A Killer Job Forces Exes to Reunite in This Queer Sci-Fi Short Story

In the world of science fiction, there are few things as fascinating as a good ol’ fashioned revenge story. And that’s exactly what author dave ring delivers in his latest short story, “The Waking Sleep of a Seething Wound,” which is currently featured in the pages of LIGHTSPEED MAGAZINE.

The story follows the journey of two exes, Kael and Jax, who are forced to reunite on a mission to assassinate a powerful alien target. The catch? They have to do it while navigating their own complicated past and the strict rules of their futuristic society.

Ring’s story is set in a world where humanity has colonized other planets, but at a steep cost. The once-distant stars are now within reach, but the journey to get there has left humanity with a strange condition known as “the waking sleep of a seething wound.” It’s a condition that causes people to experience vivid dreams and hallucinations, making it difficult to distinguish reality from fantasy.

Kael and Jax are both suffering from this condition, which makes their mission even more complicated. They have to navigate their own personal demons while also trying to take down their target. And to make things even more challenging, they have to do it all while pretending to be a married couple on a romantic vacation.

The story is full of twists and turns, as Kael and Jax try to navigate their fake relationship while also dealing with their real feelings for each other. Ring does an excellent job of building tension and creating a sense of unease, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

One of the things that makes “The Waking Sleep of a Seething Wound” stand out is its exploration of queer themes. Kael and Jax are both genderqueer characters, and their relationship is portrayed in a way that feels authentic and refreshing. It’s not often that we see queer characters in science fiction stories, especially not in a positive or healthy way. Ring’s story is a welcome change from the usual heteronormative narratives that dominate the genre.

The world-building in the story is also top-notch. Ring has created a futuristic society that feels both familiar and strange, with its own set of rules and norms. The author does an excellent job of exploring the consequences of humanity’s colonization of other planets, and the impact it has had on individuals and society as a whole.

Overall, “The Waking Sleep of a Seething Wound” is a gripping and thought-provoking short story that explores themes of identity, relationships, and power. It’s a must-read for fans of queer science fiction, and it’s sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating Ring’s next work.

So if you’re looking for a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with a healthy dose of queer representation and world-building, look no further than “The Waking Sleep of a Seething Wound.” It’s a killer job, indeed.