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Game On!
Games played in fiction often symbolize more than winning and losing. Games represent risk and reward, wealth and class, strategy and blind fortune. In science fiction and fantasy, games can be matters of cosmic importance and of literal life and death—whether the idle pastimes of Star Trek’s 3D chess, the all-consuming TTRPG of the Gamearth trilogy, a frenetic quest as in Ready Player One, the lethal reality TV shows of The Hunger Games, or choosing a new interstellar emperor as in The Player of Games.
In GAME ON!, we’re looking for unique science fiction and fantasy takes on games, game playing, and games in culture. A game or games—real or imagined—should be central to the story in some fashion.
Please note anything considered a ‘sport’ (i.e.: baseball, soccer, rollerball, etc.) won’t be a fit for this anthology. Games used in stories must also not infringe on real-world trademarked names or third-party copyrights.
Edited by Stephen Kotowych & Tony Pi, GAME ON! will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors and their selected games include:
Eric Choi (video gambling),
Aliette de Bodard (mạt chược/Vietnamese mahjong),
James Alan Gardner (homebrew kids game compilation/solitaire),
Ed Greenwood (dragon social games),
Cat Rambo (Euchre),
Sean Williams (hide-and-seek), and
Melissa Yuan-Innes (haunted house game)
In GAME ON!, we’re looking for unique science fiction and fantasy takes on games, game playing, and games in culture. A game or games—real or imagined—should be central to the story in some fashion.
Please note anything considered a ‘sport’ (i.e.: baseball, soccer, rollerball, etc.) won’t be a fit for this anthology. Games used in stories must also not infringe on real-world trademarked names or third-party copyrights.
Edited by Stephen Kotowych & Tony Pi, GAME ON! will contain approximately fourteen stories with an average length of 6,000 words each. Anchor authors and their selected games include:
Eric Choi (video gambling),
Aliette de Bodard (mạt chược/Vietnamese mahjong),
James Alan Gardner (homebrew kids game compilation/solitaire),
Ed Greenwood (dragon social games),
Cat Rambo (Euchre),
Sean Williams (hide-and-seek), and
Melissa Yuan-Innes (haunted house game)
- GenresScience Fiction
Paperback
First published August 31, 2022
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13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 6, 2023
"Game On!" is a compelling anthology of speculative fiction centered around the premise of games. While every story is objectively good, there were certainly a few that stood out to me above others. Here are a few of my highlights:
“Machines” by Jennifer R. Povey is my favorite story in the anthology: it’s incredibly playful with a diverse cast and excellent pacing. (Although, I did wonder what happened to Samson…he was mentioned once and then seemingly disappeared.) After I finished reading this one, I literally set down the book and said to myself out loud, “I liked that story, I really liked that story.”
“Persistence of Memory” (Cory Swanson) was an interesting story, rife with ethical wonderings and on the verge of horror. I enjoyed reading it, though it’s ending felt a little abrupt and left me wanting more.
“The Grim Reaper’s Game” by David Hankins was a humorous and heartfelt tale. The pacing was great, the mystery intriguing, and the characters full of, well, character. I look forward to his Kickstarter and getting the chance to see more of the Grim Reaper.
Wulf Moon’s story “The Saltmarsh” was an emotional rollercoaster. At first I wasn’t fond of the characters, though the descriptions were strong. As the story wore on, my feelings strengthened, and I loved the ending (no spoilers). The subtle way it was built toward was no less than exceptional.
"Worldplay" by Tris Lawrence was the last story in the anthology that really spoke to me; I loved the characters and intrigue and found myself wishing to play the game the story was about.
“Machines” by Jennifer R. Povey is my favorite story in the anthology: it’s incredibly playful with a diverse cast and excellent pacing. (Although, I did wonder what happened to Samson…he was mentioned once and then seemingly disappeared.) After I finished reading this one, I literally set down the book and said to myself out loud, “I liked that story, I really liked that story.”
“Persistence of Memory” (Cory Swanson) was an interesting story, rife with ethical wonderings and on the verge of horror. I enjoyed reading it, though it’s ending felt a little abrupt and left me wanting more.
“The Grim Reaper’s Game” by David Hankins was a humorous and heartfelt tale. The pacing was great, the mystery intriguing, and the characters full of, well, character. I look forward to his Kickstarter and getting the chance to see more of the Grim Reaper.
Wulf Moon’s story “The Saltmarsh” was an emotional rollercoaster. At first I wasn’t fond of the characters, though the descriptions were strong. As the story wore on, my feelings strengthened, and I loved the ending (no spoilers). The subtle way it was built toward was no less than exceptional.
"Worldplay" by Tris Lawrence was the last story in the anthology that really spoke to me; I loved the characters and intrigue and found myself wishing to play the game the story was about.
October 22, 2024
Yes! A very enjoyable collection of stories - some eerie, some funny. I personally love games so I found it easy to relate to the "game" theme of each story.
July 14, 2023
Some more great short stories from Zombies Need Brains! My favorite is The Grim Reaper's Game.
October 16, 2023
I mean anthologies are always hit or miss for me
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews