And The Reader's Pick Is...

It's that time again, readers! This will be our first Reader's Pick of 2026, and a very well deserved one to boot. Our award winner is...

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[If you guessed already please stop yelling at your screen — we can hear you]

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"Smart Coffee", by J. Millard Simpson with a stunning 40 rockets! A very hearty, possibly over-caffeinated congratulations!

As a reward, J. Millard Simpson will receive a fancy badge so prestigious it may or may not impress his pets, along with bragging rights. In addition there's a $100 cash prize, enough to buy coffee, or at least write about buying coffee!

Of course, no contest worth bragging about is complete without its slate of runners-up. These stories are no less deserving of applause, for each is a wonderful tale of is own, judging by their own stratospherically high rocket counts.

Honorable mentions this month belong to:

• "Changing Frequencies" by Anne Wilkins

• "All Robots Go To Bowling Green" by Gary Smalls

• "Somehow a Serial Killer" by Hudson Tankersley

As always, our illustrious Reader's Pick award is chosen by you, our readers. Each month the story with the most Rockets will win our $100 cash prize, the story medal, and the shout-out here. Each subscriber may give up to five rockets to any story they find enjoyable!

Remember: Rocket Early, Rocket Often! (no actual rockets required. Please don't mail us rockets.)