Third Flatiron Anthologies Series

Why is everything and everyone out to get you? Paranoid? Or just realistic? Third Flatiron Publishing presents "Universe Horribilis," a new anthology of science fiction short stories by an international group of award-winning and emerging writers, who offer their speculative takes on the theme of a hostile or uncaring universe. Contributors include Clare L. Deming, Sarina Dorie, James S. Dorr, Robin Wyatt Dunn, Siobhan Gallagher, Jack M. Horne, Rich Larson, David Luntz, Marilyn K. Martin, Curtis James McConnell, Sheryl Normandeau, Edward H. Parks, Jennifer Povey, and James H. Zorn. Follow these talented storytellers as they each offer their unique takes on the twists and turns the universe puts us through: monsters and mayhem, evil sorcerers, sadistic diners, twisted princesses, plagues, alien enemies, cosmic menace, sinister robots, genetically modified food, and, of course, your mother-in-law.

Ever wonder what became of those fantastic worlds described by A. Conan Doyle and Edgar Rice Burroughs? Third Flatiron Publishing presents "Lost Worlds, Retraced," a spate of new speculative fiction short stories by an international group of award-winning and emerging writers. Contributors include Maureen Bowden, Ron Collins, Neil Davies, Judith Field, Bruce Golden, Sarah Hodgetts, DeAnna Knippling, Andrew Kozma, Marilyn K. Martin, Will Morton, Konstantine Paradias, Soham Saha, and Jonathan Shipley. These storytellers retrace the lost paths of an ancient sun-worshipping civilization, a doomed planet, a tribe of persecuted witches and robots, a cartoon world stalked by death, and an abrupt end to fossil fuel use. Meet a spy at the end of the universe, a Sons of Chaos motorcycle chick, a TV survival show host, and, of course, that icy rock we once knew as the planet Pluto.

Fourteen international authors come together in "It's Come to Our Attention," from Third Flatiron Anthologies. Their stories scratch below the surface to unearth a world of hidden gems: Visit a landfill to hear some real trash talk. Tag along with an alien agent here to save the earth from his hideout in the insane asylum. Bust a conspiracy to change the climate via mind control. Form an unhealthy attachment to your radio. Go down to the basement even though we told you not to. Decide on the pros and cons of immortality. Tell a librarian she would look beautiful without her glasses. Find out what's at the bottom of the wishing well (besides coins). Indulge in a little illegal but highly satisfying genetic tinkering. Acknowledge the debt we all owe to French culture. Contributors include Pauline J. Alama, James H. Zorn, Wendy Nikel, Philip Brian Hall, Hunter Liguore, Nyki Blatchley, James Dorr, Greg Beatty, Terri Bruce, Joel Richards, Marie DesJardin, Arthur M. Doweyko, E. M. Eastick, and Lisa Timpf. Edited by Juliana Rew.

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Redshifted: Martian Stories," a collection of new speculative fiction by rising and established authors. Contributors include Maureen Bowden, Lela E. Buis, Martin Clark, Jaimie M. Engle, Jeff Hewitt, Neil James Hudson, Jason Lairamore, Vince Liberato, Michael McGlade, Kara Race-Moore, Ian Rose, Chuck Rothman, and Robina Williams. Look for your sign as an astrologer casts a Martian colony's horoscope, the Roman god decides war's not in his stars, and a tycoon finds his way back to Barsoom. Cheer as a clockwork man takes his girl on the trip of a lifetime, a Martian bride refuses to miss her wedding, and Man's Best Friend turns out to be a giant roach. Shadow a being who's "just here to help," and another who's just here to hurt. Shiver as murderous antibodies attack an expedition, and a workfare crew struggles to dispose of hazardous junk from space. And of course, get a good laugh as you peruse the Want Ads and check your MarsMail.

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Astronomical Odds," a fresh selection of short SF/Fantasy/Horror/Humor stories with a mathematical twist. Authors include Ken Altabef, Michelle Ann King, Edoardo Albert, John A. McColley, Jennifer R. Povey, James Aquilone, Martin Clark, Iain Ishbel, Garry McNulty, Nick Slosser, Benjamin T. Smith, Susan Nance Carhart, and Adele Gardner. Edited by Juliana Rew. What are the chances of getting away with murder? Or of getting back that letter the Post Office lost? Stranded in space and time? Odds of survival may be tiny, but you may luck out and find a friendly planet--or maybe not. Stuck in a dead end life? Having a "perfect" baby or spouse is usually a crapshoot, but maybe an adjustment can be made--for a price. Wondering what the future holds? The Northern Line just opened a new tube route to Betelgeuse, but tickets to New Eden are one-way only. Get your tickets now! Brother Dill's Traveling Circus is in town, elephants can fly, and the boy genius has all the answers.

They say there's a kernel of truth in every bit of outlandish lore. But when the heart of a thing has been lost, perhaps an archeological expedition is in order. You are free to join us, but time travel may be required. Third Flatiron Publishing presents "Origins: Colliding Causalities," a new anthology of science fiction stories by an international group of award-winning and emerging writers, who offer their speculative takes on the theme of origins. Contributors include James Beamon, T. A. Branom, Cathy Bryant, John Davies, Sarina Dorie, Janett L. Grady, Neil James Hudson, Ahimsa Kerp, L. Lambert Lawson, Larry Lefkowitz, Jordan Ashley Moore, Soham Saha, and Alex Shvartsman. Follow these gifted storytellers as they search for the origins of social repression, Gods and myths, Bigfoot, alien abductors, rational thought, androids, and, of course, dairy products.

Third Flatiron Publishing presents "Over the Brink," a new anthology of science fiction stories by an international group of award-winning and emerging writers, who offer their visionary takes on the theme of environmental disaster. Contributors include Colleen Anderson, Kurt Bachard, Thomas Canfield, Linda A.B. Davis, William Highsmith, Rich Larson, Curtis James McConnell, Mark Mills, Tim Myers, Khristo Poshtakov, Ian Rose, Ken Staley, and Robina Williams. These expert storytellers show us a broken world that is at once guilty and innocent, leaving us to ponder the aftermath.

It's Question Time: What is intelligence, anyway? Who has it? Who wants it? Can humans recognize it in other species? Come the Singularity, will humans survive? Is survival only for the fittest? What will newly sentient creations want to do first? Can we love machines, and can they love us back? Could the 'Mozart effect' of music transform us? Are the super-intelligent more likely to be tormented by issues like happiness and the meaning of life? Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Master Minds," a new collection of science fiction/fantasy/horror short stories that consider the different meanings of intelligence. New and established speculative fiction writers offer a mind-boosting exploration of sentience and sapience. Contributors include Cherith Baldry, Lela E. Buis, Martin Clark, Ellen Denton, Robin Wyatt Dunn, William Huggins, Elliotte Rusty Harold, Jason Lairamore, Vince Liberato, Patrick McCarty, Russell Nichols, Konstantine Paradias, and NM Whitley.

Let your imagination run away with you for a change. Since the Age of Enlightenment, it's become the norm to reject belief in miracles, revelation, magic, or the supernatural. But it's only human to feel that delicious frisson of fear when things get a little strange. Third Flatiron Anthologies proudly presents "Ain't Superstitious," a double issue packed with 26 stories of the weird, wild, and magical. "Ain't Superstitious" from Third Flatiron offers the overheated imaginings of an international array of storytellers, including Amy Aderman, Ken Altabef, James Aquilone, Christina Bates, Gustavo Bondoni, Maureen Bowden, Spencer Carvalho, John Paul Davies, Sarina Dorie, Judith Field, Adele Gardner, Lyn Godfrey, Bruce Golden, Eric J. Guignard, John Hegenberger, Benjamin Jacobson, K. T. Katzmann, E. E. King, Andrew Kozma, Jacob M. Lambert, Kevin Lauderdale, Gerri Leen, Dennis Mombauer, Will Morton, Sean O'Dea, and A. P. Sessler.

Time. We feel it march by, seeming to gain momentum with each passing year. Some physicists argue that it might not actually exist. We have only our recollections to depend on, and sometimes those can fool us, becoming fogged, like overexposed film. "The Time It Happened" from Third Flatiron Anthologies contains 15 short science fiction adventures and flash humor pieces that explore world-altering events, both real and imagined, ranging from alien invasion and space wars to fantastically unpredictable science experiments. Seemingly minor crises, such as missing your morning cup of coffee, or a network glitch, can ruin your whole day, but what about forever? Historical events, like Lincoln's death, the Apollo 11 mission, or Sputnik, may not have happened quite like we remember. Yet surely the most important memories, like love, are permanently etched on the walls of time. "The Time It Happened" proudly showcases an international group of new and established speculative fiction authors. Contributors include: Martin Clark, Atar Hadari, Dan Koboldt, Ellen Denton, Jason Lairamore, Larry C. Kay, Richard Mark Ankers, Thomas Canfield, Wendy Nikel, Evan Henry, Elliotte Rusty Harold, Neil James Hudson, Dana Schellings, Mark Hill, and Amanda C. Davis.

Too much to do, too little time. Technology provides amazing new tools that help us reach out, connect with friends, and avoid boredom. But if we depend too heavily on our computers, will we even notice when the Singularity occurs? "Only Disconnect" from Third Flatiron Anthologies contains 13 short fantasy, science fiction, and horror pieces that explore the nature of reality versus how we'd like to change it. Visit near-future societies, where citizens must take mind-control drugs or surrender their consciousness at work, be the first college student to attend an alien university, and laugh out loud as gut bacteria realize they exert a great deal of control over us. Decide whether it's worth it to try to keep our loved ones alive forever or cut the cord. Play along with expert gamers forced to disengage, only to find reality on an alien planet's even more exciting. Discover how some might cope with AIs, killer grizzly-human hybrids, and nature gods, each disgruntled with humanity in a different way. Remember that while experiments can go wrong, by our very nature we can never totally disconnect from our innate curiosity. "Only Disconnect" proudly showcases an international group of new and established speculative fiction authors. Contributors include: Evan Henry, Robert Lowell Russell, Jonathan Shipley, Evelyn Deshane, Matt Weinburg, Wendy Nikel, E. E. King, Elliotte Rusty Harold, Adria Laycraft, Stephanie Flood, Jason Lairamore, Steve Coate, and Paul Barclay.

The future we all want. Twenty authors contribute short science fiction and fantasy stories about their visions of a brighter future. Explore how life might change with increasing use of social media, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, space exploration, and medical advances. Envision worlds where climate change can be mitigated through technology, and war is a thing of the past. Third Flatiron's "Gotta Wear Eclipse Glasses" offers new opportunities to boldly go where none have gone before. Contributors include: Christopher Muscato, Robert Bagnall, Jenny Blackford, Paul A. Freeman, Angelique Fawns, Patrick Hurley, Gustavo Bondoni, David Cleden, Eneasz Brodski, Emily Martha Sorensen, Koji A. Dae, Chloie Piveral, Liam Hogan, Mike Adamson, Alexandra Seidel, Neil James Hudson, Ville Nummenpaa, Matt Tighe, Mariev, Erie Matriarch, and John Kiste. Edited by Juliana Rew.

Can you make a "Hero's Journey" in 10 pages or less? And what if you're a heroine? "Abbreviated Epics" from Third Flatiron Anthologies is a double issue containing 19 very short fantasy adventures featuring samurai and shield maidens, alternate history and steampunk, and myths old and new. The issue also contains a reprint of Jo Walton's epic poem, "Odin on the Tree." "Abbreviated Epics" proudly showcases an international group of new and established speculative fiction authors, who share with us just a smidgen of the heroic and grand. Contributors include: Siobhan Gallagher, Iain Ishbel, Deborah Walker, Manuel Royal, Jordan Ashley Moore, Martin Clark, Ben Solomon, Margarita Tenser, Gustavo Bondoni, Adria Laycraft, Daniel Coble, Steve Coate, Jo Walton, Elliotte Rusty Harold, Marissa James, Jake Teeny, Alison McBain, Patricia S. Bowne, Stephen D. Rogers, and Robin Wyatt Dunn.

Fictional military superpowers have captured our imaginations since Plato invented Atlantis, and superpowers are all too real in today's technological world. How would our stories evolve if they took place on other worlds? "Hyperpowers" from Third Flatiron Anthologies, guest-edited by Bascomb James, takes on the challenge of telling short speculative fiction stories that explore space opera and military fiction themes. These tales raise potent issues such as: o Empires may grow and dominate, but civilizations can also lose momentum and dissipate into lawlessness o Great distances may put an end to warfare and environmental degradation, but expansionist tendencies could cause it to spread instead o Our silicon-based creations or other life forms may compete with us for galactic domination, ultimately outshining us The international group of contributors includes William Huggins, Jonathan Shipley, Dan Koboldt, John M. Campbell, Mark Rookyard, Sam Bellotto Jr., Erik B. Scott, E. J. Shumak, Brandon L. Summers, Neil James Hudson, Robert Walton, K. S. Dearsley, Noel Ayers, Elliotte Rusty Harold, Martin Clark, and Art Lasky. And as usual, our "Grins and Gurgles" humor section allows a light-hearted take on the subject.

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Keystone Chronicles," 19 fresh science fiction and fantasy stories exploring the theme of keystone events. What is a keystone? It's the central stone at the summit of an arch, locking the whole together, something on which other things depend for support, the heart or core of something, the crux. In storytelling, it is the pivotal message or character who makes it all happen. The international group of contributors to "Keystone Chronicles" make this a unique and varied collection that is sure to please fans of speculative fiction. Stories by Marilyn K. Martin, Sierra July, Brandon Crilly, Maureen Bowden, Edward Palumbo, Judith Field, Zerrin Otgur, Desmond Warzel, Gustavo Bondoni, A. P. Sessler, John Marr, Bear Kosik, John M. Campbell, Sam Muller, Sharon Diane King, Bascomb James, Larry Lefkowitz, Art Lasky, and Damian Sheridan.

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Principia Ponderosa," 17 new science fiction and fantasy stories exploring weird western, gothic, and steampunk themes. Our authors dig into the principles that have made Weird West fertile ground for speculative fiction and adventure. The international group of contributors to "Principia Ponderosa" make this a unique and varied collection that is sure to please fans of speculative fiction.

Nothing is too strange for Third Flatiron's new anthology, "Strange Beasties." Find something unsettling at every turn, from rising primordical monsters and gods to murderous supernatural predators and vengeful soul-hungry demons. There's plenty of dark comedy too, with gamblers who race unusual beasts, ogres who run cooking podcasts, horrifically dysfunctional families, and unhinged sorcerers. An international group of new and established contributors to "Strange Beasties" makes this an original and varied collection that is sure to please fans of science fiction/fantasy, humor, and horror. Writers include Bruce Arthurs, John Sunseri, Philip John Schweitzer, Tim Jeffreys, Sarah Tchernev, Lucy Harlow, Philip Brian Hall, Jean Graham, Marc E. Fitch, Christa Carmen, Isobel Horsburgh, Paulo Da Silva, Jeff Hewitt, Wulf Moon, Daniel Rosen, Brenton Clark, John J. Kennedy, and Brian Trent. Foreword by Lizz-Ayn Shaarawi.

Watch out! Don't you know that you can get burned if you play with fire? Third Flatiron Publishing presents "Playing with Fire," a new anthology of science fiction short stories by an international group of established and emerging writers. Contributors include Nicholas M. Bugden, Gunnar De Winter, James S. Dorr, Michael Fedo, Adele Gardner, G. Miki Hayden, L. L. Hill, Marissa James, Ian O'Reilly, H. L. Pauff, Marian Powell, J. M. Scott, and Jonathan Shipley. Follow these talented storytellers as they spin cautionary tales of fires and backfires from botched inventions, culture clashes, evil empires, comets and meteors, Greek gods and vengeful spirits, voracious foodstuffs, and, of course, man's best friend.

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Terra! Tara! Terror!" Tales range from dark to playful, featuring fantastical elements, mythology and folklore, alternate history and steampunk, as well as modern political anxieties. We invite you to savor its mixture of dark and playful themes, fantastical elements, and mystery. A flash humor section, "Grins and Gurgles," is also featured. "Terra! Tara! Terror!" is an original and varied collection of science fiction/fantasy, humor, and horror from an international group of contributors. Writers include Robert Silverberg, Salinda Tyson, Marie Vibbert, Jen Downes, Evelyn Deshane, John Paul Davies, Steven Mathes, Diane Morrison, E.M. Sheehan, Michele Baron, Liam Hogan, Stefon Mears, K. G. Anderson, Kelly A. Harmon, Matthew Reardon, Samuel Chapman, Emmett Schlenz, Gustavo Bondoni, Melanie Rees, Kiki Gonglewski, Caroline Sciriha, Wulf Moon, Dan Micklethwaite, Rhonda Eikamp, Blake Jessop, Elizabeth Twist, and Josh Taylor. Edited by Juliana Rew.

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Cat's Breakfast," a double issue containing 30 science fiction and fantasy short stories inspired by the wit and wisdom of Kurt Vonnegut. While satire and humor have long been standard tools of the trade for fiction writers, our authors have channeled the uniquely Vonnegutian attitude into all-original stories that probe and instruct us on themes such as free will, mental illness, social cruelty, loneliness, and family. The book concludes with a flash humor section. An international group of new and established contributors to "Cat's Breakfast" makes this a remarkable and varied collection that is sure to please fans of science fiction/fantasy, humor, and horror. Writers include David A. Kilman, Konstantine Paradias, Rati Mehrotra, James Beamon, Tim Jeffreys, Iain Hamilton McKinven, Jill Hand, Gregg Chamberlain, Anne E. Johnson, Vaughan Stanger, Christopher Mark Rose, Keyan Bowes, Peter Hagelslag, Jason Lairamore, Ville Nummenpaa, Rekha Valliappan, August Marion, Jonathan Shipley, S. E. Foley, James Dorr, John J. Kennedy, Ryan Dull, Veronica Moyer, Corrie Parrish, Dan Koboldt, Neil James Hudson, Benjamin C. Kinney, Laurence Raphael Brothers, E. E. King, and Edward Ahern.

Third Flatiron publishes quarterly themed speculative fiction anthologies. The "Third Flatiron Best of 2017" collection is a sampling of the best of the best short stories offered during 2017. Authors include John Sunseri, James Beamon, Rati Mehrotra, J. L. Forrest, Konstantine Paradias, Jean Graham, Jill Hand, Brian Trent, Ville Nummenpaa, Wulf Moon, Keyan Bowes, Vaughan Stanger, and Premee Mohamed.

Are we alone in the universe? Third Flatiron's speculative fiction anthology, "Galileo's Theme Park," explores themes such as space exploration and adventure, religion, and cosmology. A flash humor section, "Grins and Gurgles," is also featured. "Galileo's Theme Park" is an original and varied collection of science fiction/fantasy, humor, and horror from an international group of contributors. Writers include Alexander Zalben, Ginger Strivelli, Steve Toase, Dr. Jackie Ferris, Eric J. Guignard, Jemima Pett, Erica Ruppert, Connie Vigil Platt, Justin Short, Wendy Nikel, Jimmy Huff, Adrik Kemp, Neil James Hudson, G. D. Watry, Jo Miles, Martin M. Clark, Rachel Rodman, Ville Nummenpää, Art Lasky, and Lisa Timpf. Edited by Juliana Rew.

Paradoxically, war is both a rite of passage and the bane of human existence. Third Flatiron Publishing presents "A High Shrill Thump," a new anthology of science fiction stories by an international group of award-winning and emerging writers, who offer their visionary takes on the theme of war. Contributors include Gustavo Bondoni, K. R. Cairns, James S. Dorr, David L. Felts, John Harrower, Nick Johnson, Brenda Kezar, Lon Prater, Tom Sheehan, Jack Skelter, Michael Trudeau, David Turner, and David J. Williams. These gritty storytellers charge through the gauntlet of war, past, future, and unimagined.

Hidden Histories is a new speculative fiction anthology with the themes of alternate and secret (shadow) histories. In Hidden Histories, agents of the ancient Library of Alexandria attempt to steer human history, a witch at the stake explains how she was framed, a missing airliner black box turns up, General Custer is defeated by wendigos, Queen Elizabeth tells Shakespeare she was cursed, a seance saves the Apollo-13 moon mission, an alien ambassador mentors Jimi Hendrix, a competing ship line plots to scuttle the Titanic, were-boars fight Nazis in WW2 Germany, the back room of a bookstore holds histories written in the future, and a girl learns the true history of Chinese dragons. These and many more stories entertain while exploring revisionist interpretations of real and fictional events. Third Flatiron Anthologies feature multiple winners of science fiction and fantasy reader polls and recommended reading lists. Hidden Histories presents 28 original stories from an international group of contributors. Writers include Bruce Golden, Matthew Reardon, Brenda Kezar, Kai Hudson, Brian Trent, Jonathan Shipley, Dantzel Cherry, Edwina Shaw, Dennis Maulsby, Michael Robertson, Mike Barretta, Ricardo Maia, J.D. Blackrose, John A. Frochio, Arthur Carey, Sandra Ulbrich Almazan, Elizabeth Beechwood, Robert Dawson, James Chmura, Tony Genova, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, Simon Lee-Price, Shannon McDermott, Jennifer Lee Rossman, H. J. Monroe, Evan A. Davis, Tyler Paterson, and A. Humphrey Lanham. Edited by Juliana Rew.

"Infinite Lives: Short Tales of Longevity" is a new speculative fiction anthology with the themes of longevity, immortality, and technological life extension. In "Infinite Lives," a man cursed with immortality finally finds joy when technology defeats death, an astronaut finds himself spaghettified by a black hole, a fairy queen returns to earth to bid goodbye to her dying human lover, the Grim Reaper finds an enthusiastic successor in a coffee shop barista, a rebel subvert AIs who don't allow death, a rich oligarch tricks his way into the Garden of Eden for a taste of the Tree of Life, a conquistador and his war dog put their dip in the fountain of youth to good use, aliens convince a scientist to abandon her immortality drug and let evolution take its course, a wooden puppet rues the day he never became a real boy, a war criminal pays back the lives she took, a grandmother decides ageism has got to stop, and a Zoroastrian angel battles a demon through eternity, until a truce becomes love. These and many more stories entertain while exploring the pros and cons of longevity and how it is achieved. Third Flatiron Anthologies feature multiple winners of science fiction and fantasy reader polls and recommended reading lists. "Infinite Lives" presents 28 original stories from an international group of contributors. Writers include Brian Trent, Sloane Leong, Matt Thompson, J. B. Toner, Larry C. Kay, David F. Schultz, D. A. Campisi, Russell Dorn, Samson Stormcrow Hayes, Ingrid Garcia, Maureen Bowden, Brandon Butler, Caias Ward, Leah Miller, Megan Branning, Robert Walton, K. G. Anderson, Louis Evans, John Paul Davies, David Cleden, Tom Pappalardo, Philip John Schweitzer, Martin M. Clark, Wulf Moon, Mack Moyer, Konstantine Paradias, E. E. King, and Sarah Totton. Edited by Juliana Rew.

Third Flatiron's speculative fiction anthology, "Monstrosities," contains 20 stories about things that are dauntingly large or outrageous. A flash humor section, "Grins and Gurgles," is also featured. An international group of new and established contributors to "Monstrosites" makes this an original and varied collection that is sure to please fans of science fiction/fantasy, humor, and horror. Writers include Keyan Bowes, Larry Hodges, Carl R. Jennings, Mark Pantoja, Ray Daley, Brian Trent, James Dorr, Liam Hogan, Salinda Tyson, Jennifer R. Povey, Ville Merilainen, Sita C. Romero, Martin M. Clark, Sharon Diane King, Julia August, Robert Bagnall, Barry Charman, Russell Hemmell, and Joseph Sidari. With a special reprint from Edward Bryant. Edited by Juliana Rew.