In a remote solar system, a routine planet human-seeding run has gone terribly wrong. Racing against the clock, before their mothership leaves the system and strands them, two bio-farmers Karlyn and Cruz must solve their dilemmas. They are not only battling with incomprehensible system errors and time, but also with unresolved personal issues and the long shadow of their inequitable upbringing. Failure is not an option.

“Carmelo is a real talent. Here, he brings us a bleeding-edge story of biotech in a gripping thriller of far-future planetary colonization. But, even more than that, he explores the nature of society and what drives us. An excellent story.” — Gustavo Bondoni.

“Intriguing and original, this tale features a surprising amount of detail and world-building. Despite being a short story, the window through which we glimpse the world of the story is well realised. The prose is excellent, the characters feel real and the challenges they face have modern day parallels that make the story relatable and compelling. This is science fiction that is heavy on the science but the details come across as informed and believable. Overall, a very enjoyable read.” — Tej Turner.

Carmelo Rafalà, a child of Sicilian immigrants, travelled the world and somehow managed to finish his MA in Comparative English Literature at the University of South Africa. His stories have been published in various anthologies and cross genres, from science fiction to gothic horror. His fiction has been praised by such outlets as The LA Review of Books, SF Revu, and BlackNerdProblems. He is a 2024 SFFSA Nova Award winner for his story, ‘The Stars Must Wait’.  A collection of his fiction will be released later in 2025. His novella, The Madness of Pursuit, was published by Guardbridge Books. He currently resides on the south coast of England.

Find more from Carmelo at his website: https://www.carmelorafala.com/  

Released: 1st August 2025.

Read an Excerpt here: https://www.zamashort.com/p/excerpts.html 
 

Author Profile here (includes their essay): https://www.zamashort.com/p/authors.html

Available here:

Direct from ZamaShort at our shop in our Bundles or by Subscription: https://www.zamashort.com/p/shop.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJFJHQK4
(Also available at Amazon: UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, JP, BR, CA, MX, AU, IN)
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-clarity-of-ice/id6748969893
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Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9789198291377_9789198291377_10020/the-clarity-of-ice

The ZamaShort imprint series is solely focused on the amazing powerhouse that is the short story. We give each short story its own publication so that it may be read and enjoyed fully as a stand-alone publication. As per the StoryTime Publishing mandate initialised in 2007, ZamaShort continues to champion and add to the ever-growing canon of African literature excellence and diversity.

ZamaShort #3 ‘The Last and Final Battle’ by Zainab Omaki

The world is in chaos, climate crisis, wars, extinctions, inequality, poverty, and pandemics, and one Yoruba god has just had enough. Abandoning centuries of non-interference the Great God Sango; Orisha of Orishas; God of Thunder, Fire, and Lightning; God of Justice and Leadership, returns to Earth, and he’s not alone.

Zainab Omaki is a Nigerian writer currently completing a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where she was awarded the Miles Morland African Writers Scholarship. Her essays, fiction, and literary criticism have appeared in Five Points, The Los Angeles Review, Passages North, Transition Magazine, The Rumpus, and other publications. Her novel-in-progress has received support from the University of Bayreuth in Germany, the Jan Michalski Foundation in Switzerland, and the Nebraska Arts Council. She currently serves as Assistant Nonfiction Editor at Prairie Schooner.

The ZamaShort imprint series is solely focused on the amazing powerhouse that is the short story. We give each short story its own publication so that it may be read and enjoyed fully as a stand-alone publication. As per the StoryTime Publishing mandate initialised in 2007, ZamaShort continues to champion and add to the ever-growing canon of African literature excellence and diversity.

Released 1^st July 2025.

Read an Excerpt here: https://www.zamashort.com/p/excerpts.html  

Author Profile here (includes their essay): https://www.zamashort.com/p/authors.html

Available here:

Direct from ZamaShort at our shop in our Bundles or by Subscription: https://www.zamashort.com/p/shop.html

Amazon US (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1VDP63L)
 (Also: UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, JP, BR, CA, MX, AU, IN)
Apple: (https://books.apple.com/us/book-series/zamashort/id1802930815)
Kobo: (https://www.kobo.com/se/en/ebook/the-last-and-final-battle)
Google Play: (https://play.google.com/store/books/series?id=ZEt5HAAAABAcVM)
Libby: (https://share.libbyapp.com/title/12038423)
B&N: (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/ZamaShort)
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Vivlio: (https://shop.vivlio.com/serie/storytime-zamashort/261261)
Fable: (https://fable.co/book/x-9789198291360)
Angus and Robertson: (https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/ebooks/the-last-and-final-battle-zainab-omaki/p/9789198291360)

ZamaShort #2 ‘Summer’ by Nerine Dorman 

In the far future on the outer reaches of the great human space diaspora Hannali and her husband Mika toil daily under alien skies on their farm. On a break into town Hannali spots Summer, a childhood friend, on a scaffold waiting to be hanged. What ensues is a touching tale of choices made, different paths taken, bonds formed and broken, what makes us who we are, and how we travel through life.

Nerine Dorman is a South African author and editor of science fiction and fantasy currently living in Cape Town, with short fiction published in numerous anthologies. Her novel Sing down the Stars won Gold for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2019 and The Percy Fitzpatrick Award for Children's and Youth Literature in 2021. Her YA fantasy novella Dragon Forged was a finalist in the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2017. Her short story ‘On the Other Side of the Sea’ (Omenana, 2017) was shortlisted for a 2018 Nommo award. Her novella The Firebird won a Nommo for “Best Novella” in 2019. In addition, she is a founding member of the SFF authors’ co-operative Skolion, and the curator of the South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event and short story competition.

The ZamaShort imprint series is solely focused on the amazing powerhouse that is the short story. We give each short story its own publication so that it may be read and enjoyed fully as a stand-alone publication. As per the StoryTime Publishing mandate initialised in 2007, ZamaShort continues to champion and add to the ever-growing canon of African literature excellence and diversity.

Released: 1st June 2025.

Read an Excerpt here: https://www.zamashort.com/p/excerpts.html  

Available here:

Direct from ZamaShort at our shop in our Bundles or by Subscription: https://www.zamashort.com/p/shop.html

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9LCNRKV 
(Also: UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, JP, BR, CA, MX, AU, IN)
Libby: https://share.libbyapp.com/title/11958242 
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/summer/id6746262119 
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-nerine-dorman/1147460895
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/se/en/ebook/summer-247 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1775172 
Fable: https://fable.co/book/x-9789198291353 
Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1075458736
Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9789198291353_9789198291353_10020/summer
Angus and Robertson: https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/ebooks/summer-nerine-dorman/p/9789198291353 

ZamaShort #1 ‘Piss Corpse’ by Muthi Nhlema

Meet Charlotte, Peace Corps volunteer fresh off the plane from Iowa to Malawi and teaching English at a local school. Loaded with hilarious preconceptions as an American, feminist, and agnostic, she expected an adventure — just not one where trousers mean pants and white privilege feels like the punchline of a bad joke. With the help of her spirited chaperone, Malawian Mbumba, Charlotte is ushered into a culture clash more like a train smash and has never felt more alive.

“‘Piss Corpse’ is a marvellous debut in the ZamaShort series. The very best elements of short stories – characters immediately brought to life, a setting both familiar and defamiliarized, a tight narrative arc with a perfectly paced ending, and, best of all, the type of satire that makes African humour so brilliant.”

— Tsitsi Ella Jaji.

“Nhlema's prose is electric and fizzy, accentuating the absurd in this delightful comedy of cross-cultural confusion. You will laugh your head off and be wowed by this tale.”

— Tendai Huchu.

“Nhlema writes with wit and irony. I enjoyed this humorous take on culture-clashes.”

— Brian Chikwava.

 “‘Piss Corpse’ is a story with an attitude. It might even be the right attitude. In its ferocity, revulsion at male oppression and corporate cultural garbage, and its weird and coruscating wit, it reads like a mixture of Celine and early Ngugi. Paraffin for wine drinkers.”

— Imraan Coovadia.

“With biting satire and irreverent humour, “Piss Corpse” dives headfirst into the messiness of cultural collisions, linguistic blunders, the pitfalls of performative wokeness, and the unexpected grace of getting everything wrong.”

— Ekari Mbvundula Chirombo.

When Muthi Nhlema isn't managing a non-profit or trying to understand his 12-year-old son’s obsession with anime. He is a Malawian writer best known for his adventures (and misadventures) in African speculative fiction. This story was written during his stay in the International Writing Program at the Universty of Iowa.

‘Piss Corpse’ was selected to be the debut short story of the ZamaShort imprint series of single short stories. ZamaShort is solely focused on the amazing powerhouse that is the short story, giving each short story its own publication so that it may be read and enjoyed and savoured fully as a stand-alone publication. As per the StoryTime Publishing mandate initialised in 2007, with ZamaShort will continue to champion and add to the ever-growing canon of African literature excellence and diversity.

Released 1^st May 2015

Read an Excerpt here: https://www.zamashort.com/p/excerpts.html  

Author Profile here (includes their essay): https://www.zamashort.com/p/authors.html

Available here:

Direct from ZamaShort at our shop here in our Bundles or by Subscription: https://www.zamashort.com/p/shop.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F1VC85R6

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/piss-corpse/id6743448042

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/se/en/ebook/piss-corpse

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1731412

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Angus and Robertson: https://www.angusrobertson.com.au/ebooks/piss-corpse-muthi-nhlema/p/9789198291346

Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9789198291346_9789198291346_10020/piss-corpse