“Full Fathom Five” by Gwendolyn Maia Hicks – 4.2
Kaleidotrope, January 2026 Jack Kersey accidentally catches a merrow (a mythical sea creature) in a fishing net while working on a trawler off the coast of his struggling Irish town.…
“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…
Bearing the Good Fruit by R. K. Duncan – 3.6
Kaleidotrope, January 2026 Bernard, a young theology student at the University of Paris, confesses to a priest about recent events that have left him uncertain which of his actions were…
Anything Not Impossible by Jayde Holmes – 3.8
Kaleidotrope, January 2026 This philosophical science fiction story explores the nature of probability and inevitability in an infinite universe through the improbable journey of a single bullet. The narrative begins…
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…
Who Can Hold a Princess by Vivian M. Liu – 3.2
Diabolical Plots #131A, January 2026 This poignant fantasy story explores themes of duty, unrequited love, and gender expectations through the relationship between a royal guard and the princess she protects.…
The Tourist by R.T. Ester – 3.5
Asimov’s Science Fiction, January/February 2026 R.T. Ester “The Tourist” is a time travel story centered on a mysterious port that allows travelers to visit alternate timelines—or “splinters”—of reality. The protagonist,…