A young boy puzzles over the behavior of his mysterious elderly neighbor, his parents, and his older brother, a budding civil rights activist. This story appears in the collection entitled NEIGHBORS AND OTHER STORIES by Diane Oliver, published by Grove Press. Content advisory: racial slur, racism

On a long mission to search for a new home planet, an outfitter tries to protect the crewmembers' lives. But can she protect herself from the inevitable loss and heartbreak? This story first appeared in Uncanny Magazine. For more from the author, check out anamariacurtis.com. Content advisory: pandemic, death

A young Black musician is heckled by a group of white fraternity brothers, asking him to play "Dixie." His response surprises everyone, including himself. This story appears in the collection DAMNED IF I DO, published by Graywolf Press.

A young woman must decide her future: planting seeds and forging civilization on Mars, or caretaking for future generations on Earth. This story originally appeared in Cast of Wonders. Find more from the author at annazumbro.com. Content advisory: climate change and ecological collapse

The self-proclaimed Graffiti King of Mexico brandishes his magical paintbrush, providing commentary on small-town sins. This story appears in the collection THE WATER MUSEUM. Find more from the author at luisurrea.com. Content advisory: sexism, sexual harassment

An exploration of the depth of a father's love, and his attempts to keep his son happy, healthy and safe in a world rife with racism and violence. This story appears in Justin C. Key's collection THE WORLD WASN'T READY FOR YOU. Content advisory: death, police brutality

A human street performer breaks out his boombox for an unauthorized and unwelcome performance on Planet Drx. For more from the author, visit https://culagovski.net. Content advisory: references to ecocide

A trickster storyteller brings camaraderie and hope to the land of the dead. Find more from the author at ktbryski.com. Content advisory: Death and dying; references to the death of a child

A scientist explores (and transcends) the limitations of the human body, using her daughter as a test subject. This story was first published by Tor.com. Find more from the author at www.taraisabellaburton.com. Content advisory: Death

LeVar Burton Reads is back with all-new episodes starting February 20th, but if you don't want to wait, you can get a taste right here! Look out for stories from Rebecca Makkai, Luis Alberto Urrea, Justin C. Key and more. We think 13 might be our lucky number...

We champion the work of librarians at LeVar Burton Reads, not least because they preserve books and maintain archives of important information for generations to come. Today, we’re sharing a story from our friends over at Atlas Obscura. They'll introduce you to an altogether different species of librarians: The Mafra Palace Library Bats, who make sure the palace's rare book collection is well kept! Atlas Obscura is an audio guide to the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Co-founder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters explore a wonder every day, Monday through Friday. In under 15 minutes, they’ll take you to an incredible place, and along the way, you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Listen to Atlas Obscura wherever you get your podcasts.

If you’ve been listening to LeVar's new podcast Sound Detectives, you know there's something irresistible about a missing sound. That’s why we teamed up with our friends at 99% Invisible to tell the story of the first music streaming service, a 200-ton instrument called the Telharmonium whose sound has been lost to history. 99% Invisible is a podcast about the unnoticed design that shapes the world we live in. This is their latest episode, a collection of mini-stories that weren’t quite big enough for a whole episode. You’ll hear about time measured in decimals, a rogue unlicensed Italian architect, and the ghost kitchens that power food delivery apps. And then yours truly, telling the story of the Telharmonium. Listen to 99% Invisible wherever you get your podcasts and visit 99pi.org for more.

Adrift in a mysterious time and place, and with the ground roiling and churning beneath their feet, a brother and sister try to return home to 1970s London. Find more from the author at atgreenblatt.com.

A mysterious pub draws in lost souls on Christmas Eve. This story appears in the author's collection ADD CYANIDE TO TASTE: A COLLECTION OF DARK TALES WITH CULINARY TWISTS.

An angel surprises a humble coffee shop owner in Cairo. This story appears in E. Lily Yu's collection JEWEL BOX, published by Erewhon Books.

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United States by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC, New York. Find more from Rebecca at www.rebeccaroanhorse.com.

Enjoy more LeVar, more Detective Hunch, and more Audie with Episode #2 of LeVar's new podcast, SOUND DETECTIVES! SOUND DETECTIVES is a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the magic and mystery of sound. In this episode, the Sound Swindler is still at large, and LeVar is anxious for help! Audie is a-buzz about the mystery sound, but Hunch insists that she needs some detective training first. Hunch knows just the thing: Detective Solvall's Handbook for Young Detectives! Listen to SOUND DETECTIVES on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A superhero returns home for Thanksgiving. Find more from Aleksandra Hill at aleksandrahill.com and khoreomag.com.

LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the magic and mystery of sound. Breaking News – Across the globe, sounds are mysteriously going missing! Waves aren’t crashing, crickets aren’t chirping, and the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck is a distant memory. Follow Detective Hunch (Vinny Thomas) and his new sidekick Audie the Ear (Jess McKenna) as they solve sound mysteries and track down the nefarious Sound Swindler … all with a little help from LeVar Burton himself! Equal parts fun and informative, SOUND DETECTIVES encourages listeners to engage with the sound mysteries that surround us, while unlocking the door to people and cultures around the globe. Join the team on this semi-improvised comedy caper and help return the mystery sounds before the world falls silent! Listen to SOUND DETECTIVES on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Siblings try to jog their ailing father's memory through his sense of taste. They discover that as much as he's lost -- he's retained his sense of humor. Find more from the author at www.allisonjking.com. Content advisory: person living with dementia