Since launching in 2008, Tor.com’s short fiction program has been producing touching, funny, and thought-provoking stories, and this year was no different! In 2022, we published 18 original short stories and 13 novelettes. These ran the gamut from hard science fiction to epic fantasy, from horror to dystopia, from fairy tales to space opera. We’ve rounded them all up below, and you can also find Tordotcom Publishing’s impressive output of novellas and novels here.
We are tremendously proud of our authors, illustrators, and editors for creating such wonderful short fiction this year. We hope that you will nominate your favorites for the Hugos, Nebulas, and other upcoming awards which honor outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror—but most of all, we hope that you have enjoyed reading these stories as much as we have!
Short Stories
“Fruiting Bodies” by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Edited by Jennifer Gunnels
Illustrated by Reiko Murakami
Published January 12, 2022
An alien fungal infection has ravaged a faraway planet, turning all but six of the
colonists into ravenous arinkiris. Inyama, a mycologist, is her species’ last hope. But it’s not expertise her fellow survivors want from her.
“The Chronologist” by Ian MacLeod
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by Red Nose Studio
Published February 9, 2022
A boy, desperate to escape the drudgery of life in his small town, gets caught up in the machinations of a traveling time keeper, and slowly watches his town and his life unravel by the seams.
“The Last Truth” by AnaMaria Curtis
Edited by L.D. Lewis and Diana M. Pho
Illustrated by Juan Bernabeu
Published February 22, 2022
The first place winner of the LeVar Burton Reads writing contest, as co-presented by FIYAH Literary Magazine and Tor.com!
A runaway and indentured thief, Eri must provide a new secret to open each new lock, at the cost of her own memory. Hundreds of locks later, Eri can barely recall her own past. An unanticipated alliance with a musician may prove the key to both their freedoms—if Eri doesn’t lose herself in the process.
“Girl Oil” by Grace P. Fong
Edited by L.D. Lewis and Diana M. Pho
Illustrated by Sara Wong
Published February 22, 2022
The second place winner of the LeVar Burton Reads writing contest, as co-presented by FIYAH Literary Magazine and Tor.com!
Chelle’s friend, Wenqian, has everything Chelle doesn’t. A slim figure, pale skin, and most notably the affection of her longtime friend Preston. Like the ocean waves she calls home, Chelle feels transparent and overflowing all at once. So when she’s given body oil that promises to fix all of her mistakes, she’ll use as much as it takes to reach perfection; no matter how much it hurts.
“Synthetic Perennial” by Vivianni Glass
Edited by L.D. Lewis and Diana M. Pho
Illustrated by Dani Pendergast
Published February 22, 2022
The third place winner of the LeVar Burton Reads writing contest, as co-presented by FIYAH Literary Magazine and Tor.com
K’Mori has died once already. Brought back to life, she struggles with the limits of her reanimation while the world struggles with its meaning.
“Hush” by Mary Anne Mohanraj
Edited by Emily Goldman
Illustrated by Mary Haasdyk
Published March 9, 2022
Jenny returns to her home planet in the midst of civil unrest. A stay-at-home order has been issued in the wake of anti-alien protests, and only she can escort her neighbor Katika, a Razuli girl, home safely.
“The Long View” by Susan Palwick
Edited by Ellen Datlow
Illustrated by Corinne Reid
Published April 27, 2022
A university student seeks special accommodations for her new support animal, causing havoc all around her.
“Arbitrium” by Anjali Sachdeva
Edited by Ann VanderMeer
Illustrated by Sara Wong
Published May 25, 2022
Vashti is a pathogenic diplomat—an ambassador to the world of viruses, whom she communicates with through a machine that can translate their chemical signals into images, tastes, smells, sounds, and memories. She begins a negotiation between the US Government and a diplomatic contingent from Arenavirus, a virus which has just begun spreading a deadly mutation in Florida. If Vashti is successful, she and Arena will reach a diplomatic agreement; if not, the Arenavirus infection will continue to spread, and humans will have to race to try to find a vaccine or treatment. As she navigates the diplomatic discussions, Vashti is also trying to connect with her daughter Alma, who lives on the other side of the country in a technology-averse commune. By the time the negotiation ends, Vashti discovers that Arenavirus have learned some impressive and deadly tricks from their interactions with humans.
“India World” by Amit Gupta
Edited by Ruoxi Chen
Illustrated by Jasjyot Singh Hans
Published June 1, 2022
One day, Rohit receives the opportunity of a lifetime; a job offer in India with promises of fulfilling the sense of purpose he’s so desperately sought after in a country that seems to have forgotten him. Or so he thinks.
“Grow” by Carrie Vaughn
Edited by George R. R. Martin
Illustrated by Micah Epstein
Published July 20, 2022
For over 35 years, the Wild Cards universe has been entertaining readers with stories of superpowered people in an alternate history.
In Carrie Vaughn’s “Grow”, ace Maryam Shahidi makes a big splash in the news after one of her “experiments” goes awry.
“Porgee’s Boar” by Jonathan Carroll
Edited by Ellen Datlow
Illustrated by Robert Hunt
Published August 10, 2022
An artist’s work attracts the eye of Andrey Porgee, a notorious gangster, who becomes her best customer.
But when he commissions a painting based on a childhood photograph, the artist fears his reaction to the final product.
“D.I.Y.” by John Wiswell
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by J Yang
Published August 24, 2022
When the the elitist institution of Ozymandias Academy and its headmaster, Vamon Kinctuarin, can’t find a solution to the city’s worsening drought, 2 self-taught magicians, Noah and his partner Manny, take it upon themselves to find a solution to the crisis.
“The Thief of Memory” by Sunyi Dean
Edited by Lindsey Hall
Illustrated by Erin Vest
Published August 31, 2022
The Hero journeys across the desert to capture The Thief Of Memory and retrieve her stolen memories. What she finds in the end may destroy her.
“Choke” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by Xia Gordon
Published September 14, 2022
A night of food, fun, and festivities quickly turns sour. But what else can you expect when your ancestors say you will choke?
“How the Crown Prince of Jupiter Undid the Universe, or, The Full Fruit of Love’s Full Folly” by P H Lee
Edited by Ann VanderMeer
Illustrated by Bill Mayer
Published October 12, 2022
Once upon a time the Crown Prince of Jupiter glimpsed a miniature of Esmerelda, Princess of the Sun, and fell instantly in love. But was that really such a good idea?
“Of All the New Yorks in All the Worlds” by Indrapramit Das
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
Published October 19, 2022
A student of multiversal time travel slips from one version of New York to another, discovering that love may transcend timelines, but so too can heartbreak…
“Skeleton Song” by Seanan McGuire
Edited by Lee Harris
Illustrated by Rovina Cai
Published October 26, 2022
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions—slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere . . . else. Adventures are always interesting, but they’re not always happy.
From the worlds of Wayward Children comes a story of love, of devotion, of bones wrapped in flesh.
“The Sufficient Loss Protocol” by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Edited by Jennifer Gunnels
Illustrated by Priscilla Bampoh
Published November 2, 2022
When an alien entity sneaks aboard a corporate spaceship, with no motive besides sabotaging the mission and murdering those aboard, commander Uzoma Ifiok launches an investigation—despite knowing that the real danger isn’t the one picking off her crew.
Novelettes
“Seven Vampires: A Judge Dee Mystery” by Lavie Tidhar
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by Red Nose Studio
Published February 16, 2022
Paris is burning and Judge Dee and Jonathan are on the run. To guarantee their safety, they join a band of seven vampires escaping to England. The only problem? Someone in their midst is killing off members of their group one by one. It’s of no matter to the Judge, provided they don’t breach the Unalienable Obligations, but inevitably he’s drawn into events.
“The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Reporter” by Daniela Tomova
Edited by Ellen Datlow
Illustrated by Goñi Montes
Published March 16, 2022
“Spore & Sword” by Dominica Phetteplace
Edited by Ann VanderMeer
Illustrated by Jorge Mascarenhas
Published April 6, 2022
“The Dominion of Leviathan” by Manish Melwani
Edited by Carl Engle-Laird
Illustrated by Greg Manchess
Published April 13, 2022
Lord Ajax! First and greatest Ascendant; conqueror of the Martian machine-minds; mighty Steward of Leviathan’s Dominion! For a thousand years, Ajax has ruled the solar system’s worlds and moons with an iron fist. But history catches up with everyone—even an immortal tyrant. On the frozen dwarf planet Ceres, a scribe composes a record of his millennium-long rule. Unbeknownst to Ajax, her account contains a coded message that will spark a revolution.
“Men, Women, and Chainsaws” by Stephen Graham Jones
Edited by Ellen Datlow
Illustrated by
Published April 20, 2022
It’s been two years since Jenna’s ex-boyfriend left her alone in East Texas heartbroken. Now he’s back in town and she wants to payback. One night, she stumbles upon a bloodthirsty Camaro that may be the key to carrying out her revenge.
“Hearts of Stone” by Emma Newman
Edited by George R. R. Martin
Illustrated by Micah Epstein
Published May 18, 2022
For over 35 years, the Wild Cards universe has been entertaining readers with stories of superpowered people in an alternate history. In Emma Newman’s “Hearts of Stone”, a young woman learns how to control her deadly powers from an unlikely ally.
Kerry —a.k.a Stonemaiden— is a monster. Or at least… she thinks she is. Ever since she turned her parents into granite statues, she lives in constant fear of hurting other people. To prove herself a hero–someone worthy of joining the Silver Helix–she embarks on her first field mission to Central London where she’s tasked with surveying a Russian diplomat named Kazimir Nazarenko. When she finally comes into contact with Kazimir, it becomes evident everything is not what it appears, leading her to question everything she’s been led to believe.
Note from the author: This story contains references to, and characters from, Russia and Ukraine. It was written in 2020, and was inspired by my fear of what was then a potential war, rather than any of the devastating events unfolding in Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion in 2022.
“The Sisters of Saint Nicola of The Almost Perpetual Motion vs the Lurch” by Garth Nix
Edited by Ellen Datlow
Illustrated by Dani Pendergast
Published July 13, 2022
In this raucous, steampunk tale a sacred order of scientist nuns battle against vicious Invaders from Mars and their murderous machines in an ongoing conflict that has lasted centuries.
“In Mercy, Rain” by Seanan McGuire
Edited by Lee Harris
Illustrated by Corinne Reid
Published July 18, 2022
Jack Wolcott was only twelve years old when she and her twin sister Jill, descended the impossible staircase and found herself in the Moors, a world of drowned gods and repugnant royals. After abandoning her sister to a vampire lord, and under the tutelage of a mad scientist who can do impossible things with flesh and living lightning, Jack quickly learns that in the Moors, death is merely a suggestion.
“This Place Is Best Shunned” by David Erik Nelson
Edited by Ann VanderMeer
Illustrated by Dave Palumbo
Published July 27, 2022
Allie and Rooster are heading down to Asheville for Rooster’s new gig, a cushy stint as artist-in-residence at UNC. Rooster is more of a con artist than maker of art, but Allie doesn’t mind, because he’s good-looking, charming, and values what she is: a girl with a keen eye for abandoned places and a knack for getting into them. But when they stumble upon an old backcountry church—the perfect backdrop for Rooster’s latest project—they discover that some “abandoned” places have a knack for keeping themselves occupied.
“Victory Citrus Is Sweet” by Thoraiya Dyer
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by Gregory Manchess
Published September 7, 2022
An unexpected encounter with a mysterious life form turns a simple trip to Mercury into a historic event. Both for ship Captain Victory Citrus and human civilisation as we know it.
“Quandary Aminu vs The Butterfly Man” by Rich Larson
Edited by Ellen Datlow
Illustrated by Sara Wong
Published September 21, 2022
When an illicit trade deal goes wrong and Quandary is blamed for it, she goes on the run to avoid the crosshairs of a bioengineered killer that only lives for 24 hours. If Q can evade it for that long, she just might survive.
“Judge Dee and the Mystery of the Missing Manuscript” by Lavie Tidhar
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by Red Nose Studio
Published November 9, 2022
“Burning Books for Pleasure and Profit” by K.J. Parker
Edited by Jonathan Strahan
Illustrated by Juan Bernabeu
Published December 14, 2022
A talented bookbinder is tasked with creating a copy of a text so inflammatory it threatens to alter the very existence of Truth itself.
Translations
“The Tale of Ak and Humanity” by Yefim Zozulya
Translated by Alex Shvartsman
Edited by Ann VanderMeer
Illustrated by
Published January 26, 2022
Citizens are distraught to learn of the latest decree from their leaders: each person is to be evaluated as to whether they deserve to live. Those found “unnecessary for life” will be asked to “leave life within 24 hours.”
Panic is alleviated when citizens learn that Ak, “a luminous person,” will be in charge of the panels that are to evaluate citizens. Surely, only the “human rubbish” would be eliminated.
