First Reader Applications AND Upcoming Submission Windows

written by David Steffen Hello! We have a few upcoming things we need to announce, let’s get right to it shall we? General Submission Window Diabolical Plots is opening for general submissions for the first two weeks of August 2021. Read the guidelines for more information! First Reader Applications Diabolical Plots is looking for new … Continue reading First Reader Applications AND Upcoming Submission Windows

“Open House On Haunted Hill” by John Wiswell Wins the Nebula Award For Best Short Story!

written by David Steffen On Saturday June 5th, SFWA held the Nebula Award ceremony. The finalists and winners of the Nebula Awards are determined by votes from members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). “Open House On Haunted Hill” by John Wiswell is this year’s winner of the Nebula Award for … Continue reading “Open House On Haunted Hill” by John Wiswell Wins the Nebula Award For Best Short Story!

“Open House On Haunted Hill” by John Wiswell is a Hugo Award Finalist!

written by David Steffen The news came out yesterday that, for the first time, a story first published by Diabolical Plots is a Hugo Award finalist: “Open House on Haunted Hill” by John Wiswell, about a haunted house that just wants a nice family to come live in it. A lot of people really love … Continue reading “Open House On Haunted Hill” by John Wiswell is a Hugo Award Finalist!

Welcome Kel Coleman to the Diabolical Plots Team!

written by David Steffen About a year ago, we made the announcement of an assistant editor for the first time for Diabolical Plots when Ziv Wities joined the team. Don’t worry, Ziv Wities isn’t going anywhere! We are welcoming a a second assistant editor–Kel Coleman, who you might recognize from their story “A Study of … Continue reading Welcome Kel Coleman to the Diabolical Plots Team!

The Diabolical Plots Year Seven Lineup

written by David Steffen For the past several years, Diabolical Plots has opened for submissions for an annual submission window during the month of July. This gives enough time to fully resolve the submission window before things start getting busy in August for The Long List Anthology production. In 2020, the pandemic threw us off … Continue reading The Diabolical Plots Year Seven Lineup

Diabolical Plots 2020 Award Eligibility

written by David Steffen Hello! This is one of those posts where I declare what is eligible for speculative fiction awards (such as the Hugo and Nebula and Locus) and in what category from Diabolical Plots offerings. Semiprozine Diabolical Plots itself is eligible for the Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine. Editor (Short Form) David Steffen … Continue reading Diabolical Plots 2020 Award Eligibility

UTH #1: The Story of Gandalf and Magneto

written by David Steffen This article is based in the idea of UTH (Universal Transitive Headcanon); if you are not familiar with the concept you can read more detail about it here. From our perspective, most people in our world and time view Gandalf the Grey (and his second persona as Gandalf the White) as … Continue reading UTH #1: The Story of Gandalf and Magneto

Universal Transitive Headcanon (UTH): A Metafiction Framework Proposal

written by David Steffen I would like to propose some terminology for a particular type of headcanon that can be applied across many media, though centered around actor-based media like movies and TV based on actor-transitivity and character-transitivity: the Universal Transitive Headcanon (UTH). This proposal will be the basis of a series of posts that … Continue reading Universal Transitive Headcanon (UTH): A Metafiction Framework Proposal

BOOK REVIEW: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

written by David Steffen Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is a 2011 contemporary fantasy novel, the first in a series of three books by Ransom Riggs depicting children with unusual abilities. The protagonist of the book is Jacob Portman, who as a child was enamored by his grandfather Abe’s stories of fleeing from Nazi … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Untitled Goose Game

written by David Steffen Untitled Goose Game is a 2019 puzzle stealth game developed by House House in which you are a goose generally making a nuisance of yourself in a small village. “It’s a lovely morning in the village, and you are a terrible goose” is the line that starts the game. You are … Continue reading VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Untitled Goose Game