Tag Archives: William Mitchell

WILLIAM MITCHELL: These Aren’t the Thoughts You’re Looking For

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , , , , , ,

The headaches – some days I can’t even focus, let alone work.

Squad medics didn’t care. “Compulsory invalid discharge” – military speak for “useless,” “fired.”

Ever since that day, when they had us hunting those droids, and that old man waved his hand and my mind wasn’t my own.

It still isn’t.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: Pompeii

Adventure, Submissions, , , ,

Another body; it never gets easier.

She was young, her face, clothes, once vibrant, now a mere plaster-filled void, an ash-entombed statue, agonies frozen that disastrous day, centuries ago.

Her belongings emerge; linguists decode the ancient markings:

“Timex” – “Nike” – “iPhone”

And occasionally, rarely, paper fragments survive:

“Pompeii Tourist Guide: 2026”.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: Lies I Tell my Optometrist

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , , ,

“No car crashes? Violent impacts?”
He leans in, puzzling over my retinas’ freakish blood vessels.
“No,” I reply.
“You do boxing?”

I could tell him: International Planetary Response Force, Top Secret missions battling Sagittarian cruisers beyond Sirius, high g manoeuvres just below lightspeed.

The world ain’t ready.

“Insurance,” I say.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: Home Edit: Galactic Edition

Amusing, Odd, Submissions, , , ,

When the aliens arrived they made their objective clear – to help us tidy up. Now, every day, every house and office leaves one thing out for collection. Neatness and order finally restored – blissful decluttering on a global scale.

Except that one nagging doubt: what are they doing with it all?

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: Is This Why We’ve Always Felt So Alone?

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

For decades we’ve travelled between stars, searching, yearning for contact.

Our findings? Just dead planets, ruined civilisations.

Yet all predictions concur; at least one civilisation should survive, to colonise the galaxy. So where are they?

I look back, at the settlements and outposts we’ve established along the way.

It’s us.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His latest book, The Still and Silent Stars, offers an in-depth investigation into the likelihood of alien life and alien intelligence existing elsewhere in our galaxy.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: The Last Man on Earth

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , , , ,

My kids used to think it hilarious, the way I’d thank Siri, or apologise to Alexa for getting song titles wrong.

Now, as the Hunter Killers roam the streets, they see me, they recognise me, and they spare me.

Only me.

I don’t know if this is better or worse.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: New Beginnings

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

Midnight, in the frozen space where the Old Year greets the New.

“This is yours now,” says Old.

Stooping, broken, he can barely lift the world: its wars, famine and suffering.

New takes it, flushed with youthful optimism.

“I will make paradise, just watch.”

Old sighs. “You won’t survive January…”

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: The Last Performance

Adventure, Submissions, , , , ,

The trick is so simple – real musket, real gunpowder, real handcuffs, and my Sylvie, chained to that wheel, spinning like a dervish.

Every night I hit the lock dead centre, every night the crowd loves me.

Except today I found her letters.

Deceit changes things. Blood and screaming change everything.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: Monster

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

Upturned glass wavering, I carry terror incarnate.

Every instinct screams, “Kill it! Squash it! Obliterate it!” I resist; outdoors, its freedom awaits.

Now it sits, in its newly spun web, remembering the warm, dry bedroom it once inhabited. It watches, and slowly and surely, it draws its plans against me.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.

WILLIAM MITCHELL: Firelight

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , ,

The wolves crept toward the old man’s fire, for the forest was frozen, and they would not survive the night.

Curious, he greeted them as new friends. Old hostilities forgotten, they shared the warmth.

Sunrise saw his bones picked clean. When night next fell, they died with their bellies full.

William Mitchell lives in East Sussex in the South of England. He is an award-winning author, having had early success with various Horror and Science Fiction publications before winning the Writers of the Future contest in 2012. His first novel, CREATIONS, came out in 2014 with John Hunt Publishing.