Complete short fiction, p.1
Complete Short Fiction, page 1
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Complete Short Fiction
Pat Murphy
(custom book cover)
Jerry eBooks
Title Page
About Pat Murphy
Bibliography
Short fiction Bibliography: chronological
Short fiction Bibliography: alphabetical
Fiction Series
1975
No Mother Near
1978
Eyes of the Wolf
1980
A Lingering Scent of Jasmine
Don’t Look Back
Touch of the Bear
Wish Hound
1981
Orange Blossom Time
Sweetly The Waves Call To Me
1983
In the Islands
1984
On the Dark Side of the Station Where the Train Never Stops
With Four Lean Hounds
Art in the War Zone
1985
On a Summer Night in a Place Far Away
1986
A Falling Star is a Rock from Outer Space
His Vegetable Wife
In the Abode of the Snows
1987
Clay Devils
Rachel in Love
1988
Good-bye, Cynthia
Dead Men on TV
Attachments
1989
Prescience
Scavenger
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
1990
Bones
Latter-Day Martian Chronicles
Women in the Trees
Recycling Strategies for the Inner City
The Eradication of Romantic Love
1991
Peter
Traveling West
Desert Rain
South of Oregon City
1992
Going Through Changes
1993
An American Childhood
A Cartographic Analysis of the Dream State
1994
Games of Deception
1995
A Place of Honor
Points of Departure
1996
A Flock of Lawn Flamingos
Iris Versus the Black Night
1997
The True Story
Wonder Worlds
1998
Ménage and Menagerie
1999
Green Fire (Part I)
Green Fire (Part II)
2003
The Wild Girls
Dragon’s Gate
2004
Inappropriate Behavior
2007
One Odd Shoe
2012
About Fairies
2016
Cold Comfort
2017
Crossing the Threshold
2019
Motherhood
Patrice Ann Murphy was born on March 9, 1955 in Washington state. She began her writing career with the publication of “No Mother Near” for the October 1975 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.
After editing and producing environmental reports and graphics for various pacific coast organizations, Murphy began, in 1982, to edit the Exploratorium Quarterly, the journal of the Exploratorium, a San Francisco museum designed to promote a hands-on relationship between human perception and the arts and sciences.
In 2014, Murphy was hired by Doug Peltz to join Mystery Science (company) as the first employee, creating science curriculum for elementary school teachers.
Murphy has used the ideas of the absurdist pseudophilosophy pataphysics in some of her writings. Along with Lisa Goldstein and Michaela Roessner, she has formed The Brazen Hussies to promote their work. Together with Karen Joy Fowler, Murphy co-founded the James Tiptree, Jr. Award in 1991.
From 1998 through 2018, Pat Murphy and Paul Doherty (a scientist and educator) jointly wrote the recurring ‘Science’ column in the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction that typically appeared twice each year. Their last column was in the May/June 2018 issue; Doherty died in August 2017.
Pat Murphy has lived in Nevada for more than twenty years, and when not writing, engages in martial arts; she has a black belt in kenpō.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Novels
The Shadow Hunter (1982)
The Falling Woman (1986)
The City, Not Long After (1989)
Nadya (1996)
There and Back Again (1999)
Wild Angel (2000)
Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell (2001)
Chapbooks
Rachel in Love (1992)
A Flock of Lawn Flamingos (1996)
About Fairies (2012)
Collections
Points of Departure (1990)
Women Up to No Good (2013)
Omnibus
Bad Grrlz’ Guide to Reality (2014)
SHORT FICTION BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHRONOLOGICAL
1975
No Mother Near, Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1975
1978
Eyes of the Wolf, Galaxy Science Fiction, May 1978
1980
A Lingering Scent of Jasmine, Chrysalis 6, January 1980
Don’t Look Back, Other Worlds 2, January 1980
Touch of the Bear, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, October 1980
Wish Hound, Shadows 3, November 1980
1981
Orange Blossom Time, Chrysalis 9, September 1981
Sweetly the Waves Call to Me, Elsewhere, September 1981
1983
In the Islands, Amazing Science Fiction Stories Combined with Fantastic, March 1983
1984
On the Dark Side of the Station Where the Train Never Stops, Elsewhere, Vol. III, April 1984
With Four Lean Hounds, Sword and Sorceress, May 1984
Art in the War Zone, Universe 14, June 1984
1985
On a Hot Summer Night in a Place Far Away, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, May 1985
1986
A Falling Star is a Rock from Outer Space, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, March 1986
His Vegetable Wife, Interzone, #16, Summer 1986
In the Abode of the Snows, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, mid December, December 15, 1986
1987
Clay Devils, Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone Magazine, April 1987
Rachel in Love, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, April 1987
1988
Good-bye, Cynthia, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, April 1988
Dead Men on TV, Full Spectrum, September 1988
Attachments, Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers, October 1988
1989
Prescience, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, January 1989
Scavenger, Omni, April 1989
How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Time Gate, December 1989
1990
Bones, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, May 1990
Latter-Day Martian Chronicles, Omni, July 1990
Women in the Trees, Points of Departure, July 1990
Recycling Strategies for the Inner City, Points of Departure, July 1990
The Eradication of Romantic Love, Interzone, #42, December 1990
1991
Peter, Omni, February 1991
Traveling West, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, February 1991
Desert Rain, Full Spectrum 3, June 1991
South of Oregon City, The Ultimate Werewolf, October 1991
1992
Going Through Changes, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1992
1993
An American Childhood, Asimov’s Science Fiction, April 1993
A Cartographic Analysis of the Dream State , Omni Best Science Fiction Three, June 1993
1994
Games of Deception, Asimov’s Science Fiction, April 1994
1995
A Place of Honor, Asimov’s Science Fiction, May 1995
Points of Departure, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1995
1996
A Flock of Lawn Flamingos, A Flock of Lawn Flamingos, October 1996
Iris Versus the Black Knight, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November, October 1996
1997
The True Story, Black Swan, White Raven, June 1997
Wonder Worlds, Science Fiction Age, November 1997
1998
Ménage and Menagerie, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November, October 1998
1999
Green Fire (Part I), Event Horizon, January 1-14, 1999
Green Fire (Part II), Event Horizon, January 21-February 9, 1999
2003
The Wild Girls, Witpunk, April 2003
Dragon’s Gate, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, August 2003
2004
Inappropriate Behavior, Sci Fiction, February 11, 2004
2007
One Odd Shoe, The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales, June 2007
2012
About Fairies, Tor.com, May 9, 2012
2016
Cold Comfort, Bridging Infinity, 2016
2017
Crossing the Threshold, Lightspeed, June 2017
2019
Motherhood, Lightspeed, December 2019
SHORT FICTION BIBLIOGRAPHY
ALPHABETICAL
A
A Cartographic Analysis of the Dream State , Omni Best Science Fiction Three, June 1993
A Falling Star is a Rock from Outer Space, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, March 1986
A Flock of Lawn Flamingos, A Flock of Lawn Flamingos, October 1996
A Lingering Scent of Jasmine, Chrysalis 6, January 1980
A Place of Honor, Asimov’s Science Fiction, May 1995
About Fairies, Tor.com, May 9, 2012
An American Childhood, Asimov’s Science Fiction, April 1993
Art in the War Zone, Universe 14, June 1984
Attachments, Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers, October 1988
B
Bones, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, May 1990
C
Clay Devils, Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone Magazine, April 1987
Cold Comfort, Bridging Infinity, 2016
Crossing the Threshold, Lightspeed, June 2017
D
Dead Men on TV, Full Spectrum, September 1988
Desert Rain, Full Spectrum 3, June 1991
Don’t Look Back, Other Worlds 2, January 1980
Dragon’s Gate, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, August 2003
E
The Eradication of Romantic Love, Interzone, #42, December 1990
Eyes of the Wolf, Galaxy Science Fiction, May 1978
G
Games of Deception, Asimov’s Science Fiction, April 1994
Going Through Changes, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1992
Good-bye, Cynthia, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, April 1988
Green Fire (Part I), Event Horizon, January 1-14, 1999
Green Fire (Part II), Event Horizon, January 21-February 9, 1999
H
His Vegetable Wife, Interzone, #16, Summer 1986
How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Time Gate, December 1989
I
In the Abode of the Snows, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, mid December, December 15, 1986
In the Islands, Amazing Science Fiction Stories Combined with Fantastic, March 1983
Inappropriate Behavior, Sci Fiction, February 11, 2004
Iris Versus the Black Knight, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November, October 1996
L
Latter-Day Martian Chronicles, Omni, July 1990
M
Ménage and Menagerie, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November, October 1998
Motherhood, Lightspeed, December 2019
N
No Mother Near, Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1975
O
On a Hot Summer Night in a Place Far Away, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, May 1985
On the Dark Side of the Station Where the Train Never Stops, Elsewhere, Vol. III, April 1984
One Odd Shoe, The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales, June 2007
Orange Blossom Time, Chrysalis 9, September 1981
P
Peter, Omni, February 1991
Points of Departure, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1995
Prescience, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, January 1989
R
Rachel in Love, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, April 1987
Recycling Strategies for the Inner City, Points of Departure, July 1990
S
Scavenger, Omni, April 1989
South of Oregon City, The Ultimate Werewolf, October 1991
Sweetly the Waves Call to Me, Elsewhere, September 1981
T
Touch of the Bear, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, October 1980
Traveling West, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, February 1991
The True Story, Black Swan, White Raven, June 1997
W
The Wild Girls, Witpunk, April 2003
Wish Hound, Shadows 3, November 1980
With Four Lean Hounds, Sword and Sorceress, May 1984
Women in the Trees, Points of Departure, July 1990
Wonder Worlds, Science Fiction Age, November 1997
FICTION SERIES
[N] = Novel
[O] = Omnibus
Max Merriwell
There and Back Again [N]
Wild Angel [N]
Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell [N]
Bad Grrlz’ Guide to Reality [O]
1975
No Mother Near
Listen to the hummm . . .
ON A MOONLESS NIGHT, on a starless night, she floated in the sea. The water was still and warm. She floated peacefully, moored by just a few lines. Nothing to do, nothing that had to be done.
She turned her head to tell Frank how happy she was; her head turned slowly, but something was wrong. Frank wasn’t beside her. There was just more darkness. Warm darkness that pressed against her eyelids and tried to get into her mind. She was alone in the dark. And it wasn’t really quiet; she could hear a hum, a steady hum. It frightened her, made her heart beat faster, no one would hear her scream, no one was near, no one was here. She lashed out with a fist but it moved slowly and weakly and there was nothing to hit, no one to fight, no one at all.
«««
She woke. She lay curled on the bed, heart pounding. She opened her eyes to her apartment bedroom, lit with the thin, tired light of early dawn. She felt as insubstantial as the light, wraithlike and easily blown away. The light washed the colors out—her bedroom was a fine line-drawing of dimly recognizable furniture. She listened to the sounds of the freeway in the distance to reassure herself of her own being.
A dream again, just a dream. Was she passing though that stage in life when lonely women dream strange and lonely dreams and keep cats for company? It had been ten years since Frank, or anyone else, had shared her bed, yet she’d caught herself listening in the night for the sound of a heartbeat not her own. She’d never dreamed much at all—as a child she had, but as an adult there was Frank, then when the marriage ended, there was her work. She taught and worked with a steady passion, little time was left for anything else. She’d never floated in the sea at night; Frank was gone, long gone.
She shook her head and got up quickly. With her clothes, she donned her person: Dr. Alice Woods, a researcher as sensible as grey hair and grey skirts. She brushed her hair and leaned closer to the mirror to inspect the circles under her eyes. Two many nights of unfinished dreams.
The dreams had started a few months back. They weren’t all the same, but they were all similar; lonely and threatening. She frowned and rubbed her eyes to rub out any trailing wisps of the dream.
She arrived at the university too early—no lectures to give today; the mail hadn’t arrived yet; the night cleaning crew had gone and the day people hadn’t arrived.
She sat in the coffee room, drinking hot tea, reading the front page of the morning paper. In the lower right of the page was her picture; she was standing at a podium. While three middle-aged women carrying signs proclaiming “Mothers for Motherhood” waved their fists at her from the audience. The picture was captioned: “How does it feel to be the mother of the Plastic Mother? Story, page 6.”
She didn’t tum to page 6. She didn’t feel up to the tales of her own humanity, inhumanity, or sub-humanity that were sure to be there. Besides, she could write the story by herself. “Dr. Alice Woods .. . married and divorced . . . Ph.D. at Harvard . . . Research in fetal development . . . the Plastic Mother is a common term for the artificial womb that Dr. Woods and her research team developed . . . This technique allows a fertilized egg to be implanted in a plastic container and raised through its full development . . . recent work involving human eggs has generated controversy . . . A new organization called Mothers for Motherhood. . . .”
Alice sighed and rested her head on her hand. Of course there would be a few interviews with members of the M.F.M. as well. “ ‘Raising a child in a cold metal box,’ said one woman, ‘is no substitute for a mother. I have three kids—had every one myself—and . . .’ ”
Three kids—give that woman the medal of honor. Betty Big-Breeder. Pops them out just like a toaster.
Alice shook her head, realizing she was getting upset with a product of her own imagination. Nothing worth wasting her energy on—just a few empty-headed housewives mouthing the same opinions. At least the newspapers showed some variety in the way they viewed her: she was an unnatural monster, a flaming feminist, or else God’s gift to the scientific world and humanity—depending on the paper and the editor’s mood. Alice glanced at the picture again—this paper was of the unnatural monster variety. She tossed it onto a chair and glanced at her watch; not quite enough time for a nap before work.
