Short Days

This delightful short story was the first work of Jules Verne to be translated into English by Anne T. Wilbur in 1852. Just as the balloon starts rising, a stranger jumps in with the intention of taking it as high as possible without regard to his own safety or that of the pilot. During the long journey, this mysterious passenger relates the historical background of the quest for lighter-than-air travel.

Third story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Being a top-flight chef can be stressful. Thankfully, a professional kitchen throws up some unique opportunities for body disposal….

Sixth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. The maternity ward: the last place you’d associate with criminal activity. Which makes it as good a place as any to carry it out.

Eleventh story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. What could be more festive than a trip to see Santa at the local shopping centre? Depends on who’s gunning for Santa…

First story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Billy Partridge wasn’t really cut out to be a cat burglar, but it was ‘do the job, or come up with thirteen grand by Thursday, or have both legs shattered’.‘Do the job’ seemed the least worst option. But he’s about to find out just how bad the least worst option can be….

Fifth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. There is never a good time to look upon the face of a dead loved one. But Mr Unwin has dedicated his life to helping the bereaved. While helping himself at the same time….

The final story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. It’s Christmas Eve, but the criminals never stop working, so neither do the police. The raid is on... but things don’t go entirely to plan.

Ninth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Kayleigh’s a professional. But lap-dancing has rules. And when someone breaks the rules….

Second story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. When a double suicide arrives at the city morgue, Sandra thinks it’s a Christmas like any other. But she’s about to get a very nasty shock – make that two very nasty shocks….

Tenth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Lord Peter Forsyth-Leven, MSP, is about to discover that having it all just means you’ve got more to lose….

Fourth story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Working in a call centre normally offers few career opportunities. But it looks as if Tracy’s about to get her big break.

When a limb-different girl discovers that her dream in life is to become a ballerina, she asks for dance lessons. But will she manage to perform like the other girls, when her augmentations do not allow her to do the ballet positions, when the other girls avoid her, and when the teachings do not fit her particular differences?

Will Bevis is a prolific writer of short, sometimes controversial "slice of life" stories, articles, essays, and memoirs that make you feel you are right there, experiencing the story as it it happens.

In the middle of the night, a shadow is running in the darkness of lonely New York City corners, chasing criminals, helping lost souls. Wrong Day for a Kill is the first short story in the science fiction series Superhero Stories: The W Series. W is a superhero like no other, who struggles between the hunger for Justice and the need to use violence to achieve that very ideal of justice. Where is W running to tonight? Who is being chased? Meet W in the first of a long series of adventures.

This is a story from the Dubliners, Volume 2 collection.

A fictional story that is positioned in time with the crucifixion of Jesus. While events that would shape culture and thinking were taking place, Ben-Tovit was consumed with a toothache. Would his own health issue prevent him from recognizing history? Narrated by Glenn Hascall.

Imagine waking up and finding out that the last 30 years of your life never existed. What if a woman's greatest fear happened to you? What if it was the first day of the rest of your life?

Lila is just about to close up shop at The Spine Mine in downtown Conners Switch, Indiana, until one last straggler walks through the doors. Late at night. While she's there alone.

A journalist finds something on a recording that she made. A soft, ghostly voice. Her reporting piece is put on hold as she tries to discover who the voice belongs to. Or belonged to...

Prepare for another exciting adventure with this second in the Summer Days series! The Pismo Beach Bicycle Thief will keep you listening with interest, emotion, and laughter. Josh Mundy and Vern Ernesto are at it again, this time in sunny California on vacation with their families. As they meet a new female friend, who happens to be blonde and beautiful, the introductions are interrupted as a crazed man becomes a bicycle thief. Josh, who is already taken with this cute girl, gives a hearty hero's pursuit and gets into more than what he bargained for.