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Baffling Magazine

@bafflingmag.bsky.social

Website: www.bafflingmag.com A publication from Neon Hemlock.

371 Followers  |  22 Following  |  6 Posts  |  Joined: 05.08.2023  |  2.412

Latest posts by bafflingmag.bsky.social on Bluesky

Graphic announcing that Baffling Magazine is open to submissions from June 1st to 15th, accepting unthemed submissions and submissions that fit the theme Mecha vs. Kaiju.

Graphic announcing that Baffling Magazine is open to submissions from June 1st to 15th, accepting unthemed submissions and submissions that fit the theme Mecha vs. Kaiju.

Baffling Magazine is open for submissions of queer speculative science fiction and fantasy until June 15th for an upcoming issue on the theme Mecha vs. Kaiju. (Unthemed submissions are also welcome!)

For more info: www.bafflingmag.com/submissions

02.06.2025 17:59 — 👍 59    🔁 46    💬 1    📌 3

Interviewer and interviewee are @bendibarrett.bsky.social and @davorobyov.bsky.social respectively!

20.05.2025 17:12 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Image featuring a quote from Baffling Magazine associate editor D.A. Vorobyov that reads, "The perfect kaiju isn't really about the monster. It's about the consequences."

Image featuring a quote from Baffling Magazine associate editor D.A. Vorobyov that reads, "The perfect kaiju isn't really about the monster. It's about the consequences."

Submissions for Baffling's Mecha vs. Kaiju issue will open on June 1st! Before the day arrives, check out this interview with associate editor D.A. Vorobyov for what he's looking to see in submissions: www.patreon.com/posts/129380...

(The Patreon link is publicly accessible for free!)

20.05.2025 17:02 — 👍 29    🔁 13    💬 2    📌 2
Open to submissions June 1-15.

Baffling.

Unthemed. 
Mecha vs Kaiju.

Open to submissions June 1-15. Baffling. Unthemed. Mecha vs Kaiju.

We'll be open soon for submissions of queer speculative SFF. Stand by for some thoughts on the Mecha vs. Kaiju call by Associate Editor D. A. Vorobyov, who'll be editing this particular theme issue.

More info: www.bafflingmag.com/submissions

19.05.2025 16:08 — 👍 89    🔁 56    💬 1    📌 4
Preview
Notes on Genocidal Interchronological Incursion 57.7.3 (f.k.a. "Friends") — Baffling Magazine by Sam J. Miller “First rule of forgery detection: time is the best investigator.”

“Notes on Genocidal Interchronological Incursion 57.7.3 (f.k.a. ‘Friends’)” by @sentencebender.bsky.social in Baffling Magazine is a delight: www.bafflingmag.com/issue-fiftee...

27.02.2025 15:47 — 👍 4    🔁 2    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
How To Rob A Bullion Van — Baffling Magazine by Plangdi Neple “There are many ways to rob a bullion van, and I’ll tell them to you.”

How to Rob a Bullion Van, by Plangsi Neple in Baffling Magazine. I love a good epistolary story, especially when it's also got magic. Vivid and perfectly paced.
www.bafflingmag.com/issue-ninete...

02.05.2025 02:38 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Ron, Howard — Baffling Magazine by Cindy Phan “When people called Ron’s goldfish ugly, he took it very personally.”

Ron, Howard, by Cindy Phan in Baffling Magazine. Very sweet - a man realizes he looks like his fish. Hard to describe but worth reading.
www.bafflingmag.com/issue-ninete...

03.05.2025 02:42 — 👍 6    🔁 5    💬 1    📌 1
Cover art for issue Baffling Magazine, issue 19. A man cradles a square plexiglass tank with a goldfish (an oranda) inside. Man and fish are in a pet store and are flanked by stacked tanks, partially obscured so that their inhabitants fade into the background. The illustration is done in muted purples and greens, browns, green and pink. 

The man is gloriously massive and bends so that his forehead touches the tank. The fish floats with his head upturned to the man, returning his gesture so that they are essentially pressing their faces together. The man is dressed in a sleeveless pullover, slacks and sneakers; his features and clothing suggest very oranda-like qualities (fins on his curved back, scales in the pattern of his sweater). The fish is similarly gloriously massive and, like the man, is done up in greens and browns and orange. They stand on alone together on checkered green-and-pink flooring.

Listed authors for the issue are: Erin Brown, Soramimi Hanarejima, Teresa Milbrodt, Plangdi Neple, Sara Omer, Cindy Phan, C.L. Sidell.

Cover art for issue Baffling Magazine, issue 19. A man cradles a square plexiglass tank with a goldfish (an oranda) inside. Man and fish are in a pet store and are flanked by stacked tanks, partially obscured so that their inhabitants fade into the background. The illustration is done in muted purples and greens, browns, green and pink. The man is gloriously massive and bends so that his forehead touches the tank. The fish floats with his head upturned to the man, returning his gesture so that they are essentially pressing their faces together. The man is dressed in a sleeveless pullover, slacks and sneakers; his features and clothing suggest very oranda-like qualities (fins on his curved back, scales in the pattern of his sweater). The fish is similarly gloriously massive and, like the man, is done up in greens and browns and orange. They stand on alone together on checkered green-and-pink flooring. Listed authors for the issue are: Erin Brown, Soramimi Hanarejima, Teresa Milbrodt, Plangdi Neple, Sara Omer, Cindy Phan, C.L. Sidell.

The gorgeous cover art is by Casper Pham (@marcheriest.bsky.social) and--another first and one that I'm still processing--was inspired by my story!!! 👀👀👀

01.04.2025 14:59 — 👍 55    🔁 15    💬 10    📌 0
Post image

my cover art for Baffling Magazine, Issue XIX

01.04.2025 05:52 — 👍 449    🔁 72    💬 2    📌 0
Preview
Must Read Short Speculative Fiction: April 2025 - Reactor This month's stories have a little god murder, some necromancy, and some brain swapping...

Right this way, you simply MUST check out these short fiction highlights of April 2025, featuring necromancy, a moon journey, and a dead witch-doctor!

reactormag.com/must-read-sh...

14.05.2025 19:02 — 👍 32    🔁 14    💬 0    📌 5

just got back into this account after realizing i'd been mistyping the recovery email address...sorry for all the reposts as we catch up.

19.05.2025 16:00 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

"You will sweat your self-judgments away soon enough. They have no place here."

Just read "Lucious Lake" by @babblewocky.bsky.social in @bafflingmag.bsky.social and wow, what a (terrifying) sensory feast. I don’t think I’ve ever read a description that made me want to both eat and run from a mango.

16.05.2025 15:36 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
A Table Set and Waiting — Baffling Magazine by Jordan Shiveley No one knows who found the Dark Room first.

ICYMI I’m still proud of this story I wrote for @bafflingmag.bsky.social a few years ago

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eight/...

03.05.2025 06:42 — 👍 21    🔁 3    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
Sonskins — Baffling Magazine by Dare Segun Falowo “On a night of open flight, when healers take on the skins of their familiars…”

Parents' contemplation on their gay sons.

"How futile our midnight errands seem against this force that no witch, Bible or pastor has been able to remove. A wildness!"

#Afrosurreal story by @dsfalowo.bsky.social in @bafflingmag.bsky.social

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-two/so...

27.04.2025 14:33 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 1
Preview
How To Rob A Bullion Van — Baffling Magazine by Plangdi Neple “There are many ways to rob a bullion van, and I’ll tell them to you.”

This is a guide on how to rob those secure vans that transport cash. You'll need some white powder from a babalawo, chameleon & gecko skin, & the ability to teleport...

Fun story by @plangdineple.bsky.social in @bafflingmag.bsky.social

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-ninete...

01.04.2025 19:59 — 👍 5    🔁 2    💬 2    📌 2

Thrilled to announce that I have a new story in @bafflingmag.bsky.social!

"Ron, Howard" (yes, really) is about love's many transformations. Another fish story (yes, really) it's my first flash fiction, published alongside the work of other fantastic authors. I'd be honoured if you gave it a read!

01.04.2025 14:25 — 👍 35    🔁 16    💬 4    📌 2
Preview
Issue Nineteen — Baffling Magazine

The new issue of 🪶 @bafflingmag.bsky.social 🪶 has arrived.

Check out stories from Teresa Milbrodt, Plangdi Neple, Erin Brown, Cindy Phan, C. L. Sidell, Sara Omer & Soramimi Hanarejima. Plus the rad cover by @marcheriest.bsky.social.

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-nineteen

01.04.2025 04:01 — 👍 47    🔁 26    💬 0    📌 4
“Good Boy” — Alison Littlewood 
“The Finest Creation of an Artful God” — B Zelkovich 
“The Third Curse” — Helen Grant 
“The Lights Under Rachel” — Kathryn Healy 
“Pilgrimage of the Hummingbird” — V Castro 
“The Grim” — Cavan Scott
“Pontianak: An Origin Story” — Christina Sng 
“In Thin Air” — Phoenix Alexander
“After the Animal Flesh Beings” — Brian Evenson 
“Brincando Charcos (Jumping Puddles)” — Ben Francisco 
“Rachel is at a Protest” — Esther Alter 
“Waystation City” — AT Greenblatt
“Happily Ever After Comes Round” — Sarah Rees Brennan 
“For However Long” — Thomas Ha 
“Just You and Me, Now” — KT Bryski 
“Window Boy” — Thomas Ha
“Three Things That Happen the Night my Dad Dies” — Isabel Cañas
“How to Stay Married to Baba Yaga” — SM Hallow 
“The Legend of the Convenience Store Cashier” — Anna Vangala Jones 
“Swarm X1048 – Ethological Field Report: Canis Lupus Familiaris, “6”” — FE Choe 
“A Name is a Plea and a Prophecy” — Gabrielle Emem Harry 
“Ruminants” — Kay Chronister 
“Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned” — Wells Tower 
“Spread the Word” — Delilah Dawson 
“Fatso” — Etgar Keret 
“The Last Lucid Day” — Dominique Dickey
“Five Minutes” — John Morrissey 
“doorbell dot mov” — Jennifer R Donahue 
“Heathman Ldg” — Brian Evenson
“like blood on the mouths of death” — Victor Forna
“First, Last, Oldest, True” — E Catherine Tobler
“The Maiden Voyage of the Piranha Belle” — L. M. Guay
“The Sort” — Thomas Ha

“Good Boy” — Alison Littlewood “The Finest Creation of an Artful God” — B Zelkovich “The Third Curse” — Helen Grant “The Lights Under Rachel” — Kathryn Healy “Pilgrimage of the Hummingbird” — V Castro “The Grim” — Cavan Scott “Pontianak: An Origin Story” — Christina Sng “In Thin Air” — Phoenix Alexander “After the Animal Flesh Beings” — Brian Evenson “Brincando Charcos (Jumping Puddles)” — Ben Francisco “Rachel is at a Protest” — Esther Alter “Waystation City” — AT Greenblatt “Happily Ever After Comes Round” — Sarah Rees Brennan “For However Long” — Thomas Ha “Just You and Me, Now” — KT Bryski “Window Boy” — Thomas Ha “Three Things That Happen the Night my Dad Dies” — Isabel Cañas “How to Stay Married to Baba Yaga” — SM Hallow “The Legend of the Convenience Store Cashier” — Anna Vangala Jones “Swarm X1048 – Ethological Field Report: Canis Lupus Familiaris, “6”” — FE Choe “A Name is a Plea and a Prophecy” — Gabrielle Emem Harry “Ruminants” — Kay Chronister “Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned” — Wells Tower “Spread the Word” — Delilah Dawson “Fatso” — Etgar Keret “The Last Lucid Day” — Dominique Dickey “Five Minutes” — John Morrissey “doorbell dot mov” — Jennifer R Donahue “Heathman Ldg” — Brian Evenson “like blood on the mouths of death” — Victor Forna “First, Last, Oldest, True” — E Catherine Tobler “The Maiden Voyage of the Piranha Belle” — L. M. Guay “The Sort” — Thomas Ha

2/2
February short story notes!
tanaudel.wordpress.com/2025/02/27/f...
Feat. 33 stories from:

@clarkesworldmagazine.com @bafflingmag.bsky.social , Short Story Long, LA Weekly, @lightspeedmagazine.com , UQP, @bourbonpenn.bsky.social , @nightmare-magazine.com , @morningtransport.bsky.social

03.03.2025 00:54 — 👍 5    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Light on the Dark Side of Mega Corp Moon — Baffling Magazine by Jason M. Harley “I’m a terrible liar,” I lied to the interviewer.

This week's free spec rec is the sweet, queer spy drama "Light on the Dark Side of Mega Corp Moon" by @jasonmharley.bsky.social in @bafflingmag.bsky.social
www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighte...
“Running hot comes in handy here: space is cold.”
All my recs: dannyechase.com/specrecs/
#specfic ✍️ 🔱

25.02.2025 19:59 — 👍 6    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 2

Here's my watery piece!

'Across the Waves'
inspired by a story by @marisca.bsky.social, and commissioned for the cover of @bafflingmag.bsky.social

#art

05.02.2025 18:58 — 👍 12    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Issue Fifteen — Baffling Magazine

And you can read @sentencebender.bsky.social’s Notes on Genocidal Interchronological Incursion 57.7.3 (f.k.a. "Friends") in Issue 15 of @bafflingmag.bsky.social here:

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-fifteen

01.02.2025 15:17 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Xeno ISO Synth for One-Time Encounter — Baffling Magazine by Louis Evans “ Me:  mature, attractive j-type xeno. 2.7 meters long.”

“You guide me to the place you have chosen. You use your powerful, flawless machine hands to direct my body. You close the door.

Outside our new lovenest, the biohazard warning light begins to strobe.”

By Louis Evans in @bafflingmag.bsky.social
www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighte...

29.01.2025 14:13 — 👍 2    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
The Glass Wife — Baffling Magazine by K-Ming Chang “The woman I love is made of glass.”

“Surrender illuminates the room, recruiting the slick of the moon.”

By K-Ming Chang in @bafflingmag.bsky.social

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighte...

26.01.2025 14:43 — 👍 9    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
The Transmasculinization of Tentacle Porn — Baffling Magazine by j ambrose “The changes happen as scheduled.”

“The thankful drought of malignant menstruation. Congealing in its place is a growth, both physical and visceral. Sensitivity and the need for indulgence enlarge tenfold to itch against your boxers.”

By @caninebrainz.bsky.social via @bafflingmag.bsky.social

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighte...

21.01.2025 19:33 — 👍 14    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0

post a short story you love

@caninebrainz.bsky.social
@bafflingmag.bsky.social

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighte...

13.01.2025 00:24 — 👍 4    🔁 2    💬 2    📌 2
Preview
Collar — Baffling Magazine by J. Kosakowski “The sex worker came to my father's funeral dressed all in black, fur and leather…”

Excited to announce that you can read my flash story "Collar" in issue eighteen of Baffling Magazine!

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighte...
@bafflingmag.bsky.social @neonhemlock.bsky.social

03.01.2025 00:35 — 👍 11    🔁 2    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
Light on the Dark Side of Mega Corp Moon — Baffling Magazine by Jason M. Harley “I’m a terrible liar,” I lied to the interviewer.

Check out my romantic dystopian spy comedy set on the moon in @neonhemlock.bsky.social @bafflingmag.bsky.social newest issue! www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighte...

02.01.2025 18:34 — 👍 3    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
A teaser for Issue 18 of Baffling Magazine. 

Features a snippet of someone aimed right at the button of their jeans. The edge of something...girthy...can be seen below.

A teaser for Issue 18 of Baffling Magazine. Features a snippet of someone aimed right at the button of their jeans. The edge of something...girthy...can be seen below.

Kick off the new year with @bafflingmag.bsky.social's Sex Issue!

www.bafflingmag.com/issue-eighteen

Stories from j ambrose, Louis Evans, K-Ming Chang, Bastian Hart, J. Kosakowski, Anya Markov & Jason M. Harley 🪶

31.12.2024 22:53 — 👍 65    🔁 34    💬 1    📌 8
Neon Hemlock

Baffling Magazine

Open to Submissions Dec 1-15
Unthemed stories & Strange Forms

Pretty orange blob in background

Neon Hemlock Baffling Magazine Open to Submissions Dec 1-15 Unthemed stories & Strange Forms Pretty orange blob in background

🪶 Baffling Magazine. Flash fiction with a queer bent. Open Dec 1-15. <1200 words. $0.08/word. Simsub okay, no multiple subs please. More info: neonhemlock.submittable.com/submit

01.12.2024 23:39 — 👍 74    🔁 54    💬 1    📌 3

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