[ A selection
of short stories by Dan McNeil. Click on story title to view complete
text. ]
[
Story excerpts, hosted externally. Click on story title to view complete
text. ]
The
Destruction Of The World Trade Center Considered As An Aerial Relay Race
: Dan McNeil
The complex course included the states of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. This course is considered to be one of the most hazardous in aerial relay racing, second only to the Kamikaze-Pacific, discontinued in 1945.
The complex course included the states of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. This course is considered to be one of the most hazardous in aerial relay racing, second only to the Kamikaze-Pacific, discontinued in 1945.
State
of Decay (vt Decay Syndrome) :
Dan McNeil
As always, the military are not bothering to free the driver, instead, the ironically termed rescue appliance is completing the transformation from car to coffin by crushing the wreck into a steel cube with its compressor ram. Conversion completed, a hydraulic grab lifts the cube onto the storage rack, where it is secured by metal clasps. Arriving at siren enriched speed, the rescue appliance now glides silently away from the scene like a scarlet hearse. Across the city, other crashed cars are being thus converted with their occupants.
As always, the military are not bothering to free the driver, instead, the ironically termed rescue appliance is completing the transformation from car to coffin by crushing the wreck into a steel cube with its compressor ram. Conversion completed, a hydraulic grab lifts the cube onto the storage rack, where it is secured by metal clasps. Arriving at siren enriched speed, the rescue appliance now glides silently away from the scene like a scarlet hearse. Across the city, other crashed cars are being thus converted with their occupants.
Dog
Country : Dan McNeil
"Disunited Dog Country, par for the course really," laughed Captain Basil Brush in clipped tones as he smashed Sergeant Nathaniel Spaniel over the head with a Jeremy Eight-Iron, horrible flared polyester trousers with vomit inspiring check pattern (circa 1974) flapping around his poxy-foxy legs.
"Disunited Dog Country, par for the course really," laughed Captain Basil Brush in clipped tones as he smashed Sergeant Nathaniel Spaniel over the head with a Jeremy Eight-Iron, horrible flared polyester trousers with vomit inspiring check pattern (circa 1974) flapping around his poxy-foxy legs.
Car(n)age:
A Psychopathic Love Story :
Dan McNeil
The ability of 27 patients with a history of violence and diagnosed as secondary and dyssocial psychopaths to respond to treatment was tested by subjecting them to Car Media Therapy (CMT). Patients underwent CMT for a period of 3 months. Results indicate that previous impulsive and spontaneously violent behaviour in 16 patients was measurably reduced. A corresponding increase in the interest in and preoccupation with car culture of these patients was observed.
The ability of 27 patients with a history of violence and diagnosed as secondary and dyssocial psychopaths to respond to treatment was tested by subjecting them to Car Media Therapy (CMT). Patients underwent CMT for a period of 3 months. Results indicate that previous impulsive and spontaneously violent behaviour in 16 patients was measurably reduced. A corresponding increase in the interest in and preoccupation with car culture of these patients was observed.
A
New Dream of Armageddon : Dan McNeil
Above and beyond St. Peter's Square, the dawn sky was drenched gold and vermilion by the rapidly expanding composite fireball of multiple nuclear detonations.
Above and beyond St. Peter's Square, the dawn sky was drenched gold and vermilion by the rapidly expanding composite fireball of multiple nuclear detonations.
escherville
: Dan McNeil
...neighbour in garden raking autumnal leaves or body parts his wife is missing.
...neighbour in garden raking autumnal leaves or body parts his wife is missing.
War
Can Do Funny Things To People, But Is It The Be-All And End-All?
: Dan McNeil
The sun beats down as your tears flow onto her dark hair. The lieutenant looks down at her and says very quietly, "God Almighty" and then he takes your weapon and tells you that you're under arrest.
The sun beats down as your tears flow onto her dark hair. The lieutenant looks down at her and says very quietly, "God Almighty" and then he takes your weapon and tells you that you're under arrest.
A
Cold Sun : Dan McNeil
Familiar smells had been replaced with the mixed scent of burnt metal, plastics, concrete and meat. He sidestepped a corpse, slam packed with shards of glass from a destroyed building. It seemed to be female, although he couldn¹t be sure. Feeling hungry, he scrabbled at the corpse.
Familiar smells had been replaced with the mixed scent of burnt metal, plastics, concrete and meat. He sidestepped a corpse, slam packed with shards of glass from a destroyed building. It seemed to be female, although he couldn¹t be sure. Feeling hungry, he scrabbled at the corpse.
Appetite,
or A Brief Allegory Of U.S. Expansionism and What It Means If You Get
In The Way Of It : Dan McNeil
Roberts spun back to face the Arcachon. Only the central pod was visible, descending like a submarine's conning tower. Then nothing. Grey sand flowed over the grave.
Roberts spun back to face the Arcachon. Only the central pod was visible, descending like a submarine's conning tower. Then nothing. Grey sand flowed over the grave.
