When a mysterious new member joins a group of struggling authors, the friends discover that they may have a supernatural creature in their midst, who can grant a single author success above all the others—but at a cost.

In the depths of his mind, a writer tries to uncover the autonomous, nefarious motivations of his own characters.

Dermot, a being with an insatiable hunger but a controlled demeanor, works with police to find and kill predators, like himself, who are ravaging the city.

A catalog of the tools different alien species use to read and write, leading to fundamental questions about what it means to make patterns of knowledge against the noise of the universe.

An old, English spy clings to crumbling ideals as he and his partner are caught in a case in Egypt.

In a realistic sci-fi world, a mystery writer nurtures his robot servant's interest in becoming a writer as well, paying for a series of expensive upgrades such that the robot can understand spelling, grammar, plot, human behavior, and humor. However, when the robot's talent threatens to surpass his own, the egotistical writer demands the robot's mind be restored to its original state.

In the magical Ancient Chinese world of astrology, a candyman with a knack for communicating with the zodiac animal spirits must lift a curse on his friend's teahouse by settling a dispute concerning the emperor's prized missing tea between two animal spirits.

A successful gentleman whose ventures have recently failed goes on a miserable quest to find a seam of ore, following a questionable character who claims to have found it.

A young male writer is hired by the prince to write a story about the land the prince is governing. However, when the prince's life is in danger, the writer tries to protect his employer at all costs.

An author discusses with his friend the best way to write about a poor aunt. Their words take on a new power when he manifests a literal poor aunt on his back and draws in spectators.