Jazz Session 5 – The Heart of the Story: Humanity in Science Fiction (and Beyond)

This was our fifth Jazz Session. Our subject: The Heart of the Story: Humanity in Science Fiction (and Beyond).

Excerpts from Niles

These are excerpts from my performance at the Niles Renaissance Faire. Recorded by Dana Jack.

A Handsome Thief with a Certain Charm

By Martin L. Shoemaker Note: This story was dictated by The Instant Bard (a.k.a. me) at the Niles Renaissance Faire on May 17, 2025. This is a cleaned-up version of that transcript, with only one small but crucial… Read More

Jazz Session 4 – Not On Your Life! Why I’m Not Signing That Contract

This was our fourth Jazz Session. Our subject: Not On Your Life! Why I’m Not Signing That Contract.

Jazz Session 3 – She Blinded Me with Science (Enough to Fool Them)

This was our third Jazz Session. Our subject: She Blinded Me with Science (Enough to Fool Them).

The Toucan and the King

By Martin L. Shoemaker Once the toucan was the favored bird of the king. He sang sweetly every daybreak, and mournfully in the evening. He perched on the king’s shoulder during the day, whispering advice.  Sometimes the king… Read More

The Road Twice Taken

(With apologies to Robert Frost) By Martin L. Shoemaker Two roads diverged in a gray, dying wood. And knowing I dare not travel each, For one led to my doom, and that I would Shun if that truth… Read More

Nighttime Visits

By Martin L. Shoemaker John Horner sat at his table and poured himself a double of Jameson’s. He could already feel it was going to be one of those nights. He was ready to get thoroughly drunk and… Read More

Countdown

By Martin L. Shoemaker Looking out into the black void of space, she felt her muscles tense as she readied for the long leap. She was ready for this, had trained for this, and still she clung to… Read More

crunch (a dragon’s lament)

By Martin L. Shoemaker crunch gnawing on old bones that crunch dark but I won’t sleep because I always creep in the dark slime drips from my scales as the autumn moon pales and the poor quarry flails… Read More