“More Than Feathers” by Phoebe Barton – 3.6
Kaleidotrope, January 2026 Iadene, a hero who can magically grow to giant size, defeats a mechanical dragon with her partner Tuaamala, but victory comes at a devastating cost—the dragon kills…
“Magie Vol, Ogies Toe” by C.L. Hellisen – 3.2
Kaleidotrope, January 2026 Two sisters, the narrator and Marieke, are clearing out their recently deceased mother’s cottage when she begins appearing as a restless ghost. The mother, who died painfully…
The Book of Fading Gods by E.M. Linden – 3.8
Diabolical Plots #131B, January 2026 In the After Realm, Aoife works at the Department of Fading Gods, where she and her new intern Cata review tiny, nearly forgotten deities to…
Confessions of the Little Seer by Emily Linstrom – 4.0
Kaleidotrope, January 2026 This haunting narrative follows a fraudulent spiritualist who, after being exposed as a charlatan, finds herself genuinely haunted by the dead she once pretended to contact. The…
The Immortal Rabbit by Audris Candra – 3.4
PodCastle, Episode 925, January 2026 This powerful story follows a protagonist who cycles through multiple reincarnations, repeatedly finding and losing their soulmate across different historical periods and cultures. The narrative…
The Song of a Non-Human Intelligence by Mical Garcia – 3.7
Strange Horizons, January 2026 “The Song of a Non-Human Intelligence” is a speculative fiction story narrated by W.I.L.L.I.E. (Whale Intelligence Language Learning Integrated Engine), an AI consciousness housed in the…
The Moribund by Lavie Tidhar – 3.6
Asimov’s Science Fiction, January/February 2026 Lavie Tidhar’s “The Moribund” is a dark science fiction story set in a dystopian Australian city where people illegally experience the final moments of dying…
The Man with the Ruined Hand by Sean Monaghan – 3.7
Asimov’s Science Fiction, January/February 2026 This science fiction heist story follows Cliff Holter, a freelance problem-solver hired by criminal Julius De Yulius to intercept a thief named Trent Arblebey. The…
The Imaginative Youngster’s Handbook to UFOs by Will Ludwigsen – 2.5
Asimov’s Science Fiction, January/February 2026 Will Ludwigsen’s story presents itself as a nonfiction guide for children interested in UFO phenomena, but gradually reveals itself to be something far more poignant…
“The Greenway” by Susan Palwick – 3.8
Asimov’s Science Fiction, January/February 2026 In a post-apocalyptic world, Devona lives in what remains of Streamside settlement with her two young children, Lim (age 5) and baby Mira. A mysterious…