It is finally, officially Spring! Huzzah! With that comes the onset of awards season for some of the fiction world, particularly in regards to short fiction and science fiction/fantasy. I’ve covered short fiction and genre fiction awards eligibility before for Book Riot, and I always try to squeeze in roundups of the latest gems in short fiction. As a reader and writer of these forms and genres, awards season can be exciting, fascinating, and somewhat stressful, depending on expectations. It’s important not to take this season too seriously (especially if one is hoping for a nomination), but rather look at it from the perspective that we’re celebrating the art form(s) we love.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Short Fiction Awards Season
Toward the end of a calendar year, sometimes as early as September, writers begin to share across social media their awards-eligible work that has published that year. Starting early the following year, though sometimes sooner, voting begins for some awards, such as the Nebula Awards, the Hugo Awards, and the Stoker Awards. It is not required by any means to post awards eligibility, but it might help writers with getting their work noticed by voters. Magazines, as well, will share and promote their award-eligible work.
Around the same time of year, many literary magazines will also post their respective nominations for other short fiction awards, such as the Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, Best of the Net, among others.
So, it’s safe to say that sharing and promoting work during this time is important, not just for the writers listed but for the literary communities as a whole. This is when you see members of these communities come together to celebrate the latest year in fiction. Despite the hellscapes of social media, I take great delight and comfort in seeing others promote and share work they loved to read and write. There’s a lot of wonderful work out there, and it makes for great discoveries.
Swords and Spaceships
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Which brings me to this list of new SFF short fiction that’s free to read online! These stories can be easily accessed at no charge, though I highly recommend supporting the listed magazines in some fashion (sign up for their newsletter or Patreon, follow them on social media, subscribe, purchase a back issue, etc). Additionally, these listed stories are stories published in the first quarter of 2026. As such, these stories would be eligible for the 2026 voting season, starting later this year and early next year.
Whether you’re a voting member, a writer, or just a reader seeking new and exciting science fiction and fantasy stories to read, I hope this list provides intrigue and adventure. Let’s dive into some great SFF short fiction.
New SFF Short Fiction to Read for Free Online
“Your First Days Back in the Court of Arthur” by Abigail Eliza in Otherside
This is Otherside‘s first issue! Let’s show support! I love when a new literary magazine enters the fray, and Otherside is no exception, especially in regards to this magazine’s mission. This is a queer-led literary magazine that publishes speculative fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art by 2SLGBTQIA+ creators. The first issue is a feast of talented work. I chose to highlight “Your First Days Back in the Court of Arthur” by Abigail Eliza for being a flash story following the aftermath of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (I love a good Arthurian retelling) and for the breathtaking final paragraph that had me gasping and clutching my mouth. Simply awe-inspiring.
“Lotus Dew for the Emperor’s Tea” by Vanessa Fogg in Lightspeed Magazine
I always take great comfort and excitement when beginning a Vanessa Fogg story, because I know that I will be whisked away by exquisite prose and epic worlds. It is amazing that “Lotus Dew for the Emperor’s Tea” is a novelette, because I could easily read thousands upon thousands more words set in this world. This story is a sprawling fairy tale, a biting question (that ending!), and a love story, all rolled into one.
“Airable Consumption” by Z. K. Abraham in hex literary
We love a hex literary story. I often turn to hex literary for bite-sized stories that will blow my mind. I’ve had the great privilege to have work published with them, and they are great champions of their writers. I am never disappointed by the boldness and breadth of imagination in the work they publish. “Airable Consumption” by Z.K. Abraham is a stunner, as is usually the case for Abraham’s work. I love the structure of this piece as an interview. It’s as if we, the reader, are the interviewer, and we, too, are succumbing to the character’s ideals.
“The Tide Folk” by Jennifer Hudak in Lightspeed Magazine
This Lightspeed Magazine March 2026 issue is really *chef’s kiss*, so I had to include two stories from it. Unsurprisingly, they’re both water-themed stories; I am a sucker for an atmospheric water tale. This story follows the vibe as others on this list: a fairy tale-like story that’s also a question, a meditation even. It has a fae-like feel, age-old and shimmering, about beauty and holding it in our hands before it’s gone.
“The (Mis)Fortunes of Saint Ilia’s School for Gifted Girls, In No Particular Order” by Catherine Tavares in The Dark
This story is so uniquely structured and brilliantly done that it is absolutely a must-read story for the year. It’s a mystery as well as a pick-a-path story. I can’t imagine the planning that went into this—Catherine, you genius—but it pays off. It’s dark and poetic as well as striking in its inventiveness. I don’t want to spoil it, so you’ll have to dive in as soon as possible.
I also want to give a brief shoutout to “Letters from Light’s End” by Phoenix Alexander, which appeared in khōréō‘s March issue but isn’t wholly available to read for free yet. If you’re reading this before June 2026, you’ll need to purchase the issue first, which costs $5.99. I highly recommend purchasing an issue, because it’s such a brilliant story. However, if you want to read it for free, you only need to wait until mid-June. Either way, you will not be disappointed!
Keep Reading and Sharing SFF Short Fiction
In an age of book bans and rising fascism, the least we can do is share the fiction we love. Be it door-stopper novels or micro fiction tales told in under 400 words, if a story strikes a cord in your heart, share it. Scream about it from the rooftops! Tell your friends, family, and followers. Write the title in a note and fold it into little squares or triangles and pass it to someone in a coffee shop. Here, you might whisper, this story might change your life.
English (US) · 