Author Archives: Editor

Introduction to Poetry Issue 96, Q4, 2025 by John C. Mannone

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Editor

Introduction to 4th Quarter Poetry (Oct 2025) Please welcome the group of familiar contributors as well as new folks from across the country and around the world who offer some of the best speculative fiction poetry of 2025: Noel Sloboda … Continue reading →

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“Season of Slush” by Bonnie Brunish

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Editor

Season of Slush February 2025 brought the first reading period of my tenure as Abyss & Apex editor. For seven days the floodgates opened, and stories poured in. As noted on our submissions page, we promise a response within six … Continue reading →

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The Menu Board

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

The Menu Board by Charley Marsh Five a.m. and time to fulfill her obligation. Fear squeezed Lily Ramirez’s chest until she couldn’t pull in another breath. What if the café’s patrons judged her to be a poor substitute for her … Continue reading →

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The Book Worm

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

The Book Worm by Jon Hansen Monica gritted her teeth. She’d become a public librarian to help people, get them the answers to what they needed to know. Meaningful work. Heck, she’d even settle for the branch’s grumpiest regular, Mr. … Continue reading →

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Terms of Service

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

Terms of Service by Sharmon Gazaway We all knew the internet was sucking the life out of us. We laughed about it even as we sped through our steps logged in, weather apps, news apps, checked for new text messages … Continue reading →

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Mixing Your Own Apotheosis

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

Mixing Your Own Apotheosis by Brian Hugenbruch You read through the ingredient’s list one more time, just to be certain. You’re not the sort of person who normally does mise-en-place for cocktails, but this was never just about intoxication. Quite … Continue reading →

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Eye Record

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

Eye Record by James Dick For future generations For our children For my grandchildren For my own peace of mind For posterity —E.C. *Transcript—TRANCE team meeting, 05/09/2035* Participants: …………Principal Investigator Dr. Edward Carraway …………………………….Assistant Mission Manager Janet Bishop …………………………….LIZARD Instrument … Continue reading →

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Faceless

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

Faceless by Jim Robb If a wizard is invited to appear before the Council of Mages it is usually a good thing, but if summoned it is invariably bad. Tharnic had been summoned. He stood before the Council, wearing the … Continue reading →

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Calling a StarSkipper

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

Calling a StarSkipper by Ian Li Zet glanced down at the defunct Agana cargo port, a moon-sized graveyard of rusted freighters and discarded shipping containers. It wasn’t hard to find the customer they were looking for—there was only one man … Continue reading →

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They Call the Wind Blarga

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Editor

They Call The Wind Blarga by Matthew Castleman “Blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga blarga.” “That can’t be what it said.” “That’s what it said. That’s an exact quote.” “Blarga.” “Twelve times.” Leclerc, the team … Continue reading →

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