Among all the famous book genres, fantasy fiction is one of the most loved. Whichever genre you love, it can be hard to find time to read amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Fantasy short stories offer a reprieve — they will fulfil your craving as a reader without you having to tackle the newest thousand-page book by the likes of Sanderson. They’re bite-sized, allowing you to get from start to end in a single sitting, perfect for your commute. The real issue then is that because there are so many amazing short stories out there, how do you find the next one for you?
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9 Incredible Fantasy Short Stories
Here we explore 9 of the finest fantasy fiction stories and where you can read them.
1. Ratspeak by Sarah Porter
Ratspeak is one of those stories that will leave you awe-struck for a while. It revolves around the young boy Van, who desires to decipher the language of rats. He believes that the language of rats has meaning and a substantial impact on the surroundings. The story shows the struggle of the boy as his obsession to understand ratspeak grows.
2. Elephants and Corpses by Kameron Hurley
Kameron Hurley is a super influential writer most known for her magical work God’s War and Infidel. Elephants and Corpses, published in 2015, is the story of Nev and his assistant, whose role is in the buying of dead bodies. However, as with any such macabre job, it brings unforeseen trouble. It’s a journey of realisation — that some things are better left buried.
3. RED by Ramsey Shehadeh
Published in 2017, RED is about the impact on a young man of the disappearance of his sister, and the journey he must go on to find her again. The protagonist finds himself drawn into the world of their favourite board game in a desperate attempt to find her. Ramsey Shehadeh is famous for his unconventional fiction, and this story is a must-read for all his fans.
4. Selfies by Lavie Tidhar
If you are into horror fiction, this fantasy short story by Lavie Tidhar is for you. The story starts when Ellie chooses to buy a phone from a mysterious man at the mall. However, with every coming day, Ellie learns to regret doing so as the creepy truth is slowly revealed. A short but impactful story that will have you on the edge of your seat.
5. Warm Up by V.E. Schwab
David gets caught in an avalanche and dies. And then he wakes up. But this is not a happy tale of someone escaping death. When he wakes up he finds he has bizarre powers that terrify him. With everyone thinking him dead, and after a year of isolation from the world, David must learn how to fit back in. But we quickly realise it’s not just his powers that he needs to be afraid of.
6. The Smallest Dragonboy by Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey’s Dragons of Pern series were charming, nail-biting and gripping. This short story extends that world and offers us the story of Keevan, the smallest dragonboy. Keevan is bullied for being smaller, for being less intelligent, and for being less able. However hard he works, it seems his efforts are to go unrewarded. This story is a beautiful compilation of the emotions of a small boy and his struggle to be treated like everyone else.
Readers that like fantasy books with dragons may like The Farseer Trilogy, Dragons and Beyond: Robin Hobb’s Books and Reading Order
7. Zapped by Sherwood Smith
Sherwood Smith’s story Zapped, originally published in 2015, is an engaging coming-of-age story. The young protagonist discovers she has superpowers but all she really wants is to fit in. The story touches on some dark social aspects like transphobia, violence, bullying, and hate speech, unfolding the ugly yet real side of society.
8. Tender by Sofia Samatar
Tender is a compilation of short stories by Sofia Samatar, a writer known for her fusion of fantasy, sci-fi, and real-life events. It’s more like a time travel experience, exploring the fragility of bodies and emotions. The concept of this collection revolves around the power of loneliness and redefining emotions. You will feel an overlap of familiar life events merged into the world of fantasy. Published in 2019, it is one of the most recognised modern fantasy short story compilations.
9. The Snow Child by Angela Carter
The Snow Child is a two-page short story from Angela Carter’s “The Bloody Chamber” collection, published in 1979. The story revolves around how the protagonist sees the world around him. It is filled with dark imagery such as blood on snow. Despite its short length the story has multiple twists and turns, and explores some complex themes.
Final Thoughts
There we have it — 9 wonderful fantasy short stories to spend your weekend in a different world of fiction. Stay tuned for more thought-provoking stories and book recommendations that will make you fall in love with reading all over again.
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