James Blackthorn is a solid company exo-geologist stationed at an automated mining facility on a newly discovered planet of Zil. It's his duty, or so he thinks, to spend the brutally hot summer months helping to test an experimental drug on an indigenous reptilian volunteer, Aveliin--one that blocks her species' natural hibernation cycle and will prepare them for integration into Concur Unlimited. As the planet bakes, the two have plenty of time to waste, so they share their cultures--whic...

Forty-one enthralling stories from the most talented new science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers.MetaStellar is an online publication focusing on science fiction, fantasy, and horror launched in September 2020, founded by a dozen speculative fiction writers, editors, and artists from around the world.Since then, it's published hundreds of short stories by hundreds of writers, both original fiction, reprints, and excerpts. The proceeds from this antholo...

A young girl in a mining town hears three knocks at her door on a dark night. Two Viking warriors, haunted by grief, enter a cursed forest of iron trees. A mysterious orphan girl hides in the rafters high above the stage of the Opéra le Peletier. A widowed mother and a ghost fight to save her homestead.The Haunted Quill contains eight short stories that explore the strange and uncanny corners of history. Featuring original stories and reprints from new and established writers of sp...