A Dubious Hypothesis

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Techno-Tabby Engineer, February 2026

“An entire universe of star systems and populated planets had narrowed down to a bubble of water-retardant cloth with an orange cat and white fox inside, cuddled up in sleeping bags on either side of a lantern.”

Lt. Jordan LeGuin rarely turned off the augmented data streams in his techno-focal goggles that constantly ran through his field of vision, keeping him informed and entertained, but he had a lot to think about.  The orange tabby had spent the better part of the last week at an engineering conference on Starbase 17, and he was on his way back to the starship Initiative now.  His brain was full enough of ideas.

LeGuin didn’t need anything more to process right now.  He just wanted to let all the ideas he’d crammed into his mind attending talks and demonstrations during the last week settle into place.  And besides, sometimes while piloting a shuttle craft, it was nice to simply allow the infinite stretches of void around the small vessel to envelop him.  Space is really, really big, and sometimes the tabby liked to be reminded of that. Continue reading “A Dubious Hypothesis”

Cuckoo’s Conundrum

by Mary E. Lowd

Originally published in Techno-Tabby Engineer, February 2026

“Hearing the tone of awe in the bird’s voice, Lt. LeGuin realized he might have an opportunity here.”

Jordan LeGuin was a cat more than worth his stripes, and he had really beautiful, bright orange and fire-red stripes that only mildly clashed with the more muted tones of his Tri-Galactic Union engineer’s uniform.  He’d worked hard to earn that uniform and each of the golden pips on his collar that marked him a lieutenant.  He was a naturally smart cat, but that wouldn’t have been enough to make him the chief engineer of the starship Initiative without years of training and studying.  For better or worse, Lt. LeGuin was more comfortable reading technical papers and balancing equations than trying to navigate the uncertain waters of most social interactions, so he’d been able to sail far on the sea of intellectual meritocracy. Continue reading “Cuckoo’s Conundrum”

Nonsense of Various Types

“What would you even do with a hammock at this time of year?” I ask my kid who seems surprised when I suggest we might wait until the summer to get one… despite everywhere being wet around us.

“A slingshot. For pineapples,” the child informs me.

Notes I wrote myself at 3am:

—ten and seven are the factors of Steven
—what if Ariel grows into the sea witch??? Continue reading “Nonsense of Various Types”

Insipid Liner Notes – Doo-Wop Druid

There’s so much to explore in an album inspired by the druid class in Warcraft/Diablo. It’s all about transformation — cat form, bear form, travel form, flight form. You’re a whole kaleidoscope of different animals and even a tree sometimes.

“Back to the Wild” sets the stage for our main character to begin training as a druid.

“La-da-da-da leaf, la-da-da-da leaf.” Continue reading “Insipid Liner Notes – Doo-Wop Druid”

Insipid Liner Notes – Cobalt Starstrong and the Clashing Greens

Cobalt Starstrong and the Clashing Greens is one of the silliest, most ridiculous things I’ve ever made, and I love it so, so much.

It’s pure, unadulterated joy in the form of retro space opera doo-wop — imagine an early Beach Boys album in space. Continue reading “Insipid Liner Notes – Cobalt Starstrong and the Clashing Greens”

Music Struggles and Successes

Falling asleep last night, I thought it might be time to start actually writing fiction with Claude, not just music albums. I had a whole vision and a plan for a project I wouldn’t mind having be a collaboration. (AI is not ready to touch my main universes.) But this morning…

A mismatch between Claude on my phone and on my computer led to losing the lyrics we’d composed for the first song on Doo-Wop Paladin. And after arguing about paladins with Claude for several hours, trying to recapture that vibe, I’m thinking… maybe not. Continue reading “Music Struggles and Successes”

Insipid Liner Notes – Doo-Wop Demon Hunter

Okay! Let’s do this.

If you’re gonna make an album that sounds like how it felt to play Diablo back in the ‘90s — but in bright, shiny, cheerful doo-wop form! — then you’ve got to start with the musical question:

What class are you gonna train??? Continue reading “Insipid Liner Notes – Doo-Wop Demon Hunter”

Insipid Liner Notes – Brunch at the All Alien Cafe, Volume 2

“Chrysalis Party” is about what it would be like to befriend ultra-intelligent, hyper-dimensional aliens during their larval stage when they’re still on our level, knowing they’ll metamorphose and outgrow you.

“One Alien’s Wings” is about a roboticist who has designed replacement mechanical wings for a butterfly alien being asked to cut off the original organic wings and marveling about how different the alien’s life must be to not value those beautiful wings. Continue reading “Insipid Liner Notes – Brunch at the All Alien Cafe, Volume 2”