Metaphorosis

Stories that are Flash Length

We mostly published short stories, but we did occasionally publish flash length pieces. Here are stories of 1,000 words or less. “Just Five Minutes” — George Allen Miller “Ways to Face the Firing Squad” — Anna Zumbro “One Divided by Eternity” — Filip Wiltgren “The Cure for Cancer” — Ryan Fitzpatrick “

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-flash/

Stories that have Podcasts

We didn't make podcasts of all our stories, but between hosts Mike Ward and Matt Gomez, we did a lot. Here are stories with podcasts. If you like to read along with the podcast, use this link, which stays on the magazine's website. If you like your podcasts audio only, use this link, which takes you to our podcast archive.

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-have-podcasts/

Stories that were the Best of the Best

It was hard enough each year choosing the best stories from that year. It was much harder narrowing the field to the very best of the best of Metaphorosis. Here are the 20 stories I felt most closely matched my initial ideal for the magazine. “Heard” — Elise Forier Edie “The Sea Bank of Svalbard South” — Octavia Cade…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-were-the-best-of-the-best/

Stories that are Serials

When I was young, I loved reading serialized books in SFF magazines. That's how I found Roger Zelazny, George R.R. Martin, Robert Lynn Asprin, and Charles Harness, among others. So I decided to bring serials back in Metaphorosis. Here are stories that were serialized. Novellas Sonata — L. Chan “Sonata I: Sona” — L. Chan “Sonata II: Shailani…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-serials/

Stories that are Novelettes

While we only published a few flash stories, we published a lot that qualified as novelettes - 7,500-17,500 words. Here are stories for when you have time to relax with a longer read. “The World's Secret Heartbeat” — Aatif Rashid “Halfsies” — Eric Del Carlo “The Early History of the Moon” — Karolina Fedyk…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-novelettes/

Stories that have Something to Say

Some stories are just entertaining, and there's nothing wrong with that. But some stories have something to say about the world and how it could be better. Here are stories that make a statement. “Heard” — Elise Forier Edie “Whalesong” — L. Chan “Showtime” — Jamie Brindle “Business as Usual” — N.R. Lambert…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-have-something-to-say/

Stories of Exploration

One of my favorite tropes is discovery and exploration - finding ancient lands or ruins or portals and figuring out what they mean and what they were. Here are some stories for the armchair explorer in you. “Sheer” — Phil Berry “Lake Oreyd” — Damien Krsteski “A Conversion of Crows” — B. Morris Allen…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-of-exploration/

Stories that are Dark

Last week, we collected stories with a light tone. But sometimes you feel strong enough to face darker, more serious issues. Here are some stories for when you're brave. “... and now He erases” — Rhoads Brazos “Heard” — Elise Forier Edie “Luminaria” — Matt Thompson “The Bonesetter” — Santiago Belluco “

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-dark/

Stories that were the Best of the Their Year

Every year, we chose about 25% of the stories we published as the Best of Metaphorosis. These were the stories that made the cut each year. Most years are available as print or e-book anthologies as well. Best of 2016 “The Demon in the Page” — Joshua Phillip Johnson “Heard” — Elise Forier Edie “

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-were-the-best-of-the-their-year/

Stories that are by Meta4osis authors

We published a few authors four times or more, and called that the elite Meta4osis club. Here are stories by authors we liked so much we published them over and over. Evan Marcroft “The Little G-d of Łódź” — Evan Marcroft “The Color of My Home is Red Like an Apple” — Evan Marcroft “Devilish Calliope and the Ungrooviest Apocalypse…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-by-meta4osis-authors/

Stories that were Award Finalists

We didn't win any awards, but we had several stories that were finalists for awards. Here they are. Nebula Award “Tower of Mud and Straw I: The Duchy” — Yaroslav Barsukov “Tower of Mud and Straw II: The Adversary” — Yaroslav Barsukov “Tower of Mud and Straw III: The Tulips” — Yaroslav Barsukov “

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-were-award-finalists/

Stories that are Author Narrated

We had terrific podcast hosts and editors, but in many cases authors chose to narrate their own stories. Here are stories read by the authors themselves. “The Book of Regrets” — M.J. Gardner “Mean Streak” — L'Erin Ogle “Absurd of a Feather” — Amman Sabet “Somewhere to be Going” — Katrina Smith…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-author-narrated/

Stories that are Mysteries

Just because a story is SFF doesn't mean it's not also a mystery story. Here are some stories with puzzles to unravel. “Murder on the Adriana” — James Ross “Lake Oreyd” — Damien Krsteski “Lock Rise” — Phil Berry “Dekker's Miracle” — Frank Oreto “The Seer at Sunset Hills Shopping Plaza…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-mysteries/

HOPE: The Thing With Feathers

https://books.metaphorosis.com/anthology/2025/hope-the-thing-with-feathers/

Stories that are Light

Sometimes, when the world is dark, you just want a light, uplifting story that doesn't demand too much. Here are some lighter stories to keep you going in the hard times. “Regarding the Sainted Pirate Nicholas” — Michael M. Jones “Shine” — Amelia Aldred “The Stars are Tiny Lights on a Perfect Black Dome” — Simon Kewin…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-that-are-light/

Stories about Young People

Last week's post collected stories about older people. But children and other young folks also have stories. Here are some stories featuring younger folks. “... and now He erases” — Rhoads Brazos “In Dew and Frost and Flame” — Vanessa Fogg “My Dog is the Constellation Canis Major” — Jarod K. Anderson “So, You’re In an Alternate Universe…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-about-young-people/

Stories about Older People

Sure, we all love a story about young people having adventures. But older people have adventures too. Here are some stories about older folks. “The Heresy Machine” — Gerald Warfield “Gathering Dust” — Meryl Stenhouse “Adaptations to Coastal Erosion” — B. Morris Allen “Chambers of the Heart” — B. Morris Allen “

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-about-older-people/

Stories about Family

One way or another, we all have family, whether it's biological, found, chosen, chance. They can be loving, distant, troublesome, supportive, but they're there. Here are stories about family. “Metaphorosis” — B. Morris Allen “Rowboat” — K.G. Anderson “The Heresy Machine” — Gerald Warfield “Tides of Reflection” — Mark Rookyard “Solomon and the Dragon's Tongue…

https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/editorial/stories-that/2025/stories-about-family/