The Patron by Thomas Ha – 4.0
The Sunday Morning Transport, March 2025 Thomas Ha’s “The Patron” presents a haunting exploration of commodified human connection through a gig economy service called “the program,” where people hire others…
Handsomest Gentlest by M.R. Robinson – 4.6
Haven Spec Magazine, March 2025 This tender ghost story follows Jackie, an eleven-year-old boy who has recently died and finds himself alone in the woods. Frightened and grieving his own…
Firestarter by Dan Peacock – 3.5
Phano, May 2025 “Firestarter” is a poignant science fiction story about grief, guilt, and redemption set in Earth’s orbit. The narrator, Nick, works as a “firestarter”—a satellite technician whose job…
The Nine Crashes of Flight Lieutenant Hilla Quinn by Louise Hughes – 3.4
Kaleidotrope, October 2025 Flight Lieutenant Hilla Quinn was once the best pilot in her division—someone who could outrun Wasps, survive near-fatal encounters, and make it home against all odds. But…
Steel Holds the Heat’s Memory by Rick Hollon – 3.6
Kaleidotrope, Summer 2025 A nameless girl travels with her father, a stage conjurer who performs under false names while teaching her the secrets of illusion. Their journey takes a dangerous…
The Final Voyage of the Ouranos by Marie Brennan – 2.7
The Sunday Morning Transport, January 2026 “The Final Voyage of the Ouranos” is a science fiction horror story told through an innovative fragmented narrative structure that alternates between cheerful promotional…
Slake by Victor Manibo – 2.2
The Sunday Morning Transport, January 2026 “Slake” is a haunting horror story set during an unprecedented two-week rainstorm that has flooded a city to catastrophic levels. The protagonist, Calix, is…
Jennifer’s Body by Sara S. Messenger – 3.4
Nightmare Magazine, January 2026 Lane is a thirteen-year-old homeschooled girl living with her mother in rural Florida. Her mother, who was tortured to death as a teenager in a scenario…
The Spew by Jeffrey Ford – 3.7
Reactor, January 2026 Eben Cull, an unemployed warehouse worker desperate for money, responds to a mysterious “WRITER WANTED” ad and meets Arathusia, a peculiar woman with raven-black hair who possesses…
Fingerprints on Glass and Clay by Fernanda Coutinho Teixeira – 3.7
Strange Horizons, January 2026 Lúcio is a goldfish with human vocal cords, created by the Lifemaker as a simple project during a period of estrangement from his sister Olga. He…