Rust, Gold, and a Door to Infinity

Well, hello to all of you joining me today! It's another Friday and that means it's short story time. This week I revisited some places that I haven't visited for a while and even started jumping into some anthologies that I've been meaning to get around to. From the short story deliverers to your inbox, Daily Science Fiction, you have a link to "Rust" by Steven Saus. Matthew Sturges' "Cleansed and Set in Gold" is a superhero tale from the anthology Masked, which is edited by Lou Anders. Last, but not least, our blast from the past is Edmond Hamilton's "The Door into Infinity." These stories are a little bit longer than usual, but they are just as good, if not better than the stories I have dropped off before. So, if you find that you have a little bit of time this weekend, see if you can give a couple of them a try.

Rust by Steven Saus -- Daily Science Fiction

Can cyborgs feel lonely? That's the question asked in this story. A military man who should have died is rescued and turned mostly into machine. But, since the military no longer needs him, he lives out his days working at a museum, thinking of how it used to be.

Cleansed and Set in Gold by Matthew Sturges -- Masked (anthology edited by Lou Anders)

Imagine you're a superhero with a power you find so horrifying that you feel you have to hide it. That's more or less the basis of this story. David Caulfield, also known as Wildcard, doesn't feel like he fits in with the league. He thinks his power is a curse, but in many ways, it may be the best out of everyone he knows.

The Door into Infinity by Edmond Hamilton

It's been a doozy reading some of these older stories, but this one felt a little different. During his honeymoon to London, Paul Ennis' wife is kidnapped by a secretive cult, and he tries everything to get her back. With a wise cracking cop who can get out of any situation, this story feels more and more like it should have been made into a black and white movie. My only quip with this story is the racism that it has. If you read it, you'll see what I mean. The story kind of depends on it.