James Pyles's Blog

“I really hate these damn toys, Bob,” said Hank the propane barbecue on the left. “Me too,” replied Bob, the one on the right. “They make too much damn noise and that motorized one is especially irritating. Kids should not be disturbing the sanctity of the backyard. “Shall we consume them?” Hank asked eagerly. “Won’t […]

Twelve-year-old Warren finally stumbled into the clearing. He was tired of Jean and Bobby complaining that the treasure map he took from the trunk in Grandpa’s basement was bogus. “I told you we’d find it,” he said. “Find what?” asked Jean panting. “It’s just a wall and a bunch of junk.” “Wait,” cried Bobby. “A […]

Anthony put on his robe as he left the bedroom. Vague lights from the Brooklyn Bridge outside his window passed through the shades casting macabre shadows across the living room. He sat heavily onto his grandfather’s old upholstered chair and let himself enjoy the fatigue that came over him after making love to Dolingren. She […]

“I told you I’d only come to dinner with if you wouldn’t take pictures of your food like the paparazzi chasing a movie star!” Ed was on his feet fuming at the four other people sitting around the table. “Look,” started Martin, “I’m sorry. I just forgot.” He tried disarming Ed’s temper with a shy […]

Ruins: A Space Opera Anthology is on pre-order now through the end of May. The anthology was created by Matt Herron and along with twelve other tales, includes my 12,000 word story “Sunrise.” A large sleeper ship on a mission to colonize a far-distant planet is pulled off course awakening the command crew. The vessel […]

John finally crested the alabaster rim of the crater after hours of climbing under the cold sun. He was sweating and couldn’t catch his breath in the thin atmosphere. He sat down on the edge looking downward, his chest heaving. He said at last, “All wrecked.” He’d been hoping that the Crater Base had at […]

Okay, with a caveat although it’s still pretty fantastic. As I write this, my YA science fiction novel A Wobblegong and His Boy is the NUMBER ONE BEST SELLER in Amazon’s Children’s Space Exploration books. I wish that qualified me to say I’m a best selling author but this value can change on an hourly […]

“Dad, what are you doing?” Harold watched his father using his phone to take a photo of a collection of breakfast items and a tablet. “Creating a still life,” Leonard said trying to hold his smartphone with one hand and maneuver his thumb. “Uh huh,” replied his son. “I thought that was done with a […]

“Do you ever miss it?” Aaron felt a little nervous asking Sarah that question. After all, she was a California native and it would be natural to miss her home. “Not a bit,” she answered slipping her arm around his waist in response to his holding her. They watched the lone sailboat just offshore in […]

The big, rusty pot on the top of the cabinet was everything that had ever been wrong with Henry’s life. The state rated him as a “Standard” just like Mom and Dad, nothing horrible, nothing exceptional. He was the default an enlightened society blamed things on to prioritize other groups. He was a Standard, so […]