Deep Sky Anchor
By Mary E. Lowd
Speculative fiction short stories, written and read by Mary E. Lowd.
For even more stories, visit deepskyanchor.com.
Deep Sky AnchorAug 24, 2020
No Catch
Some things seem too good to be true.
A science-fiction story originally published in Queer Sci Fi's Innovation.
Treasure in the Sky
A badger-like alien wrestles with a larger universe than he'd imagined.
A Deep Sky Anchor original story.
Crystal and Rainbow
Musings on the power of an accurate metaphor.
A science-fantasy story originally published in New Myths.
I Am Mazillion
A sentient swarm finds a new home and way of life.
A science-fiction story originally published in All Worlds Wayfarer.
The Empty Empire
World after world is built, but who will live in them?
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Courtship FTL
Buying a spaceship is harder when it has a mind of its own.
A science-fiction story originally published in Analog.
The Screen Savior
What happens when a screen saver comes to life...?
A science-fantasy story originally published in Bards & Sages Quarterly.
One Alien's Wings
A roboticist helps a butterfly-alien become her true self.
A science-fiction story originally published in Empyreome.
On The Eve Of The Apocalypse
A letter written as the world ends.
A science-fiction story originally published in Theme of Absence.
Pegacornus Rex
Never leave your 3D printer running unattended.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
When The Ghost Of The Future Catches Up
When a demon rides a unicorn, all hell breaks loose on an alien world.
A science-fantasy story originally published in Fantasia Divinity Magazine.
Missing: Friendly Spook
What do you do when your friendly feline ghost goes missing?
A fantasy story originally published in Fantasia Divinity Magazine.
Galactic Garden
Ariadella spins galaxies with her silk.
A science-fiction story originally published by Furvana.
The Spider In Her Lungs
Moira struggles to complete her greatest work of art before the source of her own talent consumes her.
A science-fiction story originally published in Abyss & Apex.
Catacomb's Orchestra
When a cat can control the minds of mice, she can make them sing for her.
A fantasy story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Sparky
A little girl and her robo-nanny must find her missing robo-dog during the chaos of battle between the president of Earth and the queen of the moon.
A science-fiction story originally published in Galactic Goddesses.
The Unicorn Keeper
The magical and the mundane meet when a mythical creature becomes a daily responsibility.
A fantasy story originally published in Theme of Absence.
Excerpt from Purride and Purrejudice
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a cat in sight of an empty box, must sit in it.
A Deep Sky Anchor Original Story.
The Nebula Was Empty
Fear the love of a mega-dimensional nebula beast.
A science-fiction story originally published in Spaceports & Spidersilk.
The Fire In Her Claws
No one will take this cat's claws.
A fantasy story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Veins of Black, Dust of Gold
A metamorphosis.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Hypercrystal Wish
An elephantine alien spends her recess playing board games alone, until a couple other students come back to the classroom early.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Memory Sprites
Phyllis takes her sister on a camping trip full of memories.
A fantasy story originally published in Fantasia Divinity.
Jetpack of a Different Color
Wendy's ready for a day of atmo-surfing with her friend Flooffle, but first, she's in for a big surprise.
A science-fiction story originally published in Renewal: Queer Sci-Fi's Fourth Annual Flash Fiction Contest.
My Fair Robot
A patron at the All Alien Cafe tells a tall tale of the pitfalls in looking for true love by constructing it.
A science-fiction story originally published in Luna Station Quarterly.
Femcloud, Inc.
A simple doctor appointment goes terribly wrong.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Take Them To The Happiness Zoo
A tired mother considers an impossible choice.
A science-fiction story originally published in Theme of Absence.
Elephantine Daydream
Jeko is the only elephantine sentient in a classroom full of canine and robotic students.
A science-fiction story originally published in Fantasia Divinity.
Treasure Moon
The squirrel-like Rikkita chases down the clues to the final phase of her heist.
A science-fiction story originally published in Fantasia Divinity.
Fetching Asteroids
Jordan is a Labrador Retriever with a dream.
A science-fiction story originally published in Allasso.
Hidden Feelings
A reptilian alien with a hot temper keeps her cool around annoying humans.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Sky River
Today, the ice rings melt.
A science-fiction story originally published in Theme of Absence.
Welcome to the Arboretum, Little Robot
Chirri's robot is malfunctioning.
A science-fiction story originally published in Analog Science Fiction & Fact.
Wing Day
Lee-a-lei hosts an unusual party and rite of passage for her daughter.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
In a Cat's Eyes
A Collie pup can never comprehend the depth and mystery behind a Siamese cat's eyes.
A furry story originally published in Dancing in the Moonlight.
Panda-Mensional
If your spaceship is powered by a panda, you'd better keep the panda happy.
A science-fiction story originally published in Neo-Opsis.
Heart of the Gas Giant
Arellnor dives into the heart of a gas giant, hoping the rumors are true.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Go High
A mouse-like alien gets lost in the clouds of New Jupiter.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Winged Folk Only
A mouse-like alien wants to fly with the avians.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Of Cakes and Robots
Chirri gets her biggest order for a cake yet, from a surprising customer.
A science-fiction story originally published in Theme of Absence.
The Ugly Sapling
Not all trees grow the same way.
A fantasy tale originally published in Empyreome.
The Emperor's New Bird
A bio-engineer and a roboticist bring offerings to the Doraspian emperor.
A science-fiction story originally published in Daily Science Fiction.
Sandbeard the Pirate Otter
An intrepid pirate must rescue an ocean world from boiling under blaring sunlight.
A science-fiction story originally published by Furvana.
Ecto-Busters One
Sunny wants to stop for a snack, but the demons pouring out of a portal on the top of the Great Dane building will not wait.
A furry story originally published by Midwest Furfest.
Cyclops on Safari
A normal day on safari -- in a different world.
A fantasy story originally published by the Penn Cove Literary Arts Award.
Weremoose
Darkfoot attacks a moose in the dead of winter, and his relationship with his pack will never be the same.
A fantasy story originally published in Untied Shoelaces of the Mind.
Hidden Intentions
A reptilian alien with her cool temper is clearly an ideal choice for babysitting the human captain's larval offspring.
A science-fiction story originally published in Analog Science Fiction & Fact.
The Best Puppy Ever
Gloria, the Bernese Mountain Dog, would do anything for her masters, but she doesn't know how much she's already done.
A science-fiction story originally published in AE: The Canadian Science Fiction Review.
For the Sake of the Mushrooms
Irudy struggles with her inner demons as she flies her cargo ship past the red giant that swallowed her home world.
A science-fiction story originally published in All Worlds Wayfarer.
Hot Chocolate for the Unicorn
The Dragon and Unicorn come calling.
A fantasy story originally published in Untied Shoelaces of the Mind.