The Reader's Pick Award Goes To...

Rounding out 2025, a year with some truly great stories, we have the Reader's Pick Award for December. This time, the winner is...

[insert drumroll here]

"Sky Serpents", by Randall Andrews — congratulations!

As always, the Award brings with it that immortal combination we all seek: fortune and glory. Fortune in the form of a $100 cash prize, and glory as represented by a lovely medal attached to the story picture. There's also the sincere envy of all of Randall's fellow writers, which is nothing to sneer at. At which to... sneer not at... You know what I mean.

Honorable Mentions this month go to:

• "Two Halves Of the Sky", by Jim Dutton

• "Artificial Tragedy", by Jeremy Sisco

• "Playtime", by Brian McDonald

There's no prize for an H.M., but there is honor. Not so many stores accept it, but on the other hand it never tarnishes either. One can take it to one's grave unstained.

As ever, the Reader's Pick has been chosen by you, the reader. (Hence the name.) The winner each month is the story with the most Rockets, which is our version of the Like button. Each subscriber can give each story up to five Rockets.

Remember: Rocket Early, Rocket Often!