They have interesting backstories. "Stars Within the Glass" was initially acquired by a publication in Ireland, where all went well--until they began to like it a little too much. (Reprinting in a collection without permission.) The "Blazing Darkness and Fractured Shadows" piece had its origins in a high school math class in Yakima, Washington, where I could not stay awake unless I jotted down fiction ideas. Much to the benefit of the reader, the original version was lost in the intervening years, and it had to be rewritten from scratch.
So, without further ado, here is the new and working table of contents. Several excerpts follow. This story collection will be free to acquire on Amazon for a few more hours now. PS. One remaining (very silly) mistake remains, but I am not going to divulge it. It will be fixed soon. I must dislike working on Amazon's platform to such a degree that I am going a tad too quickly...
"Stars Within the Glass"
As he watched, the bottle was suddenly full to the brim of a pulsing fluorescent red liquid--at least he perceived it as liquid. Points of light, like stars, shone with a fierce brightness throughout, gliding this way and that within the confines of the glass. Bewildering lights and shadows played over the walls of the room. Strangely, the reddish light seemed to pass clean through some objects in the lab, but not others. David extended a shaking hand directly in front of one of the lights on the wall, but there was neither any shadow of a hand showing on the wall nor any faint light caught in his palm—only a sense of coldness. David was too mesmerized by the lights even to catch the strange scent of roses and pine emanating from the lit bottle. He stared transfixed at a single point of light while taking a tentative step towards where he thought the clipboard should be.
Erickson, Karl. Dark by Day, Dark by Night: A Collection of Short Stories and Essays (p. 8). (Function). Kindle Edition.
"Blazing Darkeness and Fractured Shadows"
Derek slid into the pod’s comfortable pilot chair and watched the security squad board in an orderly fashion to the rear. They must have been tired, but they looked sharp and prepared. Even their dark blue uniforms were crisp and pressed. Each of the twelve carried a laser rifle, and Anne Jenson, who sat at the co-pilot’s station, held what was affectionately called the cannon. It was a weapon that could easily vaporize a heavy bulkhead with a single explosive shot, and it was self-charging in most environments. While it did its job well, it also posed a small radiation risk to the user. If it was necessary to use repeatedly, members of the team were trained to rotate usage among available personnel. In transit, it resembled a large shotgun connected to a collapsed heavy-duty tripod. Bright red warning symbols were visible on all its sides. Anne held it with ease. Her blond hair framed an attractive face, sternly set. Derek recalled the relationship they had briefly shared. He felt a momentary flash of guilt.
Erickson, Karl. Dark by Day, Dark by Night: A Collection of Short Stories and Essays (p. 22). (Function). Kindle Edition.
"The Matter of a Small Gunfight"
“Don’t touch ‘em, boy,” the marshal warned sternly. “No worries, sir,” Benjamin replied. “I’ll just watch them properly.” And watch them he did. He couldn’t, in fact, avert his eyes from the pile of strange armaments. One revolver, in particular, had a handle that looked to be made out of polished white wood or perhaps ivory. Looking around furtively, Benjamin allowed himself to extend a shaking hand towards the six-shooter, but he didn’t venture more than the briefest touch. Something of the forbidden feel of the gun sent shivers down his spine. He wondered whether it had ever been used to shoot a murderer or maybe a horse thief? Someday, he hoped he would own a gun like that.
Erickson, Karl. Dark by Day, Dark by Night: A Collection of Short Stories and Essays (pp. 62-63). (Function). Kindle Edition.
...and for the humor section.
"Take Your Trash to Work Day"
In an exciting partnership with the Portland Metro Area’s Tri-Met, Monday is Take Your Trash to Work Day! While you can, of course, pile the garbage bags in your own vehicle when you leave for the office, may I recommend using convenient public transit on Monday? When you climb aboard one of these luxurious and sparkling-clean buses, take your seat in confidence. Don't worry about bothering people--sit next to anyone! We all do our part to make Salem a better place.
Erickson, Karl. Dark by Day, Dark by Night: A Collection of Short Stories and Essays (p. 80). (Function). Kindle Edition.
