Aliens arrive in our solar system. Dubbed the Ohanas, their starship melts part of the moon before moving into a retrograde orbit around the sun. Then a few months later, without warning, the Ohanas speak to humankind, inviting us to join "the Galactic Union." Whatever that might be.
After that, things get really interesting.
"And then Marianne returns, laughing as she crosses the room, apparently for no reason but to shake her wet umbrella over Marc's head.
"'Didn't you hear me?'
"'Yeah, but--'
"'Emma vanished.'
"'Who?'
"'Mrs. Krause. The sweet lady across the street? That's why I was shouting for you.'
"Except their neighbor is standing in the hallway.
"'You mean her,' Marc says, pointing.
"'Oh, she came back again.' Marianne shivers, giggles. 'It was maybe five seconds for me. How long was it for you, Emma?'
"'Too long. I won't say.'
"Marc looks at the neighbor's face. Something's different. What's different?
"Then Fox News says, 'And the White House is under lockdown. Unconfirmed reports claim that President Joe Biden is missing.'
"Mrs. Krause sighs, then announces, 'I need to get home.'
"'I'll walk you,' Marianne says.
"'But where did they take you?' Marc has to ask.
"'Oh, darling,' says his wife, poking his ribs with the umbrella's hard tip. 'To another world, of course. You need to keep up.'"
Robert Reed is the author of many published science fiction stories and novels. He won the Hugo Award in 2007, for his novella "A Billion Eves." But Reed is best known for his Great Ship saga, including the new novel: HAMMERWING.
Genre: Science Fiction
After that, things get really interesting.
"And then Marianne returns, laughing as she crosses the room, apparently for no reason but to shake her wet umbrella over Marc's head.
"'Didn't you hear me?'
"'Yeah, but--'
"'Emma vanished.'
"'Who?'
"'Mrs. Krause. The sweet lady across the street? That's why I was shouting for you.'
"Except their neighbor is standing in the hallway.
"'You mean her,' Marc says, pointing.
"'Oh, she came back again.' Marianne shivers, giggles. 'It was maybe five seconds for me. How long was it for you, Emma?'
"'Too long. I won't say.'
"Marc looks at the neighbor's face. Something's different. What's different?
"Then Fox News says, 'And the White House is under lockdown. Unconfirmed reports claim that President Joe Biden is missing.'
"Mrs. Krause sighs, then announces, 'I need to get home.'
"'I'll walk you,' Marianne says.
"'But where did they take you?' Marc has to ask.
"'Oh, darling,' says his wife, poking his ribs with the umbrella's hard tip. 'To another world, of course. You need to keep up.'"
Robert Reed is the author of many published science fiction stories and novels. He won the Hugo Award in 2007, for his novella "A Billion Eves." But Reed is best known for his Great Ship saga, including the new novel: HAMMERWING.
Genre: Science Fiction
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Used availability for Robert Reed's Retrograde Blessings