The Pitch is a monthly discussion thread of the best science fiction and fantasy on Substack, as recommended by the authors themselves. Here’s how it works:
Are you an author? Head to the comments and add a link to any one speculative fiction short story, serial chapter or anthology post from your Substack. Add a one sentence summary pitch for the post. This is your chance to creatively promote your work and talent. Try to link a post that you haven’t yet added to a previous pitch session.
Are you a reader? If there’s a story you enjoy, be sure to add a like and comment on the author’s Substack, but feel free to come back here and do the same.
Are you a Notes user? Spread the word by restacking the thread in a Note.
Drilling accidents happen. Here we meet two narrators from different eras, before and after the accident. A supernatural spin on methane bubbles trapped under the permafrost.
A dog walker stumbles upon "Ratline Street" which turns out to be a limbo between heaven and hell for those who were complicit with the Nazi regime instead of speaking up.
Underland and the Forehidden Kingdom is a serialised, young adult, fantasy novel about an overconfident bookworm who finds himself in a parallel world where words are weapons, ideologies form fortresses, and intelligence without integrity may just cost you everything.
An aspiring holo artist has to fight against subtle mental attacks to be able to keep doing what she loves in a society where every child's path is chosen for them.
Abram the human and Abram the sword must work together to save their family after the empire disrupts their peaceful life, this was also my submission to the first Lunar Awards.
When a dwarf, a human, an elf, and two orks get trapped in a cave, you either get a mean punch line or a story about how we're not so different after all.
In this thrilling fantasy mixed with school drama, three girls with magical powers fight to defeat an ancient evil- but the truest battle is one they each face inside.
When his erstwhile paramour is kidnapped by sinister government forces, former mercenary turned private detective Shepard Black must undertake a daring rescue mission to save her before she disappears for good.
https://slake.substack.com/p/nib
In a city of rain, an old man completes a task for the daughter he never had, whilst a friend he thought lost returns home.
https://reddoscarwrites.substack.com/p/the-dread-and-the-saint
In the hunt for True Might the Dread must overcome the Sword Saint, but how does one defeat, let alone kill, an immortal?
https://alexanderipfelkofer.substack.com/p/the-man-who-wouldnt-die
Drilling accidents happen. Here we meet two narrators from different eras, before and after the accident. A supernatural spin on methane bubbles trapped under the permafrost.
https://hamishkavanagh.substack.com/p/the-ratline-a-short-story
A dog walker stumbles upon "Ratline Street" which turns out to be a limbo between heaven and hell for those who were complicit with the Nazi regime instead of speaking up.
"A dagger, wielded by the worthy to preserve the River of Life, must defend itself from falling into the wrong hands."
The Feather Of Simurg:
https://open.substack.com/pub/terenceharifernandes/p/the-feather-of-simurg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android
https://philjackson.substack.com/p/first-chapter-book-of-the-destined
A man racing to escape from a crime crashes his car, killing himself, and arrives in the fourth realm (the after-life) and discovers he has a destiny.
What if a soul does not accrue karma?
https://projectfable.substack.com/
An epic fantasy spanning a 12,000-year timeline based on ancient Hindu mythology, told in a non-linear fashion.
Underland and the Forehidden Kingdom is a serialised, young adult, fantasy novel about an overconfident bookworm who finds himself in a parallel world where words are weapons, ideologies form fortresses, and intelligence without integrity may just cost you everything.
https://underland.substack.com/p/welcome-to-underland-mate
https://vanessaglau.substack.com/p/desynchronized
An aspiring holo artist has to fight against subtle mental attacks to be able to keep doing what she loves in a society where every child's path is chosen for them.
Sometimes a bike ride turns out to be a bit more than you expected.
It's A Good Story:
https://open.substack.com/pub/kentpeterson/p/its-a-good-story?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android
https://warthogreport.substack.com/p/the-swordsmen
Abram the human and Abram the sword must work together to save their family after the empire disrupts their peaceful life, this was also my submission to the first Lunar Awards.
https://jamesron.substack.com/p/return-to-stardust
It was unlikely that Major Tom would reenter the atmosphere where he would then burn up as he fell to Earth.
https://gallagherstories.substack.com/p/burning-the-bubble
If you're caught between a real estate bubble and a social media flash mob, would you survive?
The lions of knowledge from the NY Public Library hunt the Wall Street Bull. Also my entry for the Lunar Awards, season 2. https://randallhayes.substack.com/p/pride-of-the-library
Faire Exchange:
https://wordassociations.substack.com/p/coming-soon-faire-exchange
Fifth grade's new exchange student is a spoiled bully from the realm of Faerie!
Just completed its serialization last week!
Inquisitor's Promise - https://germanicuscaesar117.substack.com/p/prologue-first-contact
Love and politics are an explosive combination, but the Inquisitor shall remain true to his pledged word.
When a dwarf, a human, an elf, and two orks get trapped in a cave, you either get a mean punch line or a story about how we're not so different after all.
https://zacharyroush.substack.com/p/a-dwarf-a-human-an-elf-and-two-orks
(there's an audio version, if you prefer!)
https://open.substack.com/pub/nialletheridge/p/the-saturday-entertainer
THE KID wreaks damage on our ordinary hero, a children’s magician. Will it be a critical hit?
A short-story to accompany an original ambient track about a cyborg witnessing a sunrise for the first time after a long and traumatic conflict.
https://miter.substack.com/p/warm-sunrise
The Three Elements: https://open.substack.com/pub/myinc/p/chapter-one-0b9?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
In this thrilling fantasy mixed with school drama, three girls with magical powers fight to defeat an ancient evil- but the truest battle is one they each face inside.
When his erstwhile paramour is kidnapped by sinister government forces, former mercenary turned private detective Shepard Black must undertake a daring rescue mission to save her before she disappears for good.
https://joshtatter.substack.com/p/the-deadwyng-detective-agency
https://barryburton.substack.com/p/the-truth-of-the-matter
If you had the ability to know anything, what would you ask? is the crux of my newest story, The Truth of the Matter.