This episode features "The Oracular Manifestation of Human Consciousness Offers Three Provocative Verbs, Separated by Commas" by Aimee Ogden (©2024 by Aimee Ogden) read by Stefan Rudnicki, and "We Will Bring Siege to the Bastion of Sin that Cries Out in Your Prayer" by Hammond Diehl (© 2024 by Hammond Diehl) read by Justine Eyre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features "Babywings" by Isabel Cañas (©2024 by Isabel Caña), read by Justine Eyre, and "Antyesti for a Dead Ganesa (Pt 1)" Ashok K. Banker (©2024 by Ashok K. Banker), read by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An excerpt from the unfinished memoirs of Sullivan Kingsley. Text was dictated to and recorded by a Kvasir ScrivenerTM. Any poetic editorializing can be assumed in accordance with the spirit of Mr. Kingsley’s intentions, as interpreted by a conjured instance of the severed hand of Kvasir, Norse god of poetry, peacemaking, and beverage production. | © 2024 by by Philip Gelatt & JT Petty. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m not telling you this to convince you of my innocence. The verdict has already been reached, the seal of my fate has been affixed. | © 2024 by Russell Nichols. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gallam didn’t look at the clothes the family provided until he had already prepared the body. “Prepared” was putting it mildly: the man was covered in wounds—blade wounds? Bite wounds? Gouges, rips, punctures, slices. | © 2024 by Kenneth Schneyer. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Lightspeed Science Fiction Short Shots episode features "The Life You've Given Me, Rusty" by P.A. Cornell (© 2024 by P.A. Cornell), narrated by Stefan Rudnicki, and "Hot Hearts" by Lyndsie Manusos (© 2024 by Lyndsie Manusos), narrated by Janina Edwards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Lightspeed Fantasy Short Shots episode features "Zekelo's Barterhouse & Emporium" by Patrick Hurley (© 2024 by Patrick Hurley), narrated by Stefan Rudnicki and "Caesura" by Ashlee Lhamon (© 2024 by Ashlee Lhamon), narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mother whispered to us about the beings on Earth she regretted creating; the ones whose only merits are their minds, but their minds rot so easily. | © 2024 by Ai Jiang. Read by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talis had a problem. They’d copied the spell incorrectly, in a fury, after seeing photos of their ex with a new date in “their” spot. | © Jae Steinbacher. Narrated by Roxanne Hernandez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every date followed the same pattern. After the dinner and drinks, and the long moonlit walk along the canal, Jules would casually remark that the hangar was not far from here, and would they like to come see? | © 2024 by Sagan Yee. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Lightspeed Science Fiction Short Shots episode features "GaaS" by Meg Elison (© 2024 by Meg Elison), narrated by Alison Belle Bews and "The Mote in Bird's Eye, or Note Attached to a Frozen Corpse Retrieved from Deep Space" by Jon Lasser (© 2024 by Jon Lasser), narrated by Roxanne Hernandez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We were in the mines when the world was falling apart. I remember, the earth was cracking, and the plants were going limp, and the world looked dark blue, less full of life. | © 2024 Osahon Ize-Iyamu. Narrated by Alison Belle Bews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can someone get the doors? Thanks. Please remember we’re on an honor system for chairs—if you’ve eaten today, please leave them for someone who hasn’t. We don’t need another fainting incident. | © 2024 by Gabriela Santiago. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Lightspeed Fantasy Short Shots episode features "The Terrible Secret of The Immortal Bards" by Adam-Troy Castro (© 2024 by Adam-Troy Castro), narrated by Stefan Rudnicki and "A Superior Knot" by Ash Huang (© 2024 by Ash Huang, narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mother used to say I am a child of the river. I never understood her. I thought I would be a child of the wind, like her. | © 2024 by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe. Narrated by Mirron Willis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is the year 3048 and you still hate your job. | © 2024 by Archita Mittra. Narrated by Arthur Morey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Lightspeed Science Fiction Short Shots episode features "Resistance" by Cat Rambo (© 2024 by Cat Rambo), narrated by Stefan Rudnicki and "Under the Skin" by Deborah L. Davitt (© 2024 by Deborah L. Davitt), narrated by Nan McNamara. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We drove out to Joshua Tree for the star party—a gathering of amateur astronomers under a clear, dark sky. It was Holly’s idea, an impromptu adventure on a Friday after work: “Hey, Lou, do you want to go look at the moon tonight?” | © 2024 by Dominique Dickey. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buddy and I abandoned our hydrogen nomad at the edge of the wastelands before trudging around the rusted chain-link perimeter of the abandoned fairgrounds, waiting for the blast of steam and guttural earthly moan to escape from the fractured soil, signifying that it was clear to enter the area. | © 2024 by Richard Thomas. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Lightspeed Fantasy Short Shots episode features "Mud Maidens Rise" by K.A. Wiggins (© 2024 by K.A. Wiggins), narrated by Nan McNamara and "What's in a Name" by Matthew Hughes (© 2024 by Matthew Hughes), narrated by Arthur Morey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next war, the angel decided, he was going to sit out. Before the dust settled, before hosts rose and fell depending on their actions and inclinations, he fled. Cowardice, maybe. More like pragmatism, he rationalized. | © 2024 by Carrie Vaughn. Narrated by Paul Boehmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The simulation blossomed around Nadja Gavrić like a hypercube unpacking itself into three dimensions. | © 2024 by Filip Hajdar Drnovšek Zorko. Narrated by Susan Hanfield, with Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anything can be bought or sold at the Night Market. A dozen hummingbird tongues curled like tiny snails, basted in honey and chili oil and served on a silver tray. A mermaid’s song, caught in an antique bottle of smoked glass. | © 2024 by Vanessa Fogg. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month's Lightspeed Science Fiction Short Shots episode features "The Only Writing Advice You'll Ever Need to Survive Eldritch Horrors" by Aimee Picchi (© 2024 by Aimee Picchi), narrated by Susan Hanfield and "The Aliens Said They Want to Party" by Joel William David Buxton (© 2024 by Joel William David Buxton), narrated by Paul Boehmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices