Augur Society | Augur Issue 8.1 is NOW LIVE !

Throwing my hat into the ring for #AugurMicros2025

Here's my short piece titled "Garden"

@augursociety.bsky.social

Words in code IDE esque colors: ThinkBetter-5.0 MCP Beta Release Notes Copyright © 2027 BetterLife Systems, LLC With ThinkBetter-5.0, we are excited to introduce integrated AI-context into the BetterLife BodyWatch™ app suite. This script unlocks core 5.0 functionalities, enabling agentic connectivity to RealRecollections™, BetterBiometrics™, and EasyEMG™. Let me update your packages! Run command? TBCli —trust-experimental-features —use-admin get_latest ↳ [REJECT] [ACCEPT] Reading 09_2027_memo_event.hist... Reading user.ics... I noticed your anniversary is coming up. Let me dive deeper into the context of your relationship... Verifying FamilyHub credentials... Reading Fiona.bl... Great! I found a gift for Fiona. Purchase? “Our Adventures” Personalized Photo Album Christmas Wedding Valentines Gift ↳ [REJECT] [ACCEPT] J. Y. Zhang

it is still sep 30th in some part of the world...right? 🌚
#AugurMicros2025 @augursociety.bsky.social

Citrus & Sky The orange’s mottled skin settles into my left palm, and I lower myself onto my back, the roofing made comfortable by my thick sweater. The usual urban lights dim after sunset to make way for the blaze of the aurora, and I’ve always enjoyed the peaceful quiet of the midnight city. My fingernail digs under the orange’s peel. The soft scent of citrus merges with the chilly breeze. Nico Martinez Nocito

Sharing 'Citrus & Sky', my entry for @augursociety.bsky.social's #AugurMicros2025 contest!

“Our future is death,” claimed the huge banner on the space station’s only mansion. The warmest welcome they could have thought of, surely. A stark contrast with the waiting lounge inside: carpets, flowers, comfort-scented candles. A client gave me a friendly nod. Here for refreshment, going by the pallor of her skin. Deceased in her late twenties, but the necromancy process had gained her some wrinkles. It only worked when you got to this mortuary in time, but it worked. As I stepped into the airtight pod for my application interview, all I could think of was that banner.

"Our Future Is Death", for #AugurMicros2025 @augursociety.bsky.social
CW: death.
#writing #microfiction

“a closed system” (100 words) for @augursociety.bsky.social micro contest. I loved this little challenge.

#AugurMicros2025

What He Fears By J. Emmanuel We took from him the crown that had long been bruising his misshapen head; aided the wind in undraping the robes from his gnarled and twisted body; pulled out from under him the speckled, rotting gold he said was: just a chair. We turned away from the wretched heap, taking only what could be retooled, remade unmeaning. If it is in us to crown kings, it is in us to dethrone them.

When I heard about @augursociety.bsky.social's #AugurMicros2025 contest this was the single idea that floated round my head for the past week or so:

The succubus stood proud as she grinned at her victim who'd summoned her. Smells of sweetness and spice mixed into an intoxicating otherworldly fragrance that said, 'she was here and she was beautiful'. Fangs glistened as she spoke with a purr. "Mortal, why hast thou summoned me onto this plane of existence? What does one wish to do with seduction herself?" "Hi. Can you do my dishes? They're really piling up." The succubus was confused, then angry, then snarled as she disappeared into smoke. The cultist turned from page 103 to page 104. Maybe Grobtok The Defiler did dishes?

#AugurMicros2025
@augursociety.bsky.social

Broken-hearted, we'll make our way down another road. Beneath the hot haze, ancient asphalt heaves; from the cracks, plants coil and snatch. We're looking for another home, again. The children are hungry. One of us must do it. Over their heads, we argue, glances and furious gestures. The winner kneels, elbows lifting like wings. She breaks open her chest, splitting rib and flesh. When, gasping, she yanks it out, it'll be tiny and slick, all protuberant eye, scythe beak. Having granted us this feathered thing, she'll fall as we feast. Our hearts keep breaking, keep beating. [c] TFGrognon 2025

For the microfic call on necessary futures from @augursociety.bsky.social
#AugurMicros2025

w/apologies to E.Dickinson & S.Crane

The microfiction piece "Reprise" appears against a background of a photo looking up a limestone cliff at the trees above. The piece reads: "*Not enough*, we hold, the round hulls of our wings casting oars into the dark, the splash echoing to spill into distant coves. The land will not sustain us; its rocky shores cast a soaring cry over the waves, defiant and daring, but rocks repelling teeth bear little fruit. Our voices swell, songs replete with the ken that magnates always outpace kings: weighing anchor, trading empire, casting out the net. Industry and worship. Reassurance and rapine. One calamitous scramble after another and then: devoured. Reprising, splashing, throats forming the chorus behind bloody teeth. Not enough. Never enough." by Kieren Alderling

For the #AugurMicros2025 contest, some thoughts about the net. @augursociety.bsky.social

Reminder: anyone can found and edit a SFF magazine.

There’s no regulatory body or hoops. You create the position for yourself.

Many of these people are amazing—

But mag Editors are just guys who decided to spend a lot of time on something they love.

Just people.

A photograph of the Publisher of Augur Society. They are sitting down at an event table, smiling and holding Augur Volume 6 in their hands. On the table are more copies of Augur Volume 6, artwork, flowers, teacups, and bookmarks. The photograph is taken by Andrew Keung.

P.S. wanna meet our team or snag some merch? Peep our last post to see where we’ll be tabling next! 👀

A photograph of two women from Augur Society sitting down at an event table, smiling. On the table are more copies of Augur Volume 6, artwork, flowers, teacups, and bookmarks. The photograph is taken by Jeremy Marasigan.

🎊 HUGE thanks to A Momo Room for organizing this event and inviting us to be part of it!

Also, thank you to Jeremy Marasigan and Andrew Keung for capturing these special moments! 📸

A photograph of two women from Augur Society setting up an event table at the Momo Zine Fair. The photograph is taken by Jeremy Marasigan.

Throwing it back to our wonderful time spent at the Momo Zine Fair!

We had such an amazing time tabling at this event! We got to meet so many readers and celebrate the incredible works of independent local zine artists and creators! 📚

We're so excited!!

🖋️ TIFA Small Press Fair
When: Saturday, November 1st from 10-4pm
Where: Victoria College, 73 Queens Park Cres. East, Toronto, ON

🛍️ Indie Lit Market
When: Sunday, November 2nd from 12-5pm
Where: Cecil Community Centre, 58 Cecil St, Toronto, ON

Can't wait to see y'all!

Check out the full event info below!👇

👻 Little Ghosts Festival
When: Sunday, October 5th from 12-5pm
Where: Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON

✨ Can*Con
When: October 17th (5pm-8pm), October 18th (10am-6pm), & October 19th (10am-4pm)
Where: Brookstreet Hotel, 525 Legget Drive, Ottawa, ON

The graphic has a plain beige background. On the left is a long rectangular photograph of Augur issues and purple flowers on top of a table with a pink overlay. At the top of the graphic reads: “autumn events” in dark purple text and below it read: “Meet the augur team + snag print volumes & merch!” in purple text. There are five black lines and in between them are the events. The event information is structured by date, location, and time in purple text. The event information reads: “Little Ghosts Festival is on Sunday, October 5th from 12-5pm at the Tranzac club, 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON. Can*Con is October 17th (5pm-8pm), October 18th (10am-6pm), and October 19th (10am-4pm) at the Bookstreet Hotel, 525 Legget Drive, Ottawa, ON. The TIFA Small Press Fair is on Saturday, November 1st from 10-4pm at Victoria College, 73 Queens Park Cres. East, Toronto, ON. The Indie Lit Market is on Sunday, November 2nd from 12-5pm at the Cecil Community Centre, 58 Cecil St, Toronto, ON. At the bottom of the image is the augur logo in black.

🗓️ Mark your calendars! Come meet the team, snag limited edition print copies, & support our fellow local creatives these upcoming fall events!

HUGE thanks to @littleghostsbooks.bsky.social, @canconsffh.bsky.social, TIFA, Kate Siklosi of Gap Riot Press, & @meetthepresses.bsky.social for inviting us!

I humbly offer the #AugurMicros2025 contest forbidden foraging and blissful reawakening. @augursociety.bsky.social

Sharing to enter @augursociety.bsky.social Microfiction contest.

#AugurMicros2025

#AugurMicros2025
@augursociety.bsky.social

A blonde person in denim overalls sits at a table with a purple tablecloth littered with books and merch featuring augur society

Spending the day tabling for Augur 💜✨ One of my favourite things to do !!

White text on a black background reads: "And they all had a lovely wolf stew for supper." I finished, and smiled at my fellow passengers. Children smiled; adults applauded; I tipped my hat to the group. Sharing stories had long been my passion, and with advent of affordable mass transit, we troubadours had finally made a comeback. Sometimes a few of us would gather, bands with stories and songs or rhymes. Others we wandered solo, but never alone: we gathered up stories and dreams, nightmares and schemes and shared them with all in the smaller worlds we drifted between.

#AugurMicros2025
@augursociety.bsky.social

Crinkled-paper background & story: ... Finds A Way 1839: German apothecary Eduard Simon discovers polystyrene. 1950s: Humanity begins production of history's twelve billion metric tons of plastics. 2016: Scientists identify the first bacterium capable of digesting PET. "Hey Ive, look at this." The other archaeologist ambles over to squat beside Lete. "Whatcha got?" "Thermos. PE. Single-use." Lete smoothes dirt off the chipped, discoloured find to reveal the ancient human-and-wire-basket glyph. "A therm—...psha." Ive snorts. "Every time you think they've reached peak ridiculous." Lete just smirks, then creates scans for the museum before Ideonella superior can finish unmaking the brittle artifact. by Jeannie Marschall #AugurMicros2025

Throwing my coin into the Fountain of Fortune for the #AugurMicros2025

Thank you for hosting, @augursociety.bsky.social!

#sff #writing #scifi #biology #litter #plastic

White text on black background that reads: It started as a grassroots movement— a few people here and there, each with a fire in their hearts towards their neighbor. No matter the creed, the color, the shape, the identity of their fellow man, they all held their highest moral law: “All Deserve Love. All Deserve a Hug.” And thus, with two arms folded unconditionally around humankind, the Society of Cuddles was born.

My entry for #AugurMicros2025! Thank you to @augursociety.bsky.social for the opportunity. :)

There's still one day left to apply to be an Augur editor. Edit for Augur and Tales & Feathers! We'd love to have you join the team. 💜✨

I understand the desire to run solicitation-based magazines. Submissions are exhausting, a core burnout driver.

But without subs-based mags, there’d be no one new to solicit 👀✨

The work doesn’t go away—it is redirected to other editors in the ecosystem, who are critical to finding new writers.

✨ Augur Editor update ✨

The application deadline has been extended to SEPT 26th! 🚨

Don’t miss your chance to apply!

Have you entered your story yet? 👀

We're STILL OPEN to microfiction stories until SEPT 30th‼️

Don't self reject, share your unique work!

Entry for Augur’s Microfiction contest. It reads: The Future As Advertised and tomorrow-and tomorrow-and tomorrow-echoes the jingle inside my head, a broken piece of a message I'll never fully hear. I replay it, over and over again, waiting for the rest. I close my eyes, I try to sleep. "Are you afraid?" A warm susurration, his voice over my head. "I think I am." "This isn't the first time the world ends." and tomorrow—and tomorrow-and tomorrow— The rest never comes. The waiting never ends. So I pick my own path-the sword, the pen, the claws. I sharpen myself. I rip the world in two.

The Future As Advertised
#AugurMicros2025
@augursociety.bsky.social

Memento Mori by Tiff M. Z. Lee The astronaut-artist watches the last star in the universe flicker weakly in the distance. Tears wash over her canvas as she mourns for everything that will never exist again—the lives, the dreams, the love, and the pain. Even her dearest memories have faded over the long years. All is silent apart from the hum of her lone ship. What is there to do now but drift aimlessly in the darkness? She picks up her brush—

My offering for #AugurMicros2025 @augursociety.bsky.social

Theme: the futures we need 🚀💖