In August, I suggested twenty-two (22) stories by twenty (20) different authors at fifteen (15) different magazines on weekdays. I also began suggesting throwback stories, ie stories I’ve recommended in past years, on weekends. I won’t be including the stories I’ve already recommended before in my round-ups. You can scroll through all previous 88 Short Story Round-Up posts to see all the stories. Or you can join my Discord server for a daily throwback story as well.
On any given day, I may post a short story or poem that may have just published hot off the presses or came out 100 years ago. When I started making my recommendations, these were not tied to timeliness because I needed to do something I could do without excess stress. Also, older stories are awesome and deserve new readers.
Lightspeed published:
Bones in It by Kristina Ten in 2021.
Always keep the bargains made, and it’s always good when people get what they deserve. It’s sad that this story seems almost always timely.
Resistance by Cat Rambo in August.
A very short flash piece about alien invaders.
Inner Worlds published:
I march—we march the Mushroom street, by Akis Linardos in June.
Super creepy flash story about death and mushrooms.
Brine and Possibility, by Devan Barlow in June.
A story of the sea, jellyfish, and transformation.
Tour, by Elliott Gish in June.
A super creepy haunted house story! I love the descriptions and insinuations, telling a tale without directly stating it.
Orion’s Belt published:
Rumpelstiltskin, If by Lora Gray at Orion’s Belt in 2022.
A poem and reimaginging of Rumpelstiltskin.
architect of night-bridges by Crystal Sidell in 2022.
A poem about a god of the galaxy and his beloved.
Small Wonders published:
The Colossus Stops by Dafydd McKimm in July.
When a community breaks down, taking what was once protection and using it against others and the rest of the community says no, what happens?
In a Cradle of Antlers by Avra Margariti in July.
A poem of a hunter and fae.
To Save, To Break, To… by Emily Scharff in July.
I loved this story about time travel and the consequences of fixing a mistake.
Dodging the Bullet by Lisa M. Bradley in July.
This poem about aging really grabbed me at the beginning and with the end.
Hundred-Handed One by Wen-Yi Lee was published at Uncanny in 2022.
A story of a child born magnificent but not for their parent, the harshness of life, and return to those parents.
Sorry Not Sorry by Vivian Chou was published at Interstellar Flight Press in August.
This SF historical fiction of a sentient robot who comes from the future to fix mistakes in the past incites me to anger.
In Tandem by Emilee Prado was published at Diabolical Plots in August.
A creepy story about body snatching and control. Check content warnings.
Strange Music by NIB was published at Fireside Fiction in 2021.
A flash story of war and invaders and music.
Channelsea by Sarah Jackson was published at Archive of the Odd in July.
A story written out of historical documents.
Junkyard Spaceship by Beth Cato was published at Worlds of Possibility in August.
Sometimes there’s room for a cat. All 3 poems are awesome, but this one tickled me especially.
Silk by Devan Barlow was published at Crepuscular Magazine in June.
Extremely short horror piece with loads of creepiness. Despite being on patreon, it is free-to-read.
Medusa Fails Therapy by Joelle Killian was published at The Pink Hydra in August.
Medusa’s negative self-talk comes from a different source than most.
I Do Not Dream by Emmie Christie was published at Penumbric in August.
A poem about fear.
In The Path of The Giantess by Sarah Jackson was published at Flash Fiction Online in August.
A flash story about your fears of things that do not even clock your presence.
Planet Earth turns slowly by Stephanie Charette was published at Nature: Futures in August.
Ending the month with an upbeat story about a pirate radio host in a satellite orbiting Earth.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these stories. If you like a story, check out the author to see what else they’ve written! If you like a story, read more stories at the same magazine and consider getting a subscription to support short fiction.