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Bottled Lightning
One moment can change your life.
For husband and wife team, Alex and Lisa, the trip across the volcanoes of Mars is a chance to escape the monotony of life at Gale Crater. But now they've found something, or someone, and everything is about to change.
For husband and wife team, Alex and Lisa, the trip across the volcanoes of Mars is a chance to escape the monotony of life at Gale Crater. But now they've found something, or someone, and everything is about to change.
19 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2014
About the author
Philip Harris
34 books56 followersPhilip Harris is a speculative fiction author and video game developer. Originally born near Oxford, England, he now lives on the West Coast of Canada where he spends his days developing video games and his nights writing speculative fiction - anything from horror to science fiction to fantasy.
His first publication, Letter From a Victim, appeared in the award winning magazine, Peeping Tom, in 1995. Since then he has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies including Garbled Transmissions, So Long, and Thanks for All The Brains and James Ward Kirk's Best of Horror 2013.
He has also worked as security for Darth Vader.
His science fiction novel, Glitch Mitchell and the Unseen Planet is a homage to the old Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials has just been released.
You can find free fiction and his blog at his website.
His first publication, Letter From a Victim, appeared in the award winning magazine, Peeping Tom, in 1995. Since then he has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies including Garbled Transmissions, So Long, and Thanks for All The Brains and James Ward Kirk's Best of Horror 2013.
He has also worked as security for Darth Vader.
His science fiction novel, Glitch Mitchell and the Unseen Planet is a homage to the old Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials has just been released.
You can find free fiction and his blog at his website.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 11, 2018
"I don’t know, we didn’t get that far. God, I have so many questions. This will change the world, Alex."
Not sure if I should call it a love story, I guess it depends on the point of view. Somehow, it felt a little shorter than it actually is, I guess that's the thing with good stories. I won't be taking my wife to Mars any time soon, that's for sure.
Not sure if I should call it a love story, I guess it depends on the point of view. Somehow, it felt a little shorter than it actually is, I guess that's the thing with good stories. I won't be taking my wife to Mars any time soon, that's for sure.
July 24, 2015
I wrote and deleted this a couple of times, because everything I want to say is a spoiler. It's a short story, but it contains plenty of feeling. Underlying the unusual first contact story is the hope and love of the husband as he tells his tale. The end of that tale was unexpected, but had the feel of the sadly inevitable. I received a free copy of this story for subscribing to the author's newsletter. He did not expect a review in return, but I review the books I enjoy.
July 23, 2017
A quick read, this short story is set on a future Mars where an expedition comes into contact with another world's being. A husband and wife are the first to make contact. All does not go happily. We are left to speculate as this is a thoughtful work rather than an action one.
I'd like the author to consider sentence construction which doesn't use It. One page has It five times including at the start of three sentences.
The author made this story available free. This is an unbiased review.
I'd like the author to consider sentence construction which doesn't use It. One page has It five times including at the start of three sentences.
The author made this story available free. This is an unbiased review.
April 16, 2015
Let The Sparks Fly
Great short story. Sort of reminded me of the movie Prometheus, but instead of killing everyone, this lifeform relays vital information about the universe. You will not see the ending coming. I look forward to more from this author.
Great short story. Sort of reminded me of the movie Prometheus, but instead of killing everyone, this lifeform relays vital information about the universe. You will not see the ending coming. I look forward to more from this author.
July 17, 2015
Excellent twist on First Contact on Mars!
This story needs to continue ..........
This story needs to continue ..........
November 22, 2016
This was such an entertaining read that I was wishing it wasn't just a short story. This definitely had an interesting direction and idea.
June 9, 2016
A very short, but emotional, story about a trip to Mars and the repercussions. It left me feeling extremely sad for a few reasons.
It actually felt longer and is well worth reading, it packs a bit of a punch.
It actually felt longer and is well worth reading, it packs a bit of a punch.
October 22, 2016
Even though this is a very short story that only takes about 10-15 minutes to read, it holds a lot of interest in its pages.
November 28, 2016
Ehh
It's alright. Started out promising then went down hill. Well, for me at least. I liked the first bit though.
It's alright. Started out promising then went down hill. Well, for me at least. I liked the first bit though.
June 30, 2017
Uncaged Book Reviews:
This is really a short story, so I’m not going to get into the nuts and bolts, as it would give too much away, but a couple of scientists come upon a tunnel when exploring Mars, and find some dust that seems to spark, so they bottle some of it up in a specimen jar and take it back to the lab. A very interesting story that left more questions than it answered. I don’t think there is any continuation into a full-fledged series, at least I don’t know of one. When it comes to short stories that are standalones, I’d rather see it tie up its own storyline, and I felt like this one didn’t. I think I was left more in a bit of a fog, wondering if the book cut off before it was supposed to. Reviewed by Cyrene
3 1/2 stars
Full review at UncagedBooks.com
This is really a short story, so I’m not going to get into the nuts and bolts, as it would give too much away, but a couple of scientists come upon a tunnel when exploring Mars, and find some dust that seems to spark, so they bottle some of it up in a specimen jar and take it back to the lab. A very interesting story that left more questions than it answered. I don’t think there is any continuation into a full-fledged series, at least I don’t know of one. When it comes to short stories that are standalones, I’d rather see it tie up its own storyline, and I felt like this one didn’t. I think I was left more in a bit of a fog, wondering if the book cut off before it was supposed to. Reviewed by Cyrene
3 1/2 stars
Full review at UncagedBooks.com
September 4, 2017
I was torn whether to give this 3 or 4 stars. The abrupt ending that left me wanting more and left me with many questions made me want to give it a 3. However, the originality of the story made me go for the 4. I really do just wish there was more to this. It feels like the prologue to something much bigger.
September 9, 2018
A boring visit to Mars turns exciting when Lisa, the narrator's wife, takes off on a side trip. The cave holds a weird sparkle that voluntarily goes into a sample bottle, then morphs in the isolation chamber into a "man." His story is astounding, and the effect on Lisa is...read the story!
October 23, 2018
A really interesting short that I wish had gone on for a little longer. Leaves a little more information desired. Yet at the same time was fun, entertaining and hard to put down. A concept done well with a well fleshed out main character. Worth the read.
November 21, 2019
This superb Science Fiction short story took a totally unexpected mind-boggling twist, which blew me away. The characters are well-developed, the suspense mounts--and then, an explosive denouement. Wonderful! Much more than 5 stars!
September 2, 2017
Intense!
I did not think such a short story would be so consuming, I was surprised for sure. Never saw the ending coming. Great work.
I did not think such a short story would be so consuming, I was surprised for sure. Never saw the ending coming. Great work.
September 15, 2017
Good short science fiction story.
July 13, 2016
Closer helps
Did Adam react at all to jealousy? How did she get sick ? Is she fighting alien std? Did Adam just vanish or walk out the door and contaminate the lab? If Adam stayed to chat and tryst with your wife did he expect her to be hurt can energy aliens love or procreate? Did you notify earth of discovery? Was Adam 's form DNA or illusion . It regardless, good story well written you need a bit of expansion of characters and no matter what scientists really are more science than passionate
Did Adam react at all to jealousy? How did she get sick ? Is she fighting alien std? Did Adam just vanish or walk out the door and contaminate the lab? If Adam stayed to chat and tryst with your wife did he expect her to be hurt can energy aliens love or procreate? Did you notify earth of discovery? Was Adam 's form DNA or illusion . It regardless, good story well written you need a bit of expansion of characters and no matter what scientists really are more science than passionate
June 8, 2016
One of those things that makes you stop and go Hmmm. I'm a first person story junkie and I loved this. There's an intrigue that starts the story and it just pulls you forward having to know what the next line is, what's going to happen to ABC character (no spoilers here!), how's it going to end! It doesn't feel like Philip Harris took short cuts in the crafting of this just because it was going to be a short story. I look forward to more from PH!
January 8, 2017
W
T
F
A shorty with no middle nor end
T
F
A shorty with no middle nor end
Read
November 25, 2017its okay
I was a bit disappointed with this story, started out thinking it was going to be exciting and fast pacing, It was an easy read and the story was good.got a little excited about their find but it fell short for my liking. A nice quiet friendly story,read it in one...
I was a bit disappointed with this story, started out thinking it was going to be exciting and fast pacing, It was an easy read and the story was good.got a little excited about their find but it fell short for my liking. A nice quiet friendly story,read it in one...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews