Zebra Merdian and Other Stories

Set in worlds awash with bizarre religious cults, young gods surfing the heat death of the universe, the dog rapture, macabre puppetry, time-loops, and a cigarette-addicted duck, Geoffrey W. Cole’s short fiction bubbles both with giddy absurdism and characters weathering strangeness with tenderness and generosity. The wry voice of these thirteen science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories will encourage readers to find delight in the dark and humor in the many ways humans find connection in a disconnected world.

About the Author

Geoffrey W. Cole’s award-winning short fiction has appeared in such publications as Clarkesworld, EscapePod, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, OnSpec, and various Year’s Best anthologies. His stories have been translated into many languages and have been produced as podcasts. He is the 2016 winner of the Premis Ictineu for best story translated into Catalan. In 2023, he was nominated for the Aurora Award for both Best Short Story and Best Poem. Over the years, he has worked as a rock and roll singer, a Segway tour leader in Rome, a grizzly bear caretaker, a Lego robotics instructor, and a municipal engineer. Geoff has degrees in biology, mechanical engineering, and creative writing. He lives with his wonderful wife, three sons, and giant hound in Oakville, Ontario. Visit Geoff at www.geoffreywcole.com.

About the Publisher

Stelliform Press is a small independent literary press which publishes novellas, novels, short story collections, and works of creative non-fiction which address our world’s most pressing problems: climate change, ecological destruction, and the effect of these issues on how we relate to each other and to the other beings that live with us in the world. We see these problems as systemic and pervasive, exacerbating long-standing social issues. Our stories challenge us to confront the roots of injustice which prevent us from achieving a better world for all.