Short Fiction Database
How To Use This Database:
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We have a series of genre, sub-genre, and queer content tags that you can use to search through the page. To do this, perform the follow:
- 1.) Highlight the word or expression that you want to search
- 2.) IF ON LAPTOP: Click "ctrl" and "F" at the same time.
- 2.) IF ON MOBILE:
- 3.) Congratulations! This is the "find word" feature! You can type in anything you want to search for, and it will highlight all cases of it.
What Defines Short Fiction?
The definitions between these sub-categories varies greatly from genre to genre and from award to award, but we will make it simple. Short fiction is anything that is less than 40,000 words, and further specifications are provided here:
- Flash Fiction: 1000 words or less.
- Short Story: 1001 words to 7,500 words.
- Novelette: 7,501 words and 17,500 words.
- Novella: 17,501 words and 39,999 words.
Search Tags
- Contemporary, Speculative, Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Detective Fiction, Romance, Erotica, Coming-Of-Age, Experimental, Slice-Of-Life, Thriller, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Western
Sub-Genre Tags
This list updates as seen fit! There are an unruly amount of sub-genre tags, so we have the list hidden until you're ready to view them.
- Apocalyptic,
Arthurian Legend,
Bangsian Fantasy,
Bestiary,
Body Horror,
Chivalric Romance,
Climate Fiction,
Comedy Horror,
Contemporary Romance,
Cosmic Horror,
Cozy,
Cyberpunk,
Dark Fantasy,
Dark Science Fantasy,
Dark Science Fiction,
Dragons,
Dying Earth,
Epic fantasy,
Erotic Horror,
Fairytale Retelling,
Fairytale,
Fantasy Romance,
Fantasy Western,
Far-Future,
Gaslamp Fantasy,
Gaslamp Romance,
Ghost Story,
Gothic,
Grimdark,
Grotesquerie,
High Fantasy,
Hopepunk,
Horror Drama,
Isekai,
Jiangshi,
Kaiju,
Latin American Gothic,
Light Fantasy,
Lost World,
Low Fantasy,
Magic School,
Magical Girl,
Magical Realism,
Medium-Future,
Military Fiction,
Monster Erotica,
Monster Romance,
Mythic Fiction,
Near-Future,
Occult Detective Fiction,
Omegaverse,
Paranormal Romance,
Paranormal,
Planetary Romance,
Portal Fantasy,
Post-Apocalyptic,
Progression Fantasy,
Psychological Horror,
Regency Romance,
Religious Horror,
Ruritanian Romance,
Second World,
Shenmo,
Shifter Romance,
Slavic Fantasy,
Slipstream,
Solarpunk,
Southern Gothic,
Space Fantasy,
Space Horror,
Space Marines,
Space Opera,
Steampunk,
Superhero,
Supernatural,
Survival Horror,
Sword and Sorcery,
Tasmanian Gothic,
Techno-Horror,
Time-Travel,
Urban fantasy,
Urban Gothic,
Vampires,
Viking Romance,
Werewolves,
Wuxia,
Zombies
Queer Content Tags
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Queer Themes, Queer Author, Asexual, Demisexual, Polysexual, Polyamory, Oops! All Queers, Two-Spirit, Pansexual, Sapphic, Achillean, Non-Binary, Genderqueer, Genderfluid, Trans Femme, Trans Masculine Transsexual, Intersex, Queerplatonic, Homosexual, Homoromantic, Biromantic, Panromantic, Demiromantic, Aromantic, Neo-Pronouns
Specific Polyamory Tags
To read these, understand that "F" is short for "female", "M" is short for "male", and "X" is short for "non-binary."
Trios: FFF, MMM, FFM, MMF, XXX, XXF, XXM, MMX, XFM, FFX
Quads: 4
Quartets and more: 5+
General Audience
Lantern
Novelette, Standalone
Genre(s): Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Adventure Sub-Genres: Dragons, Werewolves,
Queer Content: Non-Binary, Transgender, Neo-Pronouns, Queer Author
Author: Burgundy Athena Pendragon
Blurb: In this dark high fantasy adventure, a grumpy middle-aged mage is asked by an old friend to take on an Impossible Task for her: finding a cure for her son’s curse when all else have given up. Aiding Devyn on zir quest to cure Lio of his horrifying curse that he acquired by stealing a lindworm’s treasure, is the teenager himself, a family of werewolves, and a mysterious demonic lantern forever bound to zir soul. But as the clock waxes and wanes and Lio’s curse worsens, so do the dangers lurking in the shadows for them. And all of them human.
Content Warnings:
Links, Formats, & Extra Information:
Adult
Dirt-Stained Hands, Thorn-Pierced Skin
Novella, Standalone
Genre(s): Fantasy Sub-Genres: Fairytale Retelling, Cozy
Queer Content: Non-binary, Transgender, Neo-Pronouns, Asexual
Author: Tabitha O'Connell
Blurb: Heron's relationship with Tiel has gone south, but ey can't figure out how to let go. A trip to rescue eir mother from a mysterious, isolated castle becomes a job opportunity, offering em a temporary escape. But while tending the castle's magical garden, ey starts to form a bond with Theomer, its sweet, shy, sole occupant. And resigning emself to unhappiness becomes a lot harder when happiness seems within reach.
Content Warnings:
Links, Formats, & Extra Information:
Structural Integrity
- Structural Integrity (#1)
- Structural Strain (#2)
Novelettes to Novellas, Series (On-Going)
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance Sub-Genres: Cozy
Queer Content: Transgender, Trans Masculine, Asexual, Gay, Queer Author, Oops! All Queers
Author: Tabitha O'Connell
Blurb: Messenger boy Kel never expected to strike up a romance with a government official. But Yaan lacks the self-important snobbery of the others, seeing Kel as more than just a pretty face. Living with him in the city’s plush government complex is everything Kel could want: no more expenses, kitchen workers and resident animals to befriend, and of course seeing Yaan every day. Even if Yaan does spend most of his time working or worrying about work, and seems to have forgotten that they used to have actual conversations. When the city decides to tear down the iconic theater building in Kel’s old neighborhood, Yaan’s indifference toward his pleas to help save it forces Kel to confront his growing unhappiness. In the aftermath, both will have to decide whether their relationship is salvageable.
Books in Series:
Content Warnings:
Links, Formats, & Extra Information:
New Adult
The Company of Cats
Novelette, Standalone
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Fantasy Sub-Genres: Fairytale, Solarpunk
Queer Content: Queer Themes, Queer Author
Author: Savannah Dawn
Blurb: Twenty-one-year-old Lizina Russo is an aspiring internet security specialist in a high-tech world, but trying to code with dyslexia and her mother's ever-increasing demands have her worried that she may never get the job of her dreams. Fortunately, she finds a few fortuitous feline friends who may be able to help.
Content Warnings:
Links, Formats, & Extra Information:
Young Adult
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Middle Grade
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Children's Literature
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Picture Book
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