This is a short story that first appeared in the annual humor anthology Unidentified Funny Objects, volume 8. It is the story of Dr. Amir al-Madani, who recently developed a superpower and is applying to be a hero at a department that is one part DMV and one part “that cantina from Star Wars.”
Amir can’t catch a break. He doesn’t have an agent. He isn’t the progeny of a battle goddess, made of liquid metal, or armored up in a combat exoskeleton. He can regenerate some injuries if he drinks milk, sort of like Popeye and his spinach on a good day. Worse, the superhero name he wants is already taken, and in order to prove he can regenerate, an overly enthusiastic proctor proceeds to give him “the road test,” which means beating the living snot out of him.
Amir battles an implacable enemy and becomes a hero… but not when you’d expect, or how you’d expect. And therein lies the story.
“The 10:40 Appointment” was first printed in Unidentified Funny Objects 8, which features a total of 24 stories, including works by Esther Friesner, David Gerrold, Illimani Ferreria, Jordan Chase-Young, Jody Lynn Nye, and Laura Resnick.
The story was also donated to a charity anthology, Hairballs, Hiccups and Hope, to raise money for Matthew Bowman and Lori Janeski. Lori was in a bad car accident, and proceeds go to helping her and her family out. The anthology had “hope” as a theme, and this story, by its end, has a lot. H, H, & H features 13 stories, including work by Kevin Anderson, Clair W. Kiernan, Kevin Ikenberry, Julie Frost, and Marisa Wolf.
Unidentified Funny Objects 8 is available on Kindle and in paperback here.
Hairballs, Hiccups, and Hope is available for Kindle and paperback here.