I adore short story collections and anthologies. Unlike novels, you can dip in and out of a short story collection as you please, read the tales in any order or simply skip to the next story if the current one doesn’t hold your interest. Moreover, nowadays, many short story collections are built around a particular theme or are interlinked (forming a mosaic novel), which makes the reading experience all the more exciting, as the different tales are in constant conversation with each other, offering a variety of perspectives and filled with lil’ Easter eggs.
And while mainstream novels tend to be a bit restrictive, a short story anthology allows the author a greater degree of freedom to experiment with form, genre, word count and more. Thus, it pushes the boundaries of the medium while probing into the depths of the human psyche and the world around us, often emerging with rich insights. Plus, 2026 promises to be a great year for speculative short fiction—and these are some of the upcoming releases we’re most excited about!
Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories
Amal El-Mohtar enchanted readers with the sci-fi novella, This Is How You Lose the Time War (co-written with Max Gladstone) and then again with her lyrical fairytale/murder ballad novella, The River Has Roots. Now she returns with a spellbinding collection, Seasons of Glass and Iron. The stories and poems in here are beautifully crafted, poignant and filled with magic, taking the readers on an unforgettable journey.
The Wildcraft Drones
I’m a bit partial to inter-linked short story collections and mosaic novels, as such books tend to offer the best of both worlds. T.K. Rex’s brilliant debut collection unfolds in a solarpunk future, imagining innovative ways of tackling the climate crisis while delivering stories full of heart. From dolphins to drones, the characters in the book will stay with you, even as they paint a vivid portrait of a sustainable future where nature and humanity can coexist.
I Am the Ghost Here: Stories
Ever since I watched Black Mirror, I’ve been craving intelligent stories that explore the tech dystopia we inhabit. I Am the Ghost Here is one such book that sort of fits the bill, filled with sharply nuanced stories that explore how technology, reality shows and social media have influenced human relationships, for better or worse. Insightful, entertaining and darkly witty, I Am the Ghost Here is a splendid collection.
Python's Kiss: Stories
Louise Erdrich is a marvelous writer, and Python's Kiss is proof of that. This collection spans thirteen stories, each different from the last, and strangely intimate in their own way, filled with endearing characters and punchy twists. While some stories are more hard-hitting than the others, overall, it’s quite the magnificent collection. Tinged with magic realism and spirituality, Python's Kiss is a great place to get started if you’re new to Louise Erdrich’s unique body of work.
The Universe Box
The author of several acclaimed novels, including the rather underrated The Iron Dragon's Daughter, Michael Swanwick returns with another mesmerizing collection, The Universe Box that contains some of his best (older) stories, along with two original pieces. Haunting, clever and achingly vivid, the stories in The Universe Box are utter bangers and will definitely stay with you long after you’re done reading.
If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light
Kim Cho-yeop’s debut collection, If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light was a bestseller in her home country when it was first published, and now finally, the acclaimed book is getting an English translation by Anton Hur. The sci-fi stories in If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light all focus on the struggles faced by women and marginalized groups, and looks to be a thought-provoking and timely read.
Tales from the Territory: A Cosy Collection of Legends & Lattes Short Stories
For a lot of fantasy readers, Legends & Lattes is their go-to comfort read, and it definitely played a monumental in popularizing the cozy fantasy genre.
There’s even more reason for fans to rejoice as later this year, a collection of five short stories by Travis Baldree, set in the same vibrantly cozy world, will be released.
While the hardcover edition will come with illustration, there’s also going to be a special and signed limited-edition of the book by Subterranean Press, with illustrations for each story, accompanied by fine cloth binding—making it a collector’s item!
Rabbit Test and Other Stories
“Rabbit Test” by Samantha Mills (first published in Uncanny Magazine) is a captivating dystopian story that explores the evolution of abortion rights, across the past, present and future, that won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and the Theodore Sturgeon Awards for Best Short Story.
Now, Mills returns with a stunning short story collection that blends genres, and deftly balances humor with tragedy, even as several of the stories engage critically with topical issues. Delightful, subversive and meticulously-crafted, Rabbit Test and Other Stories by Samantha Mills promises to be an enjoyable and insightful read.
The Slantwise Histories: Collected Stories
I’m a huge fan of Alix E. Harrow’s work especially her debut novel, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, and her latest book, The Everlasting, both filed with lyrical, poignant and breathlessly evocative prose. Next up is The Slantwise Histories and Other Stories—a short story collection that collects some of her best tales, previously published in speculative magazines, in a single volume.
In fact, The Everlasting was actually based on a short story that still gives me chills every time I reread it. So, if you love fairytales and wondrously crafted prose, I’m sure you’ll feel at home with the upcoming Alix E. Harrow volume.
