Is one of your resolutions to read more short fiction this year? In the vast expanse of the internet, uncovering the best stories can be a daunting task. You might find yourself spending precious reading hours in pursuit of the perfect narrative jewel, only to run out of time to savor it.
Not to worry, here at Frivolous Comma we’ll do the hard work for you. In our new semi-monthly series we’ll be curating some golden nuggets you may have overlooked from our friends at other magazines. Get ready to be captivated, surprised, and transported to worlds you might have missed.
Here’s our collection for this month:
- Astrid Underwater - J.J Eskelin
The day Sigun lost her son in the water, it was unusually warm, even for August. She had driven with him up the Olympic Peninsula to a park just over the bridge, on the western shore of Kilisut Island. - The Flip Side - Hall Jameson
In our Stories for Young People of All Ages department:
I had arrived in a box with an orange kitten the Keepers called Carrot and a speckled kitten they called Dot. Me, they called mostly OhNo! But sometimes, StopThat! Or GetDown! Then I fell off a beam in the Basking Room, and landed in a very different place. - The Wood Pile - Chapel Oak O'Connor
The logs were starting to get strange — sticky with lichen. No good for the fire anymore, and he had a prickly feeling on the back of his neck ... - A Language Older Than Words - Andrew Giffin
Struggling against language barriers, economic hardship, and unjust laws, two characters, despite their initial conflict, help each other in maintaining their humanity and furthering their hopes. This story is a triumph, a testament to the indomitable spirit of kindness. - Changeling - Lindsay King-Miller
“When you were a baby, you were stolen by the fairies,” my mother says over dinner.
I keep eating my salad. She tells this story a lot.