Strange New Worlds 8

by Dean Wesley Smith

  Muri McCage (“Always a Price”) is a full-time writer, currently working on several original fiction projects and a screenplay. This is her second SNW appearance. She has traveled the world and would love to travel the universe as well, if only technology would catch up with imagination. In the meantime, she is very happy to hitch a ride on the wagon train to the stars. She would like to thank her best friend, Cinnamon, who always gets it, and her mom, for always believing.

  Susan S. McCrackin (“Transfiguration”) is thrilled to once again be included in SNW after making her first appearance in SNW VII. Susan lives in northern Virginia (which seems to be a haven for SNW writers!) and is supported by wonderful friends who encourage her writing efforts. She is especially grateful to Judy (who helped me come up with the title for this story) and to Leslie (who has been her biggest fan and most fervent cheerleader and also has a great talent for creating titles) for all of their editing work. She is currently working on an SF novel with a universe that is totally under her control—well, as much control as her characters will allow her to have.

  Annie Reed (“Once Upon a Tribble”) lives in northern Nevada with her husband, her daughter, and several high-maintenance cats. In addition to science fiction, she writes mystery and mainstream fiction, and has recently sold stories to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and the upcoming anthology Time After Time from Daw. “Once Upon a Tribble” marks her third and final appearance in Strange New Worlds. She wants to thank Dean, Paula, and Elisa for the opportunity; Dave and Katie for giving her time, space, and encouragement to write; the incredible Oregon Coast Writers, from whom she’s learned so much; and, last but certainly not least, the incomparable Melissa for keeping the faith even when she had none. Strange New Worlds has been a wonderful experience, and she will miss it.

  Robert Burke Richardson (“Egg Drop Soup”) has stories appearing in All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories, Magistria: Realm of the Sorcerer, and online at WouldThatItWere.com (Oct/Dec 2004). His nonfiction appears online at The Internet Review of Science Fiction and TrekNation.com. Where he’s from, the birds sing a pretty song and there’s always music in the air.

  Sarah A. Seaborne (“Passages of Deceit”) is a native Oregonian who quilts, walks marathons, and is a green belt in Tae Kwon Do. “Passages of Deceit” is her first professional sale, and she is currently writing a mystery novel and working on a story for the next SNW competition. She wishes to thank her friends (two-legged and four-legged) who have immeasurably enriched her life. And for this story, and for an indescribable year, a special thanks to Ian, friend, confidant, and the guy at the other end of the lifeline.

  Amy Sisson (“You May Kiss the Bride”) is an academic librarian in Houston, Texas, and a graduate of Clarion West (2000). This is Amy’s second appearance in SNW, following “The Law of Averages” in SNW VII. “You May Kiss the Bride” is dedicated to Paul Abell—husband, soulmate, and co-rescuer of cats—and is not based on Amy and Paul’s real-life wedding experiences. Thanks also to Dean Wesley Smith, Paula M. Block, and Elisa J. Kassin for helping to make writing dreams come true.

  J.B. (Jan) Stevens (“Coffee with a Friend”), a blood bank lab technologist and aspiring writer living in Oklahoma City, is humbled to be making her second appearance in the Strange New Worlds anthologies. Her first winning story, “Hidden,” appeared in Strange New Worlds VI. A lifetime fan of science fiction, JB has been hopelessly addicted to Star Trek ever since the original series first aired. She would like to dedicate this story to the memory of her father, Richard Burke. He left her a wonderful legacy of devotion to family, his example of never wanting to give up and quit, and the belief that despite other people’s opinions, being a stubborn, hardheaded Irishman isn’t such a bad thing after all.

  Kevin G. Summers (“Morning Bells Are Ringing”) is the author of the critically acclaimed short story “Isolation Ward 4” (SNW IV) as well as the story “Ha’mara” (Prophecy and Change). He resides in Leesburg, Virginia, with his beautiful wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Morwen.

  John Takis (“Final Flight”) appears in SNW for the last time, having previously published in volumes III and V. John writes, “This story is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Goldsmith, whose incomparable music shaped both Star Trek and my imagination.” John can be found at various Midwestern locales, working for his church and hacking away at assorted writing projects. He sends love to .

  Geoffrey Thorne (“Concurrence”) still lives in Los Angeles, still with his frighteningly prescient (and now occasionally bemused) wife, Susan. Deepest thanks to the Great Bird for starting all this. Equal thanks to Dean, Elisa, Paula, and the absent but never forgotten John Ordover, for letting me join in. IDIC.

  Paul C. Tseng (“Don’t Call Me Tiny”) holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Juilliard and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. He is an IT professional and a musician. Paul has been a fan of Star Trek since he was in elementary school, when the original series aired every night. Writing stories since the first grade, he has written plays, scripts, short stories, and novels. His contribution to Strange New Worlds 8 marks his professional debut. It was at the suggestion of friends that he entered his stories into SNW to get his proverbial “foot in the door.” Paul acknowledges and thanks his wife, Katie, and two children, who put up with his Trek habit in southern California. He would also like to thank his accomplices Anthony Davis, Lori Graves, and Joseph DiLella for their encouragement, devoted feedback, and support from the very first chapter of Trek fiction he wrote. Paul dedicates this story to his father and recently departed mother for their love and unfailing belief in him.

  Amy Vincent (“Gumbo”) works in marketing in New York City. Although she has also worked as a journalist and continues to free-lance, this is her first published fiction. She would especially like to thank her friends Rocky and Seema for inspiring this story and encouraging her to enter it in Strange New Worlds, as well as her friends Rodney and Jesse, the best Trek-watching pals anybody ever had.