Crawfather, by Mel Kassel

[F&SF]

★★★☆☆

(Horror) The annual family get together involves a dangerous hunt of a gigantic man-eating crawdad. (4,024 words; Time: 13m)

Ten Deals with the Indigo Snake, by Mel Kassel

[Lightspeed]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Slipstream) The narrator makes a deal with the Devil—or one of his snakes, at least. She thinks she’s clever, but one deal leads to another. (3,423 words; Time: 11m)

Gallows Girl, by Mel Kassel

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(High Fantasy) A gallows girl uses her power to let hanged men take a little innocence to the next world. Kal’s sister was a great one, but Kal worries that her first assignment won’t go right. (6,976 words; Time: 23m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Weavers in the Cellar, by Mel Kassel

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(Fantasy) The spiders work for the ant queen, spinning beautiful gowns for her, but they still remember tales of when they were free. (1,590 words; Time: 05m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average