Reader's Pick For May

Once again we have a new Reader's Pick story, voted for by you, our loyal readers. This time, unusually, the winner hasn't been in any real doubt since just after it was released. It's not that our other stories weren't good, but rather that this one was so very well received by our subscribers that it left all the others behind from the get-go. And it is...

In the Absence Of Your Presence, by our very own editor, Jim Dutton!

As always, this victory entitles our winning writer to the coveted Reader's Pick medal, a $100 cash prize, and — most valuable of all — the genuine esteem of his fellow writers, who would surely be envious were it not that this award is so very obviously well-earned.

Congratulations, Jim!

Honorable mentions for this month, each of which could have easily been in contention at any other time, are:

• The Arch, Randall Andrews

• Grey Man's Burden, by Michael Royal

• Cassette Station Delta, by Jonathan Sutorus

Our sincere congratulations go out to all three writers for their truly worthy stories. Well done!

Thanks are due as ever to our loyal subscribers, who make this award possible with both their money and their votes. We couldn't do this without you; in truth, we wouldn't want to.

Remember, people: Rocket Early, Rocket Often!