Mad Scientist Journal: Winter 2015

Edited by Dawn Vogel and Jeremy Zimmerman

by Marla L. Anderson, Jaime Babb, Russ Bickerstaff, Rob Brooks, Loria Chaddon, Scott Chaddon, Denzell Cooper, Kate Elizabeth, James Fadeley, E. B. Fischadler, Sean Frost, MJ Gardner, Dorian Graves, J. A. Grier, Liz Hedgecock, Sylvia Heike, Julie Bloss Kelsey, Fred Lubnow, Chelsea McClellan, John A. McColley, Diana Parparita, J. M. Perkins, Lorraine Schein, Dan Stout, Chris Vander Kaay, Deborah Walker, Jeannie Warner

Squamous science fairs, undead butterflies, godhood brokers. These are but some of the strange tales to be found in this book.

Mad Scientist Journal: Winter 2015 collects thirteen "essays" from the fictional worlds of mad science. For the discerning mad scientist reader, there are also pieces of fiction from Deborah Walker, Diana Parparita, and MJ Gardner. Readers will also find other resources for the budding mad scientist, including an advice column, horoscopes, and other brief messages from mad scientists.

Authors featured in this volume also include Fred Lubnow, E. B. Fischadler, Jaime Babb, Marla L. Anderson, J. M. Perkins, Dorian Graves, Christopher Vander Kaay, Denzell Cooper, Jeannie Warner, James Fadeley, J. A. Grier, Dan Stout, Russ Bickerstaff, Kate Elizabeth, Sean Frost, Chelsea McClellan, John McColley, Loria Chaddon, Scott Chaddon, Rob Brooks, Julie Bloss Kelsey, Liz Hedgecock, Lorraine Schein, and Sylvia Heike. Illustrations are provided by Bill Richardson, Steve Maschuck, Luke Spooner, Shannon Legler, Katie Nyborg, Dawn Vogel, Justine McGreevy, and Scarlett O'Hairdye.

About the Authors

Marla L. Anderson

Marla Anderson loves to read and write science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mainstream. She has authored four science fiction novels and a collection of short stories in a wide range of genres. She currently lives on a hill overlooking the Cleveland National Forest with her husband, her mother, two dogs, and a cat.


Jaime Babb

Terminally indecisive, Jaime Babb could never decide whether she wanted to be a physicist, an historian, or a writer, so she simply became all three. She currently lives in Winnipeg, Canada, where she makes her living editing scientific manuscripts and tutoring mathematics. You can read her thoughts about writing, science, transgender issues, and whatever else occurs to her on her blog at voxcorvegis.wordpress.com. Jaime also volunteers as editor of the popular science blog, theamateurrealist.com.


Russ Bickerstaff

Russ Bickerstaff is a professional theatre critic and aspiring author living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife and two daughters. His short fictions have appeared in Hypertext Magazine, Pulp Metal Magazine, Sein und Werden, and Beyond Imagination among other places. His Internarrational Where Port can be found at: http://ru3935.wix.com/russ-bickerstaff.


Rob Brooks

Rob Brooks has been a lab rat for several semi-respected geniuses who are no longer allowed to practice their "science." A barrage of tests have left him partially brain dead. The part of his brain that still works spews out random works which occasionally form complete thoughts, which he then writes down.


Loria Chaddon

Loria Chaddon is a 40-year-old photographer and writer, with delusions of responsible adulthood. Due to her regular use of Madame Mortencia’s Anti-aging Cream, (which she introduced to her husband, as well) she is often mistake for a much younger 30.

A gentle soul with a heart of murderous darkness, she accompanies her beloved husband in their shared travels through a dubious reality (accompanied by four hyperactive Hell Hounds disguised as dachshunds), both dreading, and anticipating, the day the monsters buried beneath their kindly masks might burst forth, to the dismay of all. Or she might bake some cookies.


Scott Chaddon

Scott Chaddon is a 25-year-old man in a 48-year-old body that looks 35 (possibly due to Madam Mortencia’s Anti-aging Cream). Condemned to exile from his beloved home in the far north, he strives to carry on in his strange new environment. He brings forth news from distant places and times, different realities and parallel universes to any who find interest and amusement in them. He’s at home in the surreal, buddies with the bizarre, and teases the twisted things creeping in the darkness (how else can he get the stubborn things out from under your bed?).


Denzell Cooper

Denzell Cooper is a British writer working across multiple genres. His dark fiction has previously appeared in Mad Scientist Journal, Bete Noire, and other small press publications, as well as the anthologies Mental Ward: Echoes of the Past and Pirates & Ghosts. When he's not writing, Denzell enjoys playing horror board games, such as those set in the world of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, which provided part of the inspiration for this story. The other part was his own twisted imagination.


Kate Elizabeth

Kate Elizabeth lives in Melbourne, Australia. When she isn't working, she likes to write the occasional short story.


James Fadeley

James Fadeley is a short story author/skjald and crazy software engineer living in Bethesda, MD. He writes horror, fantasy, sci-fi, crime, and psychology and historical fiction, and frequently blends these genres together. Always busy with one mad scheme or another, it was either going to be writing or world domination. If spotted, approach cautiously and offer a drink. His biography can be viewed at http://he2etic.wordpress.com/bio-bibliography/.


E. B. Fischadler

E. B. Fischadler has been writing short stories for several years, and has recently begun publishing. His stories have appeared in Mad Scientist Journal, Bewildering Stories, eFiction, Voluted Tales, Beyond Imagination Literary Magazine, and Beyond Science Fiction. In addition to fiction, Fischadler has published over 30 papers in refereed scientific journals, as well as a chapter of a textbook on satellite engineering. When he is not writing, he pursues a career in engineering and serves his community as an EMT. Fischadler continues to write short stories and is working on a novel about a naval surgeon. You can learn more about Fischadler and access his other publications at: https://ebfischadler.wordpress.com/


Sean Frost

Sean Frost is a software developer in Michigan, who writes comics and stories while watching horror and science fiction movies. He lives with four demanding cats and a very understanding wife. It is entirely likely that he has a few too many hobbies.


MJ Gardner

MJ Gardner writes to explore the dark corners of the soul. Evelyn’s Journal, her first novel, is available on Amazon and at other e-retailers. Other short stories can be found Plan B Vol IV, Luna Station Quarterly and on Wattpad and her website.  See more at http://www.mjgardner.com.


Dorian Graves

Having achieved a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from Mills College in 2014, Dorian Graves retreated to the mountains of Oregon in order to hunt down new ideas to write about (and Sasquatch, but only because he keeps raiding the fruit orchard). When not writing short stories or an urban fantasy novel series, Dorian can be found traveling along the West Coast, designing increasingly ridiculous World of Darkness campaigns, or the "exciting" day job of selling shoes. Dorian's first novel, Bones and Bourbon, will be released by Ninestar Press on April 2nd, 2018.


J. A. Grier

Dr. J. A. Grier is a planetary scientist, poet, fiction writer, and wine lover. Her stories and poems have appeared in venues such as Mad Scientist Journal, Eye to the Telescope, Liquid Imagination, and Mirror Dance. She is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. Dr. Grier spends her time penning odd articles, reading strange stories, comparing vintages, and looking at impact craters on other worlds. She throws a fabulous Halloween party every year where one room is decorated entirely in eyeballs. Her babblings can be found at jagrier.com and @grierja on Twitter.


Liz Hedgecock

Liz Hedgecock lives in the north of England and appears to lead a normal life, dividing her time between work, childrearing, and running. However, by night she retreats to her secret writing lab where she mixes metaphors and splits infinitives, usually with disastrous consequences. She usually writes short stories but is currently attempting a longer one; her cruel experiments on the English language make the hapless specimens in the writing lab quake in horror. Her reign of terror can be followed on Twitter at @lizhedgecock or at http://lizhedgecock.wordpress.com.


Sylvia Heike

Sylvia Heike lives in Finland and loves her pet rabbits even when they nibble on her books. She writes short fiction, poetry, and is working on her novel. Her work has appeared recently in Flash Fiction Magazine and is forthcoming in three anthologies: Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction 2014, Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, and Selfies from the End of the World. Check out her website at www.sylviaheike.com.


Julie Bloss Kelsey

Julie Bloss Kelsey writes speculative fiction and science fiction poetry from her home in suburban Maryland. In 2011, her scifaiku "Comet" won the Dwarf Stars Award given by the Science Fiction Poetry Association. You can catch her on Twitter where she posts @MamaJoules.


Fred Lubnow

Fred Lubnow received his Bachelors of Science in Biology from Susquehanna University, PA (1988), his Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences (1992) and his Ph.D. in Limnology (1994) from the University of California Davis, CA. During his day job, he is the Director of the Aquatic Programs at Princeton Hydro, LLC, specializing in managing lakes. Late into the evening, he enjoys reading and writing horror fiction, particularly Lovecraftian fiction. He gave a talk at the 2013 Necronomicon conference on the Biology and Evolution of the Old Ones. In addition, he hosts a blog site on Lovecraft and science located at www.lovecraftianscience.wordpress.com.


Chelsea McClellan

Chelsea McClellan lives in the barren wilds of the Midwest with two cats and way too many dogs.


John A. McColley

John A. McColley claims to be a recent father of three, living at the edge of a three-hundred-acre wood. Evidence mounts that he, too, has lost touch with reality after months of sleep deprivation, spinning tales of mechanical men and magic. He reports waking many times a night to the screaming of very cute, but very angry, tiny, twin demons who demand milk and diaper changes.


Diana Parparita

Diana Parparita’s short stories have appeared in Mad Scientist Journal, Enchanted Conversation, Avast, Ye Airships!, and other publications. She is currently working on the fantasy web-novel Toadmila Wartly, which can be found at toadmila.blogspot.com.


J. M. Perkins

J. M. Perkins is a San Diego based genre fiction writer and former survivalist with over a dozen of his short stories sold, published, printed and adapted: on the web, in print anthologies, and on Public Radio International. He used a successful Kickstarter campaign to publish his first novel, and cohosts the podcast 'John vs Patrick.'


Lorraine Schein

Lorraine Schein is a New York writer. Her work has appeared in Strange Horizons, Hotel Amerika, Gargoyle, Space & Time, and the anthologies Phantom Drift and Alice Redux. Her poetry book, The Futurist's Mistress, is available from mayapplepress.com. She has a story forthcoming in Gigantic Worlds and is working on a graphic novel.


Dan Stout

Dan Stout lives in Columbus, Ohio where he writes about the things which terrify and inspire him. His fiction draws on his travels throughout Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim, as well as an employment history which spans everything from subpoena server to assistant well driller. In his free time, he tries to convince himself that match-3 games are somehow educational.


Chris Vander Kaay

Chris Vander Kaay is a screenwriter whose film The Redemption of Henry Myers premiered on the Hallmark Movie Channel. He has previously been published with Mad Scientist Journal, McSweeney’s, and Everyday Fiction and he has co-written three published educational books about film history. He's completing work on a documentary and a graphic novel, and he loves working in the arts in any form he can. He is the husband of a poet, the parent of a Scottish Terrier, and the envy of the cool kids.


Deborah Walker

Deborah Walker grew up in the most English town in the country, but she soon high-tailed it down to London, where she now lives with her partner, Chris, and her two young children. Find Deborah in the British Museum trawling the past for future inspiration or on her blog: http://deborahwalkersbibliography.blogspot.com/. Her stories have appeared in Nature’s Futures, Cosmos, Daily Science Fiction, and The Year’s Best SF 18.


Jeannie Warner

Jeannie Warner spent her formative years in Colorado and Southern California, and is not afraid to abandon the most luxurious domestic environs for travel anywhere. She has a useless degree in musicology, a checkered career in computer security, and aspirations of world domination. Her writing credits include blogs of random musings, thriller novel manuscripts, and publications in Tightbeam online magazine, as well as KnightBridge's Rom Zom Com anthology, several police statements, and a collection of snarky notes to a former upstairs neighbor. She lives in the Bay Area with several of her best friends whom she refers to as "minions."