New Releases by James Dick

A collection spotlighting the best hard science fiction stories and novellas published in 2025 by current and emerging masters of the genre, edited by Allan Kaster. · “Apartment Wars” by Vera Brook—the widow of a physicist, residing in a country short of living space for its citizens, finds a device that creates small pocket dimensions. This novella is a finalist for a 2025 Analog Analytical Laboratory (AnLab) Award. · “ESRI” by James Dick—the daughter of the woman who launched a failed second mission to Europa, launches the third mission to that moon. · “Freediver” by Isabel J. Kim—a two-man team risks a spacewalk to repair vital portal-spanning telecom cables hanging a hundred meters beneath the ocean . . . billions of light years away. · “Reality Check” by Nancy Kress—parents resort to deep brain stimulation to break their teenage son’s addiction to gaming. · “Threat Assessment” by Matthew Kressel & Mercurio D. Rivera—a psychologist is recruited by the military to determine why a self-aware AI, secluded on the Moon, wants to destroy humankind. · “The Last Lunar New Year” by Derek Künsken—the fate of humanity’s descendants is argued in a far-future zero-G court. · “In the Slime of Life” by Edward M. Lerner—humans and alien green scum antagonize each other on a malodorous, water world. · “The Hunt for Lemuria 7” by Allen M. Steele—robotic rovers search for the passengers and crew of a tourist-class lunar spacecraft that mysteriously vanished on the Moon. · “Tenth Contact” by Bruce Sterling & Paul Di Filippo—astronauts on Ganymede are caught in a once-in-twenty-million-years galactic aurora storm. This novelette is a finalist for a 2025 Asimov’s Readers’ Award. · “The Twenty-One Second God” by Peter Watts—a man able to keep his sanity after briefly joining a hivemind is interrogated by the government. This novelette is a finalist for a 2026 Locus Award. · “Infestation” by Jay Werkheiser—borane life-forms discover a planet infested with carbon life-forms.

Whether its parental, platonic, or passionate, we all experience love at some point in our lives―as well as all the ups and downs that go along with it, from blissful to agonizing. In all of its myriad forms, love has been one of the greatest inspirations for poetry for as long as there have been poets, because its abundance, or lack thereof, profoundly impacts our lives in ways that are otherwise difficult to articulate. This collection of thoughtful and heartfelt poems speaks with a simple elegance, resonating with sincerity that is hard to deny, giving words to thoughts and feelings we might struggle to find on our own, and perhaps more importantly, offering comfort and assurance that, for better or worse, we are not alone. “Our thoughts, feelings, wants, needs, and fears are valid and worth sharing. All too often, we hide our thoughts and feelings from others and take on a burden that can sadly be too much for some to bear ... I want people to know that they are worthy of love, and that they need to convey their thoughts and feelings when they are struggling, so they do not have to go through those struggles alone.” ~ Rodney James Dick

From the author of Summers at Old Nags Head, The Long Road Back is the story of a Confederate soldier released from prisoner of war incarceration at Point Lookout, Maryland and his travel back to his home in Currituck County, North Carolina. He finds work at various stops along the way to stay alive while learning valuable skills and realizing he truly loves making his living on the water. He gains success, while suffering trials and tribulations as he ultimately realizes that there is someone much greater to whom he must turn.The story uses real history as a background for a cast of fictional characters who represent the traits of courage, hard work and persistence noted in the history of the people of North Carolina''s Inner and Outer Banks. Those subsistence hunters, fishermen, farmers and a few small merchants on those beatiful beaches, farms, wetlands and swamps are isolated by extensive bodies of water. They labored hard to overcome the trying days after the war and during the Reconstruction. It made them tougher, wiser and also sometimes entrepreneurial in order to survive and ultimately prosper. The book contains adventure, intrigue, storms, corruption and fraud, death, birth, pain, sadness and joy which leads the principal character to ultimately determine what he should do with his free will. It is an ongoing learning experience which will set the stage for him to enter the next phase of life''s travels: The Long Road to the Future.

Imagine a young boy sitting on the low dunes overlooking a beautiful beach on the Atlantic shore. He watches the deep blue sea and its waves continue the constant march of reshaping the beach as it has done since time began. Suddenly, a geyser of water erupts on the sea. It suggests a shark has made contact with his mortal enemy, the porpoise, and is likely dead from the pummeling taken. Meanwhile, dogs run free and jeeps drive by while families gather seashells or watch in amazement as a sandfiddler crab comes out of his hole looking for his next meal. The boy is excited as he thinks about the coming bonfire and the burnt marshmallows that he will enjoy in the evening. A nice scene isn''t it, but is it imagination? No, it''s the way things were at Old Nags Head in the 1950s on North Carolina''s Outer Banks. Experience the "Glory Days" for yourself.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would marry a "Horse Lady," a beautiful but stubborn woman who lived, breathed and dreamed horses. But from the day I met her, I felt her impact on my life and it was profound. It convinced me first to spend considerable time at the barn, a place which I never even thought of previously. And it motivated me to want to learn how to care for and learn to love horses as well, since all " horse ladies" live by the motto: "Love me, love my horses." So, after nearly seventeen year of being a "Horse Husband", I decided it was time to document this lifestyle which has changed me so much. Who says old dogs can''t learn new tricks?Confessions of a "Horse Husband" is a story of learning, making mistakes, paying for those mistakes with bruises and painful toes among other body parts, but also having fun, enjoying the fresh air and open space and experiencing love like I never knew before. It is my story in my own words about some of the most memorable moments in my life. Living with a "Horse Lady" is never dull, it''s full of surprises and it covers many situations, many wonderful and some not so much. Many extremes are faced such as feeding horses on cold, frosty mornings as well as hot and humid oppressive Florida summers; from enjoying a trail ride with my wife and other equestrians to having a big toe crunched by a twelve hundred pound mare; or even waking up to find that over a dozen stalls must be stripped and re-bedded or even directing parking for participants at an equestrian event where the ground is a quagmire under a cold, pouring rain. And, of course, for laughs there''s the story of the pony and goat getting loose in the feed room after devouring roses, or sitting up all night with a sick horse or a mare preparing to foal. The book includes beauty, pride, joy, love, humor, sadness and so much more.There''s Hailey the "Boss Mare", who rules the herd completely. Then there''s the old man, Gabe, a gelding in the twilight of his years yet still capable of causing a surprise when he wants. Or what about Flannel Jams, the retired track horse who has a wonderful disposition unless you come on to strong. And we can''t leave out the ponies, like bulky and strong Charm, a beauty who loves to tease, just like her mother who gained the nickname, the "Pony of the Corn". And these are just a few of those wonderful animals that "The Horse Lady" and I have fed, watered and cared for as part of our family.But make no mistake, the real "Boss Mare" of our family herd is not a horse, but "The Horse Lady" jerself. Come take a ""look see" at our story, if you love horses it''s a "no brainer". If you know nothing about horses you might learn something of interest and have some fun to boot. It''s about living an active lifestyle and loving it. You can''t sleep in on Saturday with horses but you find that you don''t want to.Come join us and find out why this "Horse Husband", despite a few questioning moments, wouldn''t change his lifestyle for anything.

Is economic freedom a necessary condition for political freedom? What can the government do about unemployment? Why would governments limit international trade? Students use questions such as these to help them make essential connections between economics and civics/government.