Hey y’all!
If you’ve been following this blog you probably know exactly what this is.
At the start of every year, I make a list to highlight the African speculative fiction short stories I read and enjoyed the most from the previous year.
This year, again, the list appears not on this blog but returns to the pages of Reactor (formerly Tor.com), who have graciously agreed to keep hosting this series. I intend to keep doing this for as long as I am able and I hope they keep hosting it too. So here we go…
Another year has come and gone and with it, lots of good stories, despite the increasingly strange madness of the world at large. I spent most of my literary year writing my forthcoming novel The Fist of Memory, and attending book conventions/festivals but I still managed to find time to read because it’s my way of filling up the well, of recharging my own mind. And honestly, I love stories. Especially short fiction—these little literary tapas of concept, character and style that nourish me when I’m not quite up for the full meal of a novel. And naturally, a significant chunk of my reading is by my fellow African authors. Which is why every year since 2015, I have published a list of the African speculative short fiction that I read and enjoyed most. I do this to spotlight the stories I found propulsive, fascinating, compelling, interesting and wanted to let others know about too since African speculative fiction gems can sometimes fly under the radar or appear in unexpected venues. Plus, it’s always fun making these lists (you can find all the lists for previous years here.)
So, without further ado, here are ten or so of the best African speculative short fiction stories from 2025, in no particular order…
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE FULL LIST OF MY FAVORITE SHORT SFF FROM 2025.
Wole Talabi 