Zero Day, by Sheldon J. Pacotti

[Interzone]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Near-Future SF) An airforce cyber hacker on leave from fighting the war with China chases after a young woman he met on a bus. He just picks the wrong night to do it. (6,004 words; Time: 20m)

Heart of an Awl, by Eliza Ruslander

[Interzone]

★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

(Near-Future SF) A dying man had the mind of his self-driving car implanted in his body, but the former car has trouble adjusting to life as a man. (3,776 words; Time: 12m)

This is not played for laughs.

The Path to War, by Louise Hughes

[Interzone]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Colony SF) The narrator went to a country on the verge of war with its neighbor hoping he might find good stories to tell, but now that the war has started, leaving seems like the best choice. If it’s still possible. (3,371 words; Time: 11m)

Doomed Youth, by Fiona Moore

[Interzone]

★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

(Alternate Reality Horror) Fifty years later, the giant ants are more of a nuisance than anything, but lately there seem to be more than usual, and Kara thinks there’s a pattern to it. (4,009 words; Time: 13m)

This story assumes you have already seen the 1954 movie “Them.”

Soldier's Things, by Tim Lees

[Interzone]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Military SF) A wounded soldier tries to pick up the pieces of his old life, but he can’t be sure which of his memories is real. (4,430 words; Time: 14m)

The Word of Flesh and Soul, by Ruthanna Emrys

[Tor.com]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Alternate History Fantasy) A particular ancient language empowers speakers to change the world, so that knowledge has to be tightly controlled. What could be more dangerous than a student who doesn’t like those controls? (9,332 words; Time: 31m)

Bedfellow, by Jeremy Shipp

[Tor Novella]

★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention

(Horror) A homeless man (or something that looks like one) breaks into the Lund family’s house on Friday night, and by distorting their memories, insinuates himself into their lives. (46,934 words; Time: 2h:36m)

See related articles on Tor.com.