Season Six Short Story Category Winner Announcement!

A smuggled climate refugee must survive her first day in a high security city.

Congratulations to

Claudia Befu

, our Lunar Award winner for her short story, “Illegal”, which is posted on her Substack called Story Voyager. Claudia challenges our notion of belonging by using a day in the life of an anonymous refugee as her framework. If you’re unfamiliar with Claudia’s work, she writes an inviting variety of climate science fiction, fantasy (cli-fi) and non-fiction that explores the complicated relationship between cultures and environments.

Illegal

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Before we discuss our winning entry and three honorable mentions, let’s take a moment to thank our sponsor,

Winston Malone

from Storyletter XPress Publishing. Claudia will be receiving a hard copy edition of “Take Me There: A Speculative Anthology of Travel,” edited by Winston. I am honored that he has chosen to publish one of my short stories in the anthology, and I have the pleasure of revealing the official cover today!

Be sure to subscribe to Winston’s Substack so that you can be notified when the book is published. He is also responsible for doubling the monetary award for Claudia, who will receive $50. I’m very thankful for his partnership, which continues to help the Lunar Awards reach more speculative writers.

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You may have noticed a slight modification to our results, which includes a third honorable mention. I struggled with the decision, but ultimately good writing needs to be recognized, and that’s something we had a lot of this season. The style of each story is profoundly different, indicating a growing mix of unique voices now writing fiction on Substack. You’re guaranteed to find more than one story from our selections below that are entertaining reads.

More than just entertainment, the stories this season included several that gave me characters to care about, to root for and to remember. Claudia’s protagonist is no different, and I felt the same of all our honorable mentions. In “Illegal” we catch up with Anita, not her real name (or is it), who is attempting to enter a domain with greater promise. We know immediately her struggle and anxiety, the emotional turmoil that prompts her to take a significant risk.

There’s no doubt that Claudia is depicting a parallel, albeit fictional society, but her storytelling forces us to draw our own conclusions. We are astute observers, pulled into a tale of class struggle, with a dose of nearly spiritual agnosticism. This is fiction that makes us question our position in life and gives us an exhilarating narrative, one that allows us to discuss reform without loaded polarizations. At its heart it’s hopeful, which is a theme that can speak to anyone.

All three of our honorable mentions leaned into that hope as well, even Johnathan’s, which creatively reversed it on its parasitic head. Evelyn’s story gave us a high stakes triumph in the face of a great sacrifice and Bridget’s led us to believe last minute saviors come in all forms. This is a technique difficult to accomplish in modern science fiction and fantasy. We’re hardwired to expect dire outcomes. When authors provide us with a glimpse of the positive amid hardship, we’re treated to a rare occurrence.

It’s no surprise that Claudia won a Substack Featured Publication badge in 2023. Her climate passions are infused into all of her stories and her talent for storytelling illustrates how we can create a future full of better possibilities. Take a page from her proverbial book, find a passion that moves you and write fiction that moves others to action.

If you’ve managed to make it this far, I’m doing something special and free this season for all entrants. Going forward it will be a perk for paid subscribers who submit. Would you like a 1-2 paragraph comment with constructive feedback on one of your stories? All you have to do is ask here in the comments. I can provide it via DM or via comment on your story post.

Honorable Mentions

In the story “The Space Cuckoo“, written by

Johnathan Reid

, a deep space civilization lures in unsuspecting hosts.

In the story “Fragment of a Time Capsule“, written by

Evelyn K. Brunswick

, an explorer risks certain destruction to save a planet.

In the story “The Rift of Santa Rosa“, written by

Bridget Riley

, a mother cares for her very recent newborn while on a dangerous adventure.

Participants

(In no particular order.)

“And the Sky Turned Liquid“ by

Ben Woestenburg

“Mountain Man” and “The Colossal Shade” by

Josh Tatter

“Bandita” by

Johnathan Reid

“Give Me My Pants” by

H. W. Taylor

“Take Your Daughter to Work Day” and “Winthrop Hall“ by

Hanna Delaney

“Good Fighting” and “Midnight Cry” by

Michael S. Atkinson

“A Brilliant Piece of Jade” and “Ocreth’s Beacon“ by

JL Johnson Jr.

“Message From a Chosen One” and “Murphy Ginger and the Magic Cupboard“ by

Sam Rake

“Super Moon” and “Dog Years” by

Bill Hiatt

“Destitution Nilara” and “One Wish Per Customer” by

David Jace

“Little Girls Who Made Thee” by

David Perlmutter

“Outcasts” by

John Coon

“The Unstuck Man” by

Jon Auerbach

“Final Destination” by

Sergej Klementinovski

“A Bolt from the Blue” and “Peppy the Cyber Skunk“ by

Randall Hayes

“Shipyard Ahoy” by

Evelyn K. Brunswick

“Stuck” and “Werewolves” by

Dragon Writer Luc

“Jyoti” and “You’ve Got a Notification” by

Isha Jain

“My Captain” by

Mark Starlin

“Moonstruck” by

Pamela Urfer

“End of Life Care” by

Bridget Riley

“The Riches of the Everdark” and “The Siege of Kydonia” by

Redd Oscar

“Grimbauld the Brave and the Dragon” by

Daniel O’Donnell