Curious Flash Fiction by Simon J. Wood
I'm very pleased to report that To Cut a Short Story Short, vol. II: 88 Little Stories has been produced as an audiobook, expertly narrated by Angus Freathy, the narrator of no fewer than 47 audiobooks featured on Audible! It runs for 9 hours and 32 minutes, and features the 'best of the blog' from July 2017 to December 2018 plus an extended 5000 word story, In Dulci Dubilo, not published on the site, an emotional roller-coaster of a story, stunningly brought to life by the audio rendition!
(150 words) Hello Darling, Well they were right when they said the recipe for a great marriage is to live in different countries! Missing you and ‘the babe’ though. Looking forward to our ‘meeting’ in the Autumn! As the pic shows, I’m in Port-au-Prince. Splashed out on a Caribbean Cruise, don’t be cross! Someone said, … Continue reading Postcard from Hispaniola
Here the stories are listed according to the categories in the menu, namely 100 word stories, 200 word stories, 300-600 word stories, longer stories, TASWG, excerpts and blog (links open in new window/tab).lilnks open in nw 100 Word Stories 1 Don’t Mind the Police! 30th Nov 2015 2 Dream of a Stone Horse 30th Apr … Continue reading Contents – To Cut a Short Story Short – 20th Mar 2017
Despite leaving early, we’d climbed the trail alone for hours. “How’re you feeling Sue?” I asked. “Thirsty.” We came upon an ancient shrine with a small stone horse. I stroked its weathered features and whispered, “We need water... Dhanybhaad!” I imagined it standing under the cold stars, desolate, longing to live and breath. “Namaskar!” A … Continue reading Dream of a Stone Horse
Tests, more tests. Get me out of here! A young doctor, pimply and onion-breathed, shone an intense white light into my eyes. “No response I'm afraid, amantidine doesn't seem to have helped.” Damn you! I can hear you, see you! Matthew and Sarah stood nearby, exchanging glances, feigning concern. “Coma varies considerably. In your brother's … Continue reading Speechless
Arranging her music, Eloise sat at the piano in her uncle’s empty chateau. Nearby stood an ornate antique desk. On impulse she opened a drawer; beneath photographic magazines, an envelope. Inquisitively she looked inside it - photographs, and what photographs! A woman, naked save for a mask, straddled a creature, black-haired and cloven-hoofed. She recognised … Continue reading What the Devil?
Eighteen hundred hours. OK, go, go, go! Ten metres away across the dark, moonless sand, a lone sentry stood. Behind me, black parachutes, like water holes in the desert. Orders were ‘no shooting’ - ours not to reason why! Running softly, knife at the ready, I ran the few paces. At the last moment the … Continue reading Femme Fatal
Dumb, they called them. Hah! He stroked her soft blue-scaled cheeks, hearing her purr in response, long silver hair falling over her prominant chest. Six months on this godforsaken mining planet - maybe time to surrender! It wasn’t lust, he reassured himself, the creatures demonstrated love, so why resist? - The act over, he slept, … Continue reading Dumb
“Police state, that’s what this bloody place is becoming!” Arthur complained, looking up at the mandible poking incongruously from beneath a peaked cap. The policeman’s protruding eyes swivelled down at him and Arthur noticed the creature’s diaphanous folded wings twitch. “Look out! Mantra.” said Stan, his companion. “We are honest, we love the king,” they … Continue reading Don’t Mind the Police!
“Police were here last night...” “Why?” “Girl was attacked, back of Robertson’s...” “So?” “So maybe you know something?” “Nope” “Where were you last night?” “Round Alex’s.” “Doing what?” “This ‘n that, playin’ x-box, nothin’ really...” “Anyone else there?” “Nah” “Isn’t there a chip shop near Robertson’s?” “Dunno..” KNOCK KNOCK [hall] “Sorry to trouble you again, … Continue reading The Suspect
Evidently it was morning. Soft and warm, Svetlana moved beneath the quilt, brain fog and dream memories clearing. Time to make the checks! Pulsating hot and cold streams of water vitalized her, then, pulling on the cumbersome suit, out through the airlock into frozen red desert. Passing through the modules she checked air pressure, water … Continue reading Life on Mars
“Evidently the intruder gained access here,” said Holmes, tapping the high brick wall behind the Midland Bank. “But how ...?” “Look carefully, Watson, I opine these holes were made by metal-studded clogs!” “But where the Devil would a fellow get those?” Holmes took out a magnifying glass and looked carefully at the marks. “One and … Continue reading The Final Mystery