Please allow me to give up a drumroll for The Understudy – New Literary Fiction. Given the nature of this latest published story, Theatrical Fiction might be a better genre moniker. I say that because The Understudy tells the tale of a missing actor, a mysterious understudy, and a play that must go on. Let’s call this story literary fiction with a dose of Shakespeare.
Read the story NOW!
Mash the big orange button, and you’ll be whisked away to an excellent university journal devoted to all things literary: Offcourse, a journal for poetry, criticism, reviews, stories, and essays. Offcourse gratefully acknowledges the server support provided by The University at Albany. If you love straight-up university-type literary fiction, this is your journal. And no paywalls! That’s right, Friends and Neighbors, Offcourse is a FREE read. W00T!
The Understudy is my second appearance in Offcourse Journal, and I am hoping for a third. But back to the pitch, besides reading my story The Understudy (yes please!) you can peruse the whole Offcourse Issue #99 here:
The frosts of February are hard and cold, while around the world, fascism is on the rise. Do what you can to resist, Brave Readers. There is no one but us.
On a happier note, The Understudy is my tenth published piece for 2025. More stories are coming your way, so hold onto your hats, folks! So, how will you know when a new story breaks? Glad you asked, Friends. Read On! Drum roll and… Meanwhile, don’t miss any upcoming stories. You can stay tuned for all the latest by following the MEF blog:
And finally, with your indulgence, allow me a blatant book plug. I’m heading to the USA in two weeks and hotels ain’t cheap. Thow me a bone and buy a book, willya? Thanks!
The Wrong Name
Stories from the darker edge
The Wrong Name – Stories from the Darker Edge, stories of the darkness that lies within us, and the occasional glimmer of hope that keeps us afloat in the shadows. Doppelgangers and crones, artificial and human intelligence gone wrong, murder, revenge, tragedies embraced, and fates narrowly avoided. Reluctant heroes tire of the chase and ghosts relive the past. Bodies must be disposed of, corpses arise, and dreams damned. Here is magick, for good or ill. Twenty-one tales of darkness, and the occasional glimmer of hope that keeps us afloat in the shadows. Welcome, Reader, to The Wrong Name.
The Wrong Name gathers twenty-one of author Marco Etheridge’s best dark short stories into a single volume. These are speculative tales from the darker edge. Within these pages live characters bearing the wrong name, unrepentant, untethered, and unforgiven. Good choices are made and bad; others that are downright evil. Here are doppelgangers and crones, artificial and human intelligence gone wrong. Murder and revenge, tragedies embraced, and fates narrowly avoided. Reluctant heroes tire of the chase and ghosts relive the past. There are bodies to be disposed of, corpses arisen, and dreams damned. Here is magick, both benevolent and not. Twenty-one tales of the darkness that lies within us, and the occasional glimmer of hope that keeps us afloat in the shadows. Welcome, Reader, to The Wrong Name.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Marco Etheridge
Marco Etheridge is a writer of prose, an occasional playwright, and a part-time poet. He lives and writes in Vienna, Austria. His work has been featured in over one hundred reviews and journals across Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA. His story “Power Tools” has been nominated for Best of the Web for 2023. “Power Tools” is Marco’s latest collection of short fiction. When he isn’t crafting stories, Marco is a contributing editor for a new ‘Zine called Hotch Potch. In his other life, Marco travels the world with his lovely wife Sabine. Website: https://www.marcoetheridgefiction.com/