The Waters Of Kanly, by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

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(SF Adventure; Dune) A year after Harkonen treachery killed Duke Atreides, Gurney Halleck leads what remains of his men and plots vengeance against the Harkonen governor. (11,313 words; Time: 37m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Renegat, by Orson Scott Card

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(SF Adventure) Andrew (“Ender”) Wiggin and his sister Valentine arrive on planet Catalunya to investigate the murder of a man who was trying to prove a local life form was intelligent. (16,776 words; Time: 55m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

This World Is Full of Monsters, by Jeff VanderMeer

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(Apocalypse) The narrator is a writer who finds a story on his porch. A story that enters his body, grows out of the top of his head, and destroys the rest of the world. Then things get strange. (10,048 words; Time: 33m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

Gluttony Bay, by Matt Wallace

[Tor Novella]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Modern Fantasy Horror; Sin du Jour) Now that Sin du Jour is in open conflict with Allenby, something terrible is bound to happen. Allenby has something suitably sadistic in mind, tailored to the unique nature of Sin du Jour. (30,936 words; Time: 1h:43m)

This story is so tightly tied to the previous ones that it would be hopeless to start reading the series here. Readers should start with "Envy of Angels." See related articles on Tor.com.

Elemental Love, by Rachel Swirsky

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(SF Poetic Prose) An android expresses its love for a human being in terms that are at once romantic and chemical. (454 words; Time: 01m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

How to Survive an Epic Journey, by Tansy Rayner Roberts

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(Mythic Fantasy) Atalanta was the only woman Argonaut, and her version of the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece is rather different from the one we usually hear, albeit a bit more plausible. (4,592 words; Time: 15m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Before you read this, refresh your knowledge of Jason and Atalanta, if you need to.

Sorrow and Joy, Sunshine and Rain, by Troy L. Wiggins

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(Modern Mythic Fantasy) A new god arises in response to the pleas of an oppressed people. Unfortunately it’s not exactly the god they were asking for. (5,608 words; Time: 18m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Pipecleaner Sculptures and Other Necessary Work, by Tina Connolly

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(Generation Ship) As the ship approaches its destination, Ninah’s work teaching preschool is about to come to an end. (838 words; Time: 02m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Packs an emotional punch in very little space.

Learning to See Dragons, by Sarah Monette

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(Horror) Annie’s grandmother is dying, and her parents are fighting, but she keeps imagining that she sees giant dragons under the mountains and wishes she could join them. (810 words; Time: 02m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

The Bone Plain, by Karin Tidbeck

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(Mainstream Horror) Running away from a relationship that ended very badly, Erika joins some hikers en route to a place called “World’s End.” (3,377 words; Time: 11m)

Rating: Not Rated No Speculative Element

Making Us Monsters, by Sam J. Miller and Lara Elena Donnelly

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(Historical Uncanny Horror) Fifteen years after his lover died in World War I, Siegfried starts receiving letters from him, dated just before his death. (10,902 words; Time: 36m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Complex and Thought-Provoking. Rewards Rereading.

Untilted, by K.A. Teryna

[Apex]

★★★★☆ Clever and Touching.

(Modern Fantasy (Russian)) Little Marcus walks the Moscow Metro at Midnight looking for stray animals and lost souls to heal. But he needs something too. (7,692 words; Time: 25m)

Recommended By: 👍RSR+1 👍STomaino+1 (Q&A)

An Unexpected Boon, by S.B. Divya

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(Modern Fantasy (India)) Little Kalyani might be autistic, but no one in her village knows what that means. A passing sage offers her a boon, but it’s not at all a cure. (6,100 words; Time: 20m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Them Boys, by Nora Anthony

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(Modern Fantasy) The narrator and her best friend explore the beach where other teens hang out, but the real action is in the little cave with the boys from the sea who have tails instead of legs. (6,477 words; Time: 21m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Rich, Deep, Satisfying

His Wife and Serpent Mistress, by Gillian Daniels

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(Fantasy Adventure) The young Marquis has to marry for money, and he’s not quite sure how his new wife is going to cope with his mistress. (6,011 words; Time: 20m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

The Şiret Mask, by Marie Brennan

[BCS]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Fantasy Adventure) Viorica attempts to steal the famed Şiret Mask from Codruţ, brother of her dear friend. There are lots of complications, not least of which that Codruţ expects someone to try to take it. (5,683 words; Time: 18m)

Recommended By: 👍JMcGregor+2 (Q&A)

The Tablet of Scaptur, by Julia Keller

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(Young Adult SF Adventure) A scientist at the museum slipped Violet an ancient Martian rock just before the authorities arrested her. She and her friends are determined to decipher the writing on it, but it’s not in any known language. (9,438 words; Time: 31m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

A Wound Like an Unplowed Field, by Max Wynne

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(Fantasy Horror) In which a witch offers to save the life of a wounded soldier, but she takes her time with it. (1,870 words; Time: 06m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

The Day the Wizards Came, by Rachel Swirsky

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(Alternate History Fantasy) On 9/11, a squad of wizards from the UK appears and uses magic to prevent most of the carnage. (2,391 words; Time: 07m)

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

The Faerie Tree, by Kathleen Kayembe

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(Modern Fantasy Horror) Only Marianne can see that her new brother-in-law is a horror, and although she knows she can summon the faeries to get rid of him, she also knows the price will be very high. (6,286 words; Time: 20m)

Rating: ★★★★☆ Tense and Horrifying