On Spec Magazine

Odd-Eyes Mullin was still swinging from the gallows, naught but a ten-minute walk from the stinking wharfside tavern where Captain Ollie Hallett raised a tankard to his second mate’s memory.

The opening line from my story 'Seven for a Secret,' featured in @onspecmag.bsky.social issue 134.

Must Read Short Speculative Fiction: December 2025 - Reactor Ten excellent works of short fiction you may have missed in 2025

New short fiction wrapping up 2025. This also features the last issues for two publications, Fantasy (technically on hiatus) and On Spec. reactormag.com/must-read-sh...

On Spec has ended publication. But remember that you can still find some awesome short fiction in all the issues available through Weightless Books, and the On Spec Ki-fi page.

#BuyMyBooks THE CHILDREN’S HORROR. Check out my themed collection (of stories inspired by kids TV programming) from Northern Republic Books, featuring 2 stories (“The Dogcatcher” & “Your Selkie Lover”) included in @datlow.bsky.social’s Recommended Reading List.

As we start the new year, the editors of On Spec want to thank all our friends, writers, poets, and artists for thirty-five years of support and trust. Best wishes to all in your future endeavours.

And if you are new to On Spec, you can get some excellent deals at @weightlessbooks.bsky.social

Cover art for On Spec magazine #134, featuring "Dancing with the Holly King" by Janice Blaine, an illustration of a green-bearded tree entity dancing with a swirly blue wind/water entity

Cover art for The Complete Astreiant by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett, featuring two men's portraits against a mottled blue-green background in a gold decorative frame

Our first magazines for 2026 are 2 days away, but in the meantime, we've just added @onspecmag.bsky.social #134 weightlessbooks.com/on-spec-maga... AND The Complete Astreiant series from @qospress.bsky.social weightlessbooks.com/the-complete...

Our final issue is now available. Twice as many stories as most of our issues!

The final issue of On Spec is at the proofreading stage, and, with 21 stories and 4 poems, it’s our biggest issue in years! Watch for it!!!

A very nice review of a story from On Spec #133!

Thanks for your comments on the issue and the Ramen story!

Cover art for OnSpec #91, featuring a young astronaut in front of a rocket, rendered in 19th century portrait style

Cover art for OnSpec #100, featuring a green tentacle alien trying to break into an apartment in a floating city

Cover art for OnSpec #116, featuring a blue dragon sitting on a frozen stone perch

Cover art for OnSpec #97, featuring a spaceship approaching an enormous concentric space station

Since @onspecmag.bsky.social is closing up shop next month, its publishers have reduced prices on all 100+ back issues of OnSpec to just 99 cents! weightlessbooks.com/category/pub...

GTA friends! Now you know what you’re doing on Saturday afternoon!

Have a great launch!

Submissions are OPEN for Year's Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction: Volume Four (the best of 2025). Send me your SFF published in 2025, you crazy Canucks! Details on my site at the link below. DON'T SELF REJECT! You can't win if you don't play ;) Subs close Feb 28, 2026. Pls share WIDELY.

Other magazines will fill the void and establish their own reputations. 35 years is enough.

Kerry, we are wishing you and Augur all the best as you go forward with all the initiatives.

She’s right about this. Our stories don’t get stale or go bad. Something we published 5 or 10 or 30 years ago still has an amazing shelf life.

With our new issue, we are making the sad announcement that this will be the final year for On Spec. See www.onspec.ca for details.

On Spec Issue #133 Preview Here’s a peek at what we’re offering in this issue: We’re happy to bring back some writers you’ve seen on our pages before. And equally happy to introduce new voices at the start of the…

In case you missed it: my story "Two Voices, One Song" a tale of overnight horror set in Iceland, will be in the next issue of On Spec magazine @onspecmag.bsky.social ! More info here:

onspec.ca/2025/09/19/o...

Check out my story, "An Unsparing Harvest," in the latest issue of @onspecmag.bsky.social! It's perfect for the spooky season. weightlessbooks.com/on-spec-maga...

On Spec Magazine #133 VOL 35 No 3 Volume 35 No 3 issue of On Spec Magazine. This issue features short stories by Liz Westbrook-Trenholm ("The Bag of Holding"), Gillian Secord ("the love song of house and lake"), John Park ("When the S...

New issue of @onspecmag.bsky.social is here! weightlessbooks.com/on-spec-maga...

Thrilled to announce that the contracts have been signed and NeWest Press (@newestpress.bsky.social) will be republishing my novel NAPIER'S BONES, possibly as a Landmark Edition, possibly as a part of Barbour Books, their new SF/F line. #publishing

We just added a few more back issues of On Spec to our Ko-fi shop. Yours for 99 cents or pay what you will. These and more can also be found at Weightless Books. Help us out with a small donation and enjoy the stories!

Are you in Alberta? You can read On Spec along with many other Alberta-produced magazines by searching the digital magazine options at any Alberta public library!

Issue #133 is at the proofing stage now. But you can buy and read #132 while you wait!

We just added a few more back issues of On Spec to our Ko-fi shop. Yours for 99 cents or pay what you will. These and more can also be found at Weightless Books. Help us out with a small donation and enjoy the stories!

Almost ready to send On Spec Issue #133 to the designer for a mid-September release. Please support us by making a small donation or purchasing a copy of issue #132 from our Ko-fi page.

onspecmag The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic

On Spec hasn’t had a Kickstarter to raise funds for production of new issues, but buying even a single issue from our Ko-fi page will add up if enough of you do it.
Onspec.ca