Samantha Mills on the 8 Story Collections That Shaped Her Speculative Fiction

Samantha Mills, fresh off a Nebula Award and with her debut collection, Rabbit Test and Other Stories, hitting shelves this April from Taychon, offers a fascinating look into the wellspring of her speculative fiction. Her collection, which spans genres to tackle potent issues like abortion access, climate disaster, and intergenerational dynamics, clearly draws from a rich, curated reading history. This isn't just a list; it's a blueprint for anyone looking to understand the mechanics behind truly "stunning" short fiction, or perhaps even an entry point into the genre's deeper cuts. Mills recounts how, roughly a decade ago around 2016, she made a deliberate pivot into short-form science fiction and fantasy. Her learning process is decidedly hands-on: she learns by example. So, she dove into three seminal collections—the first three she details below—from authors she already admired for their longer works. The impact was immediate, a creative jolt. These weren't just good reads; they redefined her understanding of what a short story could achieve, igniting an interest that led her deep into online SFF magazines and a world of authors specializing in crafting intense, concise narratives. What's particularly interesting is how Mills frames her selections. She’s not merely listing favorites; she's mapping thematic parallels to her own preoccupations—motherhood, complex family ties, bodily autonomy. But crucially, she also highlights collections that challenged her formally, pushing her to experiment with narrative structure and voice. This duality—thematic resonance and formal innovation—is a critical insight into how any serious writer develops their craft. It's about finding both kindred spirits and daring innovators.

The Influences: A Masterclass in Short Form

Kij Johnson: At the Mouth of the River of Bees

Mills opens with Kij Johnson’s At the Mouth of the River of Bees (Small Beer, $16 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-931520-80-5), a collection celebrated for its stylistic range. Johnson's work effortlessly shifts from folkloric allegory to contemporary surrealism, even delivering what Mills describes as a "viscerally shocking bit of science fiction." Stories like "The Cat Who Walked a Thousand Miles" and the chilling "Ponies" showcase this versatility, alongside the titular piece that moved Mills to tears. What Mills took away was foundational: a realization that personal style doesn't need to be confined by subgenre. That's a powerful lesson for any emerging writer, a permission slip to let one's unique voice roam free.

Nalo Hopkinson: Falling in Love with Hominids

Nalo Hopkinson’s Falling in Love with Hominids (Tachyon, $15.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-61696-198-5) proved equally instrumental. Mills first encountered Hopkinson’s novel *Brown Girl in the Ring* in college, so discovering this collection was a natural progression. Hopkinson’s singular talent lies in seamlessly merging the fantastical with the mundane, letting her imagination run wild with flesh-eating plants and fire-breathing chickens. Her narratives, deeply rooted in her Afro-Caribbean heritage, traverse sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and historical fiction, all while dissecting the human condition. The takeaway for Mills was stark: embrace the unconventional, be specific, and chase inspiration without reservation. That's a mandate for fearless storytelling.

Catherynne M. Valente: The Melancholy of Mechagirl

Catherynne M. Valente's The Melancholy of Mechagirl (Haikasoru, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4215-5613-0) resonated with Mills on a deeply emotional level. Valente's prose is consistently described as "lush" and "emotional," bordering on "desperate" in its yearning for connection. This collection of thirteen stories and poems, born from Valente's experience as a lonely Navy wife in Japan, is inventive, self-reflective, and poignant. For Mills, it was a masterclass in sentence-level artistry and in imbuing narratives with profound personal experience. The key lesson? Genre fiction doesn’t have to be utilitarian; the prose itself can be the beating heart of the work. That's a nuanced perspective often overlooked in discussions of speculative fiction.

Maria Haskins: Six Dreams About the Train and Other Stories

Maria Haskins, known for her prolific output (over 150 stories and two collections), earned a spot with Six Dreams About the Train and Other Stories (Trepidatio, $17.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-68510-005-6). Mills singles out the title story as "gutting flash fiction" and praises "Cleaver, Meat, and Block" for its chilling take on zombie reintegration post-plague. Haskins's strength, according to Mills, lies in her "exquisite prose" and profound human insight. This is a crucial point for writers in speculative genres: using the fantastic not as an escape, but as a lens to magnify "heartbreaking depths of emotion." Haskins's work exemplifies that.

Carmen Maria Machado: Her Body and Other Parties

Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties (Graywolf, $16 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-55597-788-7) is a collection that Mills not only devours but cites as teaching her "how to be brave, honest, and raw." Machado is a "bold, mesmerizing voice," whose work directly confronts themes of bodily horror, complicated queerness, and domestic abuse—threads also explored in her memoir, *In the Dream House*. Her formal experimentation is remarkable: the classic green ribbon legend becomes a meditation on marital autonomy in "The Husband Stitch," while "Especially Heinous" transforms *Law & Order: SVU* summaries into a bizarre tale of doppelgängers. This isn’t just good writing; it's a testament to pushing narrative boundaries for thematic impact.

Ted Chiang: Stories of Your Life and Others

Ted Chiang, whose reputation almost precedes him in short fiction circles, is a "foundational text" for Mills with Stories of Your Life and Others (Tor, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-7653-0418-6). Chiang’s genius lies in marrying sweeping sci-fi concepts with deeply human emotional undercurrents. His stories, which span everything from philosophical explorations of mathematics and theology to alternative histories of golem-driven industrial revolutions, consistently hit harder because of this balance. "Story of Your Life," famously adapted into the film *Arrival*, is the quintessential example of his ability to merge complex linguistics with profound emotional narratives. For Mills, Chiang underscores the importance of thoughtful, measured exploration of every idea's implications. That’s a lesson in depth over breadth.

Suzan Palumbo: Skin Thief

Suzan Palumbo, dubbed a "goth superstar" by Mills, showcases a "confident ferocity" in her horror and dark fantasy collection Skin Thief (Neon Hemlock, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-952086-72-4). Palumbo blends the supernatural with gritty reality, confronting themes like racism, patriarchy, immigration, and queerness. The collection itself is cleverly structured, moving between Canadian English and Trinidadian dialect, mirroring Palumbo's own evolving background—a detail that hints at the author's personal investment in her craft. Stories like "Apolépisi: A De-Scaling" and "Douen" exemplify her willingness to tackle difficult subjects head-on. Mills's takeaway here is direct: don't shy away from painful topics. It's a reminder that speculative fiction can be a potent vehicle for addressing real-world discomfort.

Vanessa Fogg: The House of Illusionists and Other Stories

Finally, Vanessa Fogg's The House of Illusionists and Other Stories (Interstellar Flight, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-953736-45-1), a relatively recent discovery for Mills, wraps up the list. Mills characterizes Fogg's work as "subtle and moving," often tinged with wistfulness. The collection's range is striking, from the playful metafiction of "Fanfiction for a Grimdark Universe" to the unsettling horror of "Sweetness." Fogg taught Mills to appreciate the beauty in small moments, to maintain authenticity and thoughtfulness, without sacrificing a sense of enjoyment. This insight suggests that even profound speculative fiction can, and perhaps should, retain an element of delight and genuine curiosity. It’s a subtle yet profound piece of advice for any writer navigating the complexities of genre.