DOUGLAS SMITH | Writing the Fantastic

I'm thrilled to announce that the most excellent UK publisher, Flame Tree Publishing, will be reprinting my story "Enlightenment" in their upcoming anthology, Wars in the Stars.

This will be my third appearance in a Flame Tree anthology, and each experience has been very enjoyable. They put out an incredibly beautiful product and treat their authors very well, paying pro rates (even for reprints), performing excellent editing, and providing contributor copies in hardcover (!) with gilt edging (again!).

Even cooler, "Enlightenment" will be the closing story in the anthology. Anthology editors will generally put what they think are the strongest stories as the opening story to pull the reader in, one more in the middle to keep them hooked, and one more as the final story to leave them with a good feeling about reading the book.

"Enlightenment" first appeared in the long-running UK magazine, Interzone, in 2004, when the magazine's new publisher, Andy Cox, invited me to submit a story to the inaugural issue under his ownership after taking over from one of the original founders and long-time editor, David Pringle. The story is a sequel of sorts to my award-winner, "Scream Angel," and was a finalist for Canada's Aurora Award.

Wars in the Stars is expected out in August 2026. It will have 260,000 words of fiction (FYI, that's a lot. Easily twice most modern novels) and feature stories from classic SF authors such as Ray Cummings, Stanley G. Weinbaum, and Edgar Rice Burroughs, as well as contemporary writers. Check out the full list of authors here, and check out this page for ordering information.

I wrote in an earlier blog post that On Spec, one of the best and longest running speculative fiction magazines in the world and a Canadian institution for 35 years, had published its final issue in December.

(If you'd like to read more about the legacy of On Spec, check out this CBC article.)

However, as I mentioned then, the On Spec name will live on for at least one more publication. 

Regina-based Shadowpaw Press, run by Canadian writer and publisher, Ed Willett, is launching a Kickstarter for an On Spec anthology of all new stories, to be released in late 2026. If it does well, it might become an annual publication, keeping the On Spec name alive.

Check out the cool cover by award-winning Canadian spec fic artist, James Beveridge. Jim was a frequent cover artist for On Spec, creating many of my favourites over its run. Jim also did the cover for my new collection, Borderlanz.  

You might have noticed I'm one of the authors listed on the cover. As a frequent contributor to On Spec, I was honoured to be invited as an "anchor author" for the Kickstarter and will be contributing a brand new story for the antho.

The Kickstarter launches March 17 and is offering a slew of wonderful incentives to supporters, including bunches of free ebooks and print books, as well as special offers from contributing authors, such as virtual kaffeklatsch sessions with them, signed and personalized print editions of their books, Tuckerization chances (getting your name used as a character in a book or story), critiques on your own writing, and much more.

If you'd like to support the Kickstarter, just click here. 

I am thrilled to announce that today is release day for my third collection of short fiction, Borderlanz.

Borderlanz contains 15 stories, including award winners, award finalists, and "best of the year" selections, in a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and more. 

Plus, the book includes an introduction by award-winning fantasy author, Charles de Lint! Full details on the contents of the collection are here.

The book is available here in ebook, trade paperback, and hardcover editions from all major book retailers, including Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo, Google Play, Smashwords, and more, at special release week pricing.

Release week pricing: US$4.99

(After release week: US$6.99)

Two of the top book review sites recently gave Borderlanz their top honours:

“Editor’s Pick: A collection that refuses easy categorization. Spanning cosmic fantasy, noir mystery, and psychological horror, … balancing scale with intimacy is one of the collection’s strengths. Smith excels in character work … Internal struggles drive the narratives, [and] even in fantastical settings … emotional stakes remain grounded and affecting.” —BookLife (full review here)

“Starred review: Smith’s impeccable third collection…contains a diversity of compelling speculative fiction tales [which are] a testament to Smith’s mastery at crafting short stories. … Aspiring short-form writers could well use this flawless collection as a primer [which is] sure to delight from the first story to the last.” —Blueink Review (full review here)

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Click here to buy Borderlanz from your favourite retailer.

Another of the top book review sites in North America has selected my upcoming collection, Borderlanz, for their top honour.

Founded by a respected literary agent and an award-winning former book review editor, Blueink Review call themselves "the gold standard in book reviews." Are they? I don't know, but their "Starred" reviews, meaning highly recommended books, are reprinted in top publishing journals, so someone thinks so.

Blueink gave Borderlanz a starred review, their top rating. Here's an extract:

“Starred review: Smith’s impeccable third collection of short stories … contains a diversity of compelling speculative fiction tales … a testament to Smith’s mastery at crafting short stories. The first lines are all solid hooks, … the writing is razor-focused, [and] each story ends with thematic impact … Aspiring short-form writers could well use this flawless collection as a primer. … sure to delight from the first story to the last. ” —Blueink Review

Impeccable? Flawless? Sure to delight? Maybe you want to check it out. See below for how to pre-order it now.

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Borderlanz contains 15 short stories, including award winners, award finalists, "best of the year" selections, and features a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and more. Plus an introduction by award-winning fantasy author, Charles de Lint! Full details on the contents of the collection are here.

A reminder that the ebook is available NOW for pre-order at special pre-release pricing at all major retailers ahead of its March 15, 2026 release date.

Pre-order pricing:  US$4.99  /  £4.49  /  €4.99  /  CA$6.99  /  AU$6.99

After March 15:  US$6.99  /  £5.99  /  €9.99  /  CA$9.99  /  AU$9.99

Click here to pre-order Borderlanz from your favourite retailer and save!

Recently, one of the top book review sites in North America selected my upcoming collection, Borderlanz, for their top honour.

BookLife (part of Publisher's Weekly) awarded Borderlanz their coveted "Editor's Pick," used to denote "a book of outstanding quality." 

Read the full review here (page down to find the review below the book description). 

Some highlights:

“Editor’s Pick: A collection that refuses easy categorization. Spanning cosmic fantasy, noir mystery, and psychological horror, these 15 interconnected stories share a single preoccupation: what happens to people when systems demand everything from them … 

"Smith excels in character work … protagonists whose internal struggles drive the narratives. … Even in fantastical settings, emotional stakes remain grounded and affecting … [presenting] love, resistance, and balance as ongoing acts rather than resolved outcomes. … Borderlanz is ambitious, exacting work for readers willing to sit with difficult questions about what we owe each other when the world demands too much.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ” —BookLife Reviews

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Borderlanz contains 15 short stories, including award winners, award finalists, "best of the year" selections, and features a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and more. Plus an introduction by award-winning fantasy author, Charles de Lint! Full details on the contents of the collection are here.

A reminder that the ebook is available NOW for pre-order at special pre-release pricing at all major retailers ahead of its release on March 15, 2026.

Pre-order pricing:  US$4.99  /  £4.49  /  €4.99  /  CA$6.99  /  AU$6.99

After March 15:  US$6.99  /  £5.99  /  €9.99  /  CA$9.99  /  AU$9.99

Click here to pre-order Borderlanz from your favourite retailer and save!

I announced a while back that my newest collection of short stories, BORDERLANZ: Tales From the Edges, will be released on March 15, 2026 in ebook, trade paperback, and hard cover editions.

My ARC (Advanced Review Copy) team has already posted some early reviews on Goodreads and Bookbub. 

Borderlanz contains 15 short stories, including award winners, award finalists, "best of the year" selections, and features a mix of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and more. Plus an introduction by award-winning fantasy author, Charles de Lint! Full details on the contents of the collection are here.

A reminder that the ebook is available NOW for pre-order at special pricing at all major retailers, including Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Google Play, and many more. The price will be going up after the book's release on March 15:

Pre-order pricing:  US$4.99  /  £4.49  /  €4.99  /  CA$6.99  /  AU$6.99

After release:  US$6.99  /  £5.99  /  €9.99  /  CA$9.99  /  AU$9.99

Click here to pre-order Borderlanz from your favourite retailer and save!

I was interviewed in December by California writer Mike Consul on his podcast, The Novelist Spotlight. 

Mike's past guests have included Andre Dubus III, T.C. Boyle, Jay McInerney, Gay Talese, Dean Hargrove (TV writer/producer — Columbo, Matlock, Man from UNCLE, etc.), Ali Hazelwood, Melanie Benjamin, Jonathan Dee, Kate Manning, and Alyson Richman. 

You can listen to my interview here on any of the following platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

I hope you'll give it a listen.

After thirty-five years as a beloved Canadian institution, one of the best and longest running speculative fiction magazines in the world recently published its final issue.

Veteran managing editor (and friend) Diane Walton announced her retirement earlier in 2025. With no one with the necessary skills and experience available and willing to step into the work intensive role, the difficult decision was made to end the magazine's run of three and a half decades. 

I loved On Spec. As a writer, they were a wonderful group to work with. As a reader, their taste in speculative fiction was both stellar and eclectic. When asked over the years how I'd differentiate Canadian speculative fiction from what's written south of the border or in other parts of the world, I'd just point to On Spec.

My stories appeared in On Spec five times, first in 2001 and most recently in 2023. Those five appearances resulted in an Aurora Award win ("The Walker of the Shifting Borderland"), an Aurora Finalist selection ("The Red Bird"), and an Alberta Magazine Award Finalist selection ("Gypsy Biker's Coming Home").

Although the magazine is gone, its last issued published this past December, its name will live on for at least one more publication. Regina-based small press, Shadowpaw Press, run by Canadian writer and publisher, Ed Willett, will be crowd-funding an On Spec anthology of all new stories, expected to be released this fall.

I am honoured to be one of the "anchor authors" invited to contribute to that anthology. If it does well, it might become an annual publication, keeping the On Spec name alive. 

If you'd like to read more about this great magazine, check out this CBC article.

Since this is the start of a new year, I'm looking back at my writerly year of 2025 and also looking ahead to the projects planned for this year. 

Here are some of the highlights from my 2025 writing year:

• The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3 was a finalist for Canada's Aurora Award for Best YA Novel, bringing the award total for the series to two wins and four nominations.
• The Dream Rider Saga: The Complete Trilogy ebook boxset was released in September on all major retail platforms.
• I sold a brand new story, "The Stopover", to a new pro magazine, Merganser. The story will be included in my upcoming collection.
• My flash piece, "Nothing," was chosen as an Editor's Pick and published in the new online professional magazine, Gavagai. Read it here.
• I began drafting a new novel, a post-apocalyptic SF tale based on the characters in my novelette, "Memories of the Dead Man" and other stories in that universe. Working title: Taken in Passing.
• I was interviewed in December by writer Mike Consul on his podcast, The Novelist Spotlight. Details below on how to listen to the episode.

My major planned projects for 2026 include:

• Releasing my newest collection of short stories, Borderlanz. The release date will be March 15, but you can preorder it now on all major retail platforms. More on this below.
• Releasing an audio book edition for my first novel, the urban fantasy shapeshifter story, The Wolf at the End of the World. More info on this project below.
• Attending a Canadian convention on the west coast in the fall as the invited "Guest Author." Details and dates to come.
• Writing a new story for the upcoming On Spec anthology (more info below)
• And finishing the draft of Taken in Passing, the SF novel I started last year.

Thanks as always for being a fan. I wish you a happy, healthy, and rewarding 2026.