About the Book
Title: Migration
Series Title: Queer Sci Fi Flash Fiction
Number in Series: 5
Author: Various
Publisher: Other Worlds Ink
Publication Date: Wednesday, July 24 2019
Format: Paperback, eBook
Price: 3.99 / 16.99
Length: 36000
Genre: sci fi, fantasy, paranormal, horror
Tags: sci fi, science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, queer, flash fiction, micro fiction, anthology, LGBTQ
Cover Artist: J. Scott Coatsworth / Kelley York, Sleepy Fox Studio (typography)
Links
QueeRomance Ink | Amazon US | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Synopsis
MI-GRA-TION (noun)
- Seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.
- Movement of people to a new area or country in order to find work or better living conditions.
- Movement from one part of something to another.
Three definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell. Here are 120 of our favorites.
Migration feaures 300 word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
Series Blurb:
Every year, Queer Sci Fi solicits stories around a one-word theme. We receive hundreds of entries with almost as many possible interpretations, and we choose some of the best for this annual anthology.
Excerpt
Each year, hundreds of writers send in stories for the Queer Sci Fi flash fiction anthology. Here are the opening lines from some of the stories chosen for the 2019 edition – Migration:
“On her sister’s wedding day Ari noticed that one of her ears had migrated to her hand. It was right after her high school crush, Emily, arrived with Cousin Matt.” —Playing It By Ear, Aidee Ladnier
“The sky has been screaming for five straight days when the shrimps come to take us away. They’ve been boxing up the others and hauling them off. Now they’re here for us, soaking wet, dragging cords and crates behind them.” —Shrimpanzee, Sionnain Bailey
“Allister always had faultless hair. He’d comb and gel it to perfection while gazing in the mirror. One day a pair of eyes stared back.” —Zulu Finds a Home, by Kevin Klehr
“Darkness has substance. It is tangible; different shades within the black, sounds, a taste. It is accompanied by self-awareness of time and thoughts, even when other senses fail.” —Hope for Charity, by Robyn Walker
“The wound was fatal. Their vessel wouldn’t live much longer. This is what came from leaving loose ends. Frantically they sought out a new vessel to migrate to. “ —The Essence, by L.M. Brown
“That night, we were sitting in the bed of her daddy’s old pickup truck and the radio was playing the best song. We had a pack of cigarettes between us and her hand was almost touching mine. The wheat field was silver in the moonlight. When they came, we weren’t surprised, just disappointed that our time was up already.” —Our Song, by Lauren Ring
“Willow said she was my wife, but I knew it wasn’t her, not the right her, anyway. Sure she looked like her with olive skin and bright pink hair. She even smelled of mango flowers, just like I remembered, but there was something about her smile that was slightly off, something about when she said she loved me that didn’t sit well in my old heart.” —They Said It Would Be Her, by Elizabeth Andre
“Agnes is eight when she first sees the river. Cutting its way through town, the only thing she knows not coated in coal dust. She sticks her toes in, comes home with wet socks and a secret. See, the river hadn’t been there yesterday.” —Stream of Consciousness, by Ziggy Schutz
“Terry twirled in her green synthsilk dress, looked at her reflection, liked what she saw. She felt good in her own skin, for maybe the first time.” —Altball, by RE Andeen
“The thing was in the corner. It had come through the window and had slid down the wall. Scratch went the sound. The noise of a hundred nails clawing at the wood. Nails of white bone. Alex pulled the sheets up quickly, covering every inch of skin and hair in a warm darkness.” —Whose Nightmare, by Jamie Bonomi
The Risks and Advantages of Data Migration, by Kim Fielding
Zuri sat up slowly, staring at their new hands. Clean, blunt nails. Unused and faultless.
Target systems will take time to respond to data migration.
Once, Zuri’s nails had been broken, blackened with soil. Zuri remembered calluses on fingers and palms, the odor of green things reaching for the sun, the humming of bees, but not what had made their skin harden.
There will always be some losses when data migrates to a target system.
Another set of years—before or after, Zuri didn’t know—and their nails were weapon-long, lacquered deadly scarlets and lethal fuchsias. Gem-studded rings graced the fingers, and the skin was soft and rose-scented. Those fingers had often held a pen. No, a microphone. Or perhaps a camera. Something dangerous.
Migration may lead to data corruption.
Zuri’s nails had once been embedded with grease that would never wash away no matter how much they scrubbed. Once latex gloves had encased Zuri’s hands as Zuri held bits of metal and inspected the damage done to delicate tissues by accident or disease. A baby had been cradled in their hands too, and a gun. Seashells. Books. All of that keratin, skin, and bone was dust now, nothing but ghosts of memories.
After migration, host systems will be permanently unavailable.
A figure entered the room cautiously. They were tall and slightly pudgy, with hair in dark braids and wearing a tunic that glowed all the colors of a sunrise. Zuri didn’t remember that soft face or the clean, long-fingered hands reaching for Zuri’s own. Bitter tears stung Zuri’s eyes.
Target systems may experience instability.
“I love you,” said the person.
And Zuri remembered those words, said exactly that way—and smiled as they pulled their beloved close.
Done with care, occasional migration offers best chances for long-term data longevity.
About the Author
A hundred and twenty authors have been chosen for this year’s flash fiction anthology.
Giveaway
Queer Sci Fi is giving away a $20 gift Amazon certificate with this tour – enter via Rafflecopter for a chance to win:
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