GENRE IS A CONSTRUCT. GENRE DOES NOT EXIST.
WELCOME BACK TO BODY SHOTS.
Subtle Body Press's flagship fiction anthology series returns, with an eclectic mix of new, established, and emerging voices working in the medium of the short story, curated without limitation to any particular genre, form, or trope. This time around, enjoy (or, occasionally, endure) a unique mixer of what those who must label things might call conventional literary fiction, science fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, horror, satire, crime fiction, transgressive literature, surrealist trash, and "grit lit," often tasteful, sometimes not, frequently beautiful, at times horrific, occasionally comedic, tragic, or experimental, but always meaningful, and always with great care taken by editor Cliff Hensley to arrange it along a logical or intuitive chain, a shared thematic or aesthetic path. There are no boxes or boundaries here; every kind of story is welcome.
As long as it kicks ass. As long as it has something to say.
Featured in this issue, we are excited to bring you a truly special treat: the English-language debut of "La Cara" (The Face) by Colombian speculative fiction sensation Luis Carlos Barragán Castro, rendered with care through the loving and painstaking efforts of essayist and literary translator Isaac Dwyer. Two reader-favorite alumni of Body Shots also make their returns: Silver Falchion Award winning author Christina Hoag brings us a coming-of-age tale with a touch of mystery and Best Horror of the Year selectant Tom Johnstone does what he does best.
Plus, more new fiction by Bart Plantenga, Miranda Jensen, British Science Fiction Association Award winning author Aliya Whiteley, Veronica DiMeo, Pushcart Prize nominated author Jennifer Lorne, Holden Michaels, Meg Ashleigh, Shirley Jackson Award nominated author Joe Koch, Matthew Chrulew, Kyle Mercer, Julian Munds, and Pushcart Prize winning author Douglas W. Milliken.
Multimodal author and award-winning filmmaker Cliff Hensley is the Editor-in-Chief of indie publishing house Subtle Body Press, which he also co-founded. Aside from his work as Editor of the short fiction anthology series Body Shots, he also edits its novella-focused sister series, Body Lines, and serves as Co-Editor of Seven Story Hotel (7SH). His most recent authorial work, the macabre horror 'prose LP' "Now You See," was released in 2022 through Shiloh House Press, and a new novel is forthcoming. Cliff has also written for the world-renowned cyberpunk-fantasy tabletop roleplaying game Shadowrun and third-party adventures for doom-metal dungeon crawler Mörk Borg. Visit him online at www.cliffhensley.com, where you can also find convenient links to follow him on the social media outlet of your choice.
