Marie Croke is an Odyssey '20 graduate who won first place in the Writers of the Future Contest with the story “Of Woven Wood.” She has since gone on to have fantasy and science-fiction stories published in places such as Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Dark Matter Magazine, and Cast of Wonders, with more stories forthcoming from Diabolical Plots and Apex Magazine. She volunteers her time as a first reader at both Apex Magazine and khōréō magazine while currently living in Maryland with her family, all of whom like to scribble messages in her notebooks when she’s not looking.You can find her story recommendations at www.mariecroke.com or chat with her on twitter at @marie_croke.
It’s hard to squeeze everything into these posts. It really is. I scarcely went a day where I didn’t get on Zoom or upload a critique. So these are just a few additional things that didn’t warrant getting an entire blog post to themselves but I thought might be nice to mention: Before Odyssey began, … More My Odyssey Workshop Experience: And Sundry!
THE LAST SMILE IN SUNDER CITY Luke Arnold Want a little noir in your urban fantasy detective fiction? How about a lack of magic in your fantasy? In Sunder City, we have a bleak protagonist by the name of Fetch who doesn’t work for humans and, quite frankly, isn’t the best at taking care of … More Recommended Book: THE LAST SMILE IN SUNDER CITY by Luke Arnold
Today’s two story recommendations both deal with characters struggling against their bleak natures. They end in vastly different ways, a comparison of the directions one can take and the costs either paid or resisted. MR. DEATH by Alix E. Harrow is a story about a reaper who has been recently appointed the position. Still learning … More Recommended Short Fiction: MR. DEATH by Alix E. Harrow & A LIFE MEASURED IN MOONS by Alexandra Hill
This story, man. See, I grew up in a bayside community in Maryland. A little bay. Not the big Chesapeake. But even little bays feel huge when you’re little yourself. We’d throw crab cages off the end of the dock and see bobbing milk jugs along the edges of the bay that marked where others … More “How Many Crab Pots Does it Take to Destroy a Neighborhood?” Published in Dark Moon Digest
RACE THE SANDS Sarah Beth Durst Monster racing! Within the first few words of this novel, you get introduced to an epic sport in this desert fantasy world, one that is both dangerous and hopeful. Our protagonists include Tamra (named after Tamora Pierce) and Raia—the former is a trainer and the latter becomes her trainee. … More Recommended Book: RACE THE SANDS by Sarah Beth Durst
Both of these stories were published this January 2021. They are written in completely different styles, both delightful in their own way, and deal with complicated situations or experiences that must be overcome. SECRETS OF THE KATH by Fatima Taqvi depicts a play with moving, moving parts that reflect reality. There’s ignorance and there’s silence … More Recommended Short Fiction: SECRETS OF THE KATH by Fatima Taqvi & THINGS TO BRING, THINGS TO BURN, THINGS BEST LEFT BEHIND by C. E. McGill
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