Short Stories:Cs

C is for Cotyledon

Can't Live Without You
Captain Fagan Died Alone
The Cards Speak
Carpe Diem
Carriers
Changelings
Chanterelle
Cinderella's Sisters
The Colour of Envy
Coming to Terms with the Great Plague

Community Service
Complications
The Conqueror
The Corridor
The Cosmic Perspective
The Cult of Selene
The Cure for Love
Curiouser and Curiouser
Custer's Last Stand

Can't Live Without You [7]

Oceans of the Mind

Captain Fagan Died Alone [5]

The DAW Science Fiction Reader, DAW 1976

ed. Donald A. Wollheim

This story is set in the same universe as To Challenge Chaos, though in tone it's more like An Offer of Oblivion.

It concerns Malachi Fagan, one of many children scattered across the universe by the promiscuous captain of the title. As Malachi grows into adulthood, he becomes increasingly intrigued by who his father is and so when his mother dies, he goes in search of his father.

Many of Brian's early short stories are quest stories like this one and like this one the consummation is not what the seeker wants.

The Cards Speak [1] (as Brian Craig)

Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, Barnes & Noble 1998

ed. Stefan Dziemianowicz, Robert Weinberg & Martin H. Greenberg

The Cards Speak puts a twist on an old story. What if we made a deck of cards as we used to - unduplicated and original paintings, free of mass production - returning the magic that they once held?

The stakes of the game would have to be higher...

Review by Trent Walters

Carpe Diem [1] (as Francis Amery)

The Penny Dreadfull 09 (November 1997)

Asimov's Science Fiction (July 1993)

Translated into German as:

'Träger' in Die Strasse nach Candarei ed. Wolfgang Jeschke, Heyne 1995

Bowring is the sole survivor of the ill-fated Mars mission. He now lives on an isolated pig farm, rejecting the company of his fellow people. Until one day, there are helicopters scouring the land around his farm and soldiers knocking on his door.

Once he had seen the soldiers off, he goes up to his bedroom to find the fugitives: a young woman and her baby.

This melancholy story reminds us that we are all carriers of memories of all sorts. It also brings new meaning to the word bloodshed.

Changelings [5]

Interzone 085 (July 1994)

Chanterelle [12]

Black Heart, Ivory Bones., Avon 2000

ed.Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling

Year's Best Fantasy, Eos 2001

ed. David G. Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer

Salome & Other Decadent Fantasies, Cosmos 2004

Definite echoes of Handsel and Gretal here, though there is no trail of breadcrumbs.

Handsel and Chanterelle grew up in the city, but when their father dies, their mother Catriona takes them home to live with thier grandfather, a blacksmith. However, when they arrive in the village, their grandfatrher is nowhere to be found; so Catriona goes into the forest to search for him, never to return.

After a few days, hunger drives Chanterelle and Handsel in search of their mother and they wander the woods growing steadily weaker; until they meet an old she-wolf, who warns them not to eat the mushrooms. After a few more days, they are taken in by a mysterious woman who has nothing else to offer...

Cinderella's Sisters [6]

The Gate 1 (April 1989)

Sexual Chemistry, Simon & Schuster (UK) 1991

For me, this is one of Brian's less successful efforts and for the same reasons as An Offer of Oblivion.

The tale concerns Aurora and Jeanne Dark, heiress' to the fortune of a genetic engineering pioneer, who are in the opinion of their peers ugly; hence the title. However, instead of having a more fortunate younger sister, the Cinderella of the title is the ideal of feminine beauty.

At 6,000 words this story is quite sizeable, but I feel would benefit from the room a novel could afford. It is a humane and touching story, but it lack's impact, because motivations are reported rather than shown.

The Colour of Envy [9]

Asimov's Science Fiction (May 2001)

This is about Tess Eliot, a media studdies student who to make ends meet, volunteers for an experiment in which she's smeered with goo containing genetically engineered chloroplasts. This naturally turns the skin of her arms and legs green, but she's not worried, because the chlororplasts won't survive long...

Another of Brian's witty anti-yuck-factor stories about the benefits of biotechnology, like The Milk of Human Kindness.

Coming to Terms with the Great Plague [7]

Omni On-Line [December 31] 1997

This Story is currently online at Omni Archives

A review of this story is online HERE.

Finalist for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the Best Short SF of the Year 1997.

Community Service [8]

Terra Incognita 2 (Spring 1997)

Complications [12]

Amazing Stories (February 1992)

Complications & Other Science Fiction Stories, Cosmos Books 2003

An intriguing story set in a world where men are not separate conscious entities, but eel-like creatures, which have a quasi-parasitic relationship with their mothers and wives.

When a mother gives birth to a girl, the baby is suckled and brought up exactly as in this world; but if the baby is a boy, then the infant is transferred immediately to the daughter-in-law. Thus families are not nuclear, but follow the germ-line with the eldest mother taking the matriarchal role and marriages are arranged.

The complications of the title are to do with pregnancy. We are after all, still dealing with a biological system and all sorts of things go wrong with them; ask anyone who wears glasses.

All this is presented in a very unsensational way, which allows you to sympathise with Rachael as she tries to balance her wishes against the expectations and traditions of her society, and confronts the 'yuck factor' of having her son 'tanked'.

A thoughtful story which echoes Bedside Conversations.

The Conqueror [3]

Science Fiction Monthly (April 1975)

The Corridor [1]

Procyon 1 (Winter 1975)

The Cosmic Perspective [8]

The Cosmic Perspective/Custer's Last Stand, Drumm 1985

Henry McCanless is born of indifferent parents into an indifferent world and quickly learns to make as little fuss as possible. He cultivates a love of the stars and ends up as the methodical professor of Astronomy in a well - off university.

One day he notices something about his wife Stella, which inspires him with a revolutionary vision of the universe, which literally changes everyone's cosmic perspective.

Brian portrays Henry with great pathos and even manages to bring him to a reconciliation with his fate and his discovery. A nice one I'm glad I read.

The Cult of Selene [2]

Albedo One #14 1997

Translated into French as

Le culte de séléné in Parallèles 8

Professor Amarinth loved to loiter in the more secluded spaces of ancient Greek history; the study of the worship of Zeus wasn't for him. No, he decided to penetrate the mysteries of Selene, the Greeks' first moon goddess. As he traced the legend, he encountered Hecate, Artemis and Endymion, and came to understand the nature of the cult's worship.

It was when he tried to recreate the ceremonies that the trouble started...

Mildly amusing.

The Cure for Love [8]

Asimov's Science Fiction (December (mid) 1993)

Translated into Czech as

Lék na lásku in Asimov´s Science Fiction CZ (8/1997)

A very touching story in which Catherine Tyldesley - nee Grant - meets old school friend Don Sherrington and they go back to her flat to chat over coffee.

It turns out that life hasn't been kind to either of them in the years since they left school. Don's sister, Diana has committed suicide and Catherine has endured a stormy marriage and a thankless son.

As they talk, it becomes clear that Diana's death is linked to Don's work with genetically engineered viruses and his attempts to find a way of alleviating some of the worst affects of forming an emotional attachment.

A tragic tale and definitely one to seek out if you can.

Curiouser and Curiouser (A Kitchen Sink Drama by Carol Lewis) [3]

Redsine 4 (February 2001)

ed. Garry J. Nurrish, Trent Jamieson, D.J. Tyrer & D. Canada

Custer's Last Stand [9]

The Cosmic Perspective/Custer's Last Stand, Drumm 1985

Marcus Custer is a hack, a purveyor of lurid, violent fantasies to the nation. From his suburban abode, he pours out a careless stream of sadistic rape and murder, which keeps him high in the best-seller's lists.

Then one day he wakes up to find his home picketed by the poor victims of his imagination, like poor Dorothy Gretton from Subscription to Sin. Not only that, but he dare not answer the phone for fear of it being one of his murderous creations on the other end demanding a rewrite.

Marcus finds he can no longer create, for no sooner has he invented a character than he finds it outside with its companions.

Determined to beat his tormentors, Marcus decides to tell the one story they can't stop him writing...

Witty and ironic, a story to make any writer nervous.

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