What the Future Holds
Feb 02, 2026 1:01 am
Dear Friends of Undertow,
I usually begin these newsletters wishing you well. And I do, sincerely, wish you all well. More than a curt 'Hope you are well' can convey. And I end these newsletters with a word of thanks. Again, with more genuine sincerity than a mere 'Thank you' can convey.
There are over 2,000 individuals subscribed to this newsletter. Many of you have supported us right from the beginning, 2009. And when I see an order or email from a familiar name, I smile. It's a boost, a connection, and a reminder of why we keep doing this. And that's the power you all have. When you support a small business or creator, whether with your money or generous words, you brighten their day and empower them. We do not take you for granted.
We see you.
And I am very thankful and appreciative of your continued support and good wishes.
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS (FOR NOW)
Undertow has had a great run. It's been a wild and heady ride. Increasingly, due to a variety of factors, we find ourselves with less funds to run the press. For the foreseeable future we'll just be concentrating on Weird Horror magazine and the annual Best Weird Fiction of the Year. And hope to keep that viable.
We are not imminently closing done the press. Simply focussing on what we can still accomplish given the current state of things.
To that end, we are hoping you can once again help us to raise the necessary capital.
Last year I crowd-funded. Despite a few other perks, it essentially boils down to pre-ordering the titles. And crowdfunding's fees make the margins rather slim. This year I've decided to just offer a pre-order on our 2026 titles, and a bundle discount on our 2025 titles. (I realize many of you already have our 2025 titles. So if you bought a 2025 title very recently, please let me know and I can apply the discount, if you like.)
Weird Horror#12 will ship in March.
Weird Horror#13 will ship in August.
The Best Weird Fiction of the Year, Vol. 2 will ship in November.
Pre-ordering will help us immensely.
(All prices are in U.S. Funds and include shipping.)
Thomas Ha's collection, Uncertain Sons and Other Stories, heralds the debut of a masterful storyteller. Praised by Kelly Link, Brian Evenson, Book Riot, Strange Horizons, and more. A New York Public Library 'Best of 2025' book. A Locus Recommended Read.
And, as you may know, I am once again anthologizing the weird. (I'm still taking subs for Vol. 2. More on that below.) The inaugural Best Weird Fiction of the Year has been praised by Rue Morgue, Strange Horizons, Lightspeed, and is a Locus Recommended Read.
Now you can get both these titles in a bundle at 20% off. (If you bought either title recently at full price I am happy to refund the difference.)
Finally, we are offering last year's issues of Weird Horror at a 25% discount when ordered together. Just look at those covers! I truly believe both issues will knock your socks off.
Speaking of Thomas Ha, his novelette "Uncertain Sons" is a Locus Recommended Read. We have made it free to read. If you're reading, voting, or recommending for awards, etc., we hope you will consider it in your Long Fiction categories. Thank you!
Until the end of February I am taking submissions for the 2nd volume of The Best Weird Fiction of the Year. Please, please read and adhere to the guidelines.
This is a reprint fiction anthology, to be published later this year, 2026. I am seeking material first published last year, in 2025. To be clear, only weird fiction FIRST published in 2025 is eligible for inclusion in this volume. I will accept translated work as long as the first English-language publication was 2025.
To repeat—this volume is for stories originally first published in 2025. We are not accepting previously unpublished stories, or stories published prior to 2025 in any form.
Stories between 500 and 17,499 words are considered. Please check with your publisher if you are uncertain about the reprint rights to your work.
Hey, did you know we have a Ko-Fi? We do! If you like what we do and want to throw a few bucks our way you can do so there. Thanks!
I've been asked when I will open to submissions for Weird Horror again. I don't know. Mostly it depends on finances. When I opened last September I managed to fill both 2026 issues. My sincere hope is that I can open again this September for our 2027 issues.
I want to again sincerely thank you all for helping us make it this far. You are all aces!
Warm Wishes,
Michael (and the Undertow team)
Undertow Publications