"Side Quest: Stories" by Jalyn Renae Fiske

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SIDE QUEST: STORIES is the award-winning short story collection by Jalyn Renae Fiske that collects 14 speculative short stories and 1 poem that explore characters who yearn for a different life or a second chance amid magical curses, missing persons, dragon attacks, mad scientists, alien planets, human sacrifices, the undead, and silent gods. Fiske's wide range in writing style and subject matter makes for stories that are captivating and immersive for all types of readers. There's horror, there's adventure, there's whimsy, and there's tragedy. SIDE QUEST: STORIES is for anyone who wishes to step into the fantastical shoes of another and experience different perceptions, struggles, and dreams. Are you ready to begin?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jalyn Renae Fiske is an author, editor, educator, and librarian. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College in 2017. That same year, she began her tenure as Fiction Editor for James Gunn’s Ad Astra magazine and also served as Editor-in-Chief for The Pitkin Review and editor for Clockhouse.

Jalyn writes blends of science fiction, fantasy, and horror that are at times unsettling, strange, or whimsical. She likes to explore themes of identity and transformation, as well as create different social constructs and systems in her worldbuilding that encourages the reader to ask–Why is it that way? Could it be different? Should it be? Jalyn’s short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in The Science Fiction Tarot anthology, Allegory, Wyldblood, Mythaxis, Fabled Planet, and Sword and Sorceries Vol. 7, among others, and her debut short story collection, Side Quest: Stories, was released in November 2024.

Learn more about Jalyn Renae Fiske and her work at: http://www.jrenaewriter.com/

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

• Transformation and Identity
  Characters confront change, shed old selves, and explore what it means to evolve—willingly or not.

• Blending Genres and Tone
  A mix of dark fantasy, horror, and sci-fi delivered with emotional range—from eerie to uplifting.

• Power, Sacrifice, and Social Commentary
  Stories that examine who holds power, what it costs, and how we navigate flawed systems.

• Crafting Stories and Structure
  From poetic titles to layered suspense, each piece is shaped with intention and creative risk.

• Challenging Genre Expectations
  A collection designed to welcome curious readers—not just genre fans—into speculative fiction.

CONNECT WITH AUTHOR JALYN RENAE FISKE:
www.jrenaewriter.com
Facebook: Jalyn Renae Fiske, author