Is there a better phrase to start a story than "No Shit, There I Was..."? If you hear someone start with that phrase, you know it's going to be worth listening carefully. That's how all the craziest - and most interesting - stories start. And then we turned a bunch of speculative fiction authors loose on that phrase.

Chelsea is determined to make it to her brother's wedding. And she's not going to let the fact that she's been dead for two years stop her. This humorous and lightly macabre journey explores relationships, personal burdens, and what it means to keep moving, even when your heartbeat has stopped.

Prophetic skulls, crocheting krakens, murderous plants. These are but some of the strange tales to be found in this book. Mad Scientist Journal: August 2016 collects thirteen tales from the fictional worlds of mad science. For the discerning mad scientist reader, there are also pieces of fiction from Judith Field, Dusty Wallace, and Richard Zwicker. 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 Ira Krik, Kathy Steinemann, Elizabeth Berger, Damien Krsteski, Leslie Anderson, Alanna McFall, Gary Cuba, Alexander Hollins, J. Herman, E. B. Fischadler, Scott Shanks, Jacob Lambert, Sean Stempler, Dan McQuain, Stephanie Rose, Steve Ruskin, Scott Chaddon, Adam Williams, Simon Kewin, Kate Elizabeth, and Torrey Podmajersky. Cover art by Shannon Legler and Katie Nyborg.

Mutant cephalopods, inter-species disease transmission, squabbling scientists. These are but some of the strange tales to be found in this book. Mad Scientist Journal: Summer 2016 collects twelve tales from the fictional worlds of mad science. For the discerning mad scientist reader, there are also pieces of fiction from Freya Marske, Maureen Bowden, and Samantha Cross. 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 Jacqueline Bridges, Amandeep Jutla, Tamoha Sengupta, Joshua Steely, Zach Bartlett, Alanna McFall, James Stephen, Simon Kewin, Luke McKinney, Franko Stephens, Braddock Gaskill, Judith Field, David Wing, Loria Chaddon, Rick Tobin, Shane Landry, Kate Elizabeth, and Sean Frost. Cover art by Matt Youngmark.