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Drought has left the land brittle and parched - a controlled burn is needed to restore the land to balance. The only problem? Flora's abuela has left notes that the Cinderbloom, possibly the very last of its kind, lies at the heart of the land about to go up in flames. Cinderbloom is by Cristina Farinas Cristina is a Florida-based writer whose work often explores themes of environmental and wildlife conservation, belonging, and journeys of self-discovery. Her short fiction has been recognized in competitions, including winning the 2026 MagicFest Mock Event and shortlisting in the 2026 Parsec Short Story Contest. Her stories are published or forthcoming in Certain Age, 101 Words, Rat Bag Lit, and Quotidian Bagatelle. A passionate storyteller, Cristina also enjoys photography, hiking, and curating her travel blog, Wander Florida. Follow her on her socials: https://www.instagram.com/what.cris.writes/ https://bsky.app/profile/criswrites.bsky.social I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

The old Swamp Witch is dead. What hope does her apprentice, Reed, have of filling such big shoes? Instructions for a Swamp Witch Funeral is by JA Logwood JA Logwood can be found lurking in the woods of New England where she's raising feral children and friendly goats with her wife. She adores speculative fiction, cozies of any genre and all things queer. Her work has appeared in A Coup of Owls, Rat Bag and Pulp Literature. Find her at @jalogwood.bsky.social I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

War-forged but vulnerable, wise with the memories of another life, another body, a tiny alien returns to its own kind. But can it keep the pieces of itself long enough to share the tale of its lost progenitor? Should it even try? Homecoming by Proxy is by Erin Cullen Erin Cullen is a neuroscience researcher and speculative fiction writer based in New York City. Erin’s writing has appeared in various magazines and anthologies plus scientific journals even experts only look at for the pictures. Erin is nominally on BlueSky @erinrcullen.bsky.social but more often coming up with excuses to be offline and outdoors. I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

J. M. J. Brewer, author of the unsettling "Anemone" (Season 1, Episode 7) joins us for a fascinating conversation about trauma, pain, and its expression in fiction. Support Biome on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Make sure to also check out our most recent written interview with Toshiya Kamei: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-161022506/ Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

How does Biome pick the stories we publish? What's the value of prizes and recognition? Your host and Biome editor Alex Zoubine discusses the value of curation and prizes in Sci-Fi and literature more broadly Check out the Biome submissions portal here if you're curious: https://biomespec.wordpress.com/submissions/ Learn more about the Hugo Awards in Science Fiction: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2026-hugo-awards/ Learn More about the Nebula Awards here: https://nebulas.sfwa.org/award-year/2025/ And of course, check out the official Nobel Prize website here: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/ Check out our recent interviews with some of our Season 1 authors: Jordan Hirsch: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-161200342/ M.D. Smith IV: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-m-d-162930361/ Grigory Lukin: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-165750671/ Toshiya Kamei: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-161022506/ Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

Season 2 launches September 29th Follow now to enjoy stories that will captivate and amaze you Support us on Patreon for ad-free listening and early access: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec

If you loved "After You Catch Them All" (Season 1, Episode 4), you won't want to miss our interview with the author of the story, Grigory Lukin! Hear what inspires Grigory and learn a bit about what it takes to balance humor in science fiction. I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Please make sure to check out last week's written interview with Nissa Harlow at: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-161020047/ Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

The world is ending! Your host and Biome editor Alex Zoubine reviews the storied history of Apocalypse in fantasy and scifi. Check out our recent written interviews with some of our Season 1 authors: Steve Zisson: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-160923806/ River S: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-s-161019051/ Nissa Harlow: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-161020047/ Nicholas Packwood: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-161021396/ Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

Christopher Thomas joins Biome to discuss the haunting story The Winnowers (Season 1, Episode 3). During our interview, Christopher mentioned Milkman by Anna Burns. Check out this wonderful title as well! I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Please make sure to check out last week's written interview with Nissa Harlow at: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-161020047/ Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

Why the biological theme? Why now? Your host and editor Alex Zoubine shares some thoughts on the state of literature and short stories -- and why I think now is the perfect time to start listening to more short stories. Support Biome on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Be sure to check out last week's written interview with River S at: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-s-161019051/ Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

M.D. Smith IV joins Biome to share the story behind Bright Eyes and the Lantern Path (Season 1, Episode 8) - winner of listener's top Season 1 Story! I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Please make sure to check out last week's written interview with Steve Zisson at: https://www.patreon.com/BiomeSpec/posts/interlude-1-160923806/ Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

Jordan Hirsch sits down with Biome to tell us the story behind Writing on the Wall (Season 1, Episode 1). I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

10 amazing stories. 10 talented authors. Season 1 wraps up with a reveal of the #1 fan favorite story of Season 1 followed by an overview of themes and ideas that tie the season together. Join your host, Alex Zoubine, as we send off Season 1 in style and kick off a summer of author interviews. I deeply appreciate your support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BiomeSpec Have questions, comments or thoughts? I'd love to hear from you: [email protected] Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

What do ancient trees say when you can finally listen in on their conversations? Just as he is about to retire, an old forester finds out. Vote (for free) for your favorite Season 1 story here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/157737523 and drop us a line at [email protected] Old Growth is by Steve Zisson Steve Zisson is a biotech journalist whose fiction has appeared in Nature’s Future, Daily Science Fiction, and Little Blue Marble, among other places. He edited a science fiction anthology, A Punk Rock Future. He lives north of Boston. Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!

Rosita boils with fury and has nowhere to put it. So when a hurricane comes bearing down on her beloved city, she does the only logical thing: she steals her dads' airship and flies straight into it. Vote (for free) for your favorite Season 1 story here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/157737523 and drop us a line at [email protected] Storm Chaser is by Toshiya Kamei Toshiya Kamei (she/they) is a queer Asian writer who takes inspiration from fairy tales, folklore, and mythology. This story originally featured in Worlds of IF Magazine: https://worldsofifmagazine.com/ Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!