"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.
There is one problem about being an immortal vampire that you never read about... you can't feed off your own descendants. I was turned when I was the father of seven healthy children, five of whom lived to marry and have children of their own. Back in the middle ages, people didn't travel far, and it wasn't long before I was the umpteenth-great grandfather to everyone in my village.
One of my descendants was a one of Genghis Khan's concubines. Another fathered Niall of the Nine Hostages. Carolus Magnus--also known as Charlemagne--was another of my descendants. All of these children had many offspring and I am the progenitor of huge swaths of the modern population of the world, which makes things awkward when I am on the hunt.
But not everyone is related to me; it just takes me a while to sort the goats from the sheep, so to speak. And I am delighted to meet you, my little lambkin.
The End
This story was first published on Monday, March 29th, 2021
Author Comments
Lynne Lumsden Green is enjoying the ageing process, contrary to all expectations. She is an Australian who writes both fiction and nonfiction, and owns more books than bookshelves. She has had stories and articles published by the Queensland Writing magazine, DailySF, AntipodeanSF, Every Day Fiction, Aurealis magazine, and has appeared in more than a dozen anthologies of fiction. In 2021, she has a series of books coming out for middle-grade readers with Iron Bridge Publishing. Lynne is also caiming to publish a horror chapbook for an adult audience.
- Lynne Lumsden Green
Become a Member!
We hope you're enjoying The Shepherd by Lynne Lumsden Green.
Please support Daily Science Fiction by becoming a member.
Daily Science Fiction does not have a paywall, but we do have expenses—more than 95% of which are direct payments to authors for their stories. With your $15 membership, less than 6 cents per story, we can continue to provide genre fiction every weekday by email and on the website to thousands of readers for many years to come. You may also choose to support us via patreon.
Rate This Story
Please click to rate this story from 1(ho-hum) to 7(excellent!):
