Sam Baxter
@baxtersa.bsky.social
Reader, writer of codes (not the fun secret kind) and maybe sometimes other things
This is what stories taste like to me, and why I love reading.
Another wonderful story from @rjaurand.bsky.social, who I hope keeps writing more things that are exactly for me.
Another wonderful story from @rjaurand.bsky.social, who I hope keeps writing more things that are exactly for me.
In this issue, you can read my memory-embalming story "If You Can't Make Your Own Regret, Store-Bought Is Fine"--a piece I based in part on my nursing school experience and in part on finding cremains for sale at Goodwill. ($8, for those who are wondering.)
inner-worlds.ghost.io/issue-9-if-y...
inner-worlds.ghost.io/issue-9-if-y...
December 2, 2025 at 1:31 PM
This is what stories taste like to me, and why I love reading.
Another wonderful story from @rjaurand.bsky.social, who I hope keeps writing more things that are exactly for me.
Another wonderful story from @rjaurand.bsky.social, who I hope keeps writing more things that are exactly for me.
That’s a good looking slate for next week’s discussion. Hope everyone’s ready for bird facts.
Short Fiction Book Club is having our monthly discussion! Stop by to share your recent favorites, swap story samples, suggest future sessions, and discuss your favorites of the year so far.
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
From the Fantasy community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Fantasy community
www.reddit.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
That’s a good looking slate for next week’s discussion. Hope everyone’s ready for bird facts.
Instead of posting story submission rejections, I should start posting NetGalley request rejections from Tor.
September 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Instead of posting story submission rejections, I should start posting NetGalley request rejections from Tor.
One of my favorite reviewers @litscialliance.bsky.social asks should you read one of my favorite authors @cadwellturnbull.bsky.social. The easy short answer is “YES RIGHT NOW HAVE YOU READ IT YET WHY NOT?!”
Should you read No God No Monsters || The Convergence Saga Series Review
YouTube video by Literature Science Alliance
www.youtube.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:19 PM
One of my favorite reviewers @litscialliance.bsky.social asks should you read one of my favorite authors @cadwellturnbull.bsky.social. The easy short answer is “YES RIGHT NOW HAVE YOU READ IT YET WHY NOT?!”
Reposted by Sam Baxter
Hi to our new followers! It was extremely cool to meet some of you at Worldcon.
Short Fiction Book Club is a collection of nerds who love short fiction. Twice a month from fall to spring (outside of our Hugo Readalong project), we pick a few stories around a common theme and discuss them.
Short Fiction Book Club is a collection of nerds who love short fiction. Twice a month from fall to spring (outside of our Hugo Readalong project), we pick a few stories around a common theme and discuss them.
August 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Hi to our new followers! It was extremely cool to meet some of you at Worldcon.
Short Fiction Book Club is a collection of nerds who love short fiction. Twice a month from fall to spring (outside of our Hugo Readalong project), we pick a few stories around a common theme and discuss them.
Short Fiction Book Club is a collection of nerds who love short fiction. Twice a month from fall to spring (outside of our Hugo Readalong project), we pick a few stories around a common theme and discuss them.
These are big words coming from the author of the desperate, harrowing, crow story One for Sorrow www.blanketgravitymag.com/oneforsorrow
If you haven’t yet, you should go read both of these stories/authors!
If you haven’t yet, you should go read both of these stories/authors!
August 16, 2025 at 10:49 AM
These are big words coming from the author of the desperate, harrowing, crow story One for Sorrow www.blanketgravitymag.com/oneforsorrow
If you haven’t yet, you should go read both of these stories/authors!
If you haven’t yet, you should go read both of these stories/authors!
Why is 👁️ so so creepy and 👀 just totally natural?
Welcome to my campaign to make eyes more eldritch.
Where is my monster romance of someone getting lost (literally) in their (many) eldritch eyes?
Welcome to my campaign to make eyes more eldritch.
Where is my monster romance of someone getting lost (literally) in their (many) eldritch eyes?
August 7, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Why is 👁️ so so creepy and 👀 just totally natural?
Welcome to my campaign to make eyes more eldritch.
Where is my monster romance of someone getting lost (literally) in their (many) eldritch eyes?
Welcome to my campaign to make eyes more eldritch.
Where is my monster romance of someone getting lost (literally) in their (many) eldritch eyes?
@clairejiawen.bsky.social's If an Algorithm Can Cast a Shadow contains so much fantastic theme work- immigrant standards, bias, and generational divides, well-intentioned broken family causing irreparable emotional damage, casual LLM use's disregard for truth
clarkesworldmagazine.com/jia-wen_06_25/
clarkesworldmagazine.com/jia-wen_06_25/
If an Algorithm Can Cast a Shadow by Claire Jia-Wen
Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.
clarkesworldmagazine.com
July 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
@clairejiawen.bsky.social's If an Algorithm Can Cast a Shadow contains so much fantastic theme work- immigrant standards, bias, and generational divides, well-intentioned broken family causing irreparable emotional damage, casual LLM use's disregard for truth
clarkesworldmagazine.com/jia-wen_06_25/
clarkesworldmagazine.com/jia-wen_06_25/
Reposted by Sam Baxter
If you spend all your time trying to squeeze meaning, intent, motivation, fetishes, kinks, and subtext out of someone's work, you will kill it and you will kill your enjoyment of it. You have to take breaks to let some things just be what they are (unsqueezed and alive).
June 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
If you spend all your time trying to squeeze meaning, intent, motivation, fetishes, kinks, and subtext out of someone's work, you will kill it and you will kill your enjoyment of it. You have to take breaks to let some things just be what they are (unsqueezed and alive).
Why is any story featuring crows automatically so good?
One for Sorrow is such a difficult and moving read, a fantastic debut story by @rjaurand.bsky.social in a debut magazine. Go check it out!
One for Sorrow is such a difficult and moving read, a fantastic debut story by @rjaurand.bsky.social in a debut magazine. Go check it out!
It's a weird and bitter kind of Pride this year. If you're like me and find miserable stories cathartic, consider reading my feel-bad Queer stories "One for Sorrow" and "Goose Teeth" this June. The horrors persist, but so do we.
www.blanketgravitymag.com/oneforsorrow
www.patreon.com/fictionfansp...
www.blanketgravitymag.com/oneforsorrow
www.patreon.com/fictionfansp...
June 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Why is any story featuring crows automatically so good?
One for Sorrow is such a difficult and moving read, a fantastic debut story by @rjaurand.bsky.social in a debut magazine. Go check it out!
One for Sorrow is such a difficult and moving read, a fantastic debut story by @rjaurand.bsky.social in a debut magazine. Go check it out!
Just a cat doing totally normal cat things
June 6, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Just a cat doing totally normal cat things
Reposted by Sam Baxter
Thrilled to see this new number roll over. We feel the love for Ulla's art. So much. (Well, we feel it too!)
We have a lovely update for you in the morning, our second Celebrating Art guest post. Thank you, so much, for your love, shares, and support! 💜
www.kickstarter.com/projects/att...
We have a lovely update for you in the morning, our second Celebrating Art guest post. Thank you, so much, for your love, shares, and support! 💜
www.kickstarter.com/projects/att...
Faraway Dreaming by Ulla Thynell
An art book and story of forest, peace, and a calming night journey. Dragons, hills, and magic to soothe your soul.
www.kickstarter.com
June 6, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Thrilled to see this new number roll over. We feel the love for Ulla's art. So much. (Well, we feel it too!)
We have a lovely update for you in the morning, our second Celebrating Art guest post. Thank you, so much, for your love, shares, and support! 💜
www.kickstarter.com/projects/att...
We have a lovely update for you in the morning, our second Celebrating Art guest post. Thank you, so much, for your love, shares, and support! 💜
www.kickstarter.com/projects/att...
@samtasticbooks.com can write an anxiety spiral better than anyone and still make me want to climb back out
@cadwellturnbull.bsky.social for too many reasons - writing broken but repairing relationships, the swim meet chapter, introducing me to collectivism, using the word “simulacra” a whole bunch
@cadwellturnbull.bsky.social for too many reasons - writing broken but repairing relationships, the swim meet chapter, introducing me to collectivism, using the word “simulacra” a whole bunch
I urge you to please tell me two authors YOU really admire, to share our admiration and love for those who create.
May 30, 2025 at 12:07 PM
@samtasticbooks.com can write an anxiety spiral better than anyone and still make me want to climb back out
@cadwellturnbull.bsky.social for too many reasons - writing broken but repairing relationships, the swim meet chapter, introducing me to collectivism, using the word “simulacra” a whole bunch
@cadwellturnbull.bsky.social for too many reasons - writing broken but repairing relationships, the swim meet chapter, introducing me to collectivism, using the word “simulacra” a whole bunch
Reposted by Sam Baxter
Short Fiction Book Club is mostly on hiatus during the Hugos, but our monthly discussions are still running! Stop by and swap recommendations with us:
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
Short Fiction Book Club Presents: May 2025 Monthly Discussion
www.reddit.com
May 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Short Fiction Book Club is mostly on hiatus during the Hugos, but our monthly discussions are still running! Stop by and swap recommendations with us:
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/co...
me, reading flash, usually: I wish this had a couple thousand more words.
me, writing, or attempting to: unable to write anything longer than flash. what is a plot? what is an ending? can write 800 words five times, but can’t write 4000 words once.
me, writing, or attempting to: unable to write anything longer than flash. what is a plot? what is an ending? can write 800 words five times, but can’t write 4000 words once.
May 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
me, reading flash, usually: I wish this had a couple thousand more words.
me, writing, or attempting to: unable to write anything longer than flash. what is a plot? what is an ending? can write 800 words five times, but can’t write 4000 words once.
me, writing, or attempting to: unable to write anything longer than flash. what is a plot? what is an ending? can write 800 words five times, but can’t write 4000 words once.
I don’t always trust my feelings about Dad stories because I’m easy to emotionally manipulate in that way, but this one is fantastic.
“I will tell you this again if you get older” - ooof
@psychopomp.com @premeemohamed.com
psychopomp.com/everyone-kee...
“I will tell you this again if you get older” - ooof
@psychopomp.com @premeemohamed.com
psychopomp.com/everyone-kee...
Everyone Keeps Saying Probably - PSYCHOPOMP.COM
Publisher's Note: Please enjoy this short story by Premee Mohamed, who, coincidentally(!!), has a book out from Psychopomp on February 11th. It's called One
psychopomp.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I don’t always trust my feelings about Dad stories because I’m easy to emotionally manipulate in that way, but this one is fantastic.
“I will tell you this again if you get older” - ooof
@psychopomp.com @premeemohamed.com
psychopomp.com/everyone-kee...
“I will tell you this again if you get older” - ooof
@psychopomp.com @premeemohamed.com
psychopomp.com/everyone-kee...
@psychopomp.com marketing has been doing its job too well on me with this one. I, too, want a radish emoji and I don’t even understand why yet.
Happy Friday! May I present for your consideration: buy my book? The reasons you should do this are: it's my book, and it's very good, and it has a radish and her fox wife whom she adores and also a rock determined to live her best life even if maybe she wasn't meant to have a life to live.
Starstruck, by Aimee Ogden | Psychopomp
a radish, a fox, and a boulder walk into the world... check out the cover for Aimee's amazing novella STARSTRUCK, and preorder your copy today.
psychopomp.com
May 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
@psychopomp.com marketing has been doing its job too well on me with this one. I, too, want a radish emoji and I don’t even understand why yet.
Need to stop following such interesting authors and publishers who do such a good job promoting upcoming works and tricking me into preordering.
Orrr I can justify my lack of restraint since they’re all small press and I had a birthday this year and everyone deserves to treat themselves sometimes.
Orrr I can justify my lack of restraint since they’re all small press and I had a birthday this year and everyone deserves to treat themselves sometimes.
May 11, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Need to stop following such interesting authors and publishers who do such a good job promoting upcoming works and tricking me into preordering.
Orrr I can justify my lack of restraint since they’re all small press and I had a birthday this year and everyone deserves to treat themselves sometimes.
Orrr I can justify my lack of restraint since they’re all small press and I had a birthday this year and everyone deserves to treat themselves sometimes.
Reposted by Sam Baxter
Did you know that Davis Sq. is now home to Narrative, a hidden gem of a bookstore? It's proudly immigrant-woman owned and operated and focuses on books by women of color. And it's about to celebrate its first birthday! 🎂 Let's keep them around for many more years.
Narrative
www.narrativebookshop.com
April 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Did you know that Davis Sq. is now home to Narrative, a hidden gem of a bookstore? It's proudly immigrant-woman owned and operated and focuses on books by women of color. And it's about to celebrate its first birthday! 🎂 Let's keep them around for many more years.
For the second year in a row, remaking a broken person out of dead crow body parts is sitting at the top of my watchlist for early favorites of the year, only this time the broken person is a lot angrier, and the crows don’t speak in profoundly nonsensical riddles.
TODAY, beloveds!!
FICTION 🖤
"Layla rises like a breath in winter from the hollow beneath the black cottonwoods beside the river, shrugging off the blanket of dirt and leaves and centipedes she slept beneath."
Highway 1, Past Hope by @mariahaskins.com
psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
FICTION 🖤
"Layla rises like a breath in winter from the hollow beneath the black cottonwoods beside the river, shrugging off the blanket of dirt and leaves and centipedes she slept beneath."
Highway 1, Past Hope by @mariahaskins.com
psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
Highway 1, Past Hope - PSYCHOPOMP.COM
SPRING 2025, SHORT STORY, 3400 WORDS Prefer to read this as an EPUB or PDF? Join our Patreon and instantly […]
psychopomp.com
April 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
For the second year in a row, remaking a broken person out of dead crow body parts is sitting at the top of my watchlist for early favorites of the year, only this time the broken person is a lot angrier, and the crows don’t speak in profoundly nonsensical riddles.
I'm going to shout about books I love and let them make thinly veiled political statements about The World.
"Indifference looked like malice to creatures with something to lose." - The Lesson by @cadwellturnbull.bsky.social
"Indifference looked like malice to creatures with something to lose." - The Lesson by @cadwellturnbull.bsky.social
April 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I'm going to shout about books I love and let them make thinly veiled political statements about The World.
"Indifference looked like malice to creatures with something to lose." - The Lesson by @cadwellturnbull.bsky.social
"Indifference looked like malice to creatures with something to lose." - The Lesson by @cadwellturnbull.bsky.social