Flash Fiction Online #156, September 2026
“Welcome, Welcome.” by Daniel Roop
“Guardian of the Thresholds” by Elijah J. Mears
“Ghostwalking” by Jonathon Burgess
“By Candlelight, by Blue Jeans” by Elitsa Dermendzhiyska
“How to Cross a Covered Bridge” by Stewart C Baker
“For the Good of the Engines” by Margaret A. Hanson
“One God Loved Me as I Died” by Hannya Kay
Reviewed by Chuck Rothman
The September issue of Flash Fiction Online is a themed issue on the subject of gods, a theme that certainly piqued my interest.
“Welcome, Welcome” by Daniel Roop is about a girl who, when she is terrified, invokes the God of Moths, and when she finds out the god will help her, calls on other gods whenever she needs help. This leads to a surprising result. I liked the concept and the result is dramatic and interesting.
Elijah J. Mears contributes “Guardian of the Thresholds,” where a small guardian is sent by gods to protect a temple. We slowly discover what the guardian really is. The story is charming, but just attempts to be cute and not a lot more.
“Ghostwalking” is the story of Danu, who, from the start of his life, was drawn to his father’s boots. When his father dies, he inherits them and finds them to be more important to his life than he realized. Jonathon Burgess writes about how they become more than just articles of clothing.
“By Candlelight, by Blue Jeans” by Elitsa Dermendzhiyska is a different perspective. Set in the old Soviet Union, it has a young woman who is disenchanted with her life there. After another of many blackouts, her mother lights a candle and the flame comes to life and brings things from the West that are banned. I found it a strong story showing how people can survive a repressive regime with the help of a little magic.
Stewart C Baker’s “How to Cross a Covered Bridge” is told from the point of view of an old and rickety covered bridge that takes an interest in Violet and her lover. When Violet dies when the timbers collapse, her lover works to repair the bridge and make it a memorial. The story didn’t really engage me.
“For the Good of the Engines” by Margaret A. Hanson is a light story where Gracie, a ship’s engineer is at her first assignment on the Starbound. She had grown up on her family’s small ship, guided by her Nana, who had somewhat unorthodox ideas about how to keep a ship running, and the Starbound was quite more complex than their old ship. But when something goes wrong, Gracie is forced to adapt Nana’s beliefs. Lots of gentle charm here.
Hannya Kay’s “One God Loved Me as I Died” is where the narrator crashes on an asteroid and, while dying, finds she is visited by a god that looks just like her and who must be taught human emotions, including the most important. Given the situation, the story is well done and surprisingly hopeful.
Chuck Rothman’s novel The Cadaver Princess is out from Amazing Stories Selects. He’s online at chuckrothman.com.