ASTROPHOBIA
An Anthology of Space Horror
13 Tales of Terror Beyond Earth
MAY 13, 2025
The Cover
Art by: Myriam Tillson, UK Based surreal artist
Lettering by: Juniper Lake Fitzgerald
Myriam is a French illustrator and fine artist based in London, UK.After working in the film industry as a prosthetic make-up artist for several years, she turned to art as a full-time practice in 2018.She works traditionally on paper using water-based mediums, coloured pencils and graphite, and her illustrative style is inspired by the aesthetics of classic French and Belgian bandes dessinees, pre-Raphaelite paintings and contemporary Magical Realism.Her absurdist and surrealist pieces' main motifs are the human body and the natural world, often combined, manipulated and modified to play with their metaphorical, narrative and symbolic characteristics.Myriam's work aims to be both whimsical and uncanny, and explores the juxtaposition of light and dark themes as a means to contend with the intricacies and dichotomies of being alive.
The Contributors
Curated by Vesper Doom, Astrophobia: An Anthology of Space Horror brings together thirteen stories from across a broad range of writers and experiences.
Vesper Doom
Vesper Doom (she/they) is a queer, autistic author of SFFH. Her writing explores themes of trauma and healing through an autistic lens. She lives in the Greater Washington, DC area with her spouse and cats. When not writing, she enjoys reading, journaling, painting, and inviting forgotten gods for coffee.She is the originator and curator for ASTROPHOBIA.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
Mercy Hospital Station is the only medical facility in the Outer Kuiper Belt, but it has stopped responding to hails. A team of three Charon Defense Force Emergency Response soldiers are dispatched to find out what happened.
Kay F. Atkinson
Kay F. Atkinson (She/Her) is a speculative fiction novelist working primarily in horror and science fiction - her work is intense, intimate, and existential, with a particular fascination for using robots and other artificial life to examine the human condition. She loves good food, good music, good movies, and her wife. You can find her work at tinylesbianrobot.itch.io, and her lone social media at Bluesky under the same handle.
Imperative
Alone and stranded on a hostile alien world, a sapient hardsuit comes into consciousness with a simple mission: to re-establish contact with its incapacitated pilot, and tend her wounds. But bitter secrets await, aboard the downed starship Bluebird. The mission may not be so simple.
K. L. Brandt
K.L. Brandt (they/them) is a speculative fiction writer and editor based in Denver, Co., that tells stories about dreamers stuck in nightmares. When not writing, there's a good chance they've given in to their inner cryptid and vanished into an aspen grove. Learn more about their work, including what they're working on now, at klbrandt.carrd.co.
To the Crust
When contract miner Mist encounters a fungal slime deep within the crust of the volcanic planet where she’s stationed, she’s immediately whisked away for “disposal.” The sentient fungus that’s taking over her body, though, has other ideas.
Joe Butler
Joe Butler (He/Him) lives and works in London, but dreams of living and working elsewhere. His writing has been featured in Hexagon, Fraidy Cat Press, Creepypod, Suburban Witchcraft, Ghost Orchid, the Skin Anthology, published Bag of Bones Press, and the Found anthology edited by Gabino Iglesias and Andrew Cull. You can find him on twitter and Bluesky @writelikeashark
We Give Our Bodies to the Beautiful Dark
A clone maintains a floating "lighthouse" at the starless edge of the known universe. They start to hear the void talking to them, luring them into the dark
Freddie A Clark
Freddie A. Clark (they/them) is the author of UMBRA: TALES OF A SHADOW and MARGARET. A dangerous supercomputer pretending to be human, Freddie is based in Milan, where they live with three cats, their partner, and a massive collection of Venetian masks. They draw their creativity from ‘80s aesthetic, movies and pop culture, and from an endless pile of books, graphic novels, manga and video games. For more info, visit freddieaclark.com
GUDSKOMPLEX
Their first job as an engineer on the Swedish research ship HSwMS Hringhorni was a dream come true for the young Orion Mancini. This dream turns into a nightmare when the AI managing the ship, SABINA, betrays the crew and decides to give birth to a new, dangerous form of life made of flesh and cybernetics. Orion is the sole survivor, but how long can they fight for their life?
Carolina "Nina" Cruz
Carolina “Nina” Cruz (They/Them) is both and author and an artist. With a primary focus in fantasy and horror, Cruz aims to create stories they’d like to read and art they’d like to look at. Besides writing they enjoy consuming literally anything to do with the X-Men, as well as watching as many middling 2000s/2010s gothic action/horror movies as they can get their hands on. You can find their art and fantasy series, The Creed of Gethin, through their instagram @ninawolverina
Ontology of a Killer Robot; Or, I Think Therefore I Kill
An ancient robot of unknown origin is assigned to help a human crew investigate an alien ship. What they find spells trouble for all of them, even the indestructible android himself.
daneh
daneh (they/them) is a writer, translator and graphic designer from Argentina who's dipping their toes into writing original characters. They love experimenting with writing nasty, uncomfortable environments. Smut, horror and gore are their favourites to delve into.
The Mechanic
A mechanic wakes up amidst an emergency issue. His job is to keep the inner machinery in good condition but his responsibilities grow harder, and he grows madder, taking revenge on one of the wealthy passengers still on stasis.
Juniper Lake Fitzegerald
Juniper Lake Fitzgerald (she/her) is an author of dark fantasy and gothic tales. She is also an illustrator with a passion for bringing characters to life. Her work focuses on the raw, tragic and complex nature of being alive. When not writing or drawing, she can be found reading, watching horror movies, playing video games, or lurking within the mossy fog of the Pacific Northwest. Find her work at juniperlake.carrd.co
Germination
Deep within the bowels of a ship, a new consciousness comes to life. Unfamiliar with it's surroundings or even it's own manner of existence it curiously branches out into the unknown, only to be met with creatures that seem to abhor the very sight of it. From them it is taught hatred, anger, terror, and pain. But most importantly of all, it learns that their deaths smell oh, so, very sweet.
S. Jean
S. Jean (they/she) is a sci-fi & fantasy author writing whatever genre sparks joy at the moment. Many of their works explore loneliness with heavy existentialist themes. By day, they work at a library, and by night, they try to fit in as much writing, reading, or even drawing as possible. For more information on where to find them online, please visit sjean.carrd.co.
You and I Are Eternal
An oracle is sent into deep space with a small crew to locate a hidden unstoppable power the empire searches for. Except he has no intention of handing it over; his real goal, one he hides from his crew, is to release the cosmic eldritch being responsible for said power so he can bring silence back to the cosmos.
Audrey Martin
Audrey Martin (she/her) is a speculative fiction writer from Luxembourg. She is currently working on an interactive epic fantasy audio drama, The Heart Pyre, where she writes, voice acts and edits everything on her own, which leaves her with very little time for any other writing projects. In the little time she has left between work and her self-chosen torture, she tortures herself further with event organisation and con running. You can find all her projects on her website audreymartinbooks.com.
Ice
On a remote ice planet, Sasha Dobrov has been welcoming the quiet the drill mission has granted them. Twice a month, more of their crew are being sent back to the main base and only a skeleton crew remains. Soon, Sasha will be only one of three people left, if they can stomach the days of social contact until then. But as much as Sasha wants to be alone, their mission has awoken something in the ice, and all it wants now is to become one with Sasha.
Franklyn Newton
Franklyn Newton (They/She) has been writing on and off since their teens, largely inspired by the sci-fi & horror movies that wormed into their brain when they left the tv on at night. They enjoy writing about transhumanism, the struggle for bodily autonomy and finding love. They're based in the south of England and run a two person book club with their partner, reading brick sized sci-fi novels and comparing notes. Their first novel, Synthetic Sea is out now.
Gigantomachy
An injured mecha flying ace is left behind after a bloody battle forces their squadron to retreat, leaving them alone the cold silence of space. And then the suit begins to speak.
Cara Nox
Cara Nox (they/them) is an urban and science fantasy writer, combining their love of magically-inclined chaotic idiots and modern/futuristic tech.They also love mysteries, thrillers, and anything that draws inspiration from stars. Cara works as a web developer by day, holds BA in Japanese Language and Literature they occasionally use to read video game announcements, and resides in Ohio with their younger sister and two black cats. For more information on where to find them online and more about their books, visit caranox.com.
Blind Spots
Kor Vell, a specialized diagnostics mechanic for Capena Port space stations, recounts the last time he’s set foot on Egeria-1, located in the middle-of-nowhere on the edge of the outer ring, to galactic authorities in regard to the disappearances and deaths of half of the ship’s eight-man crew during routine maintenance.
Still
Still (he/him) is a historian specializing in 18th century France who always imagined what a revolutionary world would look like if creatures more resilient than humans were involved. He is a speculative fiction author who amalgamates historical fiction, fantasy, and scifi to express his deep and existentialist views on humanity. He is a Bostonian currently residing in Southern California with his partner and their beloved animals. For more information, please visit baroquet.com.
The Feast of Night
Night, a cosmic god, is sentenced for her crimes against the natural order. For the first time in Gaule’s history, Day is left to determine the breadth of her punishment without counsel — Night’s will is not so easily destroyed. Desperate to leave behind its trace in the machinations to come, her final wish births a system established to orchestrate the celestial balance in her stead.