Cast of Wonders

Cast of Wonders is the leading voice in young adult speculative short fiction. Every week we present short stories from some of today’s best genre fiction writers, featuring everything from hard science fiction, to urban fantasy, horror, steampunk, superheroes and more. Our stories are defined by their deep emotional resonance and that critical spark of wonder.

Cast of Wonders 662: It Grows Back

Author : Grant Collier Narrator : Wilson Fowlie Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 662: It Grows Back is a Cast of Wonders original. Broken bones, body horror, monster under the bed. Artwork adapted from an image by Nick Magwood from Pixabay It Grows Back by Grant Collier When […] Source

10-31
29:35

Cast of Wonders 661: Bloom Like Roses, Wild And Thorned

Author : Jessica Lévai Narrator : Katrin Kania Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Andrew Jack Cast of Wonders 661: Bloom Like Roses, Wild And Thorned is a Cast of Wonders original. CW: abusive relationships, themes of domestic violence Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay Bloom Like Roses, Wild and Thorned by Jessica Lévai Perhaps […] Source

10-29
01:02:03

Cast of Wonders 660: For Future Generations

Author : Rachel Gutin Narrator : Victoria Marklew Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter First published in Khōréō, May 2021 For Future Generations by Rachel Gutin Of all the Jewish holidays, Sukkot was the hardest to celebrate in space. Rabbi Greenberg had been a young child when her family boarded the generation […] Source

10-25
31:48

Cast of Wonders 659: The Archive of Unnamed Joy

Author : Bella Chacha Narrator : Opie Ogundiran Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 659: The Archive of Unnamed Joy is a Cast of Wonders original. CW: dystopia, authoritarianism, brainwashing The Archive of Unnamed Joy by Bella Chacha On the day my best friend forgot how to laugh, the […] Source

10-24
42:43

Cast of Wonders 658: Your Hold is Ready

Author : Laura Duerr Narrator : Dani Cutler Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 658: Your Hold is Ready is a Cast of Wonders original. homophobia, censorship, fascist dystopia Your Hold Is Ready by Laura Duerr The news is spreading. We try to keep working through our English tests, […] Source

10-08
16:41

Cast of Wonders 657: Plutopalooza

Author : Gretchen Tessmer Narrator : Emma Osborne Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter First published in Nature Futures, 13 March 2024 End of the world Plutopalooza by Gretchen Tessmer Tess and Gemma have been camped out on their tartan picnic blanket for days already and they plan on staying until the […] Source

10-07
14:27

Cast of Wonders 656: Unconventionally Bound

Author : Açaí Sparrow Narrator : Karen Bovenmyer Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 656: Unconventionally Bound is a Cast of Wonders original. Aftermath of a fire Unconventionally Bound by Açai Sparrow With ash-stained gloves, I ease another book free of the charred shelf. Deckle sneezes at the burnt […] Source

10-06
15:28

Cast of Wonders 655: The Carmel B Crazies

Author : Rick Kennett Narrator : Marguerite Kenner Host : Amy Brennan Audio Producers : Graeme Dunlop and Jeremy Carter Image by Christopher Keough from Pixabay The Carmel B Crazies by Rick Kennet On the day she turned seventeen Cy De Gerch peered through a window into rusty red desert and saw her future squatting […] Source

10-05
28:51

Cast of Wonders 654: Life According to Tabeeb

Author : Ramez Yoakeim Narrator : Loulou Szal Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Image by efes from Pixabay This story was first published in Learning to Be Human by Flame Tree Press in February 2024. Life According to Tabeeb by Ramez Yoakeim It may take a decade or longer to train […] Source

10-05
35:23

Cast of Wonders 653: Life and Death and Love in the Bayou

Author : Stephannie Tallent Narrator : Katie Gill Host : Denise Sudell Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter First published in Writers and Illustrators of the Future Vol 40, April 2024 Domestic Violence. Mention of past attempted rape. Life and Death and Love in the Bayou by Stephannie Tallent It was the February the rain fell […] Source

09-20
32:09

Cast of Wonder 652: Habitat

Author : Juliette Beauchamp Narrator : Alexis Goble Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonder 652: Habitat is a Cast of Wonders original. spider-like creatures Habitat by Juliette Beauchamp The orb appeared on a Friday. Just popped up in the northeast corner of the horse pasture, out where the grass […] Source

09-16
34:07

Cast of Wonders 651: The Liar

Author : Darcie Little Badger Narrator : Amy H. Sturgis Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Image by Emilia from Pixabay First published in The Book of Witches (edited by Jonathan Strahan, August 1 2023, Harper Voyager) swearing, assault, murder The Liar by Darcie Little Badger The Mysterious Woman Jodie sat in […] Source

09-14
53:42

Cast of Wonders 650: Witches Racing Cars

Author : Nadav Schul-Kutas Narrator : Alicia Atkins Host : Alicia Caporaso Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 650: Witches Racing Cars is a Cast of Wonders original. Image adapted from a photo by JAMES OKAJA from Pixabay Witches Racing Cars by Nadav Schul-Kutas A small crew is waiting at the starting line. […] Source

08-23
28:25

Cast of Wonders 649: Little Wonders 46 – Seize Your Future

Authors : Susan Taitel and Race Harish Narrators : Emily E. Smith and Mofiyinfoluwa Okupe Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 649: Little Wonders 46 – Seize Your Future is a Cast of Wonders original. Abortion themes, loss of agency What the Water Gave Her was first published in […] Source

08-19
18:47

Cast of Wonders 648: Precious Little Things

Author : Adrian Tchaikovsky Narrator : Isaac Harwood Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter First published in Reactor (Tor.com), November 2019 Image by Kirill from Pixabay Precious Little Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky There is a book on the floor of Shelf Hall. Tam walks in its shadow, the spine raised above him […] Source

08-10
48:31

Cast of Wonders 647: What Good Daughters Do

Author : Tia Tashiro Narrator : Lalana Dara Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter First published in Apex Magazine issue 146, October 2024 Image by Pashi from Pixabay Violence, Cannibalism. Death of a parent. Death of a bystander. Terminal Illness/Dementia Allegory What Good Daughters Do by Tia Tashiro I’m not expecting it […] Source

08-07
41:03

Cast of Wonders 646: As Brittle as Granite

Author : Matt Tighe Narrator : Dani Daly Host : Amy Brennan Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 646: As Brittle as Granite is a Cast of Wonders original. Death of a parent Image by darrenquigley32 from Pixabay As Brittle as Granite by Matt Tighe Lisa’s father has a crack in his face. […] Source

08-06
18:03

Cast of Wonders 645: Chloe Chew and the Museum of Undead Art

Author : Olivia B. Chan Narrator : S. Qiouyi Lu Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter Cast of Wonders 645: Chloe Chew and the Museum of Undead Art is a Cast of Wonders original. Image by Camila Denleschi from Pixabay Chloe Chew and the Museum of Undead Art by Olivia B. Chan […] Source

07-18
34:02

Cast of Wonders 644: Nonstandard Candles

Author : Yoon Ha Lee Narrator : Katherine Inskip Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter First published in The Sunday Morning Transport, March 6th 2022 Image by ANDRI TEGAR MAHARDIKA from Pixabay Nonstandard Candles by Yoon Ha Lee I didn’t want to travel into the outer darkness, where all the stars were […] Source

07-16
24:11

Cast of Wonders 643: So You Want to Kiss Your Nemesis?

Author : John Wiswell Narrator : Marguerite Kenner Host : Katherine Inskip Audio Producer : Jeremy Carter First published in Lightspeed in April 2023 Image by Bruno from Pixabay   So You Want to Kiss Your Nemesis? by John Wiswell The next girl through the door was Robin’s prototypical customer. She trotted in with her […] Source

06-29
12:14

Looselyinformed

The mispronunciation of the Spanish sprinkled throughout really took me out of the story. I know it seems trivial but coming from a Spanglish speaking household I have a hard time ignoring it. 🫤

06-03 Reply

ipoopstandingup

pronoun garbage is tiresome mental illness, pass

12-26 Reply

ipoopstandingup

stupid trigger warning lol

12-21 Reply

ipoopstandingup

stupid story from an author with mental illness about stupid characters with mental illness

11-28 Reply

ipoopstandingup

garbage

11-13 Reply

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