Fantasy fiction is known to be chunky due to the amount of worldbuilding and exposition it requires. But it’s also one of the most versatile genres out there, able to fit within the constraints of poetry and short fiction.
While there’s less worldbuilding in fantasy short stories, the little bit you read simultaneously satisfies and leaves you hungering for more. You’ll be chasing that high for days to come.
Fantasy Short Stories
Bite-sized fiction is perfect for the times that you’re either too busy or unmotivated to read longer fiction. Here are a few fantasy short stories to keep you entertained in such circumstances.
1. A Year and a Day in Old Theradane by Scott Lynch
Theradane—home to magic, opportunity, and sanctuary. Here, Amarelle Parathis, one of the greatest thieves in history, has made her home in retirement.
That’s until she accidentally offends the powerful sorceress Ivovandas. Now she and her crew are forced to steal a powerful object from a rival wizard just as dangerous as Ivovandas.
The problem? It’s a city street—hundreds of yards long upon which thousands walk on at any time of the day.
2. Inside Job by Connie Willis
A debunker is looking to expose a TV psychic for the fake that she is. Except, the more he tries the more he thinks that maybe she’s really channeling a dead person’s spirit—specifically that of legendary skeptic H. L. Mencken.
3. As Good As New by Charlie Jane Anders
The world is dead and only one survivor remains. She finds a genie in a bottle and wishes for the world to be reset. Her wish, however, creates unintended, and bizarre consequences.
4. The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson
Wan ShaiLu is a Forger—able to create near-flawless copies of objects. Tricked during a heist, she is arrested and sentenced to death.
However, salvation presents itself in the form of the emperor’s most loyal councilor. In exchange for her freedom, Shai must forge a new soul for the emperor, who has been left brain-dead by an assassination attempt.
5. A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman
When a gristly murder occurs, a man of great deductive skills is called upon by Scotland Yard. He insists on taking along his new roommate, a war veteran, and they are soon embroiled in a case of cosmic horror proportions.
6. The Lees of Laughter’s End by Steven Erikson
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, famed necromancers, head out to the open sea aboard the Suncurl. Unfortunately, a malevolent force awakens within the hold, leading to chaos and peril on board. The crew, along with the necromancers, must contend with the entity and navigate the dangers it brings to the ship.
7. The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link
Genevieve’s eccentric grandma has a peculiar handbag. Within it is an entire world inhabited by faeries—the source of many of her outlandish tales. Things take a turn for the worse when Genevieve’s boyfriend steals it to see if all the stories are true.
8. The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin
A young, homeless man discovers that New York City is a living being with a consciousness. He becomes its midwife, protecting it from malevolent forces as it undergoes a transformative and dangerous birthing process.
9. Some Desperado by Joe Abercrombie
Shy South is on the run from robbing a bank. With her horse dead and a sackload of silver weighing her down, she is forced to make a last stand in a dusty ghost town. Guess they’ll learn just how desperate a woman can be.
10. The Smallest Dragonboy by Anne McCaffrey
Keevan is a boy candidate for the dragon Ramoth’s latest clutch of eggs. He’s shorter than the other candidates, something they seem to delight in pointing out. But when the time comes for the Impression, what transpires will surprise everyone involved.
11. A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez
Pelayo and Elisenda find an old man with wings in their courtyard. A neighbor believes him an angel, despite not fitting the usual image of one: he is frail, dirty, and speaks an incomprehensible language.
As the news of the angel spreads, people flock to the couple’s house. Some are looking for entertainment, while others want to determine if he truly is a celestial being.
12. No Bigger Than My Thumb by Esther M. Friesner
A lord confronts a forest-dwelling woman he raped years ago and whose mother he burned as a witch. Believing himself cursed to have no heirs, he demands the child he is sure she’s hiding from him. But the woman’s not exactly helpless, and a woman’s revenge can be quite nasty.
13. The Woman Who Loved the Moon by Elizabeth A. Lynn
The moon is not just a celestial body, but a personified entity taking the form of a mesmerizing woman. Each month, she descends into a village to dance with a human lover.
Captivated by her, a woman from the village seeks to be with her. However, yearning for the unattainable has its consequences.
What other fantasy short stories do you like? Share them in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
