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by Dr. Horris Lewin The fundamental problem of xenology is just that: a problem with its foundation, if not with its validity then with its inherent limitations. In the case of xenology, it began as the attempt of human researchers to apply anthropological paradigms to extraterrestrial life. The flaws in this approach will be shown soon enough but first, we must understand the origins of our discipline in anthropology. Anthropology itself had a rather rocky start. From its beginnings as a branch of what was then called “social physics” and later “sociology” by French philosopher Auguste Comte, anthropology passed thr

PREVIEW Jire is available on Amazon. --- The neighbors said that Bale hadn’t always been a drinker, at least not until the Kurasiti came to the city. That had happened when Jire was only four years old, and her father had found his way to drink ever since. All the older folks said nothing in the whole city had been the same after that, but she didn’t know any different. What she did know was that she needed money for food tonight, and her father wasn’t going to get it for her. Gray dawn light spilled over the mountains to the east, casting a beam narrow as a blade of grass across her still-closed eyes. Her thoughts of a

Jarun Hichame had ascended these stairs hundreds of times in his years as imperial page, yet tonight felt different. Summoned by one of his fellows just as he had changed into his bedclothes, he was at first annoyed that the emperor would call him at such an hour. After all, did he not have servants outside his own bedchamber? He pressed on regardless, hoping to at least be useful briefly to his master before again retiring to bed. The candle’s dancing flame cast playful shadows across the stone passageway. Jarun walked as quickly as he could without putting out his only light, as the full moon was yet several weeks away. Not since chi

Unlike the near eternal day on the rim, the floor of Shackleton Crater was in eternal night. It scared Andy Lukassen in a way that he didn’t recognize but that his Homo habilis ancestors would’ve rightly feared. Just three more hours, he thought. Three more hours until sunrise. Remembering that he was more than halfway through today’s shift was half the battle. It was always the dust up here, ninety-nine times out of a hundred. The stuff got everywhere, chewing up the rubber coating on all the wires, shorting circuits with micro-electrical discharges, and generally being a pain. He was sure that this alarm was just another

Chapter 1 - Allow a slip of the tongue now and then when nobody's looking, snatch the truth back up and bury it in your pocket to tumble crumpled into a collection of inky snowflakes in the wash. Find them again and feel bitter that no one saw their truth. Cut your heart into breadcrumbs, spread out for wild animals and left-over the earth, part of you hoping someone will follow. Try not to care when they scatter it to the birds. Hide behind braids of flowers in the garden back, listen with breath baited for hurried footsteps and searching hands - a solo game of Marco Polo. Miss a beautiful afternoon whispering "I'm here" choosing to

The captain needs the Sunday priest to read his bible but he reads the sea as well as any man alive. 'Fresh breeze 5 southwesterly,' the shipping forecast reads, but the seaman's read the tell-tale patterns in the waves, and keeps his ferry moored, Pendragon reads the nameplate, stowed within the harbour while the drivers read their phones. We pass hours reading news and beeping horns in rage; a well-read voyager tunes ham radio - we listen to the Coastguard; read the weather vane's thin whistle. 'Do you read me? Over.' Above the fuzz and crackle comes a desperate voice. 'Do you read me? Over.' 'Read you loud and clear. Please confirm loca