In Faith Merino’s story from our March/April 2024 issue, the women of the house band together to uncover the mysterious noises coming from the empty attic—noises that the father seemingly can’t hear. Please enjoy “There’s Nothing in the Attic” read by the author herself.

Embot is a time traveler sent from centuries in the future to narrate the life of Jane, a young woman trapped in an unhappy life. Forbidden from interfering in the thoughts or actions of its subjects, Embot can only watch as Jane takes the first, wary steps toward a second chance. But will it stick? Find out in “Embot’s Lament,” read and written by…

In “Deep Blue Jump,” children as young as six harvest a narcotic, dream-inducing fruit, and any on-the-job mistakes or stolen product could be a death sentence. Find out whether newcomer Po & her friends can survive temptation and the harvesting conditions. Please enjoy “Deep Blue Jump,” read and written by Dean Whitlock.…

Kim is a mutant who can control the mind of anyone she smells. She’s so powerful, she’s forced to endure therapy sessions with other mutants in lieu of jail time. Find out what happens when their doctor takes treatment a little too far in “Tilt,” read and written by Leslie What.

When Joseph catches a glimpse of his new neighbor Antonio, he can't help feel an immediate attraction. Antonio is tall, tanned, painfully handsome—and just happens to be a robot. But is romance possible in a world teetering on the brink of destruction? Find out in “Sexy Apocalypse Robot,” read and written by Sandra McDonald.…

Aran’s first vacation—in basically forever—involves twenty-six gate-hops and a fun entanglement with a couple of friendly arms dealers. Any sex worker with half a brain peddles information, but this time the intel leads Aran down a windy path with clues from his home-world and everything he left behind. What’s a rent-boy to do? Find out in “Planets…

For ex-schoolteacher Marisela Feddie, life under Phosian rule isn’t so bad. Or so it seems. After all, these four-armed alien overlords seem more interested in observing humanity’s quirks that carrying out its extinction. But are the Phosians really who they say they are? Find out in “Alien Housing,” read and written by Karen Heuler.…

If you could virtually simulate any type of extraordinary life experience, would you go on a hike of Himalayan proportions, or maybe just a hot date? Here is the story of a man whose life changes upon making a far more mundane choice, and upends his perception of reality in the process. This is “Forty-Eight Minutes at the Trainview Cafe” read and w…

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki’s “Destiny Delayed” is set in a futuristic uber-capitalist Nigeria where the wealthy ruling class has further deepened the inequality gap and found new metaphysical ways to exploit the poor. While purportedly impossible to deny, destiny can be delayed, perhaps indefinitely. Enjoy this bonus podcast for the spooky season, …

Sam is the star host of an interplanetary travel program. Usually, Sam's adventures go quite smoothly—or at least they appear that way to viewers. Filming on Freyja, however, presents some unique challenges, such as killer plants that happen to be named after famous artists. Will Sam be in need of rescue or save the day when things go awry? Here is…

When the golems returned from the moon wars, they didn’t receive the heroes welcome they deserved. Instead, this race of humanoids designed to withstand the harsh lunar environment faced extermination at the hands of those they fought for. Will the last one survive? Find out in K.A. Teryna’s “The Tin Pilot,” translated by Alex Schvartsman & read by…

Nobody else on Mars can brew beer quite like Paul Hopper. He’s an Earther who’s been forced into servitude by a surly brewery owner. But he’s the type who’d rather press on and drink his beer rather than cry in it. Despite his resignation to this situation, Paul soon finds himself on an uncharacteristic adventure. Find out Paul’s future as James Va…

In the wake of a near-fatal accident, Emma struggles to readjust to home life. But it’s not the nagging sling or her son’s new habit that she can’t stop thinking about. Instead, Emma obsesses over the improbably nature of her rescue: a quirk of the universe may have changed the lives of her and her family forever. This is “The Magpie Stacks Probabi…

Theresa moved into her new smarthome with healthy skepticism. Here was a house with everything she could ever need or want—and more—for an affordable price on her nail stylist’s salary. To her, the artificial intelligence inside was little more than a shiny gimmick, but one she’d gladly deal with to give her daughter Niyah a better life. There had …

The Greatbread 2X is no ordinary toaster. It’s sleek; it knows countless recipes; it happens to be sentient. And one just showed up on Nadia’s doorstep. Enjoy “Bread and Circuits,” from our November/December issue, read and written by Misha Lenau.

“Filaments,” read and written by Mercurio D. Rivera, explores a tragic accident, a troubled relationship, and the terrifying mystery that lies at the heart of an abandoned alien planet. Enjoy our appropriately September/October selection: “Filaments.”

Minor edits here and there; that’s all Amin’s doing at the clinic, tweaking painful recollections until they hurt less. If only Laura understood how much he needs those changes. Journey with Amin down a series of memory lanes in “Tweak,” written and read by Taimur Ahmad, from our July/August issue.

Paul does everything he can to love Rebecca and make her happy. Still, he knows it’s not enough; his processor just isn’t sufficiently advanced for meeting all of a human companion’s needs. But that will change tomorrow, when he has his upgrade. . . . Join Paul on his journey of self-improvement in “My Heart Is at Capacity,” from our May/June issue…

Willow has a Grandma problem . . . sure she comes with some cool gadgets from a prosperous past, but she also comes with the heat of the rangers. And eventually they’ll find her. Willow and Grandma both reckon with the past in “Grandma Plus Five Degrees Celcius” from our March/April issue, read and written by James Patrick Kelly.…

Victor is used to having gigs like “driver,” “teacher,” or “administrative assistant,” so when his GigTime App shows “Mayor” for a duration of only “twenty-four hours,” he is a little skeptical. What should have been a quick job turns into something else altogether…. Enjoy “Mayor for Today,” read and written by Fran Wilde.…

It’s an Earth-shattering revelation: Aliens are real, and making contact all around us. Rina Cutter, however, is busy dealing with her own, private world shattering. Even if the alien news does hit very close to home, it has nothing on the shock of losing her mother. Please enjoy Marissa Lingen’s reading of her story from our November/December issu…

When a “Mangy White Dog” starts showing up to watch Sunflower and Taihe perform, Sunflower is suspicious. What does the dog want? Doesn't it know she and Taihe are a team of two? Read "Mangy White Dog" by Y.M. Pang to discover the secret behind the dog's appearance.

In this episode, the author envisions the future of dating apps and media companies, while our narrator Petra balances a demanding job with apparitions of potential children. Please enjoy “Imaginary Children,” read and written by Janet Stilson.

In this May/June installment of our podcast, we have a fascinating alternate history where gods are very much real and being held captive in zoos. Please enjoy Evan Marcroft’s “Pax Mongolica,” read by the author himself.