Dan Rabarts took first place in the Wily Writers/SpecFicNZ short story contest. His science fiction short, entitled "Crucible," had to work very hard to beat its competition, but it did it!

Wily Writers podcast the story, using the rich voice talent of Scott McGough. Give this wonderful story a listen.

After millennia spent crossing the galaxy, spawning new worlds out of barren wastes, meteorologist Cyran considers himself no longer a man, but a god. But when his lover Kayla betrays their ship, the Crucible, Cyran must choose between love and immortality as the life he has known spirals into chaos. [28mins]

Debbie Cowens was the runner up, with her incredible noir fairy tale entitled "Upon a Star". Philip Pickard did a fantastic reading of it. Go listen!

In a city where Prince Charmings can’t be trusted and getting what your heart desires can be deadly, a string of murders leads PI Robin Goodfellow to the Blue Fairy night club. Noir meets Fae in a tale of lust, betrayal, corruption and broken dreams.

SpecFicNZ is a writers organization dedicated to speculative fiction writers in New Zealand.