David Almandsmith

Former: Moto GP Racer, SCUBA Diver, Peace Corps Volunteer, Middle School Math Teacher, Research Director, SEL Airplane Pilot, Graduate Program Admin, Birding Software Entrepreneur, Novell Engineer, LAN Admin, Sales Force Admin. Currently: Father of two, Divorced, Retiree, Writer.
by

CHAPTER 8  “African Home” Friday 29 July 2811  After a week under peace officer protection at a safe house, Mom and I boarded a sub-sonic commercial jet to our new home. I’d been hoping for something more exotic like a scramjet or SST but seats on those cost a lot more and ISTRI pinches its … Read more

by

CHAPTER 7  “The Decision” Thursday  21 July 2811  I lay there trying to determine whether I was still in one piece as debris settled in the chaotic scene. Through the thick dust I could see customers rushing about, but I heard nothing but a roaring in my ears. Caleb picked me up and we went … Read more

by

CHAPTER 6  “A Trip to the Zoo” Thursday 21 July 2811 I hiked alone against a strong wind across a rocky, hilly island with monstrous ocean waves thrusting, exploding against jagged rocks and dampening my clothes. I struggled up and down the steep trail and clambered over boulders in the cold wind. Finally, I reached … Read more

by

CHAPTER 5  “Revelations, Part Two” Wednesday 20 July 2811  We finished the main course in our tiny kitchen as Benny offered theories as to the fate of Dr. Fujimoto, including rumours that she still lives and continues using the long-since-banned Methuselah Regimen. Benny picked up the box with the fortune cookies and handed one to … Read more

by

CHAPTER 4  “Anecdote: The Family Party” Tuesday 3 October 2299 Hoshiko regarded herself in the corroding mirror and clucked with her tongue. She was aging. It seemed as though every month brought another arthritic ache. Her physio age was about 73. Her chrono age was 313 and would be 314 on the sixth, this coming … Read more

by

CHAPTER 3  “Anecdote: Birth of ISTRI” Monday 22 August 2011 A message from Abe appeared on Hoshiko’s screen:  DARPA offering $ for interstellar travel Hoshiko typed back:  interstellar! url? Abe pasted:  http://www.technewsworld.com/story/DARPAs-Long-Term-Long-Shot-to-the-Stars-73118.html into the instant message box and hit  “Send.” Hoshiko double-clicked on the URL and the web page opened: SPACEDARPA’s Long-Term Long Shot to the … Read more

by

CHAPTER 2  “Revelations, Part One” Wednesday 20 July 2811  “What? ¿No shit?”  “ESTRELLA!” “Yes, Mom,” I actually surprised myself that I let slip an expletive – at home even. “You’re like serious, aren’t you, Dr. Blackwell?” I wasn’t so much asking a question as just blurting out the only thing that my mind could send … Read more

by

CHAPTER 1  “The Selection Committee” Friday 15 July 2811 Forty-two and a bit overweight, Gary Esteban, Ph.D., carefully sprinkled just a smidgen of salt onto his dry oatmeal mix, added a handful of raisins, and gave the contents of his breakfast bowl several stirs with his spoon before pouring in near-boiling water from the shiny … Read more

by

The Trillium Project by Zenaida Gómez “Spectacular! … [Gómez’s] prose delights with sophistication combined with good-hearted earthiness. … The machinery of the plot is well crafted, with momentum and surprise. Great bad guys!”– Jeffrey Scott Johnson Eight hundred years in the future, Esty Ramirez, 17, is selected to join the first starship crew. The next … Read more