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Where to find Dave Summers' short fiction
and poetry in print or on
the web
Below is a listing of current and favorite short stories, poems, and maybe
even an essay or two. When possible,
I'll provide links to the magazine or anthology's homepage or other
ordering information. For those who are looking for a complete list of my
stories, poems and essays, there is a
complete bibliography that is current to the end of last year.
Recent Publications
Sweat, Blood Dirt, Bulls Pain, Glory. Some people think this is a rodeo.Well... This Ain't No Rodeo. This is Bull Riding!
Inside these covers you will find stories about one of the toughest individual sports there is -- bull riding and those who participate. This exciting sport pits the riding skills, ability to read and interpret the animal athlete's movements, strength and sheer determination of the rider against the brute force,power and determination of a bull who doesn't want that rider on his back.
As exciting as the sport is to watch, it is very dangerous. This is not a team sport, and riders who aren't riding and winning; aren't making money.
Seventy-five percent of all proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to the RRF - an organization that provides finacial assistence to those involved in the sport when they need it.
My story in this collection is called "Cherry Blossoms in the Springtime." It's an alternate history story that asks what would have happened if Mount Capulin in Northeastern New Mexico had errupted during the Great Depression. It's the bull rider versus the volcano in this exciting story that you won't want to miss. You'll also find great stories by Justin Stanchfield, Terry Bramlett and more all edited by Carol Hightshoe.
The book is available in both paperback and Kindle format at Amazon.com.
The Science Fiction Poetry Association is hosting the 2008 on-line Halloween Poetry Reading.
You can check it out at: www.sfpoetry.com/halloween.htmlI have a poem there inspired by a short story that appears in my new vampire book, Blood Sampler. You'll also find poems by David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Deborah P. Kolodji, Karen A. Romanko and more. Hope you'll stop by and listen to some great, spooky poetry.
If you'd like to know more about Blood Sampler and how to order a copy, drop over to my Book and Audio Book page.
"For a Job Well Done" appears in the Flying Pen Press anthology,
Space Pirates. This short story is
set in the same universe as my novel The Pirates of Sufiro and tells the
story of how Ellison Firebrandt met his lover, Suki Mori. Order it at
Amazon.com,
BarnesAndNoble.com
or direct from the publisher at
Flying Pen Press.
"The Captain's Leave" appears in the anthology
Ghost Town published by
Science Fiction Trails Publishing. Set in the same universe as The
Pirates of Sufiro and Children of the Old Stars this story is
about a space ship captain who feels like an alien on her own world. She
takes her first officer's advice and travels to old New Mexico where she is
made to feel welcome by a few ghosts of the old west. The book is available
from the publisher or at
The Genre Mall.
This is an anthology of Americana Poetry
edited by Melissa Guillet and it features my poem "Racing Amtrack" which is
a poem that links the modern world to ghosts of the past. The anthology
is available at Lulu.com
Five of my poems are currently featured at Private International Review of Photographs and Texts. The poems there are "The Refuge," "Lumps of Coal," "Pan de Muerto," "Uranus," and the previously unpublished "Ghosts of Christmas Past." These are all poems that express various aspects of love for my family, whether it be my wife, my kids, or even my parents. As such, they're a little different from other poems and stories you may have seen from me, but there's still a touch of science fiction and horror there. Enjoy!
"Jiang Shi" appears in the Walpurgisnacht
2008 issue of Hungur magazine. This story is a retelling of an Chinese
vampire folktale with a twist. In this case, the "demon" that possesses the
corpse isn't exactly what you would expect. You can order a copy of Hungur
from The Genre Mall.
Two of my poems are currently featured at Jim Dunlap's poetry blog: The Poet's Porch. There you'll find "The Virgin and the Turtle" and "Pan de Muerto" -- both poems inspired by real-life experiences here in Southern New Mexico. The poems were posted on April 19, 2008.
"Dragon Reborn" appears in the Fall 2007
issue of Miners' Ink published by my alma mater,
New Mexico Tech. "Dragon Reborn" tells how Desmond Draco from
Vampires of the
Scarlet Order became a vampire during a battle with the Saxons shortly
before the reign of King Arthur. The story also provides a sneak peak at the
book Blood Sampler coming soon from Sam's Dot Publishing.
My story "An Asteroid By Any Other Name" about an asteroid that's blown
up and the pieces rain down on the Amazon appears in
Wondrous Web Worlds, Volume 7. This story, which is my homage to
B-movies of the 50's, was also nominated for the James B. Baker Award given by
Sam's Dot Publishing.
My short story "The Commodore's Errand" is now available in
The 2007 Word Weavers Anthology.
This story is about John Mark Ellis, the protagonist of the
Old Star Trilogy and is set after the events of those books.
My story called "The Tai Chi Rap Master" appears in the current issue of
Aoife's Kiss Magazine.
The story is about an artist trying to make a living on a grim, gritty
future Earth. This story started when I considered what billboards of the future
might be like and how someone might put grafitti on a holographic billboard that's
designed to be impervious to paint and damage. Hopefully the title intrigues you and
you'll go check out the issue. There are lots of other cool stories in there, too
including one by multiple Hugo nominee, Robert Reed.
Forthcoming Stories and Poems
"The Vrykolakas and the Cobbler's Wife" will appear in an upcoming issue of Cemetery Dance Magazine. More information about the issue as it comes available. Set in Greece at the beginning of the twentieth century, the story was inspired by a Greek folktale related in Montague Summers' The Vampire in Europe and tells the story of a cobbler who was turned into a vrykolakas and then comes back to haunt his family.
"Hijacking the Legacy" will appear in the Flying Pen Press anthology Space Sirens. This story follows the events of "For a Job Well Done" and looks at what happens when Suki discovers the hard reality that the people that rescued her from crime lords on Epsilon Indi 2 are, in fact, criminals themselves!
A Selection of Older Stories and Poems
"The Slayers" was in the August 2001 issue of
Realms of Fantasy.
Dragons are big, ferocious beasts that breathe fire. They eat people, but the fuel for their fire-breathing is very useful in lamps and for other things. What happens when the slaying of dragons is no longer the purvue of the lone knight on a steed but becomes a business enterprise that is little more than sanctioned wholesale slaughter? Find out the answer in this issue!
For years, I've been telling people, if you write fantasy or science fiction, you've got to do new things rather than just rehash the same old stuff. This is the story where I put my money where my big mouth is. Let me know what you think.
The artwork accompanying the story is by Mark Harrison and it's simply
breathtaking. The illustration is worth the price of admission
alone.
Look for my short story "The Persian Witch" in Trails: Intriguing Stories of the Wild West.
This story is about a sheriff in the small town of Socorro, New Mexico who meets a
woman from Persia who seems able to charm owls. The anthology also features stories by
Paul Victor Wargelin, Lyn McConchie, Robert E. Vardeman, Uncle River, Valerie Hunter
and David B. Riley. It may be purchased at
The Genre Mall. Search under "Anthologies."
"Electric Kachinas" appears in issue number 2 of
Science Fiction Trails. The story continues the adventures of Ramon and Fatemeh
from the story, "The Persian Witch" that appeared in Trails: Intriguing Stories of the
Wild West. In the new story, Ramon and Fatemeh travel south to Palomas Hot Springs
where they meet Ramon's cousin Eduardo and a mysterious Native American who is very
possessive of his kachina dolls.
I had two poems in the special science fiction section in the Spring/Summer 2005
issue of The Santa Clara Review. Also included in the science fiction
section are poems by Mike Allen, Sandra Lindow, Timons Esaias, and Peter Roberts and fiction
by J.K. Mason and Tobias Seamon. My poems are "Pluto and Charon" and "The Spaceport."
"Cinnamon Hot Chocolate and Gold" and "Night of the Long Run" are stories that appeared in Small Bites edited by Keith Gouveia and Garrett Peck. Small Bites was a benefit anthology for the late Charles Grant. Among the contributors were Lois Tilton, Tim Lebbon, Del Stone Jr., Weston Oches, and many more. This collection was on the preliminary ballot for the Stoker Award.
"Mars" is in issue 27.3 (May/June 2004) of the Science Fiction Poetry Association's journal, Star*Line. In addition to my poem, I see there are poems by Hadrosaur Tales contributors Sonya Taaffe and John Grey.