Short Fiction

by Lawrence Watt-Evans

This is a list of all my known published short fiction, in chronological order of publication. I have not always been careful about record-keeping, so it may not be 100% complete. If you know of any stories I've missed, please e-mail me.

Each title below links to a page where I briefly describe where the story came from, how it came to be written, and where it was published. I've tried to provide some bibliographic data for each story here on this page, but I don't guarantee its completeness or accuracy -- I've caught one instance where I had listed the wrong issue of a magazine, and there may be others. Again, if you find any errors, please e-mail me.

For a very few stories, especially the most recent ones and those written under names other than Lawrence Watt-Evans, the individual pages may not be done yet, and if you follow the link for one of those you'll only find a placeholder. I'll be replacing these with the real thing when I find the time.

Some, but by no means all, of my stories are available in single-author collections; the images at the right link to pages about those. They're all in print. I've also issued some stories as mini-ebooks, at 99 cents apiece; those are also listed to the right, below the collections.

For those looking for a specific story by title, rather than date, I've added an alphabetical list. If you're looking for a particular genre, then check out my color-coded list.

In order of publication:

"Paranoid Fantasy #1"

"The Temple of Life"

"Minus Two Reaction" (my title: "One Night At A Local Bar")

"The Rune and the Dragon"

"Why I Left Harry's All-Night Hamburgers"

"An Infinity of Karen"

"Dead Things Don't Move"

"In League with the Freeway"

"Real Time"

"Windwagon Smith and the Martians"

  • WINNER: Asimov's Readers' Award, best short story of 1989

    "The Palace of al-Tir al-Abtan"

    • Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine, Fall 1989
    • Crosstime Traffic, Del Rey Books, November 1992
    • The Best of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine, Warner Books, November 1994

    "After the Dragon Is Dead"

    • Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine #9, Summer 1990
    • Crosstime Traffic, Del Rey Books, November 1992

    "One-Shot"

    • Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, January 1991
    • Futurecrime, edited by Cynthia Manson & Charles Ardai, Donald I. Fine, January 1992
    • Crosstime Traffic, Del Rey Books, November 1992

    "Science Fiction"

    "Playing for Keeps"

    • Weird Tales #300, Winter 1991
    • 100 Fiendish Little Frightmares, edited by Stefan Dziemianowicz, Robert Weinberg, & Martin H. Greenberg, Barnes & Noble Books, 1997
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "Targets"

    "The Ghost Taker"

    "Watching New York Melt" (collaboration with Julie Evans)

    "Keep the Faith"

    • Isaac's Universe Vol. 2: Phases in Chaos, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, Avon Books, July 1991
    • Italian translation, Le fasi del caos, Mondadori Editore, 1993 ("Affari di fede")
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "A Flying Saucer With Minnesota Plates"

    "The Name of Fear"

    • The Ultimate Dracula, Dell/SFBC, October 1991
    • Italian translation, Il ritorno di Dracula, Mondadori Editore, 1992 ("Il Nome della paura")
    • Japanese translation, The Ultimate Dracula Vol. 2, Ta-Ke Shobo Publishing Co. Ltd.
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Portrait of A Hero" (an Ethshar story)

    • Once Upon A Time, Del Rey Books, Fall, 1991
    • Italian translation, Magicland: Storie di fate, principi e folletti dei maestri della Fantasy, Mondadori Editore, 1993 ("Ritratto di un eroe")
    • Tales of Ethshar, Wildside Press, March 2012

    "The Drifter"

    "Parade"

    "New Worlds"

    • Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction, December 1991
    • Crosstime Traffic, Del Rey Books, November 1992

    "Richie"

    • Vampires, edited by Jane Yolen and Martin H. Greenberg, HarperCollins, 1991 ISBN 0-06-026800-X $14.95; paperback release, 1993, HarperTrophy, ISBN 0-06-440485-4, $3.95
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Storm Trooper"

    • Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction, January 1992
    • Crosstime Traffic, Del Rey Books, November 1992
    • German translation, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazin, 40.Folge, 1992

    "Natural Selection"

    • Amazing Stories, January 1992

    "Short Lines"

    • Chattacon XVII Program Book, Jan. 1992

    "Truth, Justice, and the American Way"

    • Alternate Presidents, edited by Mike Resnick, Tor Books, February 1992; Science Fiction Book Club, February 1992
    • Crosstime Traffic, Del Rey Books, November 1992

    "Pickman's Modem"

    • Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction, February 1992
    • Isaac Asimov's SF Lite, edited by Gardner Dozois, Ace Books, March 1993
    • Cthulhu 2000, edited by Jim Turner, Arkham House, October 1993; Del Rey, June 1999
    • Italian translation, Lovecraft 2000, Sperling & Kupfer, 1999 ("Il Modem di Pickman")
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "Tomorrow Never Knows"

    "One Man's Meat"

    • Isaac's Universe Vol. 3: Unnatural Diplomacy, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, Avon Books, July 1992
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "Stab"

    "Efficiency"

    • Midnight Zoo, Vol. 2 No. 2
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Corners in Time"

    • Further South on Peachtree, Atlanta in '95 bidzine, Vol. 2 No. 4, July 1992

    "Fragments,"

    "Tulki's Revenge"

    • Tales of Talislanta, Wizards of the Coast, July 1992

    "Foxy Lady"

    • Zoomorphica #1, Summer 1992
    • Best in Show, edited by Fred Patten, Sofawolf Press, July 2003

    "When Hell Froze Over"

    "Spirit Dump"

    • The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 1992
    • Italian translation, Millemondinverno 1994, Mondadori Editore, 1994 ("La discarica dello spirito")

    "The Final Folly of Captain Dancy,"

    "Visions"

    • Grails: Quests, Visitations, and Other Occurrences, edited by Richard Gilliam, Martin H. Greenberg, & Edward Kramer, Unnameable Press, October 1992
    • Grails: Quests of the Dawn, edited by by Richard Gilliam, Martin H. Greenberg, & Edward Kramer, Roc, March 1994
    • Italian translation, Graal: La Ricerca dell'Alba, Salani, 1997 ("Visioni")
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "Unicornucopia"

    "Monster Kidnaps Girl At Mad Scientist's Command!"

    "The Frog Wizard"

    "The Great Ritual"

    "The Murderer"

    "Mastermind of Oz" (collaboration with B.W. Clough)

    • Amazing Stories, April 1993

    "Blood Feud"

    • Cemetery Dance, Spring 1993
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Old Soldiers"

    • Quest to Riverworld, edited by Philip Jose Farmer (Richard Gilliam, Philip Jose Farmer, & Martin H. Greenberg), Warner Books, August 1993

    "Beneath the Tarmac"

    • Deathport, edited by Ramsey Campbell & Martin H. Greenberg, Pocket Books, September 1993
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "Larger Than Life"

    "Just Perfect"

    "A Public Hanging"

    "The Worst Part"

    • Phobias, edited by Wendy Webb, Richard Gilliam, Ed Kramer, & Martin H. Greenberg, Pocket Books, January 1994
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "How I Maybe Saved the World Last Tuesday Before Breakfast"

    • Bruce Coville's Book of Aliens, edited by Bruce Coville, Scholastic Books, February 1994
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "The Art of Dying"

    • The Beast Within, edited by Stewart Wieck, White Wolf, April 1994
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "The Bride of Bigfoot"

    • Alien Pregnant By Elvis!, edited by Esther Friesner, DAW Books, June 1994

    "Ghost Stories"

    • Bruce Coville's Book of Ghosts edited by Bruce Coville, Scholastic Books, September 1994

    "For Value Received"

    "Dead Babies"

    • South from Midnight, October 1994
    • The Best New Horror, Volume Six, edited by Stephen Jones, Carroll & Graf, 1995
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "Cool"

    • The Ultimate Spider-Man, Byron Preiss Multimedia; trade paperback, December 1994; Boulevard Books, February 1996

    "One of the Boys"

    • Superheroes, edited by John Varley & Ricia Mainhardt, Ace Books, January 1995
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "Worthy of His Hire"

    • 100 Vicious Little Vampire Stories, edited by Stefan Dziemianowicz, Robert Weinberg, and Martin H. Greenberg, Barnes & Noble, 1995
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Dread Vengeance"

    • Science Fiction Age, January 1995

    "The Cat Came Back"

    • Bruce Coville's Book of Nightmares, edited by Bruce Coville, Scholastic Books, February 1995
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "Teaching Machines,"

    "Revised Edition"

    • Amazing Stories: The Anthology, edited by Kim Mohan, May 1995
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "The Bogle in the Basement"

    • Orphans of the Night, edited by Josepha Sherman, Walker Books, May 1995

    "The Final Challenge"

    • The Book of Kings, edited by Richard Gilliam and Martin Greenberg, Roc, July 1995

    "Impostor Syndrome"

    • More Phobias, edited by Wendy Webb, Richard Gilliam, Ed Kramer, & Martin H. Greenberg, Pocket Books, July 1995
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "Mehitabel Goodwin"

    • Ancient Enchantresses, edited by Richard Gilliam, Kathleen Massie-Ferch, and Martin H. Greenberg, DAW Books, August 1995

    "Hearts and Flowers"

    "Back to the Land"

    "The Guardswoman" (an Ethshar story)

    • Chicks in Chainmail, edited by Esther Friesner, Baen Books, September 1995; Science Fiction Book Club, 1995
    • Chicks Ahoy!, edited by Esther Friesner (omnibus); Baen Books, December 2010
    • Tales of Ethshar, Wildside Press, March 2012

    "Choice"

    • How to Save the World, edited by Charles Sheffield, Tor Books, September 1995
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "My Mother and I Go Shopping"

    "Mittens and Hotfoot" (as Walter Vance Awsten)

    • Adventures into the Twilight Zone, edited by Carol Serling; DAW Books, September 1995

    "The Pick-Up"

    • The Ultimate Alien, Dell Books, October 1995
    • Japanese translation, Hayakawa's SF 5/97, No. 491
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Celestial Debris"

    • A Starfarer's Dozen, Michael Stearns, ed., Jane Yolen Books, Harcourt Brace, October 1995
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "Sirinita's Dragon" (an Ethshar story)

    "Eye of the Beholder"

    • City of Darkness: Unseen, edited by Stewart Wieck, White Wolf, December 1995
    • Book of the Kindred, edited by Mark Rein-Hagen, White Wolf, 1998
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Out of the Woods"

    • Enchanted Forests, edited by Katharine Kerr and Martin H. Greenberg, DAW Books, December 1995

    "Something to Grin About"

    • Fantastic Alice, edited by Margaret Weis & Martin H. Greenberg, Ace Books, December 1995

    "The Garrison"

    • Castle Fantastic, edited by John DeChancie and Martin H. Greenberg, DAW Books, March 1996
    • Celestial Debris, FoxAcre, 2002

    "Horsing Around"

    • Bruce Coville's Book of Magic, edited by Bruce Coville, Scholastic Books, May 1996

    "Beth's Unicorn"

    • Realms of Fantasy, June 1996

    "The Bloodstone" (an Ethshar story)

    "George Pinkerton and the Bloodsucking Fiend of Brokentree Swamp"

    • Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters II, edited by Bruce Coville, Scholastic Books, August 1996
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "What the Cat Dragged In"

    • A Nightmare's Dozen, edited by Michael Stearns, Harcourt Brace, 1996 ; Laurel Leaf Books, October 1999
    • Danish translation
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "George Pinkerton and the Space Waffles"

    • Bruce Coville's Book of Aliens II, edited by Bruce Coville, Scholastic Books, November 1996

    "George Pinkerton and the Bedtime Ghost" (collaboration with Julie Evans)

    • Bruce Coville's Book of Ghosts II, edited by Bruce Coville, Scholastic Books, January 1997

    "Sit!"

    • Urban Nightmares, edited by Josepha Sherman and Keith R.A. DeCandido, Baen Books, November 1997

    "Grandpa's Head"

    • Robert Bloch's Psychos, edited by Robert Bloch, Pocket Books, January 1998; a limited edition was published by CD Publications
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016
    • Italian translation, Psychos, Sperling & Kupfer, 1998 ("La testa di nonno")

    "Keeping Up Appearances"

    • Did You Say Chicks?!, edited by Esther Friesner, Baen Books, February 1998
    • Chicks Ahoy!, edited by Esther Friesner (omnibus); Baen Books, December 2010

    "Oh, Sweet Goodnight!" with Christina Briley, as Walter Vance Awsten

    • Did You Say Chicks?!, edited by Esther Friesner, Baen Books, February 1998
    • Chicks Ahoy!, edited by Esther Friesner (omnibus); Baen Books, December 2010

    "In Re: Nephelegeretes"

    • Olympus, edited by Bruce Arthurs, DAW Books, March 1998

    "Upstairs"

    • Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, edited by Stefan Dziemianowicz, Robert Weinberg, and Martin H. Greenberg, Barnes & Noble, 1998
    • The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, Volume Ten, edited by Stephen Jones, published in Britain by Robinson, in the U.S. by Carroll and Graf, 1999
    • Hazmat & Other Toxic Stories, Misenchanted Press, May 2016

    "The Sidekick"

    "Ingredients" (an Ethshar story)

    • Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Worlds, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Rachel Holmen, published in a 300-copy limited hardcover edition, 1998; trade paperback, 2012.
    • Tales of Ethshar, Wildside Press, March 2012

    "Remembrance of Things to Come"

    "The Pimp"

    • Weird Tales #315, Spring 1999
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Chaperone"

    • Prom Night, edited by Nancy Springer, DAW Books, May 1999

    "In for A Pound"

    • Chicks 'n' Chained Males, edited by Esther Friesner, Baen Books, May 1999
    • Chicks Ahoy!, edited by Esther Friesner (omnibus); Baen Books, December 2010

    "Weaving Spells" (an Ethshar story)

    "Trixie"

    • CatFantastic 5, edited by Andre Norton and Martin H. Greenberg, DAW Books, August 1999

    "He's Only Human" (based on an idea by Dan Goodman)

    • Science Fiction Age, September 1999

    "Throwback"

    • Alien Abductions, edited by John Helfers, DAW Books, October 1999

    "I Was A Bestselling Teenage Werewolf"

    • Bruce Coville's Shapeshifters, Avon Camelot, October 1999
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "Night Flight" (an Ethshar story)

    "The Note Beside the Body"

    • Dreams of Decadence #11, Summer 2000
    • The Best of Dreams of Decadence, edited by Angela Kessler, Roc, March 2003
    • In the Blood, Misenchanted Press, August 2011

    "The Man Who Loved Dragons"

    • Crosstime Traffic second edition, FoxAcre Press, 2000 (not in previous editions)

    "The Last Bastion"

    • Far Frontiers, edited by Martin H. Greenberg & Larry Segriff, DAW Books, September 2000

    "Heart of Stone"

    "That Doggone Vnorpt" (as Nathan Archer)

    • Guardsmen of Tomorrow, edited by Martin H. Greenberg & Larry Segriff, DAW Books, November 2000

    "The Man for the Job"

    • Realms of Fantasy, December 2000

    "Advance Man"

    • Neverworlds, April 2001? (Publication not confirmed.)

    "Arms and the Woman"

    • Sword and Sorceress XVIII, edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley, DAW Books, May 2001

    "One Million Lightbulbs"

    "Volunteers"

    • 3SF No. 1, October 2002

    "Contraband" (as Nathan Archer)

    • Low Port, edited by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Meisha Merlin, September 2003

    "Dropping Hints"

    • Murder by Magic, edited by Rosemary Edghill, Warner Aspect, October 2004

    "Return to Xanadu"

    • The Enchanter Completed, edited by Harry Turtledove, Baen Books, April 2005

    "The God in Red"

    "Jim Tuckerman's Angel"

    "The Warlock's Refuge"

    "The Unwanted Wardrobe" (An April Fool's joke, not an actual story.)

    "Best Present Ever!"

    "Hell for Leather"

    "Tentacular"

    • Written for GISHWHES 2014

    "Nif's World"

    • The 10th Science Fiction Megapack, Wildside Press, August 2015
    • Science Fiction for the Throne: One-Sitting Reads, edited by Tom Easton and Judith K. Dial, Fantastic Books, July 2017

    "The Abduction of Ebenezer Scrooge"

    • First published in chapbook form as our family holiday card, December 2015
    • free e-book, Smashwords, December 2015

    "Hazmat"

    "Slash"

    "The Lady of Shadow Guard" (A Jack of Shadows story)

    • Shadows and Reflections, edited by Trent Zelazny and Warren Lapine, Positronic Publishing, July 2017

    "An Evil Opportunity Employer"

    • Unidentified Funny Objects 6, edited by Alex Shvartsman, UFO Publishing, October 2017

    "Sorcery of the Heart"

    • Lace and Blade 4, edited by Deborah J. Ross, Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust, February 2018

    "The Prisoner of Shalott"

    • By the Light of Camelot, edited by J.R. Campbell & Shannon Allen, EDGE Science Fiction, August 2018

    "Harry's Toaster"

    • Amazing Stories, Fall 2018

    "Valedictory"

    • Release the Virgins, edited by Michael A. Ventrella, Fantastic Books, January 2019

    "An Interrupted Betrothal"

    • Lace and Blade 5, edited by Deborah J. Ross, Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust, February 2019

    "How I Found Harry's All-Night Hamburgers"

    • Asimov's Science Fiction, March/April 2019

    "Personal Space"

    • Asimov's Science Fiction, October 2019

    "The Night People"

    • Amazing Stories, Fall 2019

    "Paul is Dead"

    • Across the Universe: Tales of Alternative Beatles, edited by Michael A. Ventrella and Randee Dawn, Fantasic Books, December 2019

    "The Jurors"

    • Three Time Travelers Walk Into..., edited by Michael A. Ventrella, Fantastic Books, June 2022

    "The House of the Spider"

    • Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2022, edited by Robert Greenberger, Crazy 8 Press, February 2023

    "The Girl Who Couldn't Fly"

    "Three Days Late for the Hanging"

    --------------------------------------

    That's it; here's your list of handy exits:

    The Misenchanted Page
    Front Page | Main Site | E-mail me!