KlurgSheld

One category of short stories that I write, which is difficult to pin down, explores some of the odder aspects of the way business intersects our lives, or how they might.

• “Bankers from Outer Space” – Lester Gruthner’s one chance at returning from a lengthy field assignment in space was to set up a killer deal for UniBank.
  
• “Business Decision” – Jason Sweeney was certain there was no way the Council could refuse his out-of-town associates’ business proposition.
  
• “Contractor Uprising” – When the company forced its job shops to cut their contractors’ wages, Charlie’s snarky post ignited a movement that’s made him a marked man. But one blogger has gotten an interview.
  
• “Fair Game” – The protest wasn’t nearly as explosive as  photojournalist Margot Güernsbach’s non-interview with the CEO.
• “Intended Consequence” – The attempt on her own life was all public domain activist Colleen Tendray needed to convince her that what happened to her great-grandfather’s documentaries was no accident.
• “Intent” – Ha’akned, the alien envoy, had just offered Earth a trade deal they couldn’t resist. At least he hoped they couldn’t.
  
• “Site License” – When the aliens handed us those papers upon landing on Mars, I had no idea there was more than one way to serve man.
• “Spokesmen” – If you think pop-up ads are annoying, you ought to experience the mental intrusions our new alien trading partners have been broadcasting lately.

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I’ve written this series of stories investigating what would happen if corporations were given full rights of citizenship:

• “Logical Conclusion” – The landmark corporate crime case that Randolph Starling had instigated was nearly over, yet he still harbored a secret from the press.
  
• “Full Circle” – Now that CEO Edward Reese’s company had been snared in the fallout from Randolph Starling’s precedent-setting case, his best chance at mitigation was to negotiate with the man.
• “Prison Break” – The court had appointed Claire Fuller to oversee Fremont-Wayfarer’s incarceration. Reese took the court’s restrictions as a challenge.
• “Turnabout” – Alizondo Klee, the new union’s voice on the Board, had to present Reese’s demeaning plan to the membership, but he didn’t relish the idea.
  
• “Serving Time” – Accepting the FW Diners’ forced makeover was one thing; convincing some of its customers to eat there was an even greater challenge for Klee.
• “Going Down” – Cashier Barbara Woods’ life had gotten surreal enough working at the redesigned FW Diner. But that was nothing compared to what happened after John Frachetti edged through the door.
• “Unplanned Outing” – Claire Fuller just wanted to have a quiet chat with Alizondo Klee about the recent disruption at the FW Diner. It didn’t quite work out that way.
• “Unvarnished Siding” – Called back to Judge Clary’s chambers after her chat with Klee, Claire Fuller was confronted with some nasty allegations about her in the press.
• “The Tallysheet Bankers” – Blogger John Frachetti never expected to be invited to a corporate board meeting, even for a dressing down, so there was no way he could pass up the chance to be heard.
• “Bank Shot” – Asked to speak at the union hall, Frachetti rallied the membership to see Reese’s ploy and raise the ante.
• “Signing Statement” – Free speech takes a turn for the active as the changes that Frachetti suggested begin to take hold.
• “Frachetti’s Challenge” – Leovar Agrolkin was more than just a waiter at the FW Diner, now that his jazz band had started making the rounds. But now there’s another challenge to consider.
  

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I get inspiration from a lot of places, including the news, but one in particular is worth singling out. Ellen Hodgson Brown has written a killer of a book called “Web of Debt“, which explains what’s wrong with our financial system, how it got that way, and what we can collectively do about it. She also has an ongoing blog, where you can keep up on recent development and discuss them with others. I decided to explore what might happen after this sham of a financial system has collapsed.

• “As Is” – Ryan Svorlin knew he’d have some cleaning up to do, because the foreclosed mansion he’d won was offered as-is, but he wasn’t prepared for this.
• “Full Value” – The guest in Ryan’s kitchen may have overstayed his visit, but a civil servant from D.C. was happy to find him still there.
• “LA Scrip” – All Cristall Bellows was looking for was a new place to live. To Ryan Svorlin, she was an answer to questions he hadn’t even asked.
  
• “Face Value” – For the first time in his life, Ryan had someone to be protective about, and not a minute too soon.
• “Round” – The town he’d escaped to had been looking a lot like former trader Norwyn Rosset’s tomb. But that was before the woman on the motorized bike blew into town.