Karen Heuler has published twelve books and over a hundred stories in places like Asimov’s, F&SF, Clarkesworld, and Reactor. Her latest novel, The Splendid City, is a ridiculous satire, and her last collection was A Slice of the Dark. This particular story idea popped out of her mouth when she was hanging out with her writer friends one weekend, but instead of the joke vanishing into the distance, it refused to die. Or die again. This infamous character has scores to settle and he’s determined to shove his fate in front of