Looking for original short fiction in December and January? Look no further! Tor.com has nine wonderful short stories coming over the course of the next two months, including a stand-alone Kim Stanley Robinson short story, plus other tales from Brian Staveley, Melissa Marr, and Angela Slatter. Welsh Gold, mysterious disappearances, pirates and Supreme Court Justices populate these stories. To keep track of our upcoming fiction, you can always check this page.
December 2
“The Phantom in the Maze”
Written by Michael Swanwick
Illustrated by Gregory Manchess
Edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden
We tamper with time at our peril. A new story in the Mongolian Wizard series.
December 7
“Oral Argument”
Written by Kim Stanley Robinson
Illustrated by Wesley Allsbrook
Edited by Beth Meacham
December 9
“The Log Goblin”
Written by Brian Staveley
Illustrated by John Jude Palencar
Edited by Marco Palmieri
On a cold winter’s night, a goblin is caught stealing firewood. Then things start getting weird.
January 6
“The Glass Galago”
Written by A. M. Dellamonica
Illustrated by Richard Anderson
Edited by Stacy Hague-Hill
A. M. Dellamonica is at it again! The thrilling adventures of Gale Filachild and Captain Perrish continue in a series of prequel stories that offers to take us deeper into the fascinating world of Stormwrack.
When Gale and the crew of the Nightjar are called back to the fleet to handle an issue involving a law regulating new patents and a missing magical inscription, they soon find themselves embroiled in a plot that is could potentially pit island against island. Now, they must discover the mystery of the glass galago before time runs out for both it and the fleet.
January 13
“Finnegan’s Field”
Written by Angela Slatter
Illustrated by Greg Ruth
Edited by Ellen Datlow
“Finnegan’s Field” by Angela Slatter is a dark fantasy novelette about a six year old child who mysteriously disappears for three years, only to return home just as mysteriously—but not quite the same. At least, not to her mother.
January 19
“Small Wars”
Written by Matt Wallace
Illustrated by Goñi Montes
Edited by Lee Harris
The Sin du Jour procurement team has been tasked with acquiring a substantial cache of rare Welsh gold for a rather important event, but when they stumble upon rivals factions of the smallest warriors they’ve ever encountered, they’ll need to bring out the big guns if they’re to survive.
January 20
“The Caretakers”
Written by David Nickle
Illustrated by Greg Ruth
Edited by Ellen Datlow
“The Caretakers” by David Nickle is a strange tale about a group of people called to a meeting with their intimidating boss. The newest member of their organization is not so sure she wants to even be there.
January 26
“First Kill”
Written by Jennifer Fallon
Illustrated by Tommy Arnold
Edited by Claire Eddy
How do you kill with honor? When is murder not a murder? In “First Kill,” assassin Kiam Miar will find out when his first assignment goes awry and he is faced with an ethical choice… as if assassins could have ethics. And if he makes the wrong choice, he could not only lose his life but throw a good chunk of his world into chaos…
January 27
“The Maiden Thief”
Written by Melissa Marr
Illustrated by Rovina Cai
Edited by Ellen Datlow
“The Maiden Thief” by Melissa Marr is a dark fantasy novelette about a teenager whose town is plagued by the annual disappearances of girls and young women. Her father blames her when once of her sisters is one of the taken.
Just so long as you’re re-posting Overtime by Charlie Stross on Christmas Eve.
That’s the story that really gets me in the christmas mood, or at least in the mood to stop pretending to work and just put my feet up while I wait for the clock to tick round to home time.