Short story collections offer a variety of new tales for your loved one to discover.
The holiday season and the closing of a calendar year combine to offer a terrific opportunity to enjoy quality time with friends and family, as well as to reassess the things that matter most in your life. This period of reflection can also be an encouraging time to push one’s boundaries in terms of their hobbies and interests, and perhaps seek out new varieties in how they wish to spend their leisure time. For readers, this is best realized in taking a chance on some new genres, authors, or subject matter. After all, there’s nothing quite like discovering a wondrous new story.
With this in mind, one of my favorite gifts (both to give and to receive) is a collection of short stories. These can be in the form of printed editions from a single author, themed anthologies, and especially literary magazines and journals. Giving your loved one a collection of stories that they may not have considered acquiring for themselves can show thoughtfulness on your part, and help expose them to some new content they’ll love. So if you’re looking for a great gift for that reader in your life—particularly those who are fans of the science fiction and fantasy genres—consider these recommendations.
“Through Other Eyes” from All Worlds Wayfarer
All Worlds Wayfarer is a terrific literary magazine that specializes in character-driven, emotional speculative fiction. Every issue is expertly curated and filled with a wonderful selection of tales. You can purchase individual digital issues if you’re in need of an easily accessible gift, but you should also consider the publication’s new (and very first) anthology. “Through Other Eyes” is a collection of 30 short stories, “featuring non-human protagonists, from aliens to dragons and monsters to mythical beings,” according to the editorial team. I pre-ordered my copy several weeks ago, and I can’t wait to dive into it. Click here to learn more, and to get a copy for yourself or a loved one.
“Celebrating Diversity In SFF” from Metaphorosis Magazine
Metaphorosis Magazine is another great literary magazine that regularly showcases a diverse collection of unique and engaging stories, all of which feature speculative elements. Any of their issues would be a great gift, and they’re available in digital editions, with most also readily available in a pocket-sized print edition. Metaphorosis also recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for a series of anthologies that will showcase underserved voices in speculative fiction. According to the editor, “The intent is to bring attention to groups that don’t get as much visibility as they might: LGBTQIA+ authors, disabled authors, authors who work in education, older authors, etc.” This is a great opportunity to support hard-working writers and score some amazing collections of stories—it would also make a unique and thoughtful gift, too.
Wizards In Space Literary Magazine
Wizards In Space is a publisher of printed collections of short fiction, poetry, and beautiful artwork, all with a speculative bent. Each issue contains a unique and diverse selection of content from an equally diverse lineup of creators. Their online store also features several unique literary-themed gifts like pins, t-shirts, and more. You should also consider pre-ordering their upcoming Issue 6, which will have a new story from yours truly.
Escape Pod’s Fifteenth Anniversary Anthology
Escape Pod is one of my favorite speculative fiction publishers, in no small part due to their high-quality audio presentations. This year, to celebrate Escape Pod’s fifteenth anniversary, the editorial team assembled an anthology of some of their best and most popular short stories. It includes works from popular authors like Mary Robinette Kowal and Ken Liu, as well as several others. I’ve yet to pick this one up for myself, although it’s on my wishlist (hint, hint), as I’m confident that it will be stellar.
From The Farther Trees
From The Farther Trees is a relatively new fantasy publication with only a handful of issues out right now, but the two issues I’ve read are fantastic. They’re expertly curated and lovingly created in an old school ’zine format, complete with custom artwork. The stories have all been terrific, too. Being a small press publication, I wouldn’t have discovered it were it not for a recommendation from the editorial team of another terrific speculative fiction magazine (Hexagon), and I’m very pleased that I did. That sense of joyous discovery can lead to an amazing gift experience for that special fantasy reader in your life.
Subscriptions
These days, there are so many amazing individuals and teams publishing great collections of short speculative fiction. Most of them do it as a labor of love, as it’s incredibly costly to run such operations. They rely on dedicated readers and subscribers to keep the ship afloat. So help them out by purchasing a subscription for yourself or as a gift for someone you know will appreciate the very best in science fiction and fantasy writing. Some popular options include Clarkesworld, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Uncanny Magazine, although there are many more out there. With a subscription, your loved one can continually enjoy their gift all year long.
Want to stay in touch? Follow me on Twitter—@mdouglaswhite.
