The Week in Review • 31 March 2024

Welcome to The Week in Review, a weekly round-up for those too busy to follow Stupefying Stories on a daily basis. We’ve had an insanely busy past seven days, between the releases last week of THE PRINCESS SCOUT and EMERALD OF EARTH and the deluge of last-minute submissions that have been coming in this week as people are rushing to beat tonight’s submission cutoff. We expect...

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“Feedback” • by Guy Stewart

A couple days after I subbed my story to the editor/staff of STUPENDOUS EPICS OF FANTASY, HORROR, AND SCIENTIFIC ROMANCE, they texted me: Interesting story. You’ll be disappointed to know that the new version of InterOffice Works ran an assessment of your story. Call or email ASAP. ~BE I wasn’t sure who BE was, so I went to the site and found it was the Associate Editor;...

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“You’re Not Alone” • by Mark Szasz

“We are not your family,” Snarrflat of planet Gettzu told the earthling young. “We have usurped these ones’ places as part of our plot to take over your world!” In the kitchen, the intrusion-force-cum-faux-cosmic-family milled. These doppelganger Kerrigans were still getting used to their human camouflage, bulging where they should be concave, orifices opening willy-nilly...

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“Rookie Mistake” • by Gregg Chamberlain

 Behind him the despairing wails of the coven filled Jeff’s ears. Followed by the crunching of bone.Jeff stared horrorstruck at the empty bottle of virgin’s blood in his hand. His eyes scanned the now-very-obvious fine print at the bottom of the label.Warning: May contain impurities. Consult your cantrip guide before using.There was a sharp-nailed tap on his shoulder....

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The Never-ending FAQ: Get Rich Quick Writing Big Hit Bestsellers!

Welcome to this week’s installment of The Never-ending FAQ, the constantly evolving adjunct to our Submission Guidelines. If you have a question you’d like to ask about Stupefying Stories or Rampant Loon Press, feel free to post it as a comment here or to email it to our submissions address. I can’t guarantee we’ll post a public answer, but can promise every question we...

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“Pink Marble” • by Zoe Kaplan

The Queen had turned to stone.No one could explain how or why. The greatest magicians, scientists, and alchemists in the country had tried and failed to determine the cause. They had prayed over her, enchanted her, applied potions and chemicals and fairy dust to her skin, chipped off bits of her robe and fingernails and sent them back for genetic testing. Nothing in their...

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“Magic Word” • by Greg Schwartz

Raif bounced from foot to foot. He was finally becoming a wizard! Well, an apprentice at least. But today he could pick his magic word, the one that he’d use for the rest of his life. The one he’d use to summon dragons, and rain down fireballs, and—“Next!” the old, wrinkled mage shouted.Raif stepped forward, beaming. The mage glared at him impatiently, quill in hand.Raif...

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The Week in Review • 24 March 2024

Welcome to The Week in Review, a weekly summary for those too busy to follow Stupefying Stories on a daily basis. It’s been a ridiculously busy week here at Rampant Loon Press, so let’s just get straight to the stories.“Broken” • by Karin TerebessySometimes we can’t really describe a story, we can only say, this one is important. You should read it.Published: 18 March 2024“Poisoned...

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Six Questions for… Matthew Castleman

Matthew Castleman is a New York-raised, Washington DC-based stage actor, writer, and theater educator with a strong penchant for Shakespeare and swords. He’s penned the Clone Chronicles middle-grade series under the name M. E. Castle and short fiction under his own name for Daily Science Fiction, Andromeda Spaceways, Fireside Quarterly, Old Moon Quarterly, and of course,...

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“Upper Beta Great Alcove Very Happy” • by Ron Fein

Marco and Rada were hunched over the computer in the family room when the message arrived from their son, Nate: “Upper Beta. With a great alcove. Very happy.”  They exhaled with relief. Nate had received his berth at the international base on Jupiter’s moon Callisto.  “He wanted the Beta habitat,” said Rada. “He thinks it’s better than Alpha.” “And he must prefer...

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WHAT, *ANOTHER* NEW BOOK RELEASE?!

All we were trying to do was push this book out a little early, so that Guy Stewart could have copies in-hand when he showed up at Minicon 57 next weekend. » Click anywhere on the above image to go to the list of links. This was quite possibly the fastest book launch we’re ever done. The Kindle edition went live in less than an hour. The Nook, Apple Books, and Smashwords...

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