2025

This collection contains shortlisted stories from the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The shortlist was selected after 7,920 writers entered stories.

Issue 1

Issue 2

Issue 3

Issue 4

All stories

Jumbie Pond
Jumbie Pond
by Joanne C. Hillhouse
Nuala Nu
Nuala Nu
by Damhnait Monaghan
Mrs Gaonkar’s Girls
Mrs Gaonkar’s Girls
by Parul Kaushik
The Mothers 
The Mothers 
by Olákìtán T. Aládéṣuyì
Pomp and Circumstance 
Pomp and Circumstance 
by Kellie Martine Magnus
We’ll Meet Again 
We’ll Meet Again 
by Maria Samuela
The Crossing 
The Crossing 
by David Frankel
The Dot 
The Dot 
by Tahoor Bari
Threads of Truth
Threads of Truth
by Lachlan Alexander
The Drum and the Bell 
The Drum and the Bell 
by Keith Goh Johnson
Le soleil n’est pas encore mort
Le soleil n’est pas encore mort
Read 'The Sun Isn’t Dead Yet' in English
The sun isn’t dead yet 
The sun isn’t dead yet 
'Le Soleil N’est Pas Encore Mort'
by Vashish Jaunky
The Pale Blue Dot
The Pale Blue Dot
by Angela Pope
Redeye Cat
Redeye Cat
by Jessie Mayers
The Flute Player
The Flute Player
by Priscilla Ametorpe Goka
Tamarind
Tamarind
by Tino de Sa
Beasts
Beasts
by Tess Little
Final Effort of the Wind
Final Effort of the Wind
by Gillian Leasunia Katoanga
Bread and Butter
Bread and Butter
by Dushi Rasiah
A Room Full of Teddy Bears
A Room Full of Teddy Bears
by Dorechi
Broken String
Broken String
by Stephen M. Finn