...eeze blew across her face. Crickets sang, and mosquitoes buzzed. She held down the lever on her radio. “I’m not seeing anything. Whatever it is, it’s gone now.” Is my mind playing tricks on me? No way. The thermal definitely picked up something. A bear? Possibly, and if it was, I probably spooked it off. She spun in a slow circle, extending the thermal image camera; sudden...

...ing for this thing.’ He peered into his glass. ‘I haven’t a thirst for art, but I’ve an artistic thirst.’ They elbowed their way to the bar. Before films and television arrived to bewitch the world, paintings could sway multitudes, convert sceptics and provoke intellectual war. Today, they’ve been reduced to decoration, and the only certainty for aspiring painters is tha...

...tarted the Dieselpunks website years ago, the word “dieselpunk” was still a curiosity. Sure, it was loaded with familiar tropes like Pulp Adventure, Film Noir, and Weird Horror, but the artists were mashing these concepts together with something different, something a little more contemporary. At that time, the steampunks were just starting to climb their way from the un...

...r and a peep hole slid open. Beady little eyes looked out at them. “What’s the password?” Mack was already taking off his gloves. “Blue aether for green gin.” The eyes frowned. “Mack, that’s tomorrow’s password. You’re supposed to give me today’s password.” Mack glared up from his gloves. “Beady, jus’ open the damn door. You know it’s me.” The eyes were offende...