"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." – George R. R. Martin
“By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars” by Premee Mohamed (8,468 words or 34 minutes to read), published in Strange Horizons magazine, Fund Drive 2024 issue.
An exploration of how it feels to be a wizard who had lost her ability to perform magic.
“The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea” by Naomi Kritzer (13,673 words or 55 minutes to read), published in Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine, September/October 2024.
A satisfying emotional tale of overcoming casual misogyny and regaining a career.
Our next Hugo nominee come from a collection by Ann Leckie, author of Ancillary Justice.
“Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie (12,135 words or about 49 minutes to read), published by Orbit in the book Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction by Ann Leckie
This story has a feel of a fairy tale with themes of cross species care and simple kindness in the face of danger.
Continuing my highlighting of short fiction nominees for the Hugo Awards being presented at the Seattle Worldcon 2025 on Saturday, 16 August.
“Loneliness Universe” by Eugenia Triantafyllou (8,173 words or about 33 minutes to read), published in Uncanny magazine issue #58, May/June 2024
An amazing metaphor for the loneliness so many feel when they go down the rabbit hole of their digital worlds instead of being with people IRL. Like so many of the stories in Uncanny, this one really gets at what it feels like to have the experience of the protagonist.
The Hugo Awards will presented at the Seattle Worldcon 2025 on Saturday, 16 August. Starting today, I will be highlighting one short fiction nominee each weekday running up to the announcement of winners that day.
“Signs of Life” by Sarah Pinsker (11,996 words or about 48 minutes to read), published in Uncanny magazine issue #59, July/August 2024
Sarah Pinsker is one of my favorite authors! She always combines great storytelling with exploring the most amazing “What if?” questions.
In this touching and endearing story, she tells us of estranged sisters who find their way back to each other after many years. And in the process, the older learns something about her sister that she actively made herself forget.
Where would you go to escape the end of the world as you know it?
“The Library of the Apocalypse” by Rati Mehrota (2025) — 3,850 words (about 12 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #224, May 2025.
Thelma and Louise plus one.
“If We Make It Through This Alive” by A.T. Greenblatt (2025) — 7,070 words (about 29 minutes for the average reader)
Publish on It’s Storytime with Wil Wheaton, 30 April 2025.
Alive or dead? You decide.
“Lost You Again” by Ian Rogers (2025) — 6,000 words (about 24 minutes for the average reader)
Published in The Dark magazine issue #116, January 2025.
From the other side of climate change.
“Through These Moments, Darkly” by Samantha Murray (2025) — 3,610 words (about 15 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Clarkesworld magazine issue #223, April 2025.
A feminist portal fantasy.
“Exit Interview” by K.W. Olney (2024) — 6,176 words (about 25 minutes for the average reader)
Published in Strange Horizons magazine, 16 December 2024.