Opening line from “The Masochist’s Assistant” by Auston Habershaw Fantasy & Science Fiction Jul/Aug 2017:
“Each morning at precisely seven, Georges, famulus to Magus Hugarth Madsworm, stabbed his master in the heart.”
“I’m not so sure about this job,” he said. “It sounds dangerous. You’ll be surrounded by addicts.”
Opening lines from “Death in Rehab” (Leah Abrams’ fifth adventure) by B.K. Stevens Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine May 2011
“I woke up a few minutes ago with a severe headache and a sense of impending death. In the next half hour or so, I know, I am going to die. Nothing can now prevent my physical condition from deteriorating rapidly. As I am trying to write as fast as my mind can think—in an attempt to finish my story before I am finished—my breathing is becoming labored, and the pain in my chest is beginning to torture me.”
Opening line from “Victims of Time” by B. Sridhar Rao, M.D. International Science Fiction June 1968
“The skippership Hope glided below the surface of reality.”
Opening line from “The Compass” by Edd Vick Asimov’s July 2005 Cover by Jacob de Heusch.
“On Monday, July 19, Jim Simpson did eight stupid things. Right in front of Harry Brock, the biggest gossip in the office, he got into a loud, bitter argument with Al Forbes. Next, at lunch, he told Mona Tarnak that the world would be a better place without slimeballs like Al.”
Opening Lines from “Final Jeopardy” by B.K. Stevens Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine July 1991 Cover by Val Lakey Lindahn, interior art by Jim Ceribello.
Opening Lines from “Thrill My Soul” by Greg Jenkins, Weirdbook #34 March 2017, reviewed in The Digest Enthusiast book six.
“Kiefer dropped down the rabbit hole. Deep inside his head he knew the descent into empty darkness was just another shot at teasing Death, an opportunity to rub shoulders with the Reaper. He sucked in a breath, filling his lungs with foul air as he swung from the edge of the trapdoor, arms and fingers straining with the effort.”
Opening paragraph from “Down the Rabbit Hole” by Lesann Berry, episode two of the Alternate History Archive, from The Digest Enthusiast book six, June 2017. Illustrated by Michael Neno.
Opening Lines from “First Principles” by Edd Vick, Asimov’s Sep 2003 as featured in the author’s interview with D. Blake Werts in The Digest Enthusiast book six.
Opening lines to “The Eihkarrad Talisman” written and illustrated by Joe Wehrle, Jr. from The Digest Enthusiast book six.
Selected from a digest featured in The Digest Enthusiast book six:
“Do you remember the year the Acme Publishing Corporation published in installments Witchcraft for Beginners? I do, and very well too, because it was the year my brother disappeared.”
–“Witchcraft for Beginners” by F.C. Gozzini International Science Fiction Nov 1967