A gathering of recent speculative flash & poetry, each presenting a tiny-yet-powerful universe.
Including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the spaces in between.
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By Kel E Lyle in Baffling * 952 Words
Cranes were complicated. Static machines were best at fighting them, but the last crane class mecha had been demolished by a pair of fox type kaiju in Seattle.
Do you like stories about kaiju & battle mechs? I do! This vision of battle mechs folding to meet the shape of the invading kaiju is mesmerizing. The emotional core of the story is, of course, what makes it memorable.
Check out the entire July issue of Baffling for nine stories about giant robots and giant monsters, edited by D. A. Vorobyov.
The Mortification and Ecstasy of Sally Colt, Deserter and Outlaw
By Rio Lombana in Small Wonders * 521 Words
My mech suit is my Lady, my love, my metallic goddess of war.
Isn’t the title enough to sell you on this story? I was immediately drawn in. The gritty setup and stark desperation kept me hooked until the last word. (I promise battle mechs aren’t the only subject I’m reccing this month!)
Intelligence, Charged by the Hour
By Tyler Lemley in Radon Journal * 132 Words // 28 Lines
Lucky if your job
subsidizes your synapses.
The idea of buying intelligence seems appealing to me, so I went into this poem hoping to love it. And yes, I did fall in love with it when I got to this line: “First hit of IQ’s free.”
By Carol Scheina in Haven Spec * 1604 Words
Fresh bones failed to sing for me, despite having six generations of necromancers in my family. I could only hear the song after the bones had transformed, over millions of years, into fossils.
A fossil necromancer? I’m sold! The story continues to surprise, right up to the heartwarming conclusion.
By Sarah Grace Tuttle in Adventitious * 645 Words
The bright colors beckon her over, because strange and beautiful things are worth stopping to see.
A quiet story full of transformation and beauty. This one put a smile on my face.
By Eric Fomley in 100-Foot Crow * 100 Words
I realized what he meant and linked to his oculars.
A full world unfolds in this drabble, told through a parent’s concerns for their child.
Edited by Jacob Baugher, Flash Fiction Online
FFO has produced several outstanding special anthology issues this year. The latest anthology presents a wide-ranging interpretation of the noir genre, from horror to fantasy to spy adventure. It’s tough to recommend any single story because (full disclosure) most of these folks are friends. I think you should read each one. Take your time and savor them. But first, read the editor’s introduction: A Genre of Losers. You don’t want to miss it.
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Bonus stuff!
I’ve had a busy year of judging contests! I was honored to be the science fiction/fantasy judge for The Welkin Genre Prize, and the guest judge for the WWPH Worlds Beyond Prize. I also served as a panelist for SFPA’s Rhysling Awards in the short poem category, as well as for the new InkMark Award. I’m giving you links to a few of the amazing things I was lucky enough to read!
By Guan Un in The Welkin Genre Prize * 87 Words
You’re [eleven years old]/[forty-five] when you [move]/[return] to your childhood home.
This micro drops us into a double-moment in time, masterfully giving us two views of the same person. The curiosity and trepidation shine in this little gem. And note the POV!
By WWPH Writes
This contest awarded first-place and runner-up awards in both prose and poetry. The link will take you to their newsletter (you’ll have to scroll a bit) where you’ll find: “Eons” by e.r. baker; “When Clark Kent Removes His Glasses and Remains Clark Kent,” by M. Frost; “Earthy,” by Rebecca Halsey; and “To Another Shore,” by Jack Kiyonaga. These pieces display a great cross section of short, sharp speculative wonder.
By Angela Liu in Uncanny Magazine * 127 Words // 20 Lines
They wanted us to see
with our electric tongues, taste salt
and black silk over strangers’ faces,
This story took 2nd place in SFPA’s Rhysling Awards, in the short poem category. I love the language and imagery, and the nod to Asian traditions.
Check out the complete winners’ list at SFPA.
Another great panel experience! The InkMark is a community-funded prize for speculative magazines, as well as individual author winners. The final prizes have not yet been announced, but you can see the finalists and semi-finalists at the InkMark page. Huge congrats to magazine finalists Baffling, Flash Fiction Online, Haven Spec, and Seize the Press!
