Aphelion Issue 301, Volume 28
December 2024 / January 2025
 
Editorial    
Long Fiction and Serials
Short Stories
Flash Fiction
Poetry
Features
Series
Archives
Submission Guidelines
Contact Us
Forum
Flash Writing Challenge
Forum
Dan's Promo Page
   

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Issue 268 Volume 25 December 2021 - January 2022

Cover

Archives Editorial Serials and Long Fiction Poetry and Filk Music Short Stories Flash Fiction Features Series

Editorial

Dan L. Hollifield

The Senior Editor's usual rants about whatever…


Serials and Long Fiction

The Balance of the Spans
JD Baker
In an ancient tradition, the Keeper of the Balance trains her replacement.

The Terran Game
John E. DeLaughter
Jaime was hoping to establish trade between his company and the T'nrica, but the things they valued most were intangible.

Best Long Fiction of 2021

Selected by Long Fiction Editor Lester Curtis

The Balance of the Spans
JD Baker
In an ancient tradition, the Keeper of the Balance trains her replacement.

The Terran Game
John E. DeLaughter
Jaime was hoping to establish trade between his company and the T'nrica, but the things they valued most were intangible.

Thirty Thieves and Two Princesses
George Casey
A man of some decency gets a chance for a new life, but not with a princess.

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Short Stories

Exile
Jakob Angerer
As he slipped back into unconsciousness, he realised that there were worse things than being alone on an empty rock.

Santa Claus and Merlin
Meg Smith
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

The Zoo Ship
K. A. Williams
The ark doesn't work as intended (but it works in other ways).

Overshadowed
Sergio Palumbo
Some favors ask for too high a price in their repayment. Still… a debt is a debt

Best Short Stories of 2021

Children and Fools
Iain Stark
Sort of a reverse Rumplestiltskin situation. Be careful who you tell the truth to…

Kitty's Atomic Cat Club
Meg Smith
Well if girls can vote and go to the Army, maybe we can go to the moon.

Morning, Lord
Mehran Baluch
Kynan One-Eye is called to the cloth.

Pickled Lotus
Glenn Dungan
The main distinction between animals and humans, for Richter, at least, is the uncanny psychic ability to embrace death.

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Flash Fiction

The Power of Prayer
Christopher T. Dabrowski


Window of Opportunity
Ethan D. Perritt

A Short Analysis of the SETI Noise Eminating From The Dominant Creatures on the Planet Called Earth
Richard Tornello

Morphing
Michael Dority

The Timeport Stops
David Barber

The Best Flash Fiction of 2021

The term Best is a subjective one. These are the tales that the Editor liked best from the short short fiction submitted this year.
Your mileage may differ. Product may settle during shipping. Void where prohibited by law.

Patient Patience
David Far

He Was Pushed!
Ray Prew

The Defendant
Christopher T. Dabrowski

What's In a Name?
Meghashri Dalvi

God's Mind
Susan Anwin

Friend
Nikhil Kshirsagar

Fafik
Christopher T. Dabrowski

The Aphelion Flash Fiction Contest

We run a monthly flash fiction contest in the "Fun and Games" folder in Aphelion's forum. In the contest we post a challenge with a specific theme and genre and participants write a flash story based on the challenge guidelines. The contest is a great place to hone your writing skills, meet some fellow writers, receive some feedback, and possibly win a prize. New participants are always welcome. Submissions for the contest are done through the forum. Flash stories from all of our previous contest challenges are archived in the forum as well.

Over 500 stories are included in our archive. To start reading some of these great flash stories, check out either Index 1 or Index 2.

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Poetry and Filk Music

Before the Solstice
Meg Smith

Blood Lust
Alexis Child

Breakfast With The Soothsayer
ayaz daryl nielsen

Cold As Hell
Kenneth Vincent Walker

Darkest Possession
Alexis Child

her ghost dancing
ayaz daryl nielsen

A Moment Through Time
Joseph T. Moran

Unholy Hungers
Alexis Child

Yes!
ayaz daryl nielsen

Yesterday
ayaz daryl nielsen

Legend, I Am
S. T. Eleu

Don't Be Sad, Chrysostom
Dmitry Blizniuk

The Best Poetry of 2021

As we go to warp and leave this exceedingly weird year behind us, Ye Editor would like to remind you that the term best is subjective… These are the poems that Ye Editor liked best from the submissions this year.
Your mileage may differ. Product may settle during shipping. Void where prohibited by law.

Early to Bed… Late to Rise
Gary W. Davis

We Are What We Do
Jean Jones

The Fortune Teller
LindaAnn LoSchiavo

Cétshamhain - Empress of Stone
Theresa C. Gaynord

Next Door
Andrew Dunn

Izabelle
Theresa C. Gaynord

Horrorku
ayaz daryl nielsen

Unheimlich
Abhijeet Halder

Vampire Haiku
Jean Jones

The Painting on the Wall
S. T. Eleu

Just Chillin'
Tim Coyne

What Dracula Represents
Jean Jones

The Other Photos
S. T. Eleu

Pa and the Devil
Susan E. Wagner

Song of the Satyr
Simon Smith

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Articles and features

Alas, there were no feature articles this month.