Steven Harper
Steven Harper is well-known for his fantasy, science fiction, and steampunk.
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Steven Harper Piziks was born with a last name no one can reliably spell or pronounce, so he usually writes under the name Steven Harper. He grew up on a farm in Michigan but has also lived in Wisconsin and Germany, and spent extensive time in Ukraine. So far, he’s written more than two dozen novels and over fifty short stories and essays. When not writing, he plays the folk harp, lifts weights, and spends more time on-line than is probably good for him. He teaches high school English in southeast Michigan, where he lives with his husband and youngest son. His students think he’s hysterical, which isn’t the same as thinking he’s funny. Visit his web page at http://www.stevenpiziks.com or http://www.theclockworkempire.com
Fiction · Posts · Books
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Fiction
Ghosts From an Enchanter Fleeing
Published Sep 8, 2019 · 4,759 words (18 minutes) · 3 likes · 412 views
Fantasy Historical magic ghosts ghost story victorian england
What happens when a necromancer becomes woke? This story appeared in WEIRD TALES in 1999.
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Iron Axe: Chapter One
Published Aug 19, 2019 · 4,218 words (16 minutes) · 385 views
Danr grew up among humans as a hated half-troll and is enslaved to a stingy farmer. He has no hope of a better life, until strange events in the village give him a chance to change the world.
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Fiction
The First Maxim
Published Aug 19, 2019 · 5,803 words (22 minutes) · 412 views
Fantasy magic parenting Magicians stage magic sleight-of-hand
I've always loved stage magic and sleight-of-hand. One day, I found myself wondering how such a performer would work in a world where magic was real, and I wrote a story to find out. "The First Maxim" first appeared in Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine.
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The Importance of Being Kevin
Published Aug 4, 2019 · 4,747 words (18 minutes) · 447 views
Mystery Romance young adult teen gay lgbt theater
To keep his probation officer happy, Kevin joins a theater program for teenagers and falls hard for Peter Finn, the lead actor in the show. Peter returns Kevin’s feelings, and for the first time, Kevin learns what it means to be in love. Until a brutal attack shatters Kevin’s life and puts Peter in danger of going to jail for murder. You can buy the full novel at https://www.amazon.com/Importance-Being-Kevin-Steven-Harper-ebook/dp/B07RLQJ8G8
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Fiction
Fatherhood
Published Aug 4, 2019 · 6,002 words (22 minutes) · 637 views
Fantasy Romance magic children fatherhood Parents elemental
I'm back from a month in Germany! Now I can get back to posting more stories. "Fatherhood" was published in MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY'S FANTASY MAGAZINE. It started during a night walk in the woods when I found myself at the edge of a cliff staring down at the trees, an oddly compelling sensation. The story, however, stalled out about halfway through, and I set it aside for almost a year. I finally figured out how to finish it.
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Fair Vasyl
Published Jun 27, 2019 · 14,939 words (55 minutes) · 1 like · 700 views
Fantasy Romance fairy tale steampunk magic baba yaga
I was invited to submit a story to CLOCKWORK FAIRY TALES, which wanted steampunk versions of well-known fairy tales. I've always loved Baba Yaga stories, so a steampunk version of "Vasilisa the Beautiful" was a no-brainer. But I needed to add one more twist . . .
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Enforcement Claws
Published Jun 9, 2019 · 6,588 words (24 minutes) · 484 views
Fantasy Humor Satire werewolf pride supernatural zombie funny witch
I've written a lot of funny fantasy for Esther Friesner, and the ones set in modern suburbia took on a life of their own. For this one, I wondered what might happen if you mixed a supernatural Home Owners Association with . . . Pride Month?
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An Interview with Octavia E. Butler
Published May 27, 2019 · 5,912 words (22 minutes) · 2 likes · 4326 views
Fantasy Science Fiction octavia butler african-american interview author interview
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Bite Me
Published May 5, 2019 · 5,052 words (19 minutes) · 468 views
Fantasy Humor Satire zombies sword and sorcery walking dead magic Monsters zombie funny
We all know zombies bite. Maybe the way to fight them is to bite back. When I was invited to submit to CHICKS AND BALANCES, the final CHICKS IN CHAINMAIL anthology, I realized I had no ideas for a story. Nothing. Bupkis. So I combed back through my files and thought it might be nice to find out what Dagmar and Ramdane have been up to. The deadline was only a few days away, so I wrote in a great hurry. Later I discovered the publisher had chosen "Bite Me" for the cover!
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Smoke and Mirrors
Published Apr 15, 2019 · 8,819 words (33 minutes) · 490 views
Fantasy Humor Satire magic funny sword and sorcery
In which our heroes handle a trapped familiar, an evil magician, and a gorgon. All at once. "Smoke and Mirrors" first appeared in Esther Friesner's TURN THE OTHER CHICK anthology, the fifth of the CHICKS IN CHAINMAIL series. I wrote a sequel to it for the last Chicks anthology. I'll post it next week!
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