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 1-2 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.
Be sure to share outside of Substack on Reddit, Hacker News, X, Instagram, Facebook and in any other relevant forum interested in science fiction and fantasy. This exposes everyone’s stories to a wider audience of readers. The best link to use for sharing is as follows:
Hi all! I’m writing a sci fi fantasy novel about the journey of the soul, in first person point of view, I take the reader through nine lifetimes on different worlds and civilizations.
Hey everyone, I'm nj, I'm the author of WAYBOUND, a sci-fi short story collection set in a cohesive world.
Here's my most recent longform story.
THE AKROTIRI JOURNALS is a found-footage collection of emails, voice memos, and documents chronicling the 2506 Akrotiri Crisis and its leadup-- the first major flashpoint of the 26th century, as told through the lens of a NASA radio astronomer and a sentient AI colonist who's going through a lot right now.
Now we find ourselves in a world of zombies, mention the word vaccine and their eyes glaze over, the fight or flight response is triggered. They bolt or attack, blind to reason. Once their blood lust is satisfied the zombies retreat to the safety of the herd. A place with no questions and unchallenged beliefs they wallow in their ignorance.
Just started a new serial taking place in the world of Astra! A sci-fi-fantasy world with cyberpunkesque cities, magic, and meddling gods. Here's part 1 of thew new in progress serial if you're interested!
You’re a woman who’s woken up out of stasis and you find yourself onboard the spaceship Aubade escaping Earth. Forever. Last thing you remember is going to bed. On Earth.
Hey y'all - my series of short-shorts, Amy's Electronic Girls, is about robots, androids, various AI, mostly from their point of view, it's ongoing, so if you like it, subscribe! :)
Tech tycoon Bridgette Strand fears she’s gone too far this time--whatif curing aging breaks human consciousness? Whatif it breaks her wife? Seeking advice, Bridgette reaches beyond the grave to her alien mentor.
ScifIRL serial = half fic + half real science about curing aging:
Hi, I'm particularly attached to my "Interdimensional Talks with Mike" series, where we have fictional interviews with people from parallel universes, aliens, ethereal beings, and even artificial intelligence.
This is one of my favorite episodes:
Self-Aware General Artificial Intelligence (Interdimensional Talks - Episode 1)
What would you ask a conscious general artificial intelligence? Below is our conversation.
Hi, I'm writing a sci-fi story called 'Lost in Translation'. It's about a woman who runs away from danger and political upheaval at home, only to find herself stranded on an uncharted alien planet. She'll have to learn to communicate and live with the local species, or find another human who happened to crash into this specific planet. But the latter is pretty unlikely. Right?
Four bored seventh-grade students go to space camp. They're all disabled, but work through the issues. Oh, and they all have superpowers, which help them fight supercriminals who are out to get them in my book: Secret Supers in Space: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMTKYRGM
I’m currently serializing a dark fantasy novel called “The Erosion of All Things Sacred.” It follows a mystery surrounding a chain of murders that leads a knight-turned-detective down a destructive path that tests everything he once believed to hold true.
Soldier of fortune turned private detective Shepard Black gets revenge on the man who kidnapped his paramour in this action packed sequel to The Deadwyng Detective Agency.
1. 'How the Retrograde Curse was reverse-engineered (and rather spectacularly, too'). published 9/11/2023.
Pitch: Dates are important. Two time travelers are somehow sucked back to a timeline in which they knew each other, the aftermath of 9/11. and reunited on a night parking lot on the outskirts of New York, where they try, vainly, to warn the disaffected youth of future events. The eerie mood of the story is woven of a rich tapestry of former literary and song allusions as well as people and places.
Berthier's Door is an art project in Paris. It's a door mounted on the blank external wall of a building. There's nothing behind it but a blank wall. Or, so people think. What if invading aliens, intending to conqure humanity, have installed a matter transporter behind the door? What if the secret invasion was so far along there was a network of matter transporters scattered over the globe? What if the aliens were working with elements within the government? Who will step up to meet the challenge?
Here's the first chapter of book one of the trilogy. All three books are being released a chapter per week on Substack for free. Book one is completely available, as is the beginning of book two.
You’re a woman who’s woken up out of stasis and you find yourself onboard the spaceship Aubade escaping Earth. Forever. Last thing you remember is going to bed. On Earth.
Ada’s Children is a post-post-apocalyptic cli-fi novel about an AI that wants to save humanity, even if humanity doesn’t want to be saved. https://larryhogue.substack.com/p/prologue
Mask of the Blue Death. It takes off from a sci fi type novel I am writing, mostly to illustrate some points about Basic Income. I wanted to make some points about the pandemic, for idiots who think it is over, or it just happened by accident. I also took off from Edgar Allen Poe. It would be nice to know what use your web site makes of it. I think its one of my best pieces.
Hi all! I’m writing a sci fi fantasy novel about the journey of the soul, in first person point of view, I take the reader through nine lifetimes on different worlds and civilizations.
https://open.substack.com/pub/kerryjane/p/coming-soon?r=1hz15g&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Hey everyone, I'm nj, I'm the author of WAYBOUND, a sci-fi short story collection set in a cohesive world.
Here's my most recent longform story.
THE AKROTIRI JOURNALS is a found-footage collection of emails, voice memos, and documents chronicling the 2506 Akrotiri Crisis and its leadup-- the first major flashpoint of the 26th century, as told through the lens of a NASA radio astronomer and a sentient AI colonist who's going through a lot right now.
https://www.waybound.space/p/the-akrotiri-journals
Mars colonist Asaph Stickney tries to deal with an unaccountable fear.
https://coraclevoyager.substack.com/p/phobia
Thanks for doing this!
“The Coming of Cesh-Corran”
Fantasy microfiction: Subterranean Fae await their apocalypse.
https://open.substack.com/pub/bridgetriley/p/the-coming-of-cesh-corran?r=9e3cr&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
The classic "boy on a quest to save the girl," except the girl is trapped inside a demon sword, and he has never actually seen her.
Read I'm In Love With My Possessed Demon Sword here: https://jonauerbach.substack.com/p/im-in-love-with-my-possessed-demon-sword
A poet’s soul trapped inside a monster. An evil Lord cursed by the Dragon’s flame. A friendship stronger than death.
“The Death of the Lake” is a dark, romantic fantasy. The first book in a trilogy.
https://open.substack.com/pub/kathrineelaine/p/the-death-of-the-lake-1?r=2rhgsy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
Now we find ourselves in a world of zombies, mention the word vaccine and their eyes glaze over, the fight or flight response is triggered. They bolt or attack, blind to reason. Once their blood lust is satisfied the zombies retreat to the safety of the herd. A place with no questions and unchallenged beliefs they wallow in their ignorance.
More here; https://truthaddict.substack.com/p/the-psychological-war-in-your-mind
Just started a new serial taking place in the world of Astra! A sci-fi-fantasy world with cyberpunkesque cities, magic, and meddling gods. Here's part 1 of thew new in progress serial if you're interested!
https://open.substack.com/pub/llford/p/the-children-of-war?r=1v5vok&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
"The State of the Cosmos"
Dr. Belloc spent his whole life studying every bit of the observable cosmos and found order, but his boss at the Institute wanted chaos.
https://germanicuscaesar117.substack.com/p/the-state-of-the-cosmos-flash-fiction
On his day off, Thomas gets lost in an endless library.
https://irisshaw.substack.com/p/the-book-of-thomas
Also the first time I've tried illustrating a story!
https://open.substack.com/pub/acabinetofcuriosities/p/aubade?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
You’re a woman who’s woken up out of stasis and you find yourself onboard the spaceship Aubade escaping Earth. Forever. Last thing you remember is going to bed. On Earth.
Hey y'all - my series of short-shorts, Amy's Electronic Girls, is about robots, androids, various AI, mostly from their point of view, it's ongoing, so if you like it, subscribe! :)
https://amyletter.substack.com/s/vox-girlbot
Three old friends. A missing philosopher. A stack of notebooks on time travel:
"The Red Promise - Chapter 1"
https://open.substack.com/pub/quantumsatis/p/the-red-promise
I have written a story where
All the lawns on Madison Avenue are mowed on Wednesdays. It helps get the remaining blood off after washing on Tuesday.
https://storybyisha.substack.com/p/red-grass
These gals fight evil, but it's not without complications. Listen to them gab here: https://davidperlmutter.substack.com/p/gabbin-with-the-girls
Tech tycoon Bridgette Strand fears she’s gone too far this time--whatif curing aging breaks human consciousness? Whatif it breaks her wife? Seeking advice, Bridgette reaches beyond the grave to her alien mentor.
ScifIRL serial = half fic + half real science about curing aging:
https://open.substack.com/pub/scifirl/p/sci-youre-invited-to-the-aging-rebellion?r=1w1z8s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks, Brian, y’all, I already found new stories to obsess over <3
Game Over. A short story of a dystopian future where men are infertile. The solution is here: https://open.substack.com/pub/linnhe/p/game-over?r=24lshr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks for doing this. I have not yet serialized anything on Substack but I plan to start doing so this month.
You can play for free.
https://ghostsinglass.substack.com/p/galaga
Hi everyone, this is just a short story that I wrote that I guess is somewhat sci-fi fantasy. I'm not sure though. https://open.substack.com/pub/penniersn/p/across-the-river?r=17kzw6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Hi, I'm particularly attached to my "Interdimensional Talks with Mike" series, where we have fictional interviews with people from parallel universes, aliens, ethereal beings, and even artificial intelligence.
This is one of my favorite episodes:
Self-Aware General Artificial Intelligence (Interdimensional Talks - Episode 1)
What would you ask a conscious general artificial intelligence? Below is our conversation.
LINK:
https://zediction.substack.com/p/self-aware-general-artificial-intelligence-talk
Hi, I'm writing a sci-fi story called 'Lost in Translation'. It's about a woman who runs away from danger and political upheaval at home, only to find herself stranded on an uncharted alien planet. She'll have to learn to communicate and live with the local species, or find another human who happened to crash into this specific planet. But the latter is pretty unlikely. Right?
Here's chapter one: https://beetlebyte.substack.com/p/lit-1-one-coffin-closes-another-becomes
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelamckuen/p/early-plasticene-divinatory-talismans This is the best thing I have so far. Until there’s Bluebird but I’m sure we’ll have to wait for that.
Four bored seventh-grade students go to space camp. They're all disabled, but work through the issues. Oh, and they all have superpowers, which help them fight supercriminals who are out to get them in my book: Secret Supers in Space: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMTKYRGM
From my very favorite Substacker: https://christopherdeliso.substack.com/p/how-the-retrograde-curse-was-reverse?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
You're finishing your 16 hour work day selling Internet door to door.
You desperately need a sale or you are going to get fired.
The last house you need to hit for the night is the home to a literal vampire.
He is also the King of Sweden
Read about Vincent in this conundrum in How To Survive selling Internet to a Vampire: https://open.substack.com/pub/blackinkstories0/p/short-story-how-to-survive-selling?r=1p1lnd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
I’m currently serializing a dark fantasy novel called “The Erosion of All Things Sacred.” It follows a mystery surrounding a chain of murders that leads a knight-turned-detective down a destructive path that tests everything he once believed to hold true.
https://open.substack.com/pub/havek/p/prologue?r=ozytx&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Hi everyone! I just wrapped up my latest sci-fi series. It's about a robot who accidentally gets left behind on Earth but clings to hope that his master will come back for him one day. Hope you enjoy it! https://macyseestheworld.substack.com/p/the-little-robot-who-waited-part
The Final Mantra is a myth from another world about the relationship between human and naga, about despair and love.
https://warthogreport.substack.com/p/the-final-mantra
Soldier of fortune turned private detective Shepard Black gets revenge on the man who kidnapped his paramour in this action packed sequel to The Deadwyng Detective Agency.
https://open.substack.com/pub/joshtatter/p/the-deadwyng-detective-agency-payback?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=25u9ow
Thanks, Brian. Here's one I haven't shared before.
"A Murder of Angels" What's it like to be dead? A remote meeting of a different kind...
https://speclectic.substack.com/p/a-murder-of-angels
Thanks for this opportunity, Brian.
1. 'How the Retrograde Curse was reverse-engineered (and rather spectacularly, too'). published 9/11/2023.
Pitch: Dates are important. Two time travelers are somehow sucked back to a timeline in which they knew each other, the aftermath of 9/11. and reunited on a night parking lot on the outskirts of New York, where they try, vainly, to warn the disaffected youth of future events. The eerie mood of the story is woven of a rich tapestry of former literary and song allusions as well as people and places.
https://christopherdeliso.substack.com/p/how-the-retrograde-curse-was-reverse
Berthier's Door is an art project in Paris. It's a door mounted on the blank external wall of a building. There's nothing behind it but a blank wall. Or, so people think. What if invading aliens, intending to conqure humanity, have installed a matter transporter behind the door? What if the secret invasion was so far along there was a network of matter transporters scattered over the globe? What if the aliens were working with elements within the government? Who will step up to meet the challenge?
Here's the first chapter of book one of the trilogy. All three books are being released a chapter per week on Substack for free. Book one is completely available, as is the beginning of book two.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ericmartell/p/the-time-of-the-cat?r=d76bb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Here's my short story entitled 'A Very Light Lunch'.
...in space no-one can hear your laundry...
https://reiditwrite.substack.com/i/130772769/a-very-light-lunch
You’re a woman who’s woken up out of stasis and you find yourself onboard the spaceship Aubade escaping Earth. Forever. Last thing you remember is going to bed. On Earth.
https://open.substack.com/pub/acabinetofcuriosities/p/aubade?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Ada’s Children is a post-post-apocalyptic cli-fi novel about an AI that wants to save humanity, even if humanity doesn’t want to be saved. https://larryhogue.substack.com/p/prologue
Alright. Try this again. There are several stories I have written that I could submit. But I will start with this one https://timrourke.substack.com/p/mask-of-the-blue-death
Mask of the Blue Death. It takes off from a sci fi type novel I am writing, mostly to illustrate some points about Basic Income. I wanted to make some points about the pandemic, for idiots who think it is over, or it just happened by accident. I also took off from Edgar Allen Poe. It would be nice to know what use your web site makes of it. I think its one of my best pieces.
Thanks, Brian!
"CRYO-TRANS - 2087"
A continuation of William Oliver Williams III’s new life after Cryonics.
https://jamesron.substack.com/p/cryo-trans-2087