[sticky entry] Sticky: Fiction Archive

Nov. 8th, 2023 01:41 pm
riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)

   I have been writing original superhero SF, starting with the serialized novel "The Fall of Doc Future", for more than a decade now, and posting it over on tumblr. I plan to eventually put most of it up here (some of it, particularly early work, I plan to edit first.)

   Most of it is indexed on my (now a little outdated) Stories page, so if you are curious about particular references, wish to read the original versions, or are just impatient at the pace I am reposting here (all perfectly understandable) you can read them there on tumblr.
 

riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)
    [This story is a prequel, set several years before The Fall of Doc Future, when Flicker is 16.]

    Time crawled by over the Tiber.  Flicker was staying under the speed of sound, but she had to keep her subjective mental speed relatively high in order to counter any efforts by Hermes to escape or create shockwaves with his arms.  He'd tried each once and gotten his head bounced off the water surface for his trouble.  A number of bystanders along the river ended up soaked and with ringing ears, despite Flicker's earlier care.  And the cacophonous passage of what probably sounded like a demonic helicopter was unlikely to reassure anyone.  At least there were no boats.


riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)
    [This story is a prequel, set several years before The Fall of Doc Future, when Flicker is 16.]


    About seven years ago, a being had provoked a contest.  He wasn't human, or from Earth.  Doc called him an extradimensional pseudo-mythological entity; Flicker's partner Journeyman described him as a trickster demon.  The being went by several names, none of them original; the most recognizable one was Hermes.  He wasn't nearly as clever as he apparently thought he was, and didn't have very good judgement, but he had superspeed and several effective methods of disguise, which made him a serious pain to catch.

    His motives had never been entirely clear, but they included the desire to acquire power and fame, things he coveted, by proclaiming himself the best trickster on Earth and inviting challengers.  It hadn't worked out the way he'd planned.  Two other beings responded to the challenge.  Between them, they caused quite a bit of destruction and disruption--and a number of deaths.  A group of superheroes coordinated by Doc had eventually stopped them.

    One trickster died, in a self-inflicted mishap while trying a risky escape.  One disappeared completely, though circumstantial evidence now indicated he was dead.  And Hermes himself had been captured and sent to the Box, the supervillain prison.

    Holding him had proved more difficult.  Less than a year later, during a possibly unrelated security incident, he had escaped.  Without going through the door, the walls, the floor, or the ceiling of his cell.  It was still unknown what had given him the opportunity.  Forensic magicians were consulted.  All they had been able to divine was that Hermes wasn't on Earth, he was still alive when he left, and it was possible that he had outside help.  The Box had tightened its countermeasures against dimensional travel.  Unsatisfying, but what else could you do?

    Unless he came back.

Read more... )


riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)

    [This is the first chapter of a prequel, set several years before The Fall of Doc Future, when Flicker is 16, in 2012. The history of her world is similar but not identical to ours.  The original (incomplete and will be revised) version is on tumblr starting here. For much of the historical background I referred to Ada Palmer's excellent series on Machiavelli that starts here, and the quotes are from the Project Gutenberg version of "The Prince" here.]

    When Flicker had formally started her career as a superhero, Doc Future had expressed reservations about her ability in two areas.  Not her power, technique, knowledge, or motivation, but two mundane, almost trivial seeming skills.  Flicker hadn't thought they would cause any major problems.

    They did.

    The skills were triage and pacing.  What to prioritize when she couldn't get to everything, when to stop, and when not to even go on call for the day because she hadn't recovered enough yet.

    For someone who could respond to any emergency, anywhere in the world, they were essential.  She'd eventually dealt with the triage issue by setting general priorities and letting Doc's Database handle the rest--because that let her concentrate on pacing.  Which was still a problem.  One that was manageable, but not always well managed.

    Because knowing that people somewhere were dying or getting hurt because she wasn't willing or able to push just a little further... bothered her.  A lot.

Read more... )

 

Cat Fight

Oct. 31st, 2023 06:03 pm
riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)

    [For Halloween, a cat story I wrote in 2015.  It takes place when Flicker is sixteen, before the events in The Fall of Doc Future.]

    There was a park in Kenya where elephant and rhino were nearly as plentiful as they had always been, a place where they were still safe.  One of the reasons was a single man who kept it that way.

    His name was Jonathan, and he was a park ranger.  Officially.

    Jonathan was faster than a normal man--much faster.  How fast he could run was limited only by his need to breathe, and for the ground to hold together under his feet.  He'd spent a long time learning his limits, and those of the world around him.  He might have become a superhero.  But he saw a different need.  He could cover a lot of ground--in places without roads.  And quickly intervene, which someone in a plane could not.

    What he mainly did these days was hunt poachers.

Read more... )


riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)

    A quick test has verified that the Dreamwidth editor is able to handle my story chapter posting--and considerably better than Tumblr's editor.  Probably going to switch to posting text here and links on tumblr, when I get organized to the point of posting again.

 

    I am very pleased indeed with Dreamwidth 8-)

    A summary of my mood.

riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)
After a prolonged multiyear battle with the demons of procrastination, I have emerged, at last, here. I used to post on LJ under this username by logging in through another site. So if the name looks familiar from way back, that may be why.

I plan to start posting my serial fiction here, after I get organized a bit.

I have been posting superhero SF over on tumblr as docfuture for almost 12 years now.

Currently, all my old fiction is still over on tumblr at https://docfuture.tumblr.com/

My old fiction Stories page (rather out of date) is here:
https://docfuture.tumblr.com/post/62787551366/stories

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riderius: Moon with plasma lines (Default)
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