What if the knowledge to your survival would cost you your friend? And what if that friend was a robot?

This week's story: The Portmeirion Road, by Fiona Moore. Published in Clarksworld

2024 BSFA Award Finalist for Best Short Fiction

This week's snack: Airheads Xtremes Candy

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Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

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Next Week's Story: Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being

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In the gray space in between terraforming and colonization, an exorcism crew captain confronted by a human ghost has to grapple with his purpose.

This week's story: What Any Dead Thing Wants, by Aimee Ogden. Published in Psychopomp

Nebula Novelette Finalist

This week's snack: Animal Crackers and Frosting

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Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

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Next Week's Story: The Portmeirion Road

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If humanity could send only a few select memories out into space, with the hopes of reaching intelligent life, what would you choose to send?

This week's story: Patsy Cline Sings Sweet Dreams to the Universe by Beston Barnett. Published in Strange Horizons

Second Place: Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award 2024

This week's snack: Grilled Cheese Two Ways

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Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

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Next Week's Story: What Any Dead Thing Wants (16,300 words)

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An interesting and complex form intimidated me initially with this story, but after trusting the process I walk away from this with a deeply resonant experience contemplating life, loss, transformation, love, death and iteration.

This week's story: We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read, by Caroline M. Yoachim Published in Lightspeed Magazine

Nominated, Short Story Hugos 2025 and Nebulas 2025

Finalist for Eugie Awards

Finalist for Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award

2nd place in Locus Awards

WON: Ignyte Awards

This week's snack: Good and Plenty's

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Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

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What if you went back to save your friends from a cult, but they didn't want to leave? This week's protagonist must face a mirror of her past life to learn how to move on.

This week's story: The Mausoleum’s Children, by Aliette de Bodard. Published in Uncanny Magazine

Nominated: Locus Awards 2024 Short Story

This week's snack: Hot Tea and Crispy Dark Chocolate Crepe Cookies

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Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

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Next Week's Story: Patsy Cline Sings Sweet Dreams to the Universe

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Looking back to critique the present with uncomfortable satire. This week we dive into a layered retelling of a familiar Bible story to see what it says about people today.

This week's story: Bible Stories for Adults, No. 17: The Deluge, by James Morrow.

Winner: Nebula Awards 1989

This week's snack: Rainbow Goldfish

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Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

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Next Week's Story: The Mausoleum’s Children

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Would you trust a random phone app to give you a better life if you just followed it's directions? Let's chat about shadowy-purposed tech this week!

This week's story: Better Living Through Algorithms, by Naomi Kritzer. Published in Clarksworld

2023 Nebula Award Finalist for Best Short Story

2024 Hugo Award Winner for Best Short Story

2024 Finalist: WSFA Small Press Award

This week's snack: Oreo Truffle Balls

To be notified when new episodes of Sci-Fi Snacks are live, follow the podcast, and sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks for listening!

Let's connect on Socials! @lizjbradley.bsky.social | @lizjbradley

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Next Week's Story: Bible Stories for Adults, No. 17: The Deluge

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Join me for Season 3 where we talk about stories that have been nominated, and sometimes even won, some of the most prestigious prizes in SFF circles. You aren't going to want to miss this season! Follow the podcast to get the episodes as they drop, each Thursday starting on January 8th, 2026!