This post is brought to you partly in response to this article (in which the author is completely and utterly incorrect) and partly because I’m often asked for some recommendations for free fiction on the internet.

So, here it goes…

For Your Listening and/or Reading Pleasure:
(These are some of my favorite magazines, which not only provides great stories, but also illustrations and podcasts for them as well.)

Strange Horizons – Publishes weekly stories and poems of fantasy and science fiction.
Lightspeed – More great science fiction and fantasy stories.
Clarkesworld – Even more great science fiction and fantasy stories.
Beneath Ceaseless Skies – Fantasy stories not set in this world.

Reading:

Shimmer -Beautiful and strange stories.
Uncanny – More strangely beautiful stories.
Urban Fantasy Magazine – Fantasy stories set in this world.
Flash Fiction Online – Bite size fiction of ALL genres.
Unlikely Stories – Science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories, but each issue has a theme.

Listening:
(If you need something to listen to in the car or the gym, while doing chores, etc.)

Escape Pod – Science fiction story podcast.
Podcastle – Fantasy story podcast.
Pseudopod – Horror story podcast.
Cast of Wonders – Young Adult podcast that reads science fiction and fantasy stories.

Stories in Your Inbox:

Daily Science Fiction – Short science fiction and fantasy stories emailed to you every weekday.
Every Day Fiction – Bite sized stories of ALL genres emailed to you daily.

Stories in Your Mailbox:
(These are only magazines on this list that are not free or accessible on the internet, but worth mentioning because they always have copies available at Barnes & Nobles.)

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction – True to its name.
Asimov’s – Science fiction stories, with an occasional splash of fantasy.

This is not, by any means, a complete list. And all of these magazines can be subscribed to and usually offer eBook versions of their issues if you do.

Happy reading!