Deathcap

by Lara Elena Donnelly

Two space marines trapped in a doomed spaceship confront the desires that will destroy them both.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Science Fiction

16 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2026

About the author

Lara Elena Donnelly is the author of the Nebula, Lambda, and Locus-nominated trilogy The Amberlough Dossier, as well as short fiction and poetry appearing in venues including Strange Horizons, Escape Pod, Nightmare, and Uncanny.

Lara has taught in the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College, as well as the Catapult Workshop in New York. She is a graduate of the Clarion and Alpha writers’ workshops, and has served as on-site staff at the latter, mentoring amazing teens who will someday take over the world of SFF.

Reviews

[౨ৎ aylin (jem carstairs' ver.) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⸺ ✩ 3 stars 𑣲⋆˚࿔
꒰👽꒱ By the way, if I was stuck on a doomed spaceship filled with alien parasites I would've done the hanky panky with my infected comrade as well. Like, who cares? We're all dying soon anyway, might as well see what happens, I guess. But don't use this comment as a justification for any (deadly) alien shenanigans if you're currently two hundred years into the future, you should know better.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. Tor does horror/sci-fi right. I would read a whole novel of this premise. I would read a whole series of this premise. However, since other Tor short story horror/sci-fi authors have tried to make their works into novels and woefully failed, I’ll take the short story instead.

Excellent.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. ouch.

[Meishuu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is for those of you who wanted to fuck the alien in “Alien”, with flashes of the “The thing”.

[Marl · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4 stars]

[Read for free at Reactormag.com]

A horny 2.5k words sci-fi story where we’re trapped with two space marines after barricading themselves in the medbay following a parasitic alien infestation of the rest of the crew. It's sweaty, lusty, and claustrophobic as our two characters settle in, ready to die.

I could say the obvious and wish that this was longer/had been made into a whole novel (which I do!), but I think that Donelly did well with this short format and don’t see it as a flaw. Our two living and one presumed dead characters are distinct and interact well with one another. Most of the dialogue flows well and there's a nice mix of humor and horror.

It’s a short, fun read that definitely makes me want to check out the author’s other works.

[Cozy Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and hits like a truck, this 16 page SF story manages to create fleshed out characters and a stressful environment laced with sweaty, end of the line confessions. With death eminent would you give in to your most taboo desires?
Absolutely stellar and ready to read everything this author writes. It’s evident they’re willing to sift through all the hidden parts of the human psyche with fervor and show us everything without apologizing.

Incredible cover artwork by KEI-ELLA LOEWE
Read on Reactor Mag website

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very much not my thing. In the story's defence, there were plenty of warnings both in the form of a content warning, and just in the way the story was swiftly unfolding, but curiosity got the best of me. Perfect story for you if you've ever thought the body horror in Alien was kind of sexy, I guess. Anyway, if this is the kind of thing you enjoy then more power to you. Have fun. It's well told, I guess, for what it is.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donnelly does not miss!!!! I would read an entire 800-page novel of this. Inject it straight into my bloodstream. I want to know what happened before this short story. I want to know what happens after. I want to know every gory, ghastly, sticky detail! How long were these two trying not to flirt! How long has the 'you' been pushing down their thoughts! It's simply too good.

[Luno del Fuego Puño · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admiro cuando la gente desarrolla su freakiness, a mi me daría vergüenza escribir esto pero oye.
Muy fan del trend este de 'las IAs nunca podrán hacer arte porque no están cachondas'.
16 páginas que te hacen cuestionarte diferentes ángulos de 'La Cosa' de Carpenter.

[R Frueh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oof

https://reactormag.com/deathcap-lara-...

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I definitely wish I caught the trigger warning before starting to read this. And there's definitely more horror than I prefer)

[Per · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/deathcap-lara-...

[karlbug · Rating 4 out of 5]

very quick short story that was actually quite good. it made me realize that i can stand scifi if its in small doses.

[Jayra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohggh, I would invested in this for sure.

Because I wanted to know the details after that.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay. More on me than the author.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need this to be a whole book, please.