Five for Friday

The best speculative fiction stories I’ve read recently. Listed in no particular order. Format is Title/Author/Publication, with links to the story and the author’s personal site (when available).

1. “Father’s Kill”/Christopher Green/Beneath Ceaseless Skies

I’m usually “meh” on werewolf stories/books/movies because it is a category steeped in cliches. But this story was original and haunting. I’ve read it three times this week just to see what new impressions I could get from the additional reads.

2. “Non-Zero Probabilities”/N.K. Jemisin/Clarkesworld

The subversions of statistics and luck in this story are brilliant.

3. “Nira and I”/Shweta Narayan/Strange Horizons

Contrasts the unfortunately very real practice of honor killings with a murderous mist.

4. “If Wishes Were Horses”/Tiffani Angus-Bodie /Strange Horizons

I’m very interested in folklore and its sociological implications. This story presents a world where children’s warning stories are true.

5. “Clockwork, Patchwork and Ravens”/Peter M. Ball/Apex Book Company

A Poe vibe crossed with Steampunk.