In the first issue of 2015, we feature a modern take on the Fates, a strangely ambiguous story about the paths of the afterlife, a tale of far-future humans who have survived the death of the Earth, and a goofy set of letters sent by a dissatisfied alien.We are incredibly happy to enter our third year of publication, and we couldn't be more proud of the stories we have featured on Fiction Vortex.Really, the pride levels are starting to get a little obscene. We're working hard to maintain the same level of quality we've featured for the past two years, and we're excited by all the possibility out there. After two years, it's safe to say that we've acquired whatever is the publishing equivalent of sea legs, and we're ready to continue onward and upward.None of this would be possible, of course, without the amazing authors who contribute to Fiction Vortex. So take a moment to appreciate their work. In the first issue of 2015, we feature a modern take on the Fates, a strangely ambiguous story about the paths of the afterlife, a tale of far-future humans who have survived the death of the Earth, and a goofy set of letters sent by a dissatisfied alien.In other words, business as usual on the good ship Fiction Vortex.

This issue of Fiction Vortex is full of people who make bad decisions. Warning: don't mistake the characters in these stories for good role models.There's a guy who sabotages the future of his family's legacy out of spite, a woman who tells the world the apocalypse is coming, a man who signs his life away, and a married couple that thinks time travel can save them from their grief.This issue of Fiction Vortex is full of people who make bad decisions. Warning: don't mistake the characters in these stories for good role models.There's a guy who sabotages the future of his family's legacy out of spite, a woman who tells the world the apocalypse is coming, a man who signs his life away, and a married couple that thinks time travel can save them from their grief.So don't take this issue as a guide to life.The upshot for us all is that bad decisions make for great conflict, and great conflict makes for fantastic stories. And boy do we have some fantastic stories for you, showing that character flaws and poor decisions make science fiction, fantasy, and horror more interesting.So take that fork out of the electrical socket, put out that grease fire with something other than water, keep any premonitions about the end of the world to yourself, and sit down for a set of entertaining and thought-provoking stories.

Lift up your chin, dear reader, and enjoy these stories with the full knowledge that while your neighbor might outrun you in the zombie apocalypse, you'll know how to create adequate defense perimeters during an attack from unidentified flying objects.We like to think of ourselves as emergency preparedness instructors. Specialized ones. You see, we don't worry about the stuff that other doomsday prognosticators talk about, (government overthrow, rising sea levels, oil shortages, zombie plague, etc.). Instead, we're trying to give examples of what to do and not do in specific scenarios. Very specific. For instance, in this issue, we cover things like coping with a pending alien invasion when you've forgotten to feed your cats, or how to deal with loved ones after a ghostly apparition has implied that you will outlive them all, or even how to deal with the ruthless boss of a child mafia ring in a city of magic users.Don't you feel more prepared already?As an added bonus all these instructional scenarios have been written as compelling and fascinating narratives. Because why should the painful and horrific end of all we hold dear be a drudgery to read about?So lift up your chin, dear reader, and enjoy these stories with the full knowledge that while your neighbor might outrun you in the zombie apocalypse, you'll know how to create adequate defense perimeters during an attack from unidentified flying objects.

We always try to have a variety of genres represented on our site, but this month represents the best collection yet of epic fantasy with a personal touch, far-reaching science fiction with a practical bent, truly haunting psychological horror, and a few more speculative stories that don't fit well into a certain category.Fiction Vortex, let’s see …A fiction vortex is a tornado of stories that pick you up and hurl you through a barn to find enlightenment on the other side. It’s a whirlpool of fascinating tales so compelling that they suck you in, drag you down to the bottom of your mind, and drown you with incessant waves of glorious imagery and believable characters.Nope.A fiction vortex is an online speculative fiction magazine focused on publishing great science fiction and fantasy, and is run by incredibly attractive and intelligent people with great taste in literature and formidable writing prowess.Not that either. But we’re getting closer.Founded in the 277th year of the Takolatchni Dynasty, Fiction Vortex set out to encourage people to write and publish great speculative fiction. It sprang fully formed from the elbow of TWOS, retaining none of TWOS’s form but most of its spirit. And the patron god of writers, the insecure, the depressed, and the mentally ill regarded Fiction Vortex in his magic mirror of self-loathing and declared it good, insofar as something that gives writer’s undue hope can be declared good. Thereafter, he charged the Rear Admiral of the Galactic 5th Fleet to defend Fiction Vortex down to the last robot warrior.Now we’re talking.Take your pick. We don’t care how you characterize us or the site.Fiction Vortex focuses on publishing speculative fiction. That means science fiction and fantasy (with a light smattering of horror and a few other subgenres), be it light, heavy, deep, flighty, spaceflighty, cerebral, visceral, epic, or mundane. But mundane in a my-local-gas-station-has-elf-mechanics-but-it’s-not-really-a-big-deal-around-here kind of way. Got it?Basically, we want imaginative stories that are well written, but not full of supercilious floridity.There’s a long-standing belief that science fiction and fantasy stories aren’t as good as purely literary fare. We want you to prove that mindset wrong (not just wrong, but a steaming pile of griffin dung wrong) with every story we publish. It’s almost like we’re saying, “I do not bite my thumb at you, literary snobs, but I do bite my thumb,” but in a completely polite and non-confrontational way.We've got more great stories online, with a new story twice a week. Visit our website FictionVortex.com, follow us on Twitter: @FictionVortex, and like us on Facebook: FictionVortex.

This month we have a few trips into the surreal, with a workplace fight, a shape-shifting shopper, and an unidentified no-longer-flying object. There are plenty of great ideas and storylines to enjoy, so have a seat in the shade and get started.A retired MLB pitcher finds love and redemption via a hurled can of humble soup. Refusing to obey signals cost him his career, once--but this time--a beanball is exactly what's called for, and the signs all make sense. Making a hero often requires a "zero" to balance the equation. Seeing life from both sides of the fence, the protagonist reconciles his past, finds humility, and creates a new beginning. This story isn't about about baseball, though it makes significant commentary on contemporary status, thereof, and incisively nails what's wrong with the sport...where greed has driven it awry. This narrative is primarily about what's truly important in life--what's solidly pure and what's vacuously hollow--what's important when looming largely in front of us, but insignificant in the rear-view mirror with distance applied. Dreams and aspirations loudly drive us when young, while wisdom softly chuckles from the quiet perch of maturity. Each has its time and purpose.

Just when something feels played out, a fresh viewpoint can revitalize it. That's the power of being a writer. You get to show people a way of perceiving the world they had never considered before.Life is full of surprises, and sometimes you find yourself doing something you never thought you'd do. For instance, this issue includes something we swore we'd never publish: a vampire story.We've sworn off certain kinds of stories because they're so overdone. Vampires fit snugly into that category, whether they sparkle or not. But one day our inbox was graced with a submission that showed us vampires could still feel new and interesting.That's wonderful in it's own right, but it's also a fantastic reminder of the power of good storytelling. Just when something feels played out, a fresh viewpoint can revitalize it. That's the power of being a writer. You get to show people a way of perceiving the world they had never considered before. In a way, all our stories this month include people with a new way to look at the world. We sure enjoyed their viewpoints, and we hope you do to.

We gladly welcome you back to the caring embrace of our publication, where you can read about things that are gloriously untrue in peace.Don't let us fool you; the following stories are all fictitious in nature. We recently received several lawsuits on behalf of people who claim we have left them bereft of peace and solace, simply because they couldn't handle the idea of killer robots featured in one of our stories. Of course, we take no responsibility for mental or physical discomfort of any kind resulting from the reading of these stories. To those experiencing physical discomfort, we advise you to stop reading in bed; you'll just keep dropping your e-reading device on your face as you doze off. To those experiencing emotional or mental discomfort, we advise you to begin a course of treatment that will help you come to terms with the fantastical nature of these stories. For instance, if stories about killer robots worry you, one need only to read news stories about the drone strikes killing dozens of people around the world every day. After a few doses of this, one inevitably becomes immune to science fiction and fantasy because the real world is already so dangerous and terrifying.At which point we'll gladly welcome you back to the caring embrace of our publication where you can read about things that are gloriously untrue in peace.

This month we have stories that are all about people who never expected to be in the positions they find themselves in. This can mean anything from being trapped inside a dragon, to being trapped on a slab in the morgue. To each their own, and whatnot.This month we have stories that are all about people who never expected to be in the positions they find themselves in. This can mean anything from being trapped inside a dragon, to being trapped on a slab in the morgue. To each their own, and whatnot.Fiction Vortex publishes short stories in science fiction and fantasy genres.

We're ending the year strong with a surprisingly wide variety of story types. But they all center around some significant, and usually life-changing realizations about life, no matter how fantastical it is. And that's why we love science fiction and fantasy: Even though the narrative elements aren't real in our lives, the sentiments, interactions, and life lessons are.We're ending the year strong with a surprisingly wide variety of story types. But they all center around some significant, and usually life-changing realizations about life, no matter how fantastical it is. And that's why we love science fiction and fantasy: Even though the narrative elements aren't real in our lives, the sentiments, interactions, and life lessons are. It gives us a window in to the human soul, even when the window is decidedly non-human.Fiction Vortex publishes science fiction and fantasy stories every month. Check out FictionVortex.com for more great stories.

This inaugural issue of the Fiction Vortex magazine is stuffed with incredible stories, tales that will take you through the verdant valley of coming-of-age-fantasy, over the jagged summit of hard science fiction, into the dark cavern of cerebral horror, and back out into the sunlit meadows of humorous satire. All stories and reviews were published on FictionVortex.com in May 2013This inaugural issue of the Fiction Vortex magazine is stuffed with incredible stories, tales that will take you through the verdant valley of coming-of-age-fantasy, over the jagged summit of hard science fiction, into the dark cavern of cerebral horror, and back out into the sunlit meadows of humorous satire. All stories and reviews were published on FictionVortex.com in May 2013.Fiction Vortex focuses on publishing speculative fiction. That means science fiction and fantasy (with a light smattering of horror and a few other subgenres), be it light, heavy, deep, flighty, spaceflighty, cerebral, visceral, epic, or mundane. But mundane in a my-local-gas-station-has-elf-mechanics-but-it’s-not-really-a-big-deal-around-here kind of way. Got it?Basically, we want imaginative stories that are well written, but not full of supercilious floridity.There’s a long-standing belief that science fiction and fantasy stories aren’t as good as purely literary fare. We want you to prove that mindset wrong (not just wrong, but a steaming pile of griffin dung wrong) with every story we publish. It’s almost like we’re saying, “I do not bite my thumb at you, literary snobs, but I do bite my thumb,” but in a completely polite and non-confrontational way.

We love the unexpected, and we love stories that take us places we've never been. I can guarantee there's something brand new for you here, too, no matter how well traveled you are, or how many episodes of Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego you've watched.Sometimes things aren't as they seem. Sometimes that pothole is actually a portal to another dimension. Sometimes that friend is actually a clone created by an evil corporation. Sometimes that rose smells just like the maw of a particular rose-shaped alien that likes to feast on noses.To illustrate the point — well, not those particular points, but the more general one about things not being as they seem — this issue is full of stories on that topic. Life can be unexpected, as these stories so expertly show, whether that means finding out your mom's ghost isn't really your mom, your favorite fairy tale was actually made by non-robots, or the girl you met in a tree really does have skin made of spider silk but she still doesn't have your best interest at heart. And those are real examples from these stories.We love the unexpected, and we love stories that take us places we've never been. I can guarantee there's something brand new for you here, too, no matter how well traveled you are, or how many episodes of Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego you've watched.

This issue of Fiction Vortex introduces some new subgenres that we haven't published before, including fractured fairytale, high fantasy, steampunk, and space western.Fiction Vortex publishes two new science fiction and fantasy stories each week. All stories in this issue appeared on the site during the month of July 2013.Science fiction and fantasy are such broad genres that they mean something different to every person you ask. Well, except for literary snobs; they're remarkably uniform in their opinions of genre fiction. It seems to me that they wouldn't pass muster with their beloved Holden Caulfield, but maybe that's a conversation for another day. The diversity of subgenres is what makes sci-fi and fantasy so cool (aside from lasers and spaceships, dragons and wizards, psychopaths and world destruction, etc.). There's something for nearly everyone.We strive to show this breadth of ideas in our stories, which is why we're so excited about this issue. It continues our trend of publishing great fiction, but it also introduces a few new subgenres that we haven't published yet. We've got our first truly high fantasy tale, our first fractured fairytale, our first steampunk story, and our first space western.That's enough subgenre to kill a Tartellonelionicate Mega-Aardvark.So sit back and enjoy the smorgasbord of science fiction and fantasy. And don't forget to pat your back on our behalf. No, pat your back, not our behalf. We don't like it when people touch our behalf, anyway. You're the reason we do this, and the reason we're still going. So thanks for your support, and look for more great fiction next month.Fiction Vortex publishes two new science fiction and fantasy stories each week. All stories in this issue appeared on the site during the month of July 2013.

The holidays are always magical, when the stress isn't killing you. This issue is pretty magical, too, though there should far less stress involved. Maybe "magical" isn't the right term. All the stories this month are better described as "supernatural" because they are more about unusual things than straight hocus pocus.Apocalyptic Science Fiction Story. 67 pages (16.626 words)Oil To Ashes Part 2, 'Truce'Truce brings hope. A nameless slayer erases it. Can Linc save his family for good?As peace seems overwhelmed by random acts of suburban violence, Linc Freemore must stop an unknown murderer and save his wife and son. One killer becomes many, a conspiracy larger than he could conceive.Linc already gave his son's childhood to the company. For a better life. Is that lost too? As the tipping point of war is breached Linc must fight viciously for his life, for his family and for his own virtue.Contains Graphic Violence.

We've got more great stories for you this month, with a god morgue, a few unexplained benefactors, and a xenobiologist who would really rather not be eaten by space slugs. Yep, it's that good.We've got more great stories for you this month, with a god morgue, a few unexplained benefactors, and a xenobiologist who would really rather not be eaten by space slugs. Yep, it's that good.Fiction Vortex publishes science fiction and fantasy stories weekly at FictionVortex.com

Fiction Vortex publishes science fiction and fantasy short stories for the discerning reader, if by "discerning" you mean someone who likes solid plots, great characters, and fascinating technologies and cultures. This issue includes all the short stories that appeared on FictionVortex.com during August 2013.the Last One offers the reader a hopeful and possible way forward to a better world. A world leader, a woman of extraordinary leadership skills, brings the nations of the world together. Moving them beyond fear and distrust she gains their cooperation, to commit to an act that changes everything.