In 2019, I decided to read more short fantasy, science fiction, and horror stories in English. Until then, I only read Dutch fiction and I wanted to broaden my horizons.
There are not many magazines for fantasy and science fiction in the Netherlands. There is no magazine that publishes only horror stories. I wanted to read more, find better magazines, find new markets to submit my stories to. When I googled genre magazines, I was surprised at the number of magazines and websites for short stories. There are so many, even for horror.
I made a list of my favorite magazines for fantasy & science fiction and how you can buy them. Single issues are available via several platforms. Because I live in The Netherlands, I buy the issues via Bol.com. I’ll mention for Dutch readers which magazines are also available via this platform. I also give some submission details for writers.
1. Uncanny Magazine
Uncanny Magazine is a bimonthly online magazine for speculative fantasy and science fiction. The issues are published as eBooks and contain stories, essays, poems, and interviews.
The stories also appear on the website. Some stories are published as podcasts. The eBooks are available via Amazon, Weightless Books, Kobo, Google Play, Barns & Noble, and Bol.com. The editors are active on several social media platforms. Find Uncanny Magazine at www.uncannymagazine.com
Submission details for writers
They want original (unpublished) fantasy and science fiction stories between 750 – 6000 words. They pay $.10 per word (including audio rights) and $40 for a poem. Check their website or their social media for submission periods. Upload your story and cover letter via the Moksha submission system. You can find their submission rules at www.uncannymagazine.com/submissions/
2. Fantasy Magazine
Fantasy Magazine is a monthly digital magazine for fantasy. Every issue contains stories, non-fiction articles, interviews, and poetry. They also publish two stories as podcasts every month. The magazine is available as eBook on the website, Weightless Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, and Bol.com. The stories are also published on the website. Find Fantasy Magazine at www.fantasy-magazine.com.
Submission details
All types of original fantasy and dark fantasy are welcome. The Moksha submission portal is open every first week of the month. Fantasy Magazine accepts short stories between 1500 – 7500 words and Flash fiction up to 1500 words. They pay 8 cents per word for flash fiction and short stories. $40 for a poem. Read their submission rules if you want to submit something. You can find them here: https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/fantasy/guidelines
3. Clarkesworld
I didn’t read much science fiction until I tried Clarkesworld. Thanks to this magazine I like it now. Clarkesworld is a monthly science fiction and fantasy magazine. Each issue contains stories, non-fiction articles, and interviews. The magazine is available in print and ebook. Stories are also published as podcasts. You can buy the magazine via Amazon Kindle, Barnes &Noble, Google Play, Kobo, Weighless Books, and Bol.com. You can find Clarkesworld at: www.clarkesworldmagazine.com.
Submission details for writers
They accept fantasy and science fiction. Dark fantasy & science fiction is permitted. They pay 12 c per word for stories between 1000 and 22000 words. They have their own online submission system. If you want to send something, check their submission rules and a list of what they want /don’t want at www.clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/
4. Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies is an online magazine for literary adventure fantasy with a secondary world setting. The issues are available as eBooks via Amazon and Weightless Books. The stories also appear on the website. Some are published as a podcast. The year’s best anthologies are available at Weightless Books, Amazon Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, and Scribd.
Visit Beneath Ceaseless Skies at www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com.
Submission details
They pay 8 cents per word for stories up to 15.000 words. You can find a list of what they’re looking for and submission rules at www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/submissions/. You can send your story via email. In case of a rejection, you’ll get personalized comments. That’s very kind. I appreciate it when an editor takes time to do this.
5. Apex Magazine
Apex Magazine publishes (dark) fantasy, science fiction, and horror. New issues are released every two months and contain short stories, interviews, and non-fiction essays. The stories are also published on the website www.apex-magazine.com and as a podcast. You can buy issues via their website, Weightless Books, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, and Bol.com.
Submission details
They pay $.08 per word for original fiction up to 7500 words. The minimum is $50. If they podcast your story, they pay $0.1 per word extra. You can read their rules for submission here: www.apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines/. Upload your story and cover letter via the Moksha Online Submission system.
Image by Enrique Meseguer on Pixabay
