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Spar
In the tiny lifeboat, she and the alien fuck endlessly, relentlessly.
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Spar" is a science fiction short story by American writer Kij Johnson, first published in Clarkesworld Magazine. It won the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Short Story and was a finalist for the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Short Story.
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Spar" is a science fiction short story by American writer Kij Johnson, first published in Clarkesworld Magazine. It won the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Short Story and was a finalist for the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Short Story.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
Unknown Binding
First published October 1, 2009
About the author
Kij Johnson
107 books505 followersKij Johnson is an American writer of fantasy. She has worked extensively in publishing: managing editor for Tor Books and Wizards of the Coast/TSR, collections editor for Dark Horse Comics, project manager working on the Microsoft Reader, and managing editor of Real Networks. She is Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, and serves as a final judge for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award.
Johnson is the author of three novels and more than 38 short works of fiction. She is best known for her adaptations of Heian-era Japanese myths. She won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short story of 1994 for her novelette in Asimov's, "Fox Magic." In 2001, she won the International Association for the Fantastic in the Art's Crawford Award for best new fantasy novelist of the year. In 2009, she won the World Fantasy Award for "26 Monkeys, Also The Abyss," which was also a finalist for the Hugo and Nebula awards. She won the 2010 Nebula Award for "Spar" and the 2011 Nebula Award for "Ponies," which is also a finalist for the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. Her short story "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change" was a finalist for the 2007 Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and World Fantasy awards. Johnson was also a finalist for the 2004 World Fantasy Award for her novel Fudoki, which was declared one of the best SF/F novels of 2003 by Publishers Weekly.
Johnson is the author of three novels and more than 38 short works of fiction. She is best known for her adaptations of Heian-era Japanese myths. She won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short story of 1994 for her novelette in Asimov's, "Fox Magic." In 2001, she won the International Association for the Fantastic in the Art's Crawford Award for best new fantasy novelist of the year. In 2009, she won the World Fantasy Award for "26 Monkeys, Also The Abyss," which was also a finalist for the Hugo and Nebula awards. She won the 2010 Nebula Award for "Spar" and the 2011 Nebula Award for "Ponies," which is also a finalist for the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. Her short story "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change" was a finalist for the 2007 Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and World Fantasy awards. Johnson was also a finalist for the 2004 World Fantasy Award for her novel Fudoki, which was declared one of the best SF/F novels of 2003 by Publishers Weekly.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 6, 2025
great exploration of grief and very sound writing in the alien fucking short stories lately, i wasn't expecting it
you can find it for free here https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/john...
im definitely checking out the authors other works this was great
you can find it for free here https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/john...
im definitely checking out the authors other works this was great
February 1, 2026
What a savage short story this is. Brutal, sad and yet exciting. Definitely worth a read if you are ready to sit through a few pages of madness.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews