A gathering of recent speculative flash & micro fiction, each presenting a tiny-yet-powerful universe. How tiny? About one-thousand words for flash; four-hundred words for micro. The word count isn’t as important as the emotion, the adventure, the sense of wonder. Including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the spaces in between.
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Lots of great stories this month! I would have included a few more, but writers & editors can’t seem to resist including that one extra sentence to tell us what the story is about. This is not necessary! Editors, trust your readers to find the essence of the story for themselves, without clunky explainers. And readers, don’t expect to be spoon fed–put some thought into what you’re reading & draw your own conclusions. This collaborative relationship is the magic of flash!
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By Diana Dima in Small Wonders * 975 Words
The text below was inside a brown folder I found when I returned to the city of Zeget, on the very first day of the Fire Revolution…
This is a phenomenal story—epic in scope and feel, with a solid focus on the personal, in only 975 words. The piece is presented as an archive entry: an introduction, a poem with redacted words, footnotes, and end notes on the censored terms. The form itself is key to the story, adding an additional layer of revelation. A fantastic story, executed masterfully.
My flesh, my beating heart, a willing meal that refuses to remember the danger of being eaten
By Deanna J. Valdez in Flash Fiction Online * 994 Words
As we pass through the door, the monster scratches at the fluorescent sign. I hear it spark and sputter behind me as we step into the moonless night.
Of course this fantastic title drew me in immediately. The prose is both lyrical and explosive, weaving tension that coils tighter with each step. The author gives us marvelous details while simultaneously creating enough space for readers to interact with the story in their own unique way, finding meaning as befits their own personal experiences. I applaud the author, as well as FFO’s editor, for resisting the urge to over-tell this story. This is good flash.
By Emil Morel in Apex * 956 Words
Ants crawl out of my hair with cold tiny hooks. They grab the two corners of my mouth and pull upward, following a blueprint of a smile.
This story comes with a content warning for hate crime violence. The images are so unexpected, immediately demonstrating how the main character is cast as “other.” The insect metaphor is extremely effective. Even within the family, Laura endures unwelcome scrutiny. Uncomfortable and unsettling, and well worth the read.
By Angela James in Flash Fiction Online * 986 Words
I think I’m hallucinating when I see Gene Simmons hovering outside my bedroom window and tapping at the screen.
I don’t even know what to say about this story. It’s fun. It’s a stealthy commentary on aging and parenthood and fairness and crappy societal norms and weird magical rockstars. Just go read it. Also, thanks to the author for the earworm that just won’t stop.
By Nicholas Schorn in Hex Literary * 874 Words
There is a finger, a human finger in the schoolyard grass, and it has no body.
I love the voicey humor in this story, as well as the cast of characters drawn into this finger’s journey. The final lines of the piece are—never mind, I don’t want to spoil it. If you’re already a fan of Hex, you’ll like this one.
By Andrew Kozma in Nature Futures * 969 Words
This kind of AI-powered police force was new, a rapid response to the holo-cop implementation that everyone had ended up ignoring because they had no physical presence.
Kozma brings us the unholy amalgamation of “AI” and police. This story speaks to the frustration and anger many of us feel at the intrusion of so-called AI in our lives, as well as the ever-growing power imbalance between law enforcement and the communities they are supposed to serve. Also, if you’re in my age bracket, this story might give you flashbacks to the hours & days you spent waiting for the fucking cable company to hook up your TV. Read the story before the paywall goes up!
By Carol Scheina in Flash Point SF * 867 Words
I’ve already died when the book starts, but I’m featured in Chapter Two in an extended flashback.
I’m always happy to see Scheina’s byline. Her stories invite the reader in with quirky scenarios and engaging language—allowing her to delve into tough subject matter with a light touch. This story is a great example, taking on misogynist fiction tropes and leaving readers with a sense of triumph.
By Thea Liu in Factor Four * 866 Words
…she can see her own heart. It peers from between the fabric of her chest that has unraveled over the day, a scarlet blossom caught behind criss-crossed threads…
A very determined mother overcomes personal tragedy, doing what she must to reunite with her daughter. The author uses embroidery to convey the body horror of this piece, carrying the image of a stitched blossom as a physical symbol of her connection to her child. Beautifully written.
By Devin Miller in Small Wonders * 993 Words
It was new. It smelled like wind and witching. “Are all the places you take us gonna be like this?” the Fox asked.
Reading this story felt like stepping into a little bit of magic. If you’ve ever dreamed of change and the search for new things, this might be the story for you.
What the Crab Apple Tree Near Miranda Spaceport Saw
By Elijah J. Mears in Apex * 962 Words
Elliot doesn’t answer, but he leans against Jun, resting his head on his shoulder. Above them, my heartwood aches and my fragrant petals drift down like the gentlest snow.
A tree in a space colony observes and learns of human emotions, even as the colony nears the end of its lifespan. Despite the inherent sadness of endings, I enjoyed the thread of hope in this piece.
Bonus short stories!
By David von Allmen in Escape Pod * 4248 Words
But they weren’t my friends. Not really. They were her friends. The old Sam, the girl my body had been cloned from…
A daughter dies and her family replaces her with a clone. Told from the clone’s point of view, this story illuminates questions I’d never considered. Lots of tension and emotion here, with spot-on pacing. The gut-punch revelations come at just the right times.
The Way My Mother, Who Refuses to Die, Is Like A Ford Taurus
By Danielle Barr in Okay Donkey * 1150 Words
…between you and me—the secret best thing about mamas is that they’re temporary.
This story is delightfully weird, filled with dark humor and visceral details. I image there are several layers of meaning here—mortality, parenthood, obligation—but the surface-level story is worth the read, even if you don’t want to dig deeper.
Bonus Flash!
Swine Smuggling: The New American Art
By Mason Dougherty in Molotov Cocktail * 976 Words
I am to source fifty to seventy-five feral hogs in the back of my truck and deliver them to a location where a rich landowner has erected a train track around his property…
Not really speculative, but who can resist a story about fifty to seventy-five feral hogs? In typical Molotov Cocktail style, this is bizarre and a little gross, and might stick in your mind for a while after you read it.
By Mizuki Yamagen in Your Impossible Voice * 253 Words
I know your order by scent before I see you—lilies, always lilies, that quiet kind of white, the kind used for altars, for memorials, for weddings when people still believed in vows holding through worse.
This piece is a snapshot of complex emotions, beautifully told.
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If you love these stories as much as I do, please share them so others can discover these brilliant authors!
Myna Chang 