Category Archives: Futurist Fiction Dagstine

Androids and Dragons: A Journal of and about Speculative Fiction – SUBSTACK ZINE

Happy September to you all. Autumn is just around the corner, and this is where I start getting a lot of short fiction acceptances and stuff published. Always September through December. And for this website post, I am currently appearing with a reprint in the Substack publication: “Androids and Dragons: A Journal of and about Speculative Fiction.” It has hundreds of followers, hundred of readers. It’s a token-paying market. There’s a lot of these Substack newsletter publications (in the form of modern webzines), popping up these days. In the old days, when I first started getting published, a lot of webzines were hosted by Lycos or Geocities. Or they depended on programs like Dreamweaver and Flash, to look stylish for the time period. It seems Substack is becoming a major platform to build your fiction-reading audience. Stories can be emailed to subscribers, direct to their inbox. You can read a short story anywhere, not just home computer but on your phone on the go. And it pops up really quick on search engines, because the one thing Substack has going for it is many a search engine algorithm. The editor is Jenna Hanan Moore. I’ll leave any links down below, direct or otherwise. And the name of my reprint is: “Past and Present Company Excepted.”

Androids and Dragons: A Journal of and about Speculative Fiction

Substack Publication – Edited by Jenna Hanan Moore

Featuring Dagstine reprint: “Past and Present Company Excepted.”

Photo credit: Androids and Dragons/Jenna Hanan Moore
Photo credit: Caras Jr. on Unsplash, 2025.

The September Edition Opening Page – (click link, be redirected):

https://androidsanddragons.substack.com/p/issue-12-september-2025

My short story – (click link, be redirected):

https://androidsanddragons.substack.com/p/past-and-present-company-excepted

Other New Entries:

And speaking of Substack publications or newsletters, I’ve updated my own personal one recently. But only with a quickie. You can find a link to that right below…

https://lawrencedagstinewrites.substack.com/p/lawrence-dagstine-even-prolific-writers

Alien Dimensions #27: 100,000 Years of Intergalactic Peace – The Final Edition

I’m pleased to announce that I have a novelette in the final edition of the long-running anthology-magazine from Neil Hogan at Space Fiction Books, Alien Dimensions No. #27. This would be my fourth acceptance to the publication over the years, and this one is for the scifi fanatics out there. But this issue of Alien Dimensions has a theme to it: 100,000 Years of Intergalactic Peace. So the tales have to have some element of promoting or ensuring peace for a civilization. My story is about a solar engineer who attempts to save his own people and another race from across the stars. With permission, of course, from his council. There is world building and conflict. There is hard science and a great plot. What started out as a short story draft back in the 2000s with no direction, ended up close to 8500 words in length in 2025. I’m sharing a TOC with some familiar names, such as David Castlewitz and Mord McGhee (I must know Mord at least 20 years). I’ll leave pics and Amazon info below. Read my story about a solar engineer attempting the impossible, through hard science and cooperation: “The Fireball Effect”

Alien Dimensions #27 – 100,000 Years of Intergalactic Peace

The Final Edition – Edited by Neil Hogan, Space Fiction Books

Featuring new Dagstine novelette: “The Fireball Effect”

Sample or order your copy now on Amazon. In print paperback, or via Kindle.

TABLE OF CONTENTS, IN ORDER:

The Garden at the Edge of the Universe by E. S. Foster

The Vicarious by David Castlewitz

The Fireball Effect by Lawrence Dagstine

Rivers Run Deep by Margaret Karmazin

Exploring the Rogue Planet by Geoffrey Hugh Lindop

The Star Child by Hana Elizabeth Rose

Poltergeist 2.0 by Mord McGhee

Hyperspace by Kyle Walker

The Batties of Argamatis by Geoffrey Hugh Lindop

Stapledon by Humphrey Price

The Frozen Galaxy by Neil A. Hogan

EDITED TO ADD: It is with pleasure to announce that, within a few days after release, Alien Dimensions #27 jumped to NUMBER ONE on Amazon Kindle under Science Fiction Anthologies.

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos, Digital Credits, and Magazines”

SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS: “Quaternary Realms, Short Stories of SF & Fantasy Vol. 2” – Edited by C.M. Bratton

I’m pleased to announce that I’m back in one of the San Antonio SF & Fantasy Authors’ association’s print anthologies. Last time it was a book on science fiction and fantasy poetry. This time, it’s an anthology of brand new and exclusive short stories, and edited by C.M. Bratton again. The name of the book (now up on Amazon, and I will provide links and a TOC below): Quaternary Realms Volume #2. My piece could best be described as a tale of somewhat forbidden dinosaur science on a distant Jurassic world. It delves into the realm of “Cretaceous-style hunting and cloning” for sport, and the responsibilities of a veterinarian who has to coexist with giant reptiles. Read my new science fiction tale now: “Dinotopia.”

QUATERNARY REALMS ANTHOLOGY: Volume 2 – Edited by C.M. Bratton

Published/put out by The San Antonio SF & Fantasy Author’s Association

Featuring Lawrence Dagstine story: “Dinotopia”

Available on Amazon in paperback. Also available on the convention circuit.

Click and sample below:

AUTHOR LINE-UP:

Science Fiction & Fantasy story titles:

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

Other New Stuff in Addition: “Lawrence Dagstine Newsletter”

https://lawrencedagstinewrites.substack.com/

NEW YEARS ANTHOLOGIES: “The Alien Buddha’s Chaos Countdowns” – Alien Buddha Press

I have a reprint (appeared in DASH Literary Journal about two years ago), that matches the theme of the following anthology. Chaotic or haphazard stories about New Years, and similar celebratory fiction fare to go along with the once-a-year holiday. And what better way to ring in 2025 than with Alien Buddha Press (the publisher), and sharing a table of contents with the likes of NJ Gallegos, Dawn DeBraal, April Ridge, and Bram Stoker-nominee James Dorr. My New Years-themed story has elements of speculative fiction, steampunk, and magic realism in it. Oh, and angel doctors! It’s called Before Measured Time. It takes place right before midnight on December 31st 1899, and the 20th century and universe is at stake! Check out Alien Buddha’s Chaos Countdowns Anthology now on Amazon. Pictures and info down below. Most of all, Happy New Years!

Alien Buddha’s New Years Chaos Countdowns Anthology

Published by Alien Buddha Press

Featuring Lawrence Dagstine reprint: “Before Measured Time”

Available in paperback on Amazon (click preview box below):

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

TIME TRAVEL ANTHOLOGIES: “The Trouble with Time” – Three Cousins Publishing

It is with pleasure to announce that here starts a busy couple of weeks, as I have a lot of new material coming out in the “speculative fiction” genre. Books and anthologies in hardcover, paperback, and either Epub or Kindle formats. In the case of the book below, an upcoming audiobook. All these short stories are brand new, never published. From West Mesa Press, via Three Cousins Publishing, comes an anthology on time travel and the troubles or dilemmas that go with it. The Trouble with Time. Edited by Robert Allen Lupton, and it lands at a whopping 316 pages. The cover art is by Mark McConnell. For this book, think of stories related to The Butterfly Effect or Looper. That theme. And read my new story, “Past and Present Company Excepted!”

The Trouble with Time Anthology – Edited by Robert Lupton

Featuring Dagstine Story: “Past and Present Company Excepted”

Details from Amazon (copy-pasted):

Everyone at one time or another has wished that they could go back in time and change something. Perhaps to prevent a world tragedy, kill a despot, or tell an ancestor not to drive to town on a certain day. Perhaps the journey backward would be to obtain foreknowledge about the lottery, the presidential election, the stock market, or even the World Series. The reasons to wish for time travel are legion, but if the truth be told, if we could go back in time, the first thing most of us would do would be to punch our younger selves square in the face.

Changing time can have unexpected and dire results. Think “The Butterfly Effect,” or “A Sound of Thunder.” The scales have to balance. Good intentions often have unintended consequences and even the most benign attempts to intervene are likely to make things worse, far worse.

Twenty-two stories about time travel by talented writers from around the world, each of whom fearlessly explores the dangers and joys of time travel uniquely. Come along for the ride. There’s plenty of time – or is there?

West Mesa Press Official Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/p/West-Mesa-Press-100054216802897/

I’ll file this under Books and Anthologies.

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos”

SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS: “Invasion The Dark Side of Technology Vol. 2” – Wicked Shadow Press.

Wicked Shadow Press really outdid themselves this time in a two volume series of science fiction and miscellaneous speculative tales surrounding dark technology, deadly machines, artificial intelligence, and science that can enslave us or kill us. Easily one of my ten favorite anthology covers of all time. Both books in the series are edited by Parth Sarathi Chakraborty, and some of the proceeds from the sales of these books goes to help animals in Kolkata, India, where it is already getting a warm reception. My story is not about AI (which has been a heated and dystopic subject of late), but more or less a science fantasy which involves the dark tech surrounding “buildings” and “skyscrapers.” This is a tale about architecture of the future, of other worlds, buildings that graze the clouds, and the “dark architects” who control utopias and dystopias behind the scenes. Not everything is always rosy and picturesque, even in large metropolises filled with tall buildings. Read my tale, “Architects of Change” in Volume Two of Invasion. I’m in Volume Two, so don’t forget that; but I recommend both. It’s available on Amazon Kindle for only $2.99, or as a paperback on places like Lulu. All links will be below the cover pics, as usual. Cheers.

INVASION Volume 2 – THE DARK SIDE OF TECHNOLOGY

From Wicked Shadow Press

Now Available on Amazon Kindle for only $2.99

Also available in STUNNING Amazon paperback (for the shelf collector)

Featuring Dagstine story: “Architects of Change”

ALSO AVAILABLE ON LULU (and as a print paperback there as well):

Buy a Paperback copy of INVASION Vol. 01 from Lulu.com: 

https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/invasion-vol-01/paperback/product-wjjpnk.html

Buy a Paperback copy of INVASION Vol. 02 from Lulu.com: 

https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/invasion-vol-02/paperback/product-qrrp9p.html

Buy the ebook of INVASION Vol. 01 from Lulu.com: https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/invasion-vol-01/ebook/product-v66p65.html

Buy the ebook of INVASION Vol. 02 from Lulu.com: https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/invasion-vol-02/ebook/product-dkk9r9.html

WICKED SHADOW PRESS SOCIALS:

Like WSP us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wickedshadowpress

Follow WSP on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wickedshadowpress

Follow WSP on X: https://twitter.com/wickedshadowpub

Other New Entries: “Books & Anthos, Digital Credits”

DASH Literary Journal #16 – California State University (Fullerton – Futurist Fiction)

I’ve currently got a work of futurist fiction (spec-fic with a steampunk aesthetic tossed in for good measure), appearing in the current edition of DASH Literary Journal. No. #16, 2023. This is the official literary magazine of California State University. Out of Fullerton’s Comparative English Studies Department for Language and Linguistics. I actually studied linguistics back in the 1990s but ended up graduating in journalism and the science of publishing. I used to submit to a handful of literary magazines when I was first starting out in the fiction field. DASH No. #16 features poetry AND fiction, and the short stories in Volume #16 come from the likes of: J.M. Williams, Daniel Webre, Robert S. Gordon, Myself, Mark Silcox, Jared Livingston, James Fowler, and there is a TON of non-fiction. It’s very well put together. I will say that. Links, pics below with website info.

DASH Literary Journal Volume #16

THEME: Futurisms – (Futurist Fiction)

Featuring Dagstine Story: “Before Measured Time”

DASH WEBSITE/UNIVERSITY INFO:

https://english.fullerton.edu/publications/dash.aspx

DASH Literary Journal on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/dashliteraryjournal/

To my knowledge, it is available in PRINT only.

Other New Entries: “Magazines”