Flash Fiction — The little tremor in Sherlock Holmes voice as he called, ‘Eh, Mrs H-hudson, a word please,’ was what told me Mycroft was coming to Baker Street. His love and admiration for his brother was genuine, but he much preferred to indulge him from a distance. I know, I said, Mycroft’s…

Flash Fiction (and musings on same) — It took three centuries after the third world war to reverse its effects, combined with those of the disastrous climate holocaust. Then after two more centuries of horse-trading and compromise_ or in one word, bickering _ peace and harmony finally prevailed on earth. HQ has now been at an all-time…

A Sort of Book Review — Paul Harding won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel This Other Eden. It is easy to see why. It is a heartfelt story of poor déclassés, descendants of slaves and similar society rejects, living on an island off the coast of Maine, in squalor and poverty, which Harding calls Apple…

Flash Fiction Youngster was greatly excited when his dad offered to take him to see the sights in London. They visited a number of landmarks. At Trafalgar Square, the lad asked what it was, and dad seemed stumped. You know m’boy, I’ve seen it before, but simply can’t remember what it’s called. …

Succession In a small kingdom on the subcontinent, the king had died suddenly without naming his successor, and it fell to the Panchayat to choose the new king. The five wise men (yes, no women) convened, and someone pointed out that the most obvious successor should be one of the sons…

I dislike broccoli spinach and kale Can’t digest ’em even when full of ale Hate yogurt, said to be good for your gut Can’t swallow beet or sweet potato The sight of garlic or turmeric induce colic

Flash Fiction — Birbal, a poet, philosopher and musician, was Emperor Akbar’s closest adviser and friend. Unlike previous (and indeed future future) Mughal Emperors of India, he was keen to develop unity among the diverse groups on the subcontinent, which is why, the moderate Muslim that he was, surrounded himself with Hindu advisers…

Flash Fiction — I. Fences In Jahilia people do things differently. Better? Worse? The reader can decide. There were two neighbours living in a village, each in their own houses, separated by a fence. They did not like each other very much, but acted with cold courtesy to each other. Once a hurricane…

Flash Fiction — The president of Jahilia decided that he should become life-president of the country, but swore on the Bible on national television that he would hold the most free and fair referendum before, allowing the opposition to campaign against the motion. And indeed he had every intention to hold a free…