FEATURED STORY
RECENT STORIES
STORIES BY TOPIC
NEWS
TRANSPORTER
Take me to a...
SEARCH
Enter any portion of the author name or story title:
For more options, try our:
SUBSCRIBE
Sign up for free daily sci-fi!
your email will be kept private
TIDBITS
Get a copy of Not Just Rockets and Robots: Daily Science Fiction Year One. 260 adventures into new worlds, fantastical and science fictional. Rocket Dragons Ignite: the anthology for year two, is also available!
SUBMIT
Publish your stories or art on Daily Science Fiction:
If you've already submitted a story, you may check its:
DAILY SCI-FI
Not just rockets & robots...
"Science Fiction" means—to us—everything found in the science fiction section of a bookstore, or at a science fiction convention, or amongst the winners of the Hugo awards given by the World Science Fiction Society. This includes the genres of science fiction (or sci-fi), fantasy, slipstream, alternative history, and even stories with lighter speculative elements. We hope you enjoy the broad range that SF has to offer.






The Venue

This story is Justin T. Cole's first published work. He looks forward to sharing more stories with speculative fiction aficionados in the future.

The marquis read "ONE NIGHT ONLY" in fixed lettering. There was no need to put that on the variable signage and waste space. Everything here was a single performance. No artist ever came back to this venue; that was part of how the venue was so successful.
If your favorite artist was playing here you had to see them for that show run because you would get no other chance. Ever.
Every show was a sold-out show at the venue, too. Each and every ticket went for a premium and people came from around the world to see the shows that were performed there.
It was a spectacle. Each and every show was fantastic and pleased everyone in the crowd. There were no negative reviews in the history of the venue. Every single patron was pleased with the performance they attended.
I walked by the venue every day on my way to, and again on my way from, work. I saw who was coming as soon as the sign was updated. I marveled at the names on the sign on a regular basis.
I wished I had had the money to purchase a ticket for the three-night extravaganza with Mozart, Pachelbel, and Bach all being featured prominently but I simply could not afford it, so I listened from outside the building.
I have had occasion to want the concert in progress to stop as well. When that happens I take solace in knowing that the artists will be gone soon and their music with them.
Occasionally they do philosophical, political, and academic lectures, too. Those are not as popular, although they still always sell out. The presentation of the Gettysburg Address was a marvelous educational opportunity and it was followed by a discussion on the topic of slavery and the economics of national division and secession. I clearly remember seeing that lecture when I was in school. It was the best field trip we ever had.
This morning, though, was a completely new endeavor posted to their sign. Something daring that will be a spectacle worth seeing. Something unique.
The sign read:
TWO NIGHTS ONLY
DUELING ELVIS
Old Elvis Presley and Young Elvis Presley Take the Stage Together
This will be amazing.
My one question is whether the knowledge of what Elvis becomes when he gets old will alter how young Elvis lives his life when they are returned to their own time.
I'm guessing that they have that figured out. Either way, I must find a way to afford a ticket.
The End
This story was first published on Thursday, October 12th, 2017
Become a Member!

We hope you're enjoying The Venue by Justin Cole.

Please support Daily Science Fiction by becoming a member.

Daily Science Fiction is not accepting memberships or donations at this time.

Rate This Story
Please click to rate this story from 1 (ho-hum) to 7 (excellent!):

Please don't read too much into these ratings. For many reasons, a superior story may not get a superior score.

4.5 Rocket Dragons Average
Share This Story
Join Mailing list
Please join our mailing list and receive free daily sci-fi (your email address will be kept 100% private):