The 2020 Short Story Advent Calendar

Turn the lights out, carry me home.

For the past five years, the Short Story Advent Calendar has lit up libraries and living rooms around the world with shimmering smorgasbords of bite-sized literary fiction. But all good things must come to an end. So grab the emergency schnapps from the back of the liquor cabinet, and join us for one last holiday hurrah.

You know the drill by now. The 2020 Short Story Advent Calendar is a deluxe box set of individually bound short stories from some of the best writers around. Contributors to this year's set include:

Sara O’Leary (The Ghost in the House)
Sofia Samatar (A Stranger in Olondria)
Jim Shepard (Like You’d Understand, Anyway)
Amber Sparks (I Do Not Forgive You)
Adam Sternbergh (The Blinds)
and [REDACTED x 20]!

(This is a collection of literary, non-religious short stories for adults. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.)

As always, each story is a surprise, so you won’t know exactly what you’re getting until you crack the seal every morning starting December 1. Then, once you’ve read that day’s story, check back here to read an exclusive interview with the author.

This year’s slipcase, with its electric-yellow lining and spot-glossed lettering, comes wrapped in two rubber bands to keep those booklets snug in their beds. (Those who attempt sneaking a peak before the first of December are at risk of being snapped.)

Also! This year we were lucky enough to work with the fantastic Brooklyn illustrator Ping Zhu on an especially wintry edition of the 2020 Short Story Advent Calendar. This edition features Zhu’s original hand-painted artwork on the box and is limited to 100 numbered copies, as well as a handful of extra lettered copies (overs from the printer).