Fathoms #1: July 2025

Short stories are back. 707 Press is proud to introduce Fathoms, an annual literary magazine that aims to stir up wonder through tales of adventure and speculative fiction, essays on art and metaphysics, fantastical poetry, and unclassifiable oddments. Prepare to be whisked away to a World Without End, and fall in love with reading all over again.

"South of Esperanza" by Nick Manchester
As a single mom working two jobs, Sylvia has more than enough trouble to deal with. But, when the National Guard and half the country invade her small Texas town to investigate reports of a crashed UFO, she can't help but get pulled into the circus of rumors and conspiracy. Maybe it's aliens. Maybe it's a meteorite. Maybe it's North Korea. Whoever or whatever is behind it all, Sylvia's life-and the town of Esperanza-will never be the same.

"Evidence" by Phillip Stankus
A chance encounter by a small pond morphs into a cosmic struggle for life and death. When all is said and done, everything hinges on that age-old question... "Do you believe in fairies?"

"The Return of Zulkais" by Alex Lattanzi
Meet Michael Baron, the Pennsylvania Department of Investigation's most experienced agent. He's seen some of the weirdest phenomena the Tristate region can throw at him, but the last thing he expected to find in the New Jersey Pine Barrens was the revivified body of a thousand-year-old Arabian princess. The evil Zulkais has returned with unimaginable powers at her disposal, and she demands nothing less than the world for her domain.

"The Fate of the Paxton Lance" by Joel Davidson
A seaside tavern. A crazy fish story. An antique whaling lance. These three ingredients turn a lazy Californian evening into a race against time for two off-the-clock private investigators. Can Drake and Nick rescue Annie the Barmaid before it's too late, or will the murderous stranger-and the sea monster he brought with him-drag them all down to Davy Jones's Locker?

And more!

• Explore the Great Mazes.

• Reconsider Leonardo's masterpiece.

• Eavesdrop on some heavenly conversation.

• Pass the time with a boy named Green.

• Make great art.

• Learn how to breathe and sweep floors.

• Ponder the nature of angels.

• And catch an exclusive snippet from Hieronymous Fritz's legendary lost novel, Snappers.

Fathoms is a publication of 707 Press. Founded in 2020, we are a group of writers spread across the United States (from the Midwest to the South to the East Coast), united by a passion for good storytelling. With tales spanning fantasy, SF, western, horror and other writings, we aim to inspire wonder through the strange and the ordinary. Our contributors are Henry Canine, Joel Davidson, Hieronymous Fritz, Alex Lattanzi, Nicholas Manchester, Nathan McBride, Phillip Stankus, and Devon Williams.