As announced on the Cymera Festival website:
The jury has read, met and here is the longlist going forward to the next stage.
Bibi’s Sisters by Ailsa Fraser
Chronicles of the Train Delay by Ian Macartney
Dark Matter by Caitriana NicNeacail
Gary’s Massive Head Shouting Forever by Kieran McCaffrey
Ideology by S.J. Ladds
Little Terror by Jon Reburn
Proceed Under Caution by Allan Tanner
Replaced by Kara Devlin
Sapience Record by Duncan Forgan
Sea Monkees by Sam Morris
The fall of the anti-euthanasia collective by Mark Gallacher
The Second Amen by Nicole Love
The Story Collector by R.M. McRitchie
The Weaver by Meghan Ellis
Judge Simon Spanton said of the longlist “ It was a REALLY good list. Stories and characters negotiating different ways of being human, of being alive and of dying. “
Stay tuned for the shortlist announcement on 23rd May, and join us for the announcement of the winner of the 2025 Cymera Prize for Speculative Short Fiction at this year’s Event Horizon on Saturday 7th June from 8:30pm. Tickets are available here
A big thank you to everyone who submitted a story to this year’s competition. We were overwhelmed and delighted by the quality of stories, and please keep writing and submitting!