Speculative Shorts: Stories that fell out of my brain

By: Gordon, Cait

Nominated in three 2026 Indieverse Awards categories: Best Collection, Boundary Pusher, and Disability Representation

A nonbinary Alice accidentally enters their own clubbing wonderland because of a smiley app and Bong Guy. An autistic writing instructor who hates ABA but loves ABBA becomes an unexpected hero. A "silent" mermaid-siren noted for keeping the sea safe from poachers is guided to a Lander who might not be like the others. A disabled space pilot couriers precious cargo for the Network while trying to evade the eugenics-based brigade who wants to keep people like her "safe at home." A descendant of Frankenstein's monster is having her sweet sixteen party, but her mother's gift stops the teen in her rollators tracks.

Explore these stories and more in this collection of fifteen tales of queer life, disability, romance, power, defiance, and resilience.

Advanced praise:

"Cait Gordon writes with infectious joy and energy, and with a sense of humour that is never far from the surface even in the darkest moments." Kate Heartfield, Prix Aurora Award-winning author of The Embroidered Book

"Speculative Shorts is a fun, delicious taste of the range of Cait's spice-rack of writing skills, and she blends together those elements incredibly." Dr. Derek Newman-Stille, Prix Aurora Award winner of the digital humanities hub, Speculating Canada

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1069221503
• ISBN13: 9781069221506
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Dinsdale Press
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"