FREE STORIES

Here’s a selection of my short fiction that is available to read or listen to for free. I also have a Patreon page where there are more stories to read, including some exclusive to Patrons, that’s definitely worth a few bucks.

(Please note, as with all content on this site, all these items are (c) Copyright Alan Baxter. No reproduction is allowed without written permission from the author.)

PODCASTS

I’m a huge fan of short fiction podcasts. They’re an excellent way to enjoy stories, and I regularly listen to several different audio magazines, usually while driving or mowing the grass. Below is a link to my stories in podcast form. (And don’t forget, a number of my novels are available as audiobooks.)

My short fiction in podcast form:

EXQUISITE

Originally published in my second collection, SERVED COLD, this dark and disturbing yarn is brought to wicked life by the team at Pseudopod, superbly narrated by Dan Rabarts.

MISERY MOST DELICIOUS

Originally self-published on my website on the 6th August, 2010 as part of the Friday Flash series. The story is very short (being flash fiction, that’s no surprise) but it’s properly cynical. This is a superb full audio production from Planet Raconteur.

MEPHISTO

Originally published at Daily Science Fiction on the 23rd June, 2014 and a finalist in the 2014 Australian Shadows Awards for Best Short Story, which is always a thrill. The story is very short, but it’s powerful, and I wrote it before I had a son. This is a superb full audio production from Planet Raconteur.

BODIES OF EVIDENCE

From the In Your Face anthology published last year by Fablecroft, edited by Tehani Croft. One of my rarer forays into science-fiction, this one a cyberpunk exploration of disability and body modification. Podcast at Starship Sofa, narrated by Jon Padgett.

PUNISHMENT OF THE SUN

My only (so far) vampire story, which was published in the Dead Red Heart anthology from Ticonderoga Publications in 2011. It also got an Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror of the Year #4 (Night Shade Books 2012) and was on the Recommended Reading List, Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror, 2011 (ed. Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene, Ticonderoga Publications). Now podcast by those wonderful folk at Tales To Terrify and read by Ashley Storrie.

MIRRORWALK

A story about the dangers of using magic you don’t understand. Originally published in Murky Depths#16, now podcast by Tales To Terrify, wonderfully read by Matt Cowens.

BURNING, ALWAYS BURNING

A twisty, weird story I co-wrote with Felicity Dowker for the Damnation & Dames anthology, podcast by those wonderful people at Tales To Terrify, read by Dan Rabarts. The story required the coining of the term “paranoirmal”. The anthology is great, available from Ticonderoga Publications here. You can find the podcast here:

DREAM SHADOW
A very Australian horror story about a young man who buys a new house on some less that vacant land. Originally published in the anthology Winds of Change from CSFG Publishing. Podcast by Tales To Terrify and narrated by Graeme Dunlop.

UNEXPECTED LAUNCH
A deep space story featuring a couple of hapless starship cleaners having a very bad day. Originally published in the anthology Anywhere But Earth, from Coeur De Lion Publications (ed. Keith Stevenson), it’s podcast here by Starship Sofa, narrated by Nikolle Doolin.

NOT THE WORST OF SINS
A weird western ghost story about a young man on a quest for vengeance, that might be more complicated than he realises. Originally published at Beneath Ceaseless Skies, it’s podcast here by Tales To Terrify, narrated by Stephen Kilpatrick.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
A young priest in an outback Australian town is perhaps not as holy as he appears in this story originally published by Dark Prints Press in the anthology, The One That Got Away. This podcast is by those great people at Crime City Central, read by Bob Neufeld.

THE SEVEN GARAGES OF KEVIN SIMPSON
A young woman discovers after her father’s death that the old man owned seven garages the family knew nothing about. On investigating these strange holdings, the woman and her husband uncover even stranger activities. This story was a podcast original at my favourite of all audio magazines, Pseudopod, so I’m very happy to have a story with them. It was released in episode 242, read by Graeme Dunlop.

DECLAN’S PLAN
In a post-apocalyptic Australian outback, a man, a dog and a mysterious piece of alien technology are wandering the desert. Anyone else would destroy the tech and eat the dog, but Declan has a plan. This story was co-winner of the 2011 Wily Writers Short Story contest and is published and podcast by them. The link above leads directly to the site where you can read the story or download the podcast. I’d highly recommend the podcast as the voice actor, Philip Pickard, does a wonderful job.

CROSSFIRE
A short story published in Volume 1, Issue 4 of The Oddville Press that the editor called “an existential delight”. A bit more light hearted than my usual fare. I was invited to read this story for the Outlandish Voices podcast, which is where this link will take you.

STAND OFF
A short story featuring Isiah, the powerful immortal protagonist in my novels RealmShift and MageSign, doing the dirty work of the Balance once again. An abridged version of this story was published in the Infinitas newsletter many moons ago. The full version was then published and podcast by Wily Writers. Follow the link above to read either the text version or have someone read it to you as a podcast (it’s 24 minutes long).