Flash Fiction Online #151, April 2026

“The Last Eleven Seconds” by David Farrow

“Remembering Dodem Ansibar” by Sam E. Sutin

“For Solomon Fishkowski Who Carved Chess Sets in Siberia” by KD Casey (non-genre, not reviewed)

“Ten and Out” by Myna Chang

“A Bone Deep Ache” by Francesco Levato

“Europan Culture (Seven Theses)” by Meagan Kane

Reviewed by Chuck Rothman

The April Flash Fiction Online starts out with David Farrow’s “The Last Eleven Seconds” describing the thoughts of a spaceship pilot after a missile hits the ship, centered mainly on a lover and the futility of war and hints of a Ray Bradbury story. Interesting conceit as the story counts down the seconds as the life ends.

“Remembering Dodem Ansibar” by Sam E. Sutin is a series of obituaries of the title character, a minor noble who keeps returning from the dead, brought back by his son, a necromancer, in order to spread mayhem. I like the structure of the piece, with many things hinted at between the lines.

Myra Chang’s “Ten and Out” introduces Maggie Magnum, a professional assassin, who has been badly ruined after an attack by her friend and ends up in a tattoo parlor. Assassins get a tattoo before each assignment and she hopes that Harrad, the tattooist can help her without it getting back to the guild. A fast-paced bit of a story with a John Wick vibe in parts.

“A Bone Deep Ache” by Francesco Levato is a post-apocalyptic tale where the young protagonist goes after her father and sister after he takes her away. It does a nice job of portraying the situation and the pain.

The issue finishes with Meagan Kane’s “Europan Culture (Seven Theses),” set on Europa where Conamara sees one of the moon’s creatures. I have to admit that even after multiple passes I could not make any sense of the story. There are too few clues and too much murk to spot what is going on.

Chuck Rothman’s novel The Cadaver Princess is out from Amazing Stories Selects. He’s online at chuckrothman.com.