It’s the first Monday of the month and here I am yet again with another short story round-up summarizing the stories I recommended throughout October. In October I recommended twenty-three (23) short stories and poems. Lots of spooky stuff, but also some not-so-spooky.
Small Wonders published:
The Stars at the End of All Things by AJ Fitzwater in September
I love the voice of this story, talking about how the stars deal with the death of the universe.
A Small Moon Dreams of Reincarnation by Cathy Bryant in September
A poem about when a planetary system dies and how a moon foresees its death.
Business As Usual by Sylvie Althoff in October.
All I can say is, oof! This is a visceral one. A tough one. Highly recommend!
Flash Fiction Online published:
Fibonacci by Eleanor R. Wood in 2016.
What a fantastic use of a fibonacci sequence!
“–Good.” by Sunyi Dean
A story where the end redefines the beginning.
Moonday Mag published Dr X by Sarah Jackson in September.
A poem about our innermost being becoming known.
Lightspeed published Five Views of the Planet Tartarus by Rachael K. Jones in January.
I read this twice to truly comprehend it. Then I swore out loud to my office.
I Demand Knives by Sasha Brown was published at Interstellar Flight Press in October.
(I read this in slush and I loved it and I still love it!) There are a lot of knives. Be forewarned.
Apex Magazine published:
Out of Print by Wen Wen Yang in May.
I swear I read this elsewhere before but I cannot figure out where. This story is breath-taking!
And Someone Has To Do It by Koji A. Dae in September.
A story of the sacrifices mothers make.
Heartlines Spec published:
Stone / Heart / Flesh / Wound by P. H. Low this Summer.
A story about how you change yourself based on other’s expectations, and how you then change their expectations.
Italic & Bold by Dan Peacock in 2023
A story about two robots going for repair that will either make you say, “Aw!” or break your heart.
My TikTok video about this story took off a little bit (for me.)
@adriabailton Have you read? Italic and Bold by Dan Peacock at Heartlines Spec #shortstoryrec #danpeacock #heartlinesspec ♬ original sound – Adria
The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World by Gabriel García Márquez and translated into English by Gregory Rabassa.
When an unknown drowned man washes up on shore, the whole town makes him theirs.
Diabolical Plots published
Batter and Pearl by Steph Kwiatkowski in September.
An interesting story of ecological fixes gone wrong and choices made for people important to you.
“Bone Talker, Bone Eater” by D.S. Ravenhurst in October.
Sometimes the things you can do scare people and what you can become scares you.
The Maples had Grown by Emmie Christie was published at Hawthorn-Ash in 2023.
A drabble about satyrs and poaching, and revenge.
Short Edition published The Color Out of License by Rodrigo Culagovski in October.
A flash about extreme capitalism owning the colors you see.
Never Sleeping by Devan Barlow was published at Lorelei Signal
A poem of Briar Rose.
Maudlin House pulished Squid Games by Lindsey Godfrey Eccles in October.
A fun and touching story about squids playing games they can’t win
Persephone Ascending by K.L. Mill was published at Crepuscular Magazine in September.
I love Persephone stories and this micro doesn’t disappoint! (Free to read on Patreon.)
Translunar Traverlers Lounge published Small Town Androids Never Have Much Fun, by Peace Kathure M. in 2022.
The allegory is heavy in this one.
The Trouble with Goblins by Robert Stahl was published at Wyldblood Flash in 2022.
Goblins and a wizard face off.
Nightmare Magazine published Caw by WC Dunlap in 2021.
Who do you trust at the end of the world? What do you become?
Nearly every story I suggested in August came from a different author and I managed to get in sixteen (16) different magazines as well! If you enjoyed those stories, please continue to read those magazines and those authors.