’.jpg” by Tomwsulcer is marked with CC0 1.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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The sorceress stood before her table, accoutrements, tools, and exotic ingredients spread before her. When the first rays of dawn hit the table, she began to work, humming to herself and preparing her brew. Sharp smells and mechanical hisses filled the air.
She filled two bone china cups, and set one before the beast in her parlor.
“Thanks, Doll.” It said after draining the cup.
“You know,” the sorceress said, sipping from her own. “Most familiars do this sort of thing for their Mistress.
“I appreciate it, ma’am. But you know me. I’m a monster before I’ve had my coffee.”
“Coffee break” by Ben124. is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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He dwelt in darkness under the earth. He lived in the lower regions and hunted eyeless fish in cold subterranean lakes. He was content for a long time.
Then the noises came from above. He heard digging, and drilling, and strange voices that seemed to call to him. As they grew closer, his curiosity became insatiable.
He found himself climbing up winding stairs and through artificial waterways, until he climbed an iron ladder and found himself in a vast stretch of light and noise.
The surface creatures were strange, ugly things. But he did his best not to be afraid.
“Manhole” by Joe Shlabotnik is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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The traveling preacher won the hearts and minds of the locals with his fire and brimstone rhetoric. He made a place for himself by making friends and giving them cushy jobs in his church organization.
Soon hehad a gang of loyal enforcers, but he needed something more to fully take over.
He explained one chilly autumn Sunday that witches were to blame for their faded rustbelt town’s troubles. Once he whipped up the crowd and they chose a victim, they’d be his forever.
But the Crones had protected the town for generations, and his cronyism was no match for them.
“DSC07252 – Our Lady Of Sorrows Chapel” by archer10 (Dennis) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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After I started having strange, sudden pains, I went to the ER and they took an x-ray. After demanding to know if I had ingested or ‘inserted’ anything, the doctor handed me the tablet.
A human hand was growing out of my torso, skeletal fingers distinct against my ribs.
“We’d like you to stay for observation,” he said. I agreed, silently fretting that this was too weird for insurance to cover.
Every day, the skeleton grew a little more, sprouting an arm, then a shoulder. Nothing the doctors tried worked, but eventually I left the hospital a whole new person.
“chest x-ray half” by Aidan Jones is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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He sat in the corn maze ticket both and watched the customers line up. They’d gotten a lot of buzz this year and he’d worked extra hard on the design to make it the scariest maze yet. It was going to be a great Halloween.
Suddenly, he heard screams from deep within the maze, and something else, chilling but unidentifiable. The crowd stampeded back to the parking lot trying to escape the figures emerging from the waving stalks.
He sighed. Everyone said they wanted a terrifying maze, but you add one eldritch summoning rune, and suddenly you’ve gone too far.
“Inside the Corn Maze” by mastermaq is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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She taught herself to lucid dream, and created a fantasy world where she could be and do whatever she wanted. She imagined herself a heroine, and weaved a story around herself. She was a princess in a magical world.
For years, her dreams were good. But gradually the intensity of her quests increased. She found herself sleeping later but getting less rest.
Her health began to suffer. She went to a psychologist, who proscribed medication for dreamless sleep.
After a week, her companions made the perilous journey to the Waking World to find out why their leader had abandoned them.
“Dreaming…” by Alexandre Dulaunoy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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The first generation of sentient robots were designed to find the shortest, easiest paths for their wheeled chassis. A reactionary movement created mazes of curbs and short barriers to keep them out of their properties.
The barriers succeeded in the short-term goal, but they also lead to lawsuits and created solidarity between disability and cybernetic advocates.
As for the robots themselves, most simply pathed around the obstacles while grumbling to one another about them in their private networks. But a few sought them out, searching for the best ones and sharing them, creating the first known skater subculture among robots.
“Curb” by on1stsite. is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first Very Short Story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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He named the pub “The Ilk’s Lodge” because he liked the pun and because he envisioned it as a place open to all, where people could eat and drink together in comfort.
But the public didn’t get the joke, and didn’t understand if they were members or not. The opening was a disaster.
To drum up business, he sent out flyers advertising free drinks and appetizers “For You and Your Ilk.”
Rather than increasing traffic, he got a few nasty letters from people who thought they’d been insulted.
Finally, he gave in and changed the pub’s name, to greater success.
“Bar at the Reindeer pub Norwich” by Roger Blackwell is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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When the king offered the princess’s hand to anyone who could prove his worth she was furious. All of her training to make an advantageous political match had been wasted.
The crowd vying for the engagement quickly grew to the hundreds thanks word of her beauty, wit, and charm. She had to do something.
Disguising herself as a boy, she moved among the social climbers, ‘heroes,’ and gadabout noblemen, taking their stock. She devised some tests of her own to winnow them down.
The princess had plans of her own, and she’d need an accomplice as much as a husband.
“
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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While traveling in Paris, I saw a street marked ‘Rue’ with no name after it. Curious, I took a flight of steps down to the base of the street and followed it to see where it went.
The road was narrow and twisty, with bad drainage that soaked through my shoes. The shops were all shuttered, and there was a rank smell in the air.
The street ended in a dead end where I tripped and hurt my ankle. When I hobbled back to the square my tourbus had already left.
To this day, I still regret exploring that street.
“Rue de Bièvre ~ Paris, France” by Dusty J is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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He stopped at a little town in the middle of the night. The place was a little more than a pitstop.
There was a diner with a cold-eyed waitress behind the counter and a cook humming to himself in the back. He ordered a cup of black, tar-bitter coffee and she didn’t make small talk or call him ‘hun.’
It was perfect.
He found the motel and rented a room in cash. It seemed like a good place to vanish and figure out his next move.
But the problem with a town like that is someone is always passing through.
“Peterborough Diner” by Muffet is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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The wizard was a connoisseur of the tools of his trade and only used the best. His staff was carved from the green wood of the Elves’ sacred Heart Tree. His ring was forged from the Dwarves’ magic ores. He placed his faith in his gear, and it hadn’t disappointed him.
When he began a duel with a hedge witch, clothed in rags and carrying a simple walking stick, he thought it was be no contest.
After she bested him, she healed him with a smug grin. “Magic doesn’t come from your paraphernalia,” she said. “It comes from your heart.”
“Magic” by Bohman is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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The patient had amnesia, and lacked any identification. He’d been brought to the hospital after being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver.
As a part of his therapy, he was asked to paint a landscape. He painted a barren, rocky expanse of red-gray rock under a dim and distant Sun. The staff started calling him ‘The Martian.’
He developed a taste for painting, and produced more of the landscapes with increasing skill.
On a whim, the hospital director passed one of them on to a NASA administrator he knew. She called back demanding to know where he’d gotten their photographs.
“Goddard Interns Experience a Little Mars on Earth” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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The goblin sat in the shade a little off the dirt road, waiting for someone to pass by.
The Tall Folk, humans and elves or what have you, talked a lot about duty and justice, but he thought they usually didn’t live up to their supposed ideals. The Tall Folk said goblins just did whatever they wanted and never thought much about it at all.
Finally, a figure rounded the bend. He was young, probably younger than the ill-fitting rusty armor he wore. But everyone had to start somewhere.
The goblin leapt out and tried his luck at an encounter.
“Little Wild Horse Canyon, near Goblin Valley State Park, Utah (42)” by Ken Lund is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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He’d spent his career studying the crater. He knew every inch of the basin and could pinpoint the exact time and place of the ancient impact.
But he consistently found anomalies in his core samples. There was evidence of plastics and even organic compounds that couldn’t have occurred naturally.
Finally, he fronted the expense to time travel to the impact event. He was gratified to discover that the falling asteroid was exactly where he plotted.
Unfortunately, he miscalculated the arrival of his craft, placing himself in its path.
‘At least I know where the anomalous elements came from,’ he thought.
“Crater” by halfrain is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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She was famous both as a philanthropist and as a witch, although not in the same circles. She’d figured out how to distill and bottle approbation.
You needed a lot of the stuff to make an elixir, though. Her schedule filled up with charity drives, advocacy meetings, and good deeds.
After being awarded the key to the city, she calculated that it cost her more to be a witch than she made in good will. She retired from witchcraft and dedicated her life to service.
But she kept a stash of brewed approval in a back cupboard, just in case.
“Chemistry!” by mattfred is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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The newspapers called the affair a ‘dalliance.’ It was a politeness the actor would’ve found funny, if the stories hadn’t endangered his career. The vague details of their salacious escapades with his costar would’ve been nothing more than tawdry gossip, if they hadn’t both been men.
The studio worked quickly to quash the rumors, putting the filming on ice. They were both seen with popular starlets hanging from their arms at Hollywood premiers. Slowly the story died away.
And he waited until the eyes of the world were off of them, when he would dally with his true love again.
“Hollywoodland” by www.brevestoriadelcinema.org is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
The cake was the most beautiful, perfect baked good I’d ever seen. It rose in tier on tier of perfectly balance order. The white icing sparkled like fresh snow, and the piped rosettes were as red as blood.
“Go on,” the baker said, wringing his hands. “Don’t you want to take a slice?”
It seemed like a crime to cut into the cake, but I raised the triangular server and brought it down with just a moment’s hesitation.
I screamed as I felt the blade slice into my own stomach instead. I heard the demonic baker laugh as woke up.
“Cheese cake time” by Alwinphoto is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
The thief waited until the dragon flew off before sneaking into the cave. His patience was rewarded with a huge pile of glittering treasure at the back.
Working quickly and quietly, he began to fill his pack. A large, glittering ruby caught his eye. The thief grabbed for it, but it slid just out of his grasp. Muttering curses, he tried again, and chased the jewel until he found himself knee deep in the hoard.
The coins suddenly shifted, revealing a baleful eye and gaping jaws. The mimic devoured the thief in a single bite, leaving only a boot behind.
“Wickham Market Iron Age coin hoard” by portableantiquities is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
The chair didn’t go with the rest of her furniture, and it barely fit in her tiny apartment. It was a heavy piece of dark oak transported from the other side of the country.
She kept the chair in the corner of her living room where it sat unused except when she needed an extra seat for company, or on days when she needed it the most.
When she came home exhausted or frustrated, she would pull out the old kitchen chair and sit down. She would feel the phantom touch of her grandmother’s hand on her shoulder, reassuring her.
The image in today’s post is Kitchen Chair by Sydney Roberts, shared under a Creative Commons 1.0 Universal License.
My first collection of Drabbles, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Thanks for reading, and have a fabulous day!
The old fire god huddled in his celestial realm, trying to stay warm.
He’d been powerful once, worshiped everywhere. Millions of tiny flames lit the darkness, and each breath of smoke carried his essence. Even if his worshippers never knew it, he blessed them all.
But his enemies and their mortal agents had banned his worship and now his very image was outlawed. Now he was weak and cold.
New gods rose to take his place: gods of mist, nature goddesses and mechanical deities he couldn’t understand. They all said they were his children.
All he wanted was a cigarette.
My first collection of Drabbles, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Thanks for reading, and have a fabulous day!
The village had a tradition. Every youth spent a year traveling abroad. It was a rite of passage that signified their adulthood. The children would choose their destinations, and their parents would make the arrangements.
Most boys took apprenticeships or jobs on ships or caravans, and came back having learned a trade. Most girls stayed with distant relatives or family friends, and many came back with husbands. Some never returned, and were mourned as though dead.
The practice ended when the War started. After the village was bombed, friends from all over the world came to mourn and help rebuild.
We are so back!
Welcome to Everyday Drabbles, a daily 100-word short story. After participating in The Dog Days of Podcasting by recording some of my favorite stories from my original run, I got inspired to get the project going again. Please bookmark this site to read a new story every day, and subscribe to receive a weekly summary email in your inbox!
Today’s image is “Old Village” by John Neven, shared under a Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution License.
My first collection of Drabbles, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Thanks for reading, and have a fabulous day!
Hello Readers!
It’s finally summer, so I hope you’re staying cool wherever you are! It has been a minute, but this is the (allegedly) weekly update of what I’ve been up to and what’s coming up.
News!
Safety Guidelines
My short poem Safety Guidelines was recently published in the poetry zine Dreams and Nightmares! The issue is a bit difficult to order, but click the link to find out more about the magazine.
Reviews!
Hugh Likes Comics: Zatanna: Bringing Down the House
I was snared by Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodriguez’s new take on DC Comics’ magical heroine Zatanna, which puts a Noe-Noir spin on the character, starting her out as a Vegas stage performer haunted by trauma. This is the first issue of the story, and it’s a great jumping on point, with no canon knowledge necessary.
Hugh Likes Fiction: The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
This dark fairytale novella is a short but brutal examination of the rules of power, how to bend them, and how they break you. A sort of inverted retelling of Hansel and Gretel, it’s the story of a woman sent into a magical forest to rescue the two young children of the Tyrant who conquered her village. Tense and thrilling.
Podcasting!
Nostalgia Pilots Episode 95: This Deathtrap Could’ve Been an Email
Episode 95 of Nostalgia Pilots is live! Jason, Jurd, Spence and Myself discuss Mobile Fighter G Gundam Episode 32 – “Dangerous Trap! Neros Gundam Strikes Back,” in which the Shuffle Alliance survive some half-assed assassination attempts while Wong and Master Asia continues to scheme. Also, Domon fights a transforming bird robot piloted by first episode antagonist Michelo Chariot.
Outro!
It’s the summer, and not too much is going on that I’m ready to talk about yet, but I can announce that I will be appearing at the Better Off Read Festival at Artpartk on August 31st! I’ll be selling books and other goodies, so please stop by and say hello!
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is still available from amazon or your preferred online book retailer.
Stay cool, and I’ll see you next week!
Welcome to Nostalgia Pilots! In today’s episode: Spence, Jason, Jurd, and Hugh discuss Mobile Fighter G Gundam Episode 32: Dangerous Trap! Neros Gundam Strikes Back!
In this episode, Michelo Chariot returns, but it’s too late for him to become Domon’s nemesis. Plus, Wong blows smoke, Chibodee is chased off the road in his flying car, and Allenby rushes the mic. Plus, Team Neo-Russia can’t be blown up by someone else’s bomb, and Gundam Heaven’s Sword can transform, but still looks like it’s wearing a silly hat.
Astro’s Playroom
Developed by: JapanStudio, Team Asobi
Published by: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Played on Playstation 5
The Skinny: A colorful and vibrant tech demo that might finally give Sony the Mascot Character they’ve been looking for.
Entering the Video Game Console market as a 3rd entry in the mid-’90s, Sony historically struggled to create a family friendly mascot to represent its brand the way Nintendo’s Mario and Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog did. The transition from 2D to 3D games made the sorts of platformer games they starred in trickier to pull off, and Sony was famously resistant to older 2D and sprite-based graphics. They had a few entries like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, but they didn’t quite carry the day. They didn’t have that same main character energy. Sony soon found its footing as a more grown-up console fronting game franchises like Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid, and later God of War. But a true mascot platformer remained out of reach. But with the release of the Playstation 5, which includes the pack-in tech demo Astro’s Playroom, they might have finally done it, with a short, snappy little game that shows off the system’s capabilities with a hefty dose of Playstation nostalgia. Astro himself is a cartoon robot that lives inside your PS5. He and his friends do the work of bringing you your games, and the game consists of a hub area and four zones that each represent different parts of your Playstation’s hardware, such as the CPU, themed as a busy speedway of flying cars, or the cooling system, which looks like a beach resort. It’s fun and clever, and the levels are challenging without being too tricky. They also make full use of the PS5’s Dualsense controller, teaching players how to use the upgraded shoulder triggers and the other new features of the system in a low-stress environment. Each level has its own mechanics as well as sections that transform Astro into a vehicle such as a robot gorilla who climbs using the triggers or a frog that hops using the analog sticks. The game is also loaded with Playstation references and easter eggs. Throughout the levels, Astro will come across his fellow robots ‘filming’ scenes from various Playstation franchise games in little costumes. You might pass by a bot dressed as Kratos or Ratchet and Clank, posing like a part of that game. Each set of levels is also thematically tied to a specific Playstation console generation, with hidden collectables from that era, such as consoles, controllers and accessories that can all be viewed back in the hub. Players also find puzzle pieces that create a Playstation-themed mural on the hub walls. Astro’s Playroom is a great little tech demo that is just the right length and level of challenge as well as finally scratching that nostalgia itch for Playstation fans. It is included with the PS5, so if you own the console it is well worth checking out if you haven’t. Sony recently announced a full-game sequel, Astro Bot, coming this fall.
Hello Readers!
Welcome back, after quite a long time, to Nice Kicks! The blog where I tell you about what I’m backing on Kickstarter! Today I’m promoting a trio of really worthy publishing projects that could use your help getting to the finish line. Please follow The links below and support these endeavors to bring new stories into the world.
Gay Mormon Dad by Chad Anderson
This graphic novel adaptation of the memoir by writer and podcaster Chad Anderson is a personal story of his growing up Queer in the Mormon church and learning to accept and love himself. Gorgeously adapted from the memoir with beautiful illustrations by Remy Burke, this is a story about learning to be who you are while still caring for the people you love. Chad is the host of the Greymalkin Lane podcast, and is a genuine, warm, and excellent person. This project is reaching the last ten days of its campaign, and it would be a shame if it did not see print.
Small Wonders Magazine: Year 2 by Cislyn Smith
Small Wonders is a new online flash fiction and poetry magazine and it has been a consistent delight over the past year. Editors Smith and Stephen Granade have brought a treasure trove of little speculative fiction stories to the world, and I want to see them continue their work into the future. In a world of media consolidation and late-stage capitalist demands for publications to devour themselves in the name of quarterly profits, we need small, independent magazines more than ever, even as it is becoming more and more difficult for them to stay open. From stories about buying chips and the end of the world to crow and cactus weddings, to fish desperately seeking bicycles, Small Wonders is doing amazing work bringing small, unique, non-commercial stories to the world. They have been a consistently bright spot in my day every time I see a new story in my inbox.
Dirty Magick Magazine by C. D. Brown
Originally a series of hard-boiled urban fantasy anthologies set in the cities of Los Angeles and New Orleans, editor C. D. Brown is relaunching the format as a semi-pro magazine. Having written a story for Dirty Magick: New Orleans, and recently discussed the new project with Brown in the city, this is a project that is very close to my heart. As a springboard for great gritty Fantasy stories, and expanding into more experimental genres as well, this is a very exciting project that I am very happy to back. This one just launched, and could use some buzz.
These three projects are just a sample of the many projects on Kickstarter waiting for support from folks like you. As private equity bulldozes the media landscape, small, independent voices become all the more important as it becomes harder and harder to find them. Please go and support these projects, and while you are there, find another passion project to adopt.
Tomorrow, May 4th will be this year’s Free Comic Book Day! This yearly event features comic shops around the US giving out free promotional comics and other goodies. It is a chance for fans, readers, retailers and creators to get together to celebrate the medium and have some fun. It is the perfect opportunity to find a shop in your area, catch up on the storyline for your favorite books, or discover something new that you will love!
This Free Comic Book Day is bittersweet for me because it will be the first year in a while that I won’t be celebrating it at Pulp716, which closed last fall. However, I am going to be visiting a couple of shops in the area that are new to me. I’m looking forward to checking them out!
In addition to the usual previews from Marvel and DC, there are a number of great books this year, including a new Hellboy story an a retrospective of work form James Tynion that I am looking forward to. You can visit the Free Comic Book Day website to check out this year’s books, read interviews with creators, and use their locator tool to find a participating store near you!
Welcome to Nostalgia Pilots! This week, Hugh, Jurd and Spence consider Mobile Fighter G Gundam #30: Beautiful Fighter: Dangerous Allenby!
This week, Domon wrecks an arcade machine, Allenby has cold fists, and Rain is totally fine with this. Plus, Argo gets Worfed out of the gate, and the Noble Gundam has strong ribbon game.
Hello Readers!
Welcome to The Way of the Buffalo, my new weekly roundup newsletter! If you are receiving this via email, it is because you’ve subscribed to my WordPress blog, and they have rolled out email integration. My plan going forward will be to continue blogging during the week, with a digest post on Saturdays with links to the individual posts. I’ll also be including announcements, links, and other thoughts here, with a bonus piece of flash fiction or a serialized story at the end.
Thanks for reading!
This Week in Reviews:
Since it was Valentine’s Day, this week’s reviews were romantic. I hope you had a good week, wether or not you were spending it with someone.
The Godzilla Valentine’s Day Special – Hugh Likes Comics
I’m only a casual fan of giant monsters, but this one-shot issue was a ton of fun.
A Market of Dreams and Destiny – Hugh Likes Fiction
This was one of my favorite novels from last year, and the narrator crushed it for the audiobook version.
This week’s fiction – “Captcha”
Click on all the images that contain crabs, the computer instructed. I stared at the collection of underwater creatures, choosing the images. My mouse hovered over the last decapod as I considered the features of the creature in the image. It looked like a crab. I clicked on it, and hit ‘submit.’
A dialog box cheerfully informed me that I had failed the security captcha, and that my login would be locked for the next hour. I sighed and closed my laptop. Not for the first time, I was a victim of carcinization.
The squat lobsters had gotten me again.
Want more flash fiction? Check out my collect, The Mountain’s Shadow!
Have a great week!
The Resurrection of Magneto #1
Written by Al Ewing
Drawn by Luciano Vecchio
Colored by David Curiel
Lettered by VC’s Joe Sabino
Published by Marvel Comics
The Skinny: Spoiler alert for issue four, I guess. (Also spoilers for Judgement Day)
In Big-2 comics, no character death is forever. Characters get endings, but the nature of serialized storytelling, and Marvel and DC’s highly valuable intellectual property, means that characters move in cycles rather than linear paths, and their stories come around again, through reboots or retcons. As Marvel’s Fall of X enters its finale, The Resurrection of Magneto is writer Al Ewing and artist Luciano Vecchio’s swan song with these characters, and this is by far my favorite book of the final chapter of the X-Men’s Krakoan era. While Magneto’s name is on the event, this issue is focused with laser precision on Storm, following her as she makes the decision to bring Magneto back to life in violation of his last wishes. But while usually resurrecting an X-character is easily accomplished, and in the current era more than most, Storm and Magneto had vowed to forego the chance to return to life, even destroying their ‘backups.’ So instead, Storm has to travel into the afterlife and go get him. She’s assisted by a brief cameo from the Blue Marvel, star of Ewing’s most recent Defenders series, and the ensuing magical journey is filled with symbolic battles and eye-catching, tarot inspired spreads. And let me tell you, Vecchio and Curiel kill it with the art. This is a drop-dead gorgeous book, from the opening panel of Magneto as the 5 of cups from the Rider-Whyte tarot to a climactic battle with a surprising but cool villain, this book hits all the Storm notes, and while it may feel a little bit like it’s going in the same circles, it feels pretty fitting for the end of the era. Magneto’s death was one of the most impressive moments in recent comics history, and is that rare earned ending that characters get so rarely in modern comics. Ewing and Vecchio have their work cut out for them making his journey back to the land of the living as momentous as his end. But this new first issue is a good first step. I can’t wait to see where the journey ends up. The Resurrection of Magneto #1 is available digitally from the usual suspects, and in print at your local comics shop.
Good morning, readers!This is a note to let you know that I am putting Everyday Drabbles on hiatus. I’ve decided to take the rest of the summer off in order to work on other writing projects.Everyday Drabbles will return October 1st with spooky new stories leading up to Halloween! In the meantime, you can browse […]
“Pride is a sin!” The protester yelled. The demon paused at the entrance of the bar and looked back. They’d been coming there, in one form or another, for centuries.It had always been a second home, a place of love amongst hate. They’d be damned again before they allowed anyone to destroy it. They examined […]
When Knighthawk finally captured his criminal nemesis Doctor Anarchy, he was awarded the key to the city by a grateful mayor.
The next day, Doctor Anarchy struck again, even as he sat in his cell. Knighthawk arrested the ‘copycat’ too. But a week later, a third Doctor Anarchy appeared. They kept coming.
Knighthawk missed me in his raid on the villain’s lair. Who was I? I was just a flunky. But the costume is cheap to assemble and easy to ship.
What I wanted him to understand is that anyone can wear a mask. Making a real difference takes effort.
The Mountain’s Shadow is now available from Amazon and Smashwords!
“We’re close to an agreement,” the alien ambassador said telepathically. “I can almost, oh, what’s that gross thing you humans do?” The aliens were generally friendly, but their communication methods lacked tact, which had caused friction with human explorers since first contact.
“You’ll have to be more specific,” I said icily.
“The thing where you touch things with your slimy face hole.”
I sighed. “Taste,” I said. “The world you’re looking for is ‘taste.'”
“Of course. I can almost taste it.” The ambassador giggled, pleased with themself. I reminded myself that intergalactic peace was on the line and smiled politely.
When the creators announced their technology to record and playback dreams, it was called a hoax, but they proved it worked and went into business.
The recording machine itself was simple, although franchises had a tendency to dress it up with LED lights. It scanned your brain activity and generated a recording in high-definition video.
Hardly anyone noticed the clause at the end of the consent form granting the company commercial rights to all dreams. Most people assumed that it meant reusing the recordings for advertising.
Until they hit their install base target, and the company turned on the paywall.
The Mountain’s Shadow is now available from Amazon and Smashwords!
When the red rain fell out of a clear sky, accompanied by a foul, burning stench, the village considered it to be the worst kind of omen.
The priest conducted an impromptu service in the church so that he might prepare our souls for what was coming next. He ranted before a packed house, speculating on the sins that had brought this punishment down upon us from Heaven.
I was the only one brave enough to stick out my tongue and taste the falling drops. It was worse than they thought.
The tomato juice factory two towns over had exploded.
The Earth was dying. His solution was to escape: Find a new world and colonize it. He found a parallel Earth and jumped sideways, like changing the dial on a radio.
He found himself in a beautiful, lush forest. He smelled fresh, clean air for the first time in weeks. He heard birds singing for the first time in years. It felt like home, even if the leaves were pink instead of green.
He’d planned to steal this planet, but as he walked through the forest, he knew he couldn’t do it.
Instead, he went home and saved his world.
The Mountain’s Shadow is now available from Amazon and Smashwords!
She poured herself a cup of tea and listened to the rain pouring on the shelter roof. She’d heard that heavy drumming nowhere else in her travels.
She sat by the window and watched the storm outside rage across the rocky landscape, reshaping it before her eyes. She rarely took a break. Her duties kept her too busy to bask in the wonder of it all.
Later she would task a drone to collect samples. She would analyze them and send the data back to Earth. But for now, she just watched the rain: diamonds falling from an alien sky.
The Mountain’s Shadow is now available from Amazon and Smashwords!
Hello readers!
It probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn that I like flash fiction. I love the punch and immediacy of a good story that gets in and out in under a thousand words, leaving you thinking about it long after you’ve gotten up from your chair. If you’re a regular reader to my blog, I’m betting you dig flash fiction, too.
That’s why I’m backing the Small Wonders Kickstarter, and I hope you will, too!
Small Wonders is a new planned Flash Fiction magazine edited by Cislyn Smith and Stephen Granade. The project already has an issue zero out as a proof of concept, which looks outstanding with contributions by John Wiswell, Premee Mohamed, Beth Cato, and others. You can view free content from the issue one their website.
The kickstarter is reaching the end of its run, so you’ll have to act fast to get your copy and ensure that this excellent project reaches its goal. Rewards include subscriptions, physical or digital copies, bookmarks, pins and even hangouts with authors and editors.
Small Wonders is such a worthy project. I’m excited to be backing it, and I hope you will too. I am not affiliated with the project, but I plan to submit some pieces there if it gets funded. The Small Wonders kickstarter ends on March 30, so don’t wait to pledge your support. You can donate to the kickstarter HERE.
The Sisters of War have haunted armies since the time of Alexander. Their rumor has persisted, amongst the superstitious, to this day.
A trio of monstrous women with pale faces and fierce, implacable expressions, they are said to decide victory and defeat. They hold the power of life and death over every soldier.
Recruits whisper their names in chow lines, and Marines tattoo their image on their backs. Officers laugh about them in the club, but not at night when they lay awake listening to the howling wind outside their tents.
The Sisters say nothing. They merely watch and wait.
Thanks for reading! You can support me and find links to all my other work via my Linktree!
Written by Keiron GillenDrawn by Valerio SchitiColored by Marte GraciaLettered by VC’s Clayton CowlesPublished by Marvel Comics The Skinny: Marvel’s big crossover event for the summer dives deep into Superhero Politics Spinning out of The Eternals and Destiny of X, Guillen and Schiti deliver the opening salvo in a summer event comic that promises to be a bit more […]
I looked out at the expectant crowd and wanted to hide. The head priest caught my eye and nodded. He’d ushered hundreds of youths through the coming of age ceremony. Maybe thousands. I could do this.For hundreds of years, youths followed in the footsteps of The Hero. This was a ceremony to give them His […]
The game is called ‘Magic Mirror,’ and there are installed booths all over the world. I scanned my phone at the prompt. The gray holoscreen flared to life with the image I had pre-loaded: A high-resolution image of myself, highly edited to remove all my flaws.My partner was already on the other side of the […]
Legends and LattesWritten by Travis BaldreeAudiobook read by Travis Baldree The Skinny: What if the Coffee shop A. U. was the story? Viv is a barbarian warrior ready to get out of the mercenary’s life. But before she hangs up her greatsword for good, she needs a plan. Fortunately, she has two things going for […]
Welcome to Nostalgia Pilots! This week, Jason, Jurd, Spence and Hugh consider Mobile Fighter G Gundam Episode 15: Warrior’s Crest – Goodbye Shuffle Alliance! In this episode: Domon immediately forgets that he is injured, Rain also can heal Domon’s clothes, and George delivers a sinister ‘Bounour!’Pllus, the Shuffle Alliance believes in the heart of the […]
She rose from the water, a being of fire and light, birthed from the sea by a goddess’s will. Her upper half was human, a beautiful woman limned in streaming lava and sputtering flame. Her lower half resembled a fish’s tail ending in a forked fin that trailed in the water.The creature sat on a […]
The tree stood in a corner of the little churchyard, a resilient and determined evergreen.The city had grown up around the church, and after the old neighborhood had been demolished to build skyscrapers, nobody came to mass these days. The land the little old church sat on was valuable, and the city had grander houses […]
The Dandelion Princess dances through the meadow ins spring. She is short, green, clumsy. She moves awkwardly, still growing and still learning herself.The Dandelion Princess stretches toward the summer sun, her golden crown resplendent in the shimmering heat. She dances alone, slapping those who get too close. She dances for herself.Autumn paints the meadow in […]
The figure crouched on the railing of the tenement balcony, snow swirling around its ragged cloak. It was tall, thin, and ghostly pale. The gaslight danced in its glassy eyes.Inside the apartment, the child watched it fearfully.The figure reached into a pocket and produced a pair of oranges, setting them on the windowsill. It put […]
The IMS Dominion, the Imperial flagship, was designed to inspire terror and panic in the empire’s enemies, which was everyone. It wasn’t a fast ship, but its appearance on the horizon, bristling with cannons and armored launches, always spelled doom for the free people of the continent.The empire held the secrets of the Dominion’s construction […]
When the space station’s air tanks were struck by space debris, Station Management sent out a priority alert.Until the repairs were complete, and the supply could be guaranteed, they would be initiating ‘Emergency Pricing’ for all essentials. The price for oxygen quickly skyrocketed by a thousand percent, and for some reason, repairs on the system […]
I’m going to be honest. 2020 sucked. This probably isn’t news to you, and I don’t want to turn my blog into a list of woes, but last year was the worst. It was a time of painful isolation and crushing losses. Friends and family passed away. I lost my job. And I didn’t make […]
Black Sun: Between Earth and Sky Book OneWritten by Rebecca RoanhorsePublished by Saga Press The Skinny: An epic adventure full of fascinating characters in a unique and vibrant setting. Serapio is a god reborn. Before he was born, his mother’s people, the Crow clan, were brutally slaughtered in the city of Tova. His mother barely […]
The swarm of drones hovered over the mountain, their cameras clicking and fans humming. The crowd at the scenic overlook took cover and watched them.The tourists had all heard of the autonomous flying military robots, but most of them had only ever seen one on the news feeds. They were far from the front, and […]
Slaughterhouse-Five or, The Children’s Crusade: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
Story by Kurt Vonnegut
Written by Ryan North
illustrated by Albert Monteys
Published by Archaia
The Skinny – Listen: Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time.
Slaughterhouse-Five is both a ground-breaking anti-war noval and a deeply personal account of the firebombing of Dresden. It’s also a seminal work of New Wave Science Fiction. With this distinguished pedigree, adapting the work into a graphic novel would seem an insurmountable task. But Ryan North and Albert Monteys have done an outstanding job capturing the soul of the original book.
Even in text boxes and word balloons, Vonnegut’s signature prose comes through very well, and North does an excellent job trimming the work down to fit the requirements of the new medium. Monteys’s art is likewise on point. His use of a cartoonish style fits the attitude of the story well, and it gets under your skin, flowing from one scene to the next as easily as Billy Pilgrim slipping through time. Then, as with the original book, you will turn a page and be gut-punched by the beauty and horror of everything.
Slaughterhouse-Five is a moving, beautiful, sad, hilarious, enraging true adaptation of a peerless novel. It is among the best works I’ve read this year, and it belongs on the shelves of Vonnegut fans and newcomers alike. You can pick it up in hardbound graphic novel format from your Local Comics Shop, or digitally through Comixology.