Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 2h

“Night sits heavy against the harvested fields as my bones stir beneath the soil. They find one another, grind together, and take shape as I inhabit that old skin and prepare to play my part once again.”

Another lush story from Josh Rountree!

@joshrountree.bsky.social @thedeadlands.com

Their Blood Smells of Love and Terror, by Josh Rountree - PSYCHOPOMP.COM

I don’t want the things they offer me. Warm blood and broken skulls. Grunting pigs and headless roosters. Bottles of […]

psychopomp.com

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Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 1d

“The air is birdsong and honeysuckle and the electric touch of approaching thunderstorms, and I can almost imagine myself happy here.”

February Moon by Josh Rountree in Beneath Ceaseless Skies!
@joshrountree.bsky.social @bcsmagazine.bsky.social

Beneath Ceaseless Skies - February Moon by Josh Rountree

My children have spent so much time living with terrible realities that I’m afraid they no longer take the world’s dangers seriously. I wish for them to simply be children, and for myself to be burden...

www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com

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Trollbreath Magazine @trollbreathmag.bsky.social · 1d

Trollbreath accepts non-fiction subs and pitches, even during non-submisssion periods! Speculative fiction and science/fantasy/folklore related non-fiction are welcome (essays, reviews, interviews, social critiques, ...)
magazine.trollbreath.com/submissions/

Trollbreath Magazine Issue 5 Fall 2025 Nonfiction

From the Editors, Meet the Artist: Peter Bartels by Jennifer Reynolds, Dark Nights and Soviet Frights: How My Ukrainian Childhood Shaped My Love of Horror by Mike Rusetsky, Rogue Thoughts: Alvin Toffler by Christopher Mark Rose, Share Your Beans: Mutual Aid in The Last of Us, by Jennifer Reynolds, Pax Anglia by J. D. Harlock

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Translunar Travelers Lounge @translunartl.bsky.social · 1d

It's the 13th of October and if you want to submit a speculative fiction story to Translunar Travelers Lounge you're in luck. Submissions remain open until the 15th! Full details at the link. translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions/

Submissions

Broadly defined, the type of fiction we are looking for is “fun”. [Go to Submissions]

translunartravelerslounge.com

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Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 1d

Congrats to all!

The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · 2d

Oh, hello

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 2d

This week’s guest is Josh Rountree! We’ll look at several short stories & his novella SUMMER IN THE HOUSE OF THE DEPARTED!

@joshrountree.bsky.social @psychopomp.com

Summer in the House of the Departed | Psychopomp

Forty-four years after his grandmother and an entire West Texas town vanished, Brady returns to his childhood home, hoping to follow in her footsteps.

psychopomp.com

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Raima Larter @raimalarter.bsky.social · 3d

Enjoyed Helen's visit with us this morning SO MUCH. What a great writer and a wonderful person, to boot.

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 4d

A story in Helen McClory's collection, "Lore," creeped me out so much I still remembered it years after I read it. It's in her wonderful collection, MAYHEM & DEATH. It's available at 404 Ink if you're in the UK.
@helenmcclory.bsky.social @404ink.bsky.social

Mayhem & Death - Helen McClory — 404 Ink

‘A writer completely unafraid’ - Ali Smith | ‘Shiny dark licorice mind candy’ - Margaret Atwood

www.404ink.com

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Chris but he’s a ghost @gothcasual.bsky.social · 3d

Was literally just thinking about this book. It’s very good

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 4d

A story in Helen McClory's collection, "Lore," creeped me out so much I still remembered it years after I read it. It's in her wonderful collection, MAYHEM & DEATH. It's available at 404 Ink if you're in the UK.
@helenmcclory.bsky.social @404ink.bsky.social

Mayhem & Death - Helen McClory — 404 Ink

‘A writer completely unafraid’ - Ali Smith | ‘Shiny dark licorice mind candy’ - Margaret Atwood

www.404ink.com

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Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 3d

Right? So good!

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Laila Miller @lailamiller.bsky.social · 3d

Looking forward to meeting Helen McClory this week!

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 8d

This week's guest is Helen McClory!

First up is "The Companion" in Wigleaf!

"At this time of day, the risk of attack was minimal, and all she had was that noise, that taste, the treachery beneath, and the cold air around."

@helenmcclory.bsky.social @wigleaf.bsky.social

McClory: 'The Companion'

Fiction by Helen McClory

wigleaf.com

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Marcy Dilworth @marcydilworth.bsky.social · 3d

Can't wait, and welcome Helen!

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 8d

This week's guest is Helen McClory!

First up is "The Companion" in Wigleaf!

"At this time of day, the risk of attack was minimal, and all she had was that noise, that taste, the treachery beneath, and the cold air around."

@helenmcclory.bsky.social @wigleaf.bsky.social

McClory: 'The Companion'

Fiction by Helen McClory

wigleaf.com

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Andrea @andreagoyan.bsky.social · 4d

Can't wait to chat with Helen McClory tomorrow! I loved this in "Lore" -- "The weather could change on a penny-spin." And indeed, it does.

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 4d

A story in Helen McClory's collection, "Lore," creeped me out so much I still remembered it years after I read it. It's in her wonderful collection, MAYHEM & DEATH. It's available at 404 Ink if you're in the UK.
@helenmcclory.bsky.social @404ink.bsky.social

Mayhem & Death - Helen McClory — 404 Ink

‘A writer completely unafraid’ - Ali Smith | ‘Shiny dark licorice mind candy’ - Margaret Atwood

www.404ink.com

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Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 4d

If it’s worth banning, it’s worth owning.
#BannedBooksWeek

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Myna Chang @mynachang.bsky.social · 4d

Interview with @vanessafogg.bsky.social about her upcoming collection, THE HOUSE OF ILLUSIONISTS!

@interstellarflight.bsky.social

Author Interview * Vanessa Fogg

Vanessa Fogg has long been one of my favorite writers. Several of her short stories are on my secret “all-time best” list, so it’s a treat to learn about her new collection, The House of Illusionis…

mynachang.com

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Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 4d

Political shenanigans prevent some of us from ordering directly from the press, which sucks. But you might find a copy at the evil place:

Mayhem & Death

Mayhem & Death [McClory, Helen] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Mayhem & Death

www.amazon.com

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Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 4d

A story in Helen McClory's collection, "Lore," creeped me out so much I still remembered it years after I read it. It's in her wonderful collection, MAYHEM & DEATH. It's available at 404 Ink if you're in the UK.
@helenmcclory.bsky.social @404ink.bsky.social

Mayhem & Death - Helen McClory — 404 Ink

‘A writer completely unafraid’ - Ali Smith | ‘Shiny dark licorice mind candy’ - Margaret Atwood

www.404ink.com

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Elizabeth Bear @matociquala.bsky.social · 4d

Hey guess what? My 2023 novelette "Here Instead Of There" is available at @escapepod.org in two parts!

It's about ethics, meteorology, crony capitalism, and some courageous dirtbags.

escapepod.org/2025/10/02/e...

escapepod.org/2025/10/09/e...

Escape Pod 1013: Here Instead of There (Part 1 of 2)

Waking up sick in a punk house shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody so I don’t know why it always came as a surprise to me. My head throbbed so bad I couldn’t tell the difference between the hangover…

escapepod.org

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Myna Chang @mynachang.bsky.social · 6d

"None of the snakes were awake, but the music made you think something violent was going to happen. I suppose the violence was in the man, not the snakes."

I love this story! All of Helen's stories are full of quirky happenings & gorgeous language.

@helenmcclory.bsky.social

Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 6d

"I want to tell you about this other film I saw, one night when you were out sticking twigs in your hair and shoving your hand into the mouths of foxes, you dank, fleshy monster."

Every bit of this story is unexpected! And sharp as a snakebite.

@helenmcclory.bsky.social in Winter Tangerine!

The Language of Heaven — Winter Tangerine

www.wintertangerine.com

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Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 6d

"I want to tell you about this other film I saw, one night when you were out sticking twigs in your hair and shoving your hand into the mouths of foxes, you dank, fleshy monster."

Every bit of this story is unexpected! And sharp as a snakebite.

@helenmcclory.bsky.social in Winter Tangerine!

The Language of Heaven — Winter Tangerine

www.wintertangerine.com

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Undertow Publications 🇨🇦 @undertow.bsky.social · 6d

And it's on the shelf at their 58th St. branch if you want to borrow it.

Thomas Ha @thomasha.bsky.social · 6d

Oh whoa, nice. UNCERTAIN SONS AND OTHER STORIES (@undertow.bsky.social) is on New York Public Library's list of 2025 best adult horror. Many thanks to NYPL!

Best New Horror of 2025 for Adults

Our expert horror committee read more than 150 titles published since last Halloween to select their 20 favorites. There's something for everyone here—whether you're looking for jeepers, creepers, sca...

www.nypl.org

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Apex Magazine (is funding for 2026!) 🎉 @apexmag.bsky.social · 6d

📢 Exciting book news alert!!

"Apex Book Company is thrilled to announce the reissue of Jason Sanford’s Plague Birds with an additional short story coming out June 2026. Additionally, Apex has acquired Jason Sanford’s sequel novel to Plague Birds, coming out October 2026." 🍾🎉📚

Apex Book Company 2026 Acquisitions

Apex Book Company is thrilled to announce the reissue of Jason Sanford’s Plague Birds with an additional short story, “Little Fathers of Darkness,” coming out June 2026. Additionally, Apex Book Compan...

www.apexbookcompany.com

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Electric Sheep @electricsheepsf.bsky.social · 7d

"The sound was high and wrenching. There was a strong, wild smell now. She and I stood watching the second wave of the storm as it broke, droplets spattering, dense as white oil."

Love the relationship amid the storm!

@helenmcclory.bsky.social @wigleaf.bsky.social

McClory: 'White Rain'

Fiction by Helen McClory

wigleaf.com

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Renan Bernardo @renanbernardo.com · 8d

Happy to see Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers (@starsandsabers.bsky.social) in this Bookshop list in the company of @lyndseycroal.bsky.social, @kristinaten.bsky.social, @angelasylvaine.bsky.social, and other wonderful collections!

bookshop.org/lists/short-...

Short Story Standouts

Check out these gripping, funny, and exciting short story collections & anthologies!

bookshop.org

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Meg Elison @megelison.bsky.social · 8d

I'll be speaking with Martha Wells at the Strand bookstore in NYC on the 8th at 7PM. Join us, or see her near you!

quorniya @quorniya.bsky.social · 8d

In case anyone else is like me and went looking for her tour dates/locations, you can find them here!

us.macmillan.com/tours/martha...

Martha Wells: Queen Demon - Macmillan Publishers

Join the bestselling author of the Murderbot Diaries Martha Wells for a discussion of her next book in the Rising World series, Demon Queen.

us.macmillan.com

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Utopia Science Fiction @utopiascifi.bsky.social · 8d

Congrats to everyone who placed in the Dwarf Stars this year, particularly former Utopia SF contributors Jean-Paul L. Garnier @spacecowboybooks.bsky.social whose poem came third and Mary Soon Lee @marysoonlee.bsky.social who received an honorable mention. #poetry

sfpoetry.org/wp/dwarf-sta...

2025 Dwarf Stars Anthology and Award – Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association

sfpoetry.org

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