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Saving Diego
After a drug deal gone wrong, two old friends meet for the first time on the distant planet of Gilder Nefan, far off on the edge of the galaxy. Gilder Nefan is a holy place where the local population smokes a psychotropic plant known as "sweet jisthmus" to reach higher states of consciousness in order to speak with god-like aliens. Diego has become addicted to the powerful jithmus plant, and seeks the help of his old friend. But breaking the jithmus addiction will be more difficult than they think, especially when there are god-like aliens lurking nearby in the stars who have very different motives...
- GenresScience Fiction
28 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2020
1 person want to read
About the author
Matthew Kressel
66 books59 followers The short:
I’m a software developer and speculative fiction writer with three Nebula Award nominations, a World Fantasy Award nomination, and a Eugie Award nomination. I am the co-host of the Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series in New York City. And I created the Moksha submissions system, in use by some of the largest publishers in speculative fiction today.
The long:
I’m a software developer and writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. My fiction has been nominated three times for a Nebula Award and once for a Eugie Foster Memorial Award. And I’ve also been nominated for a World Fantasy Award for my former editorial and publishing work. My fiction has been translated into many languages, including Japanese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, Czech, Polish, and Farsi.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved hearing and telling stories. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, and I would entertain myself by creating entire worlds in my head and inhabiting them fully (sometimes to the chagrin of my parents and teachers). This world-building continued well into my adulthood, when, after a particularly vivid dream, I decided to write my stories down. Once I began writing seriously, I’ve never stopped.
My fiction tends to explore themes of loss, death, mourning and rebirth, but also hope and possibility. I consider myself a mindful optimist, even though my fiction can sometimes be very dark. I believe humanity is capable of great feats, but what we often lack is will, imagination, or foresight. Sometimes I tend my fiction to inspire. Sometimes I write cautionary tales. Sometimes I just follow my dream-id where it leads. I’m always surprised by what my subconscious brings up.
I work incredibly hard at my writing, and my only wish is that you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoy creating it.
My short story “The Last Novelist” was a 2017 Nebula Award finalist as well a 2018 Eugie Award finalist. My short story “The Meeker and the All-Seeing Eye” was a 2014 Nebula Award finalist. And my short story “The Sounds of Old Earth” was a 2013 Nebula Award finalist. My work has also appeared in several year’s best anthologies and received numerous honorable mentions.
My many short stories have appeared in such publications as Lightspeed, Nightmare, Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Analog, io9.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Interzone, Electric Velocipede, Apex Magazine, and the anthologies Mad Hatters and March Hares, Cyber World, After,The People of the Book, and many other places.
My debut novel, King of Shards, was hailed as “Majestic, resonant, reality-twisting madness,” from NPR Books. I have a novella forthcoming in 2026 from Tordotcom / Reactor titled The Rainseekers. And a novel, Space Trucker Jess, coming in 2025 from Fairwood Press.
Every second Wednesday, I co-host the Fantastic Fiction reading series at the famous KGB Bar alongside veteran speculative-fiction editor Ellen Datlow.
In 2011 I was nominated for World Fantasy Award in the category of Special Award, Non-Professional for my work editing Sybil’s Garage. The magazine’s website has been archived here.
In 2003 I started the speculative fiction magazine Sybil’s Garage, and the stories and poetry therein have received multiple honorable mentions in the Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror. Under the rubric of Senses Five Press, I published Paper Cities, which won the 2009 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology.
I have been a long-time member of Altered Fluid, a Manhattan-based writing group which has many successful past and present members, including N.K. Jemisin, Sam J. Miller, Alaya Dawn Johnson, E.C. Myers, Mercurio D. Rivera, and many others. I am also obsessed with Blade Runner (both films).
When I’m not writing, I design websites and write software. I am probably best known for the Moksha submissions system, which I created, and which is currently used by some of the largest SF markets including The Magazine of Fantasy
I’m a software developer and speculative fiction writer with three Nebula Award nominations, a World Fantasy Award nomination, and a Eugie Award nomination. I am the co-host of the Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series in New York City. And I created the Moksha submissions system, in use by some of the largest publishers in speculative fiction today.
The long:
I’m a software developer and writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. My fiction has been nominated three times for a Nebula Award and once for a Eugie Foster Memorial Award. And I’ve also been nominated for a World Fantasy Award for my former editorial and publishing work. My fiction has been translated into many languages, including Japanese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, Czech, Polish, and Farsi.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved hearing and telling stories. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, and I would entertain myself by creating entire worlds in my head and inhabiting them fully (sometimes to the chagrin of my parents and teachers). This world-building continued well into my adulthood, when, after a particularly vivid dream, I decided to write my stories down. Once I began writing seriously, I’ve never stopped.
My fiction tends to explore themes of loss, death, mourning and rebirth, but also hope and possibility. I consider myself a mindful optimist, even though my fiction can sometimes be very dark. I believe humanity is capable of great feats, but what we often lack is will, imagination, or foresight. Sometimes I tend my fiction to inspire. Sometimes I write cautionary tales. Sometimes I just follow my dream-id where it leads. I’m always surprised by what my subconscious brings up.
I work incredibly hard at my writing, and my only wish is that you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoy creating it.
My short story “The Last Novelist” was a 2017 Nebula Award finalist as well a 2018 Eugie Award finalist. My short story “The Meeker and the All-Seeing Eye” was a 2014 Nebula Award finalist. And my short story “The Sounds of Old Earth” was a 2013 Nebula Award finalist. My work has also appeared in several year’s best anthologies and received numerous honorable mentions.
My many short stories have appeared in such publications as Lightspeed, Nightmare, Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Analog, io9.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Interzone, Electric Velocipede, Apex Magazine, and the anthologies Mad Hatters and March Hares, Cyber World, After,The People of the Book, and many other places.
My debut novel, King of Shards, was hailed as “Majestic, resonant, reality-twisting madness,” from NPR Books. I have a novella forthcoming in 2026 from Tordotcom / Reactor titled The Rainseekers. And a novel, Space Trucker Jess, coming in 2025 from Fairwood Press.
Every second Wednesday, I co-host the Fantastic Fiction reading series at the famous KGB Bar alongside veteran speculative-fiction editor Ellen Datlow.
In 2011 I was nominated for World Fantasy Award in the category of Special Award, Non-Professional for my work editing Sybil’s Garage. The magazine’s website has been archived here.
In 2003 I started the speculative fiction magazine Sybil’s Garage, and the stories and poetry therein have received multiple honorable mentions in the Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror. Under the rubric of Senses Five Press, I published Paper Cities, which won the 2009 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology.
I have been a long-time member of Altered Fluid, a Manhattan-based writing group which has many successful past and present members, including N.K. Jemisin, Sam J. Miller, Alaya Dawn Johnson, E.C. Myers, Mercurio D. Rivera, and many others. I am also obsessed with Blade Runner (both films).
When I’m not writing, I design websites and write software. I am probably best known for the Moksha submissions system, which I created, and which is currently used by some of the largest SF markets including The Magazine of Fantasy
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 13, 2020
A gritty sci-fi short about two friends bonded by their past drug habits that's a trip of its own. It's dark and strange and immersive... And possibly went a little over my head at times (sorry, I got confused by the god-like aliens' motives and the pet analogy. ). Solid sci-fi writing conveys the nihilistic gruffness of narrator Mikal as he shifts between caring and desperation, trying to save his friend from addiction while battling the demons of his own grimy past. I loved the world descriptions, everything really set the scene of a crumbling city built by ancient hands with spacecraft flittering overhead.
One for the grown up sci-fi fans.
One for the grown up sci-fi fans.
August 13, 2020
A tale of drugs and cosmic horror?
Guilt and the possibility of redemption are undercurrents of this short tale. The numens or planet eaters remind me a lot of bruce cordell's planetovores in the Strange setting and the overall vibe has elements from Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky in a sort of roundabout way.
Taking drugs and getting connected to the cosmos may not be as fun as some might hope!
Guilt and the possibility of redemption are undercurrents of this short tale. The numens or planet eaters remind me a lot of bruce cordell's planetovores in the Strange setting and the overall vibe has elements from Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky in a sort of roundabout way.
Taking drugs and getting connected to the cosmos may not be as fun as some might hope!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews