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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 11m

The princess took an earring off and held it out. The raven looked at it. "Whatever for?" "You are wise and clever. Many princesses have dragons, but none has a raven friend." The raven picked up the earring. "Say no more." "Friends?" she asked when it returned the next day. "Forevermore."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 29/09/2026

Her son carefully lifted his ochre-stained hand from the cave wall and studied the outline. "That's me. My hand." He looked at the other hands. "Do you know all?" "Some are older than me." "That old?" "Hush you," she laughed. "We don't make these to be seen tomorrow, but because today, we live."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 24/09/2026

I also don't think the water would stay liquid. Just because it is a plan doesn't mean it's a feasible one. ;-)

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 24/09/2026

Dr. Dastard pressed the button. Nothing happened. "I cut the wires," Captain Clever said, "you won't rain death and destruction on the world today." "What? My rockets were going to fetch ice asteroids to crash them into the moon." "Why?" "To make an ocean, to let the moon experience tides too."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 22/09/2026

A spaceship landed in the park. A door dilated. An alien emerged with a chair, which they sat down on, backwards. "Look," they said, "we're not here, okay? You know why nobody contacts you? Because the write-up would be such a pain." They sighed. "Get your shit together, okay? We know you can."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 22/09/2026

** Also, I have another repainted story in Unnamed Worlds 5 which is themed on science fiction. wightbred.itch.io/unnamed-worl... **

wightbred.itch.io

Unnamed Worlds 5-8 by Wightbred

Custom worlds and techniques for tabletop roleplaying

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 22/09/2026

** I have a (reprinted) story in "Unnamed Worlds 4: Pirates" which is freely available in an anthology of issues 1-4. Unnamed Worlds is a "minimal rules" magazine filled with inspiration for role-playing games. wightbred.itch.io/unnamedworlds **

wightbred.itch.io

Unnamed Worlds 1-4 by Wightbred

Custom worlds and techniques for tabletop roleplaying

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 21/09/2026

When a wizard dies, their spells unravel. But the pattern lingers a while. When Fitzglob died, other wizards swarmed his tower, trying to find his time-stopper room, which you exited as soon as you entered, no matter how long you spent inside. "Here! This room!" "Why?" "It has a reading chair!"

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 17/09/2026

I died. I expected that. What I did not expect was to be greeted by a friendly librarian holding a large book. "Hello," they said. "I'm here to answer your questions." "Uh... What is the One Piece?" They checked the index of the book and opened it. "Do you want to read, or should I summarise?"

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 17/09/2026

** A very clever reader on Tumblr figured out what I could have meant, had I been as clever. I wish I was, but I'm not. I intended the nod to Monty Python, but not the second, very clever part. www.tumblr.com/microsff/828... **

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 16/09/2026

The entity drifted dreamlessly through space, as it had for aeons. It woke when it neared a star. Scanned for planets, life, signs of technology. Having found all, it analyzed and decoded radio emissions, then composed a message to send. "My hovercraft is full of feels." It resumed dormancy.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 12/09/2026

Before the annual bonfire was lit, the witch checked it. Five fieldmice and one hedgehog were gently evacuated. Then there were the toxic things. Someone's hatred. Another's regrets. And pain. It was good they were discarded, but if you breathed the smoke... She drew them out, for safe disposal.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 10/09/2026

Apparently that was an automatic response. She did get a message from concom later on, with an apology and a promise of a public statement to come.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 09/09/2026

"Here," the witch said. She gave her girlfriend a small pearl. "I made it for you." "What is it?" "A small blessing. It can make a small change to you. Just think of what you want and swallow it." "Could it give me wings?" "That's too big." Her girlfriend swallowed the pearl, and began to purr.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 08/09/2026

"Come out and fight!" the knight called. "Very well," the dragon replied. "As the challenged party, I get to choose weapons. I choose pistols." "What? I have a lance and horse!" "I don't. Here is a matched set, pick one." "Those are cannons!" "Tomayto tomahto. Pick, or forfeit the challenge."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 06/09/2026

** This is your semiregular reminder that you can support me on: Patreon - www.patreon.com/MicroSFF Ko-Fi - ko-fi.com/microsff (Supporters get one or two annotated monthly collections.) Or just keep sharing my stories, I really appreciate that too! **

patreon.com

Get more from O. Westin on Patreon

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 06/09/2026

Another master came to see the swordmaster. "Let me watch you teach." He watched a lesson, then asked: "Where do they get their swords?" "Some have their own, others borrow a school sword, like this." "This is an exceptional sword!" "If you have a bad sword, you learn to fight it, not use it."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 04/09/2026

Or rather, I stole the slogan from Daggerbound, but the story is not about any of the characters from the book.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 04/09/2026

Opinion polls said they were going to lose, unless someone had a genius idea. "You know the water company that put 'sugar free' on their label?" "All water is-" "But only one said so, implying..." "Genius!" "Who," said their candidate after losing, "put 'I do not eat human meat' on my posters?"

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 04/09/2026

** With apologies to T. Kingfisher, whose latest book, Daggerbound, it's very good. **

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 04/09/2026

Opinion polls said hey were going to lose, unless someone had a genius idea. "You know the water company that put 'sugar free' on their label?" "All water is-" "But only one said so, implying..." "Genius!" "Who," said their candidate after losing, "put 'I do not eat human meat' on my posters?"

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 02/09/2026

As I was crossing the river, a person ahead climbed the railing and jumped off the bridge. "Chat!" I said. "Why did they do that?" "People often jump off bridges because their friends do," Chat said. "Was that person your friend?" "I don't..." "You said you wanted friends." I threw the phone.

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Reposted by Micro SF/F by O. Westin

Los Angeles Worldcon @laworldcon.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

You can follow all the finalists (or at least all the ones who have Bsky accounts) for the 2026 Hugo Awards right here with this starter pack. go.bsky.app/mR4XaC

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 01/09/2026

The first wave of teleporter pads were installed in places lots of people were already going to. The second wave were installed where previously only a few had been able to go. The third wave came with a guarantee you'd be the only one there. They're expensive, but the silence is priceless.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 01/09/2026

That is in the nature of the Best Series award. Old Man's War has been up for Best Series before, without winning, but when a sufficient number of new words has been added to a series it becomes eligible again. Since he released The Shattering Peace last year, it was eligible again and finally won

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 31/08/2026

I was not there in person, alas. But that is a delightful company for my little spaceship. :-)

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 31/08/2026

Originally science fiction, but it soon widened to cover most "speculative fiction", so fantasy, alt history, magical realism, and horror have also won, at times. This year's Best Series winner - John Scalzi's Old Man's War - is very much classic science fiction.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 31/08/2026

** Many congratulations to all the winners - well deserved for some excellent work! **

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 28/08/2026

"What are the peasants' demands?" the king asked. "Fair taxes, stronger rights, fewer privileges for nobles." "Bollocks! Send knights out to disperse them." "They have dragons, sire." "What?" "The dragons claim a more equal society is more stable and prosperous." "They hoard countries now?"

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 26/08/2026

The sage on the mountain greeted the visitor. "I have been to the witch in the forest," the visitor said, "and the swordmaster in the city, and asked their advice." "Concerning what?" "How to live a good life. Now I ask you." "Be kind. Be yourself. Keep learning." "That's what they said, too."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 26/08/2026

The sage on the mountain greeted the visitor. "I have been to the witch in the forest," the visitor said, "and the swordmaster in the city., and asked their advice." "Concerning what?" "How to live a good life. Now I ask you." "Be kind. Be yourself. Keep learning." "That's what they said, too."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 25/08/2026

The smith tapped the sign hanging over the display table: "You bleed on it, you buy it" "Don't worry, I know how to- Oh! I didn't even notice!" The smith bandaged the customer's hand. "It's tasted you now, it knows it's yours." The customer paid for the knife. "Is it magic?" "Craft."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 24/08/2026

Hah! Didn't think of that. He didn't need a machine though.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 24/08/2026

The first question the professor posed to her new invention, the consequenceometer, was: "If I can learn the consequences of decisions before deciding, will I be more decisive?" "No," the device said, "you will probe the consequences in ever greater depth, indecisive." She never used it again.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 23/08/2026

Yes, though the professor only sees it as a failed time machine.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 23/08/2026

The label said 'time machine'. "Does it work?" "Bah," professor Contretemps said. "It sends a message into the future, where it is reflected back, and receives it instantly." "Wow!" "Useless. You just see what you write." "Does the sender and receiver have to be in the same place?" "No. Why?"

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 22/08/2026

"To prove you are a hero, you must slay a dragon." "They're all dead." "Well, then you must slay a dragonslayer." "They're also all dead." "Dragonslayerslayers?" "There's one left." "Great! Then-" "He's ninetyseven years old. Listen, I just want to help people." "I guess that'll have to do."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 21/08/2026

** This story was originally posted on other platforms August 21st 2020. If there's an old story of mine you remember from elsenet that you want me to repost here, let me know! If I can find it and still like it, I'll post it here at some point. **

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 21/08/2026

People, young and old, came to the witch for directions. "I seek adventure." "I seek wisdom." "I need a place to feel at home." "I feel like I need to cry, but I can't." The witch listened, and told all where to find what they sought. And the local library thrived. #CrossRepost

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 20/08/2026

Heh, that sounds like something that started as a Tumblr thread. *adds to to-read list*

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 20/08/2026

Er... Maybe? Not one where Dastard has given his fortune away, I don't think, but I might have had him trying to distance himself from the tech bro crowd before.

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 20/08/2026

Captain Clever tore Dr. Dastard's door open. He held a press release. "Is this true?" "Yes. I'm donating my fortune to things governments won't fund, like women's shelters and trans support." "Why?" "People call me a tech billionaire. Feh! I'm a villain, not a villainaire! And stop hugging me!"

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 20/08/2026

"What's your body count?" the emperor said. The assassin almost choked on his tea. "Pardon?" "How many people have you killed?" "Also a personal question." "Either way, I'm sure mine is higher." "So?" "I'm sorry." "You don't say for what." The assassin stood. "But I'll let you live. Again."

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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 19/08/2026

The fairy presented the contract. "As discussed, you will get inner peace for the rest of your natural life, in exchange for your firstborn." "Correction," the boy said. "My father will get inner peace, in exchange for me, his firstborn." "Ah! You have siblings?" "And a mother." "Very well."

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