A naturalist of beings real and fictional
Laura Rikono
Laura Rikono lives in Malaysian North Borneo. Once a marine scientist, she met a tribesman who wooed her with wild fishing trips in the shadow of a lilac mountain. They settled down and had children, who were far more interesting than fish. Her stories are sci fi and fantasy grounded in the natural sciences.
Laura Rikono is known inside the Colony as Aethalope
Sooth
If we know everything that has ever happened, can we also know what will happen?
A flash fiction piece published by Daily Science Fiction in January 2018.
The Backstory
This was inspired by my experience with isolated and uncontrollable kindergartners who gradually become absorbed by the class. Written in 2017, before AI scraping vast data troves became trendy, it now seems rather prescient.
If Genre Were A Custody Battle
A conference room. Two GENRES sit fuming on opposite sides of a table. The DIRECTOR sits at the head, looking tired. Okay, you...
If the First Draft Were a Rehearsal
A chaotic rehearsal space. Various STORY ELEMENTS mill about nervously. The DIRECTOR stands centre, clipboard in hand. Right! What have we got today? And...
Golden Hour, Interrupted
My son and I are taking part in a music-dance-storytelling performance of Carnival of the Animals, and the drive home after Sunday rehearsals has been...
If Writing Were Choreographed
In a studio far, far away... There once was a girl. What's this? That's not a start. It's barely a remark! We need grounding. Try...
Freeing Caged Lions
Sometimes things collide in the most unexpected ways. On the one hand, I am slowly picking my way through Conversations with Goethe in the Later...
Consequential Detritus
Mars 20,025 Xenoarchaeological Survey Team Epsilon for Galactic Central Command Captain Mandible? Yes? What is it? Come and look at this. By the Nine Orbits...
The Pink Coupe at the Catch-All Station
About a quarter of a century ago, I developed the habit of working in German car factories. The excellent pay funded my exotic journeys, and...
What We Feed Strangers
My first job on this side of the world saw me driving my boss’s wife’s little red roadster down a narrow dirt track clinging to...
The Binturong Problem
If I told you I’d seen a binturong, chances are you’d stare at me blankly. What if I told you I’d seen a bearcat? You’d...
Joyous Enemies!
“We have an unexpected class starting tomorrow. Do you want it? Three weeks. Five hours a day, Monday to Friday.” “Uh, sure. But what should...
Both Sides of the Postcard
The sand is white and soft. The palms sway gently. The turquoise water glitters. The happy traveler reclines on the lounger and sips something sweet....
The Shadow Durian
As a lifelong foreigner, I’ve learnt that being open to new things smooths the path considerably. Food especially opens doors, and I’m very much an...
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