Short Stories
Terraforming: An Unearthly Earth
December 2025
Alicia’s story “Terraforming: An Unearthly Earth” has been published in Welter Literary Journal, the University of Baltimore’s premier publication for creative works of fiction, poetry, memoir, essays, and visual art. “Terraforming: An Unearthly Earth” started as a poem and morphed into a story with two scenes that blend science fiction with horror and dark humor.
The beginning of “Terraforming, An Unearthly Earth”
When a beam of light brighter than any light you’ve ever seen vaporizes that building, do not scream. Shut your eyes, close your mouth, hold very still. Do not panic. I know that’s asking an awful lot when you’re terrified that you’re about to be fried like a donut, but you’ll have to trust us.
Clowning Around Big Top: Where Wishes and Nightmares Come True
October 2024
Alicia’s story “Clowning Around Big Top: Where Wishes and Nightmares Come True” was reprinted in Spectacular, Spectacular: An Anthology of Circensian Horror from The Dionysian Public Library. “Clowning Around Big Top” is a horror story set at a circus. The story was first published in Funny as a Heart Attack, an anthology of creepy clown stories from Schlock! Publications.
The beginning of “Clowning Around Big Top”
The clown at the ticket booth was crying green tears and smelled like formaldehyde, but Joseph bought two Fun Plus Passes for Clowning Around Big Top. It was Emily’s eight birthday, the first birthday they’d spent together without her mother, and he wanted the day to be perfect.
Your Final Mission
October 2024
Alicia’s story “Your Final Mission” was published in This Isn’t the Place: A Collection of Utah Horror. “Your Final Mission” is horror and science fiction about otherness and injustice. Extraterrestrials retaliate after humans execute their kin.
The beginning of “Your Final Mission”
When the executioner pumps poison into my veins, sheath your claws. Cheer with the mob that congregated outside the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City. Make them believe that you are Earthlings. Make them believe that they are the mightiest monsters in the galaxy.
Godmother Death and the Dragon’s Grove
September 2024
Alicia’s story “Godmother Death and the Dragon’s Grove” was reprinted in Tales from the Wood: Stories in the Key of Tull, Volume 2. “Godmother Death and the Dragon’s Grove” is folk horror with Baba Yaga and dragons. A sorcerer who committed murders pays the ultimate price for his transgressions. “Godmother Death and the Dragon’s Grove” was first published by CatStone Books.
The beginning of “Godmother Death and the Dragon’s Grove”
A ring of gnarled oak trees sheltered Ivan from the raging gale, but a shiver crawled down his spine. His mind was an empty cauldron, scrubbed of all memories with only a residue of pungent ash left—the infuriating suspicion that he had been outwitted.
Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium
May 2024
Alicia’s story “Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium” was reprinted in Gamut Magazine, Issue 5. “Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium” is a hilarious and unsettling story about body parts, fate, and desire. The story was first published in Darkness Blooms, an anthology from The Dread Machine.
The beginning of “Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium”
On the way home from work, your stomach rumbles from hunger. You haven’t eaten since you ran out of anemone soup yesterday. You live in a time when housing and hygiene products are provided by the government, but human worker bees must barter for food. The extraterrestrials that conquered Earth created a paternalistic society, but there are limits to their beneficence. Humans who volunteer to transform their bodies into alien form are treated as equals.
The Martian Cavern of Transmogrification
April 2024
Alicia’s story “The Martian Cavern of Transmogrification” was published in Penumbric Speculative Fiction, vol vii issue 6. “The Martian Cavern of Transmogrification” is weird fiction about loss, love, and sorcery in space.
The beginning of “The Martian Cavern of Transmogrification”
No one traveled to Mars except demons, monsters, filthy rich fraudsters who were fleeing intergalactic prosecutions, and sorcerers. The Red Planet’s icy outer shell concealed pulsing tunnels that stank of rotting flesh—not an idyllic paradise, but I was desperate.
From Spores and Tentacles, The Celestial Mother Shall Reign
February 2024
Alicia’s story “From Spores and Tentacles, The Celestial Mother Shall Reign” was published in Eunoia Review. “From Spores and Tentacles” is weird fiction about transformation, consciousness, family, monsters, sexuality, and Earth’s possible future.
The beginning of “From Spores and Tentacles, The Celestial Mother Shall Reign”
Slumber
Hunger.
2.73 billion light-years from Earth, a churning miasma awakened, heralded by a cacophony of cosmic flutes. Microscopic particles grew and coalesced, humming with intelligence. The flutes whined, pleading for the Mighty One to reveal their mission.
Reigning Cats and Human Doggies: How Humans Learned to Heel
February 2024
Alicia’s story “Reigning Cats and Human Doggies: How Humans Learned to Heel” was reprinted in Stygian Lepus, Edition 10. “Reigning Cats and Human Doggies” is science fiction and fantasy with a splash of body horror and humor. Of course, there are cats in the story, but the cats are feline extraterrestrials. The story was first published in Departure Mirror Quarterly, Issue 3.
The beginning of “Reigning Cats and Human Doggies: How Humans Learned to Heel”
On the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I passed a huge Siamese cat walking a man who was wearing a blue and white striped romper and glittery sneakers—silver, to match the choke chain wrapped around his neck—not a Halloween costume or very humane, but the latest fashion for Homo sapiens. The man looked like Robert Downey Jr., expect he had mutton chop sideburns, dyed robin’s egg blue to match the romper and his poofy, pompadour hair.
Evolution
February 2024
Alicia’s story “Evolution” was reprinted in AI, ROBOT, an anthology from JayHenge Publishing. “Evolution” takes place in a fallout shelter. It’s a coming-of-age story about realizations, friendship, family, the hierarchy between humans, animals, and androids, the role of artificial intelligence, and what it means to be alive. The story was first published in Annihilation Radiation, a STORGY anthology.
The beginning of “Evolution”
The cockroach skittered up my leg, crawled into my lap, and began his grooming ritual. Eito’s mouth moved from side to side as the left feeler slipped in and out, digestive enzymes in his saliva washing away radiation. My best friend always started with the left feeler then right, followed by left foreleg and right, then the middle and hind legs. Through my worn out t-shirt, the barbs on his legs tickled.
Devil in Disguise
January 2024
Alicia’s story “Devil in Disguise” was published in Vinyl Cuts, a horror anthology with a music theme from Scary Dairy Press. “Devil in Disguise” is a cross-genre tale about justice and redemption. The story blends horror, dark fantasy, crime fiction, and science fiction. The main character is a demon who is an FBI Special Agent (she hides her demonic identify).
The beginning of “Devil in Disguise”
Sven Hagen wore the face of an ordinary man to hide his inner monster. In the Indianapolis hotel bar where he was conducting surveillance, he blended into the crowd of conventioneers, appearing to be a typical middle-aged man, the kind of boring guy you wouldn’t remember seeing after gunshots were fired.
Harvesting Souls
January 2024
Alicia’s story “Harvesting Souls” was reprinted in MetaStellar. “Harvesting Souls” is a supernatural horror story about a dysfunctional family and ghosts seeking revenge. “Harvesting Souls” was first published in a podcast by Creepy Podcast.
The beginning of “Harvesting Souls”
Gail crushed the empty beer can and hurled it at the portrait of her parents that hung above the fireplace. It bounced off the painting’s gilded frame and landed on the plush carpet—powder blue, the color reminded her of crying babies. She’d done her own share of crying when she was growing up in the house with dear old Mom and Dad, until she got smart and learned that whining was for losers. Winners didn’t take shit from anybody. Winners got even.
Back 2 OmniPark and Chimera
December 2023
Alicia’s story “Chimera” was published in the anthology Back 2 OmniPark. Alicia also co-edited the anthology. “Chimera” blends horror, crime fiction, fantasy, and science fiction to tell a story about good versus evil, justice, transformation, and love that endures beyond the grave.
Back 2 OmniPark also includes never-before-seen stories from some of the biggest names in the horror genre: Jonathan Maberry, Laird Barron, Hailey Piper, Kristi DeMeester, Brian Evenson, Gwendolyn Kiste, Kaaron Warren, John Wiswell, A.C. Wise, John Palisano, Angela Yuriko Smith, Jess Bullington, Brent Winter, Brad Kelly, Ben Thomas, and Maxwell Ian Gold.
Government Conspiracies! Dimensional Portals! A Haunted House! Sentient Fungi! Time Travel! Monsters! Aliens! Discover all these and more in stories about the world’s weirdest theme park.
The beginning of “Chimera”
Nine coyotes tipped up their heads and howled at the massive, silver disc that silently hovered over the arid plains on the outskirts of Midland, Texas.
The disc began to hum. A hatch on the underside slid open.
The alpha male’s howl turned to a bark, warning the pack of danger. The coyotes bolted for their burrow, a tunnel they’d taken from a badger. The smallest pup was the first to fall. Three seconds later, all their bodies were twitching in spasms.
Dust but not dust—the powdery substance sprayed from the hatch was nearly invisible.
Devouring Sin at Serenity Pines Cemetery
December 2023
Alicia’s story “Devouring Sin at Serenity Pines Cemetery” was published in Space and Time Magazine, Issue 145. “Devouring Sin at Serenity Pines Cemetery” blends science fiction, crime fiction, horror, and mystery to tell a story about otherness, redemption, and justice. An extraterrestrial who has the power to purge others’ sins has an encounter with a mourner at a cemetery that leads to horrifying consequences.
The beginning of “Devouring Sin at Serenity Pines Cemetery”
It was past closing time when I escorted Marcella Green from her husband’s grave. The elderly woman trembled as she clutched my sleeve, leaning on me for support. The bereaved often lingered to chat with me, since I was the head caretaker at Serenity Pines Cemetery. Of course, mourners did not know that I provided unique services for their loved ones.
Death Taught Me to Live
October 2023
Alicia’s story “Death Taught Me to Live” was reprinted in Trans Rites: An Anthology of Genderfucked Horror from The Dionysian Public Library. “Death Taught Me to Live” is a coming-of-age story about overcoming a curse, bravery, and transformation. The story was first published in Ireland in Channel Magazine, Issue 4.
The beginning of “Death Taught Me to Live”
I had friend eggs for breakfast, the last eggs I would ever eat, and followed my brother into the woods. Cougars and wolves did most of their hunting at night, but I’d wrapped the cut on my arm with a thick bandage, so predators wouldn’t smell the blood.
Harvesting Souls
October 2023
Alicia’s story “Harvesting Souls” was podcast by Creepy Podcast in the 31 Days of Horror Issue. “Harvesting Souls” is a supernatural horror story about a dysfunctional family and ghosts seeking revenge.
The beginning of “Harvesting Souls”
Gail crushed the empty beer can and hurled it at the portrait of her parents that hung above the fireplace. It bounced off the painting’s gilded frame and landed on the plush carpet—powder blue, the color reminded her of crying babies. She’d done her own share of crying when she was growing up in the house with dear old Mom and Dad, until she got smart and learned that whining was for losers. Winners didn’t take shit from anybody. Winners got even.
Welcome to Draco Intergalactic Space Station
August 2023
Alicia’s story “Welcome to Draco Intergalactic Space Station” was published in Channel Magazine, Issue 8. “Welcome to Draco Intergalactic Space Station” is a weird choose your own adventure story that combines science fiction, fantasy, crime, body horror, queer romance, and humor.
The beginning of “Welcome to Draco Intergalactic Space Station”
A. Hybrid human-machine, hacker, thief—when you fled Earth and your creator, the crypto that you stole bought you a new face and an apartment on Draco Intergalactic Space Station, a colony that protects all citizens from prosecution for past crimes committed on Earth.
Your condo is a cramped studio furnished with a single porthole window, a cot, two chairs bolted to the metal floor, and a small table, but living in a home that’s the equivalent of a large metal box is a hell of a lot better than being hunted for your body parts. The AI that controls your brain is not superior to an UltraSynth android’s operating system, but your mutated human heart, lungs, kidneys, and intestines have stronger rejuvenating powers than Valarnose Youth Elixir.
Kaiju Empowerment: Mothra’s Plan to Rejuvenate Earth
August 2023
Alicia’s story “Kaiju Empowerment: Mothra’s Plan to Rejuvenate Earth” was published in Bullshit Lit. “Kaiju Empowerment” unites Mothra and Godzilla in a weird tale about otherness, power struggles, ecology, alien invasion, and lust.
The beginning of “Kaiju Empowerment: Mothra’s Plan to Rejuvenate Earth”
STEP ONE: MOTHRA’S KAIJU EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN
Mothra is a benevolent goddess. My cocoon did not destroy Tokyo Tower. My larvae never devoured human flesh. These were scurrilous rumors perpetuated by conservative politicians who were threatened by Mothra’s fecund womb. Mothra’s kaiju empowerment campaign shall promote monster acceptance and prove that I love all my children equally—Homo sapiens and larvae.
Nocturne in Black and Gold
May 2023
Alicia’s story “Nocturne in Black and Gold” was reprinted in MetaStellar Magazine. What happens when your doctor is a tiger? “Nocturne in Black and Gold” blends science fiction, fantasy, horror, and dark humor to tell a story about regrets, atonement, and family. Note: “Nocturne in Black and Gold” was first published in a podcast by Brick Moon Fiction.
The beginning of “Nocturne in Black and Gold”
The tiger smiled at Wilbur Rawlings, revealing fangs that were so extraordinarily white they looked like they’d been bleached. The feline physician said, “Before we begin, I will check your internal organs for weakness. Do you have any questions about the procedure?”
Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium
April 2023
Alicia’s story “Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium: Become Extraterrestrial and Lead a Better Life” was published in Darkness Blooms, an anthology from The Dread Machine. “Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium” is a choose your own path story about otherness, family secrets, and conceptions of justice in a futuristic Earth ruled by aliens.
The beginning of “Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium”
On the way home from work, your stomach rumbles from hunger. You haven’t eaten since you ran out of anemone soup yesterday. You live in a time when housing and hygiene products are provided by the government, but human worker bees must barter for food. The extraterrestrials that conquered Earth created a paternalistic society, but there are limits to their beneficence. Humans who volunteer to transform their bodies into alien form are treated as equals.
PRAISE
“’Welcome to the Organ Extraction Emporium’ by Alicia Hilton, of course, must also be mentioned as a highlight. This piece is a choose-your-own adventure in a short story where you are faced with decisions about money, humanity, and whether you’d look good with cheetah paws instead of hands. In this piece, the inevitability of a choose-your-own adventure is paired with a mundanely presented health system that encourages the exchanging of your body for quick cash and social stamina.”
—Haunted MTL (Read more)
Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous
Alicia’s story “Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous” was reprinted in Metastellar Magazine. “Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous” is a story about monsters, mothers, zombies, and a dinosaur that might save or destroy the world. Note: “Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous” was first published in Litro.
The beginning of “Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous”
Mother looked nothing like me: no scar across her forehead, no feathers or scales, and she didn’t have wings, a tail, claws, or a beak with an insatiable craving for flesh. Her skin was pink and supple, her head topped with a crown of glossy black hair. All of the other humans called me Hesperonychus monstrous, or dinosaur, but Mother said I’m her baby.
Candy Canes and Brimstone & Cupid’s Confession
Alicia co-edited the anthology Alternative Holidays and contributed a poem (“Candy Canes and Brimstone”) and a short story (“Cupid’s Confession”). The anthology transports readers from the bottom of the sea to Mount Olympus, from shopping malls in hell to a bathtub in a cheap motel. And that is just the beginning of your journey into alternative visions of the holidays we know, love, and sometimes fear. Be prepared to be shocked, titillated, and petrified. Alternative Holidays presents 43 works by award-winning and critically acclaimed authors of horror, science fiction, and fantasy.
The beginning of “Candy Canes and Brimstone”
A murmuration of demons
Flew from the River of Fire
Ninety-eight monsters
Large, small, and microscopic
Shrieking, hissing
Leathery, feathery, and fanged
The most depraved flock of all
Summoned by sleigh bells
And scents of mulled wine
Peppermint and human flesh
Christmas Day in Hades
The most aromatic
And horrific holiday
Savages Anonymous
Alicia’s story “Savages Anonymous” was published in the anthology Hybrid: Misfits, Monsters, and Other Phenomena. “Savages Anonymous” is a cross-genre story about otherness, justice, and love. Science Fiction + Fantasy + Horror + Mystery.
The beginning of “Savages Anonymous”
The funeral home basement stank of embalming fluid, seaweed, and musky animal secretions, a cloying reek that repelled ordinary humans, but none of the beings that found comfort and camaraderie in the dank room had ever been human.
The Cave That Time Forgot
Alicia wrote Episode 5 of the Stupefying Stories Series Dawn of Time. “The Cave that Time Forgot” unites the time-traveling heroine with a new friend and an old enemy. Together, they encounter a monster.
The beginning of “The Cave that Time Forgot”
Icy flakes pelted my face. I didn’t see Santa’s castle, reindeer, or elves. There were no landmarks in sight, not even an igloo. No polar bears, foxes, snowshoe hares, or birds. Except for a green light in the distance, all I could see was snow.
Time Flies With Time Pies
Alicia co-wrote Episode 1 of the Stupefying Stories Series Dawn of Time. “Time Flies With Time Pies” introduces a time-traveling heroine: 32nd Century high school student Dawn Anderson “borrowed” her father’s TimePak to take a short jaunt back to the 20th Century, only to make a perfectly innocent mistake involving a stolen handgun. Instead of returning home, she bounces from disaster to catastrophe, each one worse than the one before.
The beginning of “Time Flies with Time Pies”
The time machine zapped me to 1975. In the middle of Halloween. I wished we still celebrated it where I was from—when I was from. I’d always wanted to witness the ancient tradition..
My Heart Stopped Beating But I’m Jonesing For A Fix
Alicia’s story “My Heart Stopped Beating But I’m Jonesing For A Fix” won the Cemetery Gates Society Flash Fiction Contest and was published by Cemetery Gates Media. “My Heart Stopped Beating But I’m Jonesing For A Fix” is a chilling tale that takes readers on a trip to Hell.
The beginning of “My Heart Stopped Beating But I’m Jonesing For A Fix”
Satan invites all of the wraiths for afternoon tea. Single file, we process from the cemetery. The elderly corpses lead the horde that trots, walks, lurches, and lumbers towards Lucifer’s mansion, the copper-clad turrets gleaming, windows winking at us, the shutters opening and shutting, opening and shutting, as if the house is more alive than any of us.
Clowning Around Big Top: Where Wishes And Nightmares Come True
Alicia’s story “Clowning Around Big Top” was published in Funny as a Heart Attack, an anthology of creepy clown stories. “Clowning Around Big Top” is a weird tale that blends horror with mystery, crime, and a splash of dark humor.
The beginning of “Clowning Around Big Top”
The clown at the ticket booth was crying green tears and smelled like formaldehyde, but Joseph bought two Fun Plus Passes for Clowning Around Big Top. It was Emily’s eighth birthday, the first birthday they’d spent together without her mother, and he wanted the day to be perfect.
Death Taught Me to Live
Alicia’s story “Death Taught Me to Live” was published in Channel Magazine, Issue 4. “Death Taught Me to Live” is a coming-of-age story about overcoming a curse, bravery, and transformation.
The beginning of “Death Taught Me to Live”
I had friend eggs for breakfast, the last eggs I would ever eat, and followed my brother into the woods. Cougars and wolves did most of their hunting at night, but I’d wrapped the cut on my arm with a thick bandage, so predators wouldn’t smell the blood.
Day Trips To Purgatory: Buy The Total Experience Package!
Alicia’s story “Day Trips To Purgatory: Buy The Total Experience Package!” was published in Stupefying Stories. “Day Trips to Purgatory” is a creepy tale that blends horror with mystery and dark humor.
The beginning of “Day Trips to Purgatory”
The ticket agent had an axe stuck in her bloody shoulder, but her smile was radiant.
Welcome to the Funhouse
Alicia’s story “Welcome to the Funhouse” was published in Stupefying Stories. “Welcome to the Funhouse” is a scary story that’s set at a carnival.
The beginning of “Welcome to the Funhouse”
The clown had really long fangs and a loud, annoying laugh, but Daisy and Tricia walked through his mouth anyway.
Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 6
Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 6 is a collection of 18 of the best hardcore horror stories published in 2020, including Alicia’s story, “Gunfire and Brimstone.” Note: “Gunfire and Brimstone” was first published in Vastarien: Volume 3, Issue 2.
“Gunfire and Brimstone” is a weird, cross-genre tale about awakening dark desires, good versus evil, and transformation.
The beginning of “Gunfire and Brimstone”
The greenish-yellow goo smelled like a rotting corpse dredged from a primordial swamp. I discarded the soiled diaper, wiped off Gordon’s plump buttocks, and wrapped a fresh nappy around his stiff little weenie. He had the unblinking stare of a zombie.
Black Hole
Alicia’s story “Black Hole” was published in Sci Phi Journal: 2021 / Issue 1. “Black Hole” blends existential horror with science fiction. When the editors acquired Alicia’s story, they called it “an uncomfortable ride, with cosmic implications and a refreshing dose of sadism.”
The beginning of “Black Hole”
This is the space station in the galaxy of your nightmares, the last bastion of Earthly civilization. There is the hatch. You have permission to approach.
Stellar Nucleosynthesis and the Infinite Power of Love
Alicia’s story “Stellar Nucleosynthesis and the Infinite Power of Love” was published in the anthology Tales from OmniPark. “Stellar Nucleosynthesis and the Infinite Power of Love” is a weird, cross-genre tale about uncovering mysteries, finding your true self, and intergalactic contact.
The beginning of “Stellar Nucleosynthesis and the Infinite Power of Love”
Many people remember August 15, 1969, as the first day of the Woodstock music festival. It was also the day that my father, Naashonon Amor, arrived on Earth and met Dalton Teague, the eccentric Texas oil billionaire. Like many of the hippies at Woodstock, Amor advocated for peace and practiced fluid love.
Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous
Alicia’s story “Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous” was published in Litro Magazine. “Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous” is a story about monsters, mothers, zombies, and a dinosaur that might save or destroy the world.
The beginning of “Sickle Claws: Hesperonychus Monstrous”
Mother looked nothing like me: no scar across her forehead, no feathers or scales, and she didn’t have wings, a tail, claws, or a beak with an insatiable craving for flesh. Her skin was pink and supple, her head topped with a crown of glossy black hair. All of the other humans called me Hesperonychus monstrous, or dinosaur, but Mother said I’m her baby.
Moonlight, Gunshot, Mallet, Flame
Moonlight, Gunshot, Mallet, Flame is a two story collection that includes “Moonlight, Gunshot, Mallet, Flame,” and “A Little Death.” These are stories about dangerous women who confront supernatural forces.
In “Moonlight, Gunshot, Mallet, Flame,” Laura is a hitwoman who murdered men to avenge and protect innocent victims, but her violent past catches up to her after she kills her nephew. Are Laura’s terrifying visions hallucinations, or real?
In “A Little Death,” an Internet date unites two monsters. Descended from flesh-eating witches, Darla must choose whether to embrace her magical powers and kill, or risk her own destruction for love.
The beginning of “Moonlight, Gunshot, Mallet, Flame”
When we lifted the body out of the stolen Chevy, the moon was full and it was goddamn cold. No fluid had leaked onto the upholstery, but the memory of what I’d done lingered, filling my nostrils with a coppery scent that made my stomach churn. I shut the trunk, and nodded at Nico, signaling him to walk towards the barn. Beneath the snow, the frozen mud was slick as glass.
The beginning of “A Little Death”
Darla flexed her three-inch claws and swiped a gnarled index finger across her phone screen, scanning another batch of personal ads from Magic Matches, but none of the men looked like a suitable victim.
PRAISE
“With Moonlight, Gunshot, Mallet, Flame, Alicia Hilton has succeeded in creating two memorable, gritty and quietly unsettling horror stories that both involve dangerous and formidable women involved with the occult and the supernatural. Each of them, especially the titular story, have a dark, brooding atmosphere that perfectly encapsulates that noir feeling that countless authors attempt to portray in genre fiction and yet so many fail to comprehend… [Hilton is] an author to watch in the Horror genre.”
—The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer (Read more)
“Two short stories from a fabulous writer—the first was a taut and deftly crafted crime / horror offering…Really enjoyable…. The characters brilliant written—I for one would be first in line to buy a longer manuscript of this! The second story was again fabulously written…. Well crafted and enjoyable! It reminded me a little of American Horror Story…brilliant writer, loved these offerings!”
—Ross Jeffery, the Executive Director of Books, for STORGY Magazine (read another review by Ross Jeffery here)
“Alicia Hilton is writing some of the most compelling contemporary dark fiction out there. A blend of neo-noir and the new weird, her stories here will make you laugh, while she slides the blade in-between your ribs, and then casts a spell while dancing around your shocked, crumpling corpse. An author to keep an eye on, her voice is powerful, unique, and intense.”
— Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration and Breaker, Thriller Award Nominee
Gunfire and Brimstone
Alicia’s story “Gunfire and Brimstone” was published in Vastarien: Volume 3, Issue 2. “Gunfire and Brimstone” is a weird, cross-genre tale about awakening dark desires, good versus evil, and transformation.
The beginning of “Gunfire and Brimstone”
The greenish-yellow goo smelled like a rotting corpse dredged from a primordial swamp. I discarded the soiled diaper, wiped off Gordon’s plump buttocks, and wrapped a fresh nappy around his stiff little weenie. He had the unblinking stare of a zombie.
Angel Cake, Or the Deadly Hellacious Bake-Off
Alicia’s story “Angel Cake, Or the Deadly Hellacious Bake-Off” was published in Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. “Angel Cake, Or the Deadly Hellacious Bake-Off” is a modern fairy tale set in Hell about redemption and the power of love to transcend death. The story combines dark fantasy with horror, lesbian romance, and a hopeful ending.
The beginning of “Angel Cake, Or the Deadly Hellacious Bake-Off”
Demons judged the Hellacious Bake-Off, so the rules were subject to capricious interpretation and corporal punishment was routine. The contest always ended with at least one death.
Evolution
Alicia’s story “Evolution” was published in the STORGY Books Annihilation Radiation anthology. “Evolution” is a dystopian coming-of-age story that examines the hierarchy between humans and animals, the role of artificial intelligence, and what it means to be alive.
The beginning of “Evolution”
The cockroach skittered up my leg, crawled into my lap, and began his grooming ritual. Eito’s mouth moved from side to side as the left feeler slipped in and out, digestive enzymes in his saliva washing away radiation. My best friend always started with the left feeler then right, followed by left foreleg and right, then the middle and hind legs. Through my worn out t-shirt, the barbs on his legs tickled.
Best Indie Speculative Fiction Volume 3 November 2020
Best Indie Speculative Fiction Volume 3 is an anthology that contains fourteen of the best stories produced by small press publishers in 2019, including Alicia’s story “MRSA Me.” Note: “MRSA Me” is found in three different anthologies.
“MRSA Me” is a darkly humorous tale about a bacteria’s quest for hosts.
The beginning of “MRSA Me”
I was born in a dumpster, in an alley behind a dive bar. A wee speck of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, baptized by saliva from a hospital orderly, clinging to a wedge of pizza crust. Honestly, I didn’t want to hurt anyone—certainly not the Norwegian rat who gobbled me with his yellowed fangs, feeding me a banquet of liquefied refuse. We’d both gotten a bad rap, MRSA and rats.
The Perfumer in Purgatory
Alicia’s story “The Perfumer in Purgatory” was published in DreamForge: A Magazine of Science and Fantasy Fiction. The “Perfumer in Purgatory” is a suspenseful coming-of-age story that blends fantasy with mystery.
The beginning of “The Perfumer in Purgatory”
I was a perfumer in Purgatory, peddling aromatic wares; the sandwich board placard I wore over of my crimson robe advertised travel size atomizers. The hottest sellers were spicy florals—best at snuffing the stench of death. The priciest fragrance, a blend of frankincense, patchouli, ambergris, cloves, and coyote secretions, was extolled for its powers of repelling cloven hooves. Not demons, certainly not the Dark Lord, just goats, gazelles, and sheep. Customers never read the fine print.
Fairy Tales and Selkie Tails
“Fairy Tales and Selkie Tails” is a suspenseful coming-of-age story set in a fantasy world.
The beginning of “Fairy Tales and Selkie Tails”
My Elven fairy ancestors had evolved, losing their wings, along with most of their magic, but three layers of stockings would not staunch the shimmery, violet light that gleamed from my toenails, a trait that supposedly only afflicted Germanic fairies. My ancestry was Moroccan, with a splash of Germanic heritage from my mother’s great-great-great-grandfather, a Berserker, member of a Viking clan famed for fighting with trance-like fury.
A Glorious Chapeau
Alicia’s story “A Glorious Chapeau” was published in Daily Science Fiction. “A Glorious Chapeau” is a fantasy story about magic and hope.
The beginning of “A Glorious Chapeau”
More glad than mad, the hatter greeted a new customer, a petite man whose spectacles gave him the dour expression of a vexed beetle. The customer said, “I want a chapeau crafted from broken promises and pitch.” He scratched his nose, rubbing a rather large mole. “No, not pitch, can you use spider webs and witch spit?”
Nocturne in Black and Gold
“Nocturne in Black and Gold” exists in some poetic world outside of reality and yet—feels easily relatable. This story bypasses your flesh and bone and gets right into your soul. What happens when your doctor is a tiger? Take a listen to “Nocturne in Black and Gold.”
The beginning of “Nocturne in Black and Gold”
The tiger smiled at Wilbur Rawlings, revealing fangs that were so extraordinarily white they looked like they’d been bleached. The feline physician said, “Before we begin, I will check your internal organs for weakness. Do you have any questions about the procedure?”
Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 5
Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 5 is a collection of 20 of the best hardcore horror stories published in 2019, including Alicia’s story, “MRSA Me.” Note: “MRSA Me” is found in three different anthologies.
“MRSA Me” is a darkly humorous tale about a bacteria’s quest for hosts.
The beginning of “MRSA Me”
I was born in a dumpster, in an alley behind a dive bar. A wee speck of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, baptized by saliva from a hospital orderly, clinging to a wedge of pizza crust. Honestly, I didn’t want to hurt anyone—certainly not the Norwegian rat who gobbled me with his yellowed fangs, feeding me a banquet of liquefied refuse. We’d both gotten a bad rap, MRSA and rats.
Rigor Morbid: Lest Ye Become
Rigor Morbid: Lest Ye Become is a collection of 12 stories, including Alicia’s story, “MRSA Me.” Note: “MRSA Me” is found in three different anthologies.
“MRSA Me” is a darkly humorous tale about a bacteria’s quest for hosts.
The beginning of “MRSA Me”
I was born in a dumpster, in an alley behind a dive bar. A wee speck of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, baptized by saliva from a hospital orderly, clinging to a wedge of pizza crust. Honestly, I didn’t want to hurt anyone—certainly not the Norwegian rat who gobbled me with his yellowed fangs, feeding me a banquet of liquefied refuse. We’d both gotten a bad rap, MRSA and rats.
PRAISE
MRSA Me by Alicia Hilton. Now I read this after traveling from the UK on two planes to Thailand, and knew I had another two planes to look forward to in order to get myself back home again, so that added to the scary a lot. Oh and, if you’re freaking out about coronavirus, maybe don’t give this a read? Or do…”
—Sci-Fi and Scary (Read more)
Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 4
Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 4 is a collection of 20 of the best hardcore horror stories published in 2018, including Alicia’s story, “Monkey See, Monkey Do.”
“Monkey See, Monkey Do” is a tale about survivors of abuse and laboratory experimentation. The story features unlikely alliances between different species who have a common enemy. Given adequate motivation, everyone has the capacity for violence. Cruelty and love can take many forms.
The beginning of “Monkey See, Monkey Do”
The chimpanzee with a bandaged forehead grabbed a hypodermic needle.
Michelle smiled and watched Cynthia stab a syringe into the laboratory director’s kneecap. The chimp appeared to be making a flower design. The other twelve needles she’d jabbed were arranged around the knee like daisy petals.
