An interesting use of and change in POV to tell a unique story.
“Missing Helen” by Tia Tashiro (2025) — 5,830 words (about 24 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #226, July 2025.
Missing Helen by Tia Tashiro
Category: Your Daily Dose of Empathy
Faces of the Antipode by Matthew Marcus
An environmental tale of colonialism experienced first hand.
“Faces of the Antipode” by Matthew Marcus (2025) — 8,680 words (about 35 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #225, June 2025.
In the Shells of Broken Things by A.T. Greenblatt
A man seeks to understand his family member who left the Evergreen Domes decades ago. A sweet story of reconciliation and openness.
“In the Shells of Broken Things” by A.T. Greenblatt (2025) — 7,050 words (about 28 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #225, June 2025.
Emily of Emerald Starship by Ng Yi-Sheng
A beautiful but heartbreaking story with a clever use of language!
“Emily of Emerald Starship” by Ng Yi-Sheng (2025) — 3,860 words (about 16 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #225, June 2025.
Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being by A.W. Prihandita
An amazing, stunning use of language to communicate that which is beyond words.
“Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being” by A.W. Prihandita (2024) — 8,730 words (about 35 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #218, November 2024.
Hi! I’m Claudia by Delilah S. Dawson
A haunting and disturbing tale of a man who talks with an AI about the troubles in his life.
“Hi! I’m Claudia” by Delilah S. Dawson (2025) — 4,443 words (about 18 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Uncanny magazine issue #64, May 2025.
Vivisection by Anjali Sachdeva
Eleanor, fearing for her safety, hides her organs around the house to keep them safe from her abusive girlfriend Severine.
“Vivisection” by Anjali Sachdeva (2025) — 4,916 words (about 20 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Uncanny magazine issue #64, May 2025.
We, the Fleet by Alex T. Singer
Told from the perspective of a networked inorganic family, this is a story of its interaction with a human who crash lands on their planet. A tale of family and friendship told from a unique perspective.
“We, the Fleet” by Alex T. Singer (2025) — 7,700 words (about 31 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #224, May 2025.
Hugo Awards for Short Fiction, 12 of 12
Hugo Award Nominee for Best Short Story
“Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J. Kim (3,190 words or 13 minutes to read), published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #209, February 2024.
This story addresses more deeply the issues only hinted at in the original story “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin.
My choice for Best Short Story, if I had a vote, would be “Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo. It is a kick ass story with action and emotion that goes deep, punching you right in the gut. Amazing!
Hugo Awards for Short Fiction, 11 of 12
Hugo Award Nominee for Best Short Story
“We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read” by Caroline M. Yoachim (2,832 words or 12 minutes to read), published in Lightspeed magazine issue #168, May 2024.
A unique side-by-side storytelling format.