A Few Short Stories by Nick Armbrister (Author)

 https://books2read.com/u/3GndKO

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GL2SFC3G

Nick Armbrister celebrating 30 years in writing April 1996 to April 2026. In this Short Story collection, Nick Armbrister has put together several short stories from his various books. The stories range in mood and topic matter. All are for adults. They feature human events, personal interactions, erotic and romantic matters, scenes of war and death, lighter funny and satirical moments, questions about human nature and more. Several stories and forty thousand words. This book is released in Nick's 30th anniversary year of writing. 1996 was the year he started his writing career and when he was published, originally poetry, moving to short stories and later novels. His has been quite a career and very varied. Read this book and enter the world of Nick. This is a small selection of his broad writing. Are you similar to his characters and do you relate to their journeys, both inner and outer? Nick wants to write for another 3 decades. Enjoy. Why not start writing yourself?

Riga Snow Ida

 

 

 

Riga Snow Ida

Riga was over Crete. She flew her flying disc low over the sea. The warm blue water reflected the sky. The same water and sky were reflected on the mirror smooth silver flying machine. Her right hand moved the control column and the large disc banked into a turn then climbed. Out of her viewing window the coast line changed shape and form. Becoming more visible. She increased power and levelled off. There to her right was Mount Ida. Foothills rose up from the coast eventually ascending up almost two miles in height.

 

Look at that! There is still snow on top of it. I must go there. Right now! Riga turned towards the huge peak. Lines of other mountains were nearby. I mustn't fly into them in my excitement!

 

The small gal squinted then put on her glasses. Her brown eyes were mischievous now, full of longing. Riga wanted to be there now. Atop Mount Ida in the snow.

 

"I will fly more to the right, a slight increase in speed and climbing angle. Following the terrain." Below the spaceship, the ground rose. Multiple ridge lines and smaller peaks were here. Riga leaned forward and stared in awe.

 

This is bloody awesome! Look at the size of Mount Ida. Simply huge. How wide is it? The altitude numbers increased into the multiple thousands. Riga was almost to the top. The ocean was a distant hazy blue now. Two shades lighter than the March summer sky. That was cloudless. How can there be snow up here if there are no snow clouds?

 

Riga was by the summit now. She slowed her craft and was level. Her silver disc was stationery. Snow reflected on it. Riga wanted to feel the snow!

 

"Time to land. I will do this manually. Ok, landing gear down, forcefield off, ship is visible. Here we go. Right on the top, at the very summit. Ok, slowly now, just a few feet to go. There we go. Touch down..."

 

​I'm only wearing shorts and an old t shirt. To Hell with it. Where's my trainers? There. Got my small army camera. Time to experience real snow again. It's been so long. Riga opened the lower hull door in the cargo bay. She stared at the white ground. Part was flat and part sloped down to the edge of the summit. A clear blue sky was above. Cold air came into the door opening. Riga left the fields and shields off. It was safe here.

 

In a bound the small gal jumped down. And landed in two feet of snow! She plopped down on her butt. It was cold! Her hands felt the cold white snow and patted it and slapped it. Coldness chilled her legs. With her left fingers she scooped up some snow and tasted it. You guessed it, it was cold! Riga yelped like a school gal. It was kilig time! All full of giggles. She jumped up and ran about in circles, dancing skipping and acting the fool. She screeched and made girly noises.

 

"Snow snow snow! Here I am atop Mount Ida. Brought here by my spaceship. Look look look! It's so coooooold..." Riga rubbed herself and doubled up, rubbing her legs and back and sides. "Cold snow, all belonging to Riga. And Mount Ida. At least just for now. Mount Ida and snow all for Riga. Mine mine mine..."

 

Where is that lazy Pedro? I bet he would like this. Oh yes, he's on guard duty in Antarctica. A pity I never went there and abducted him then brought him here. Like a starstruck lover Riga again danced in the snow. She picked a large handful and made a snowball. This she threw at her flying disc. It thudded off the armoured alloy side. Again, she made a snowball. This time she ate some of it. It was cold and froze her teeth and belly when she swallowed it. Silly Riga! Now cold Riga.

 

More prancing in the snow till her small legs were red with cold. Now shivering, she returned to the ship. Totally exhilarated a little tired and quite cold. She clapped her hands and closed the lower door. Her glasses were all fogged up. She ordered the computer to turn up the heating. Riga stripped off her shorts and t shirt and underwear and ran to the shower. She set the water to hot and jumped in. It stung her skin and she yelped. Her grin said it all. Riga all alone atop Mount Ida absolutely loving it. It rarely was better than this. She had some good video tape on her army camera. Her friends would think she was mad!

***

Riga Meets Sarah

 

Riga Meets Sarah

Imagine a place where you can meet people. Riga met Sarah. A meeting that never should've happened. Both wanted to meet missing loved ones. They went to this place to do that. The people they met were not who they wanted to.

 

I miss my father. That fact never ever goes away. If only there was a way to finally be together. Other than my own death. Meeting my father in dreams and by spaceship doesn't count. It's not... Real.

 

Lee, I miss you. Where are you now? Did you know that John and I were together? We were happy for a few years. Can you believe that? We denounced war. Threw away all our guns. We had a son. A difficult birth. He was a monster. That's what we called him. Monster. The radiation...

 

"Who are you? You are not Lee?" Sarah was so confused. "What the Hell?'

 

"Where's my father? He should be here. Not you!" Riga also perplexed. She shook her head.

 

"This place..." Sarah waved her hands.

 

"It's not what it's meant to me." Riga wiped her tears away.

 

"I know. Tell me about it. I’m Sarah."

 

"Sarah? I'm Riga. Nice to meet you."

 

"Likewise. How are you? What's the matter? Please don't cry."

 

"I came here to see my father. He died before his time."

 

"I'm so sorry Riga. Please don't be sad."

 

I'm always sad after my father died. It's why I left my boyfriend Pedro and gave him Hell. Thanks for your kind words Sarah."

 

"I am sorry Riga. We all lose those we love. My friend Lee died. We were all soldiers. The English army killed him. It was terrible. We won the fight but who won the war? I certainly didn't..."

 

“I am sorry too for your friend Lee’s death. You just have been close. It's ok about my father. Thank you...."

 

"I guess we are both the same. Sisters in death and loss. You're not alone now Riga. I am your friend..."

 

"Thank you. I need a friend. Sarah is a pretty name."

 

"I'm from Oldham. In England. My home town. It was destroyed with a nuclear bomb. You see we were at war..."

 

"I'm sorry about all that. The war. Your friend dying. Your home destroyed like that."

 

"Yes Riga. Modern weapons are powerful. That one was. I fought my own wars and demons. Different from yours."

 

"I knew a witch. She gave me her spaceship. I went looking for my father..."

 

"Juniper's Daughter? You knew her? Fuck. She was my friend too. She was strange. Though a good person. She was also a soldier. Her wars were also different yet relatable..."

 

"Fancy that. We both knew the witch. It’s a small world my friend. A small world..."

***

 

 

 

Discarded Paper by Brian Von Blimp (Author)

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYG2R641

https://books2read.com/u/b667xZ

This is the new book of alternative poetry by Brian Von Blimp. It features poetry on life events and human interactions, on current affairs and history, on love and romance. The work is not as dark as some of his previous volumes. Yet there is just enough to say in this 2026 release. Several short fiction stories are included. Alternative writing for contemporary people. What are you waiting for?

Riga pieces

Riga Pieces

Riga knew Pedro had a few pieces missing. Not in a bad way but good. He saw the world very simply. His way. He understood many things but lacked deep cognitive ability. This led to a degradation in critical thinking skills compared to her. She outclassed him twice. It was the way his brain was wired. For a long time he felt bad about it. Then they met. Riga told him why feel bad about it? Simply accept it as a fact and live with it. Like Riga would never be great at basket ball. She accepted it and moved on. Though she can play volleyball. It similar but different. Pedro managed well enough. He was able to figure things out. Like how to travel to a far away place or assemble a battle rifle. His song writing was simple. He either came up with a melody or wrote the words. Adding words or music to finish it. Riga could've stayed with Pedro for good. She wondered why he had dated her while married? It was his diminished cognitive ability that allowed him to do this. He didn't see it as right or wrong yet knew what he was doing. If he wanted to do something he did it. Including seeing Riga and later on Emma. It's what made him a brilliant soldier. He viewed things simply. It was the best way for him. Riga was the very opposite. She analysed from many angles. Validated what she knew and found out other facts. Only then we're decisions made. Having similar mind sets and world views allowed them to click as a couple big time. It was the same with Emma. She saw the world like Pedro did. Something was either right or wrong. Never in the middle. Pedro and Emma were great together. Arguably better than Riga and him. Riga wondered was it possible to update Pedro's brain or give him a new Operating System? That was almost sci-fi science. But then he wouldn't be the Pedro she always loved. Even if apart. His few missing pieces made him who he was. She wished him well in his ongoing army service and with Emma. It was a strange if oddly charming world. Riga made each day count. As did Emmap and Pedro. 

***

Riga Orbits

Riga Orbits

An object in orbit over the planet. Visible from the surface. Moving fast silently through the upper sky. What is it? Some type of vehicle. Not from here but it's here as it orbits along. Made of metal it sparkles in the five red suns. An oddly garish reddish but not red colour. Rapidly passing the suns moving to the night side. This machine not of here. Strangely pretty. All symmetrical not a thing sticking out. Except a fin stop it. If there were observers below they would see it. Who is it? Where is it from? Who built it and why? A random alien planet located where? Where it orbits and from? Ask and get no answers. What is the meaning? Yes it's possible for an alien craft to be alien elsewhere. Like here. At a planet with five suns. Interesting physics. Bring the scientists. Is the craft unscrewed? Just imagine the view from the craft. Imagine if a small female called Riga was there. Enjoying the view. No moods or critical thinking or stamping her feet. Drinking orange juice and eating a fresh apple. A strange craft in orbit over a mid sized alien world. Where are the science fiction writers when you need them? This should be written.

Aeroplane Poems 2 by Nick Armbrister

 This is Nick Armbrister's second aviation based poetry collection bringing together poetry and prose from his books from 2010-15. His aircraft poems are on many types ranging from old biplanes, piston engined planes, fast modern jet fighters, flying and combat. The Natalie poems are memorable. She was a pilot in the Falklands War. The Cold War and World War 2 is also covered, as are nuclear strike missions. Nick has been interested in all things that fly since he was a child and this continues today with his poetry and tattoos related to modern aircraft.

 

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