'Starslayer'
This is a soft science fiction story I wrote with the intention of creating a continuing series of short tales surrounding a character I'd devised: Mitch Starslayer. Intended as a cheesy and affectionate homage to classic space opera heroes from the 1930s, such as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.
Other influences included Robert E. Howard's 'Conan the Barbarian' short stories from the same era, and the novels of David Gemmell for fantasy elements, as well as the 1984 film 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'.
'The Pond'
I wrote this story a little while ago with the goal of creating something reminiscent of the old British pulp horror novels I grew up reading as a teenager - very gruesome and melodramatic. Authors like Guy N. Smith and Clive Barker spring immediately to mind. I'd just seen David Cronenberg's adaptation of 'The Fly' on the big screen as well, so the idea of finding horror in nature was firmly within my mind. Ultimately, I wanted to strike a balance between including many of the tropes of those old stories, as well as subverting a couple along the way. Everyone who read 'The Pond' both during the writing process, and once it was finished responded well: enjoyable, with a gory and unexpected plot! I'm thoroughly pleased with what I produced here.