John Cox

Joined January 2021

210 stories

Bio

Twisted writer of mind bending tales. I never met a myth I didn't love or a subject that I couldn't twist out of joint. I have a little something for almost everyone here. Cept AI. Ain't got none of that.

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Stories (210)

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what keeps the light
The cart bumped through the lane’s deep ruts as it climbed, the old man it carried experiencing every trembling shake and jolt, expecting at any moment that an axle would break or a wheel loosened by hours of rough road would free itself and roll down the long hill from whence they came. But as it crested the hill, he uttered Mein Gott when he saw the mountains in the distance, patches of the spring green leaves of elm and oak dotted among the veridian conifers.
By John Cox6 days ago in Fiction
Uncle Sam Wants Who?
Sam wants you, so don't dare you be lame The American youth, a sorry shame, Kids these days, they ain’t fit no more Their hip not ripped, let‘s even the score,
By John Cox9 days ago in Poets
all that truly matters. Top Story - January 2026.
The petals shone brightly as they fell, the promise of spring hanging sweetly in the air. Buckshot smiled, wondering when he had last seen peach trees blossoming in April, certainly not here in New Mexico, but the answer was slow in coming. He was so tired, so very tired as he reclined on the floor of the storage room that he completely forgot why he was even there.
By John Cox15 days ago in Fiction
The Red Herring. Top Story - January 2026.
The courtroom was standing room only. Reporters from every major newslink crowded in the rear with satcams poised and aimed, the air buzzing with pent up electricity. A solemn hush falling when she arrived, the room turned quiet as a sanctuary of prayer. We all held our breath in the stillness of the precious moments of her passing, the burnished wooden benches elevated to pews by her mere presence.
By John Cox27 days ago in Fiction
One last kiss before goodbye
You have a visitor, Mr. Jolly. An old friend. A friend? I have a friend? Jolly! How are you? Not so well I’m afraid. I apologize if I appear confused, but you recognize me and I do not quite remember you.
By John Coxabout a month ago in Fiction
Obit
I'll just say up front that this article will be provocative. You don't have to like it. You don't even have to read it. If you think that human writing has a future and AI creative writing does not, I recommend that you stop now and read something else.
By John Coxabout a month ago in Futurism
The lost dialogue of Philosophocles - 4. Top Story - December 2025.
If you missed Agonistes Part One, two and three, you may wish to read them by clicking the links below: the lost dialogue of Philosophocles
By John Cox2 months ago in Chapters
the lost dialogues of Philosophocles - 3. Top Story - December 2025.
If you missed Agonistes Part One and two, you may wish to read them by clicking the links below: the lost dialogue of Philosophocles
By John Cox2 months ago in Chapters
the visitor. Runner-Up in The Forgotten Room Challenge.
The wind blew softly into the opening where the roof had stoved in, torn shingles piled haphazardly around a collapsed and ruined joist. A cat, her teats dragging across the attic flooring, slunk by in a sort of crawl run and I wondered whether she had already delivered or was returning to her hide after an unproductive hunt.
By John Cox2 months ago in Fiction
the lost dialogue of Philosophocles - 2
If you missed Agonistes Part One, you may wish to read it by clicking the link below: the lost dialogue of Philosophocles ...
By John Cox2 months ago in Chapters
the lost dialogue of Philosophocles
As I have in the past, over the next few weeks I plan to offer a gem from my arcana files, one section at a time. This one is a translation of an out-of-print Ancient Greek dialogue. Posting it as a serial in the Vocal Chapters community will make it more accessible to those of you who prefer to consume longer works in more digestible portions.
By John Cox2 months ago in Chapters
forgotten soldier. Top Story - November 2025.
not gonna wallow, holdin' my head high scowl, roll your eyes, it won't lessen my pride seen bad things in my time, aint gotta lie
By John Cox2 months ago in Poets