September 2, 2026 Erin Penn

Disruptive Intent

Fight the power with this amazing anthology edited by David B. Coe (D.B. Jackson) and Sarah J. Sover!

At its best, speculative fiction does more than entertain. It challenges our assumptions — be they political, social, theological, sexual, or cultural — and subverts our expectations. It introduces us to worlds and perspectives, while also holding up an imperfect mirror to our own world that forces us to question, doubt and, ultimately, consider the human experience in a new way. And it makes us wonder whether our perceptions of a work reflect our own mindset or the creative intent of the author. Was Star Wars intentionally antifascist? Was X-Men intentionally centered around civil rights?

In this anthology, we pull back the curtain, allowing the reader to glimpse the inner workings of the author’s mind. By pairing each story with an author’s note describing their personal connection with the subversive elements within their story, we’re saying, “Yes, we meant to do that.” Some believe writers should leave social commentary to pundits and politicians. Disruptive Intent responds to this with a great big, albeit respectful, middle finger. At the same time, these stories aren’t parables, nor are they polemics. They’re pure Falstaff—challenging the status quo in the entertaining, pulp-tastic, character-driven way that has earned us the moniker the Misfits of Fiction. Our stories are disruptive, but they’re also fun, twisty, and guaranteed to keep you turning the page long into the night.

The short stories:

“Strange Bedfellows” by Maurice Broaddus
“May Sarah Grace Protect Us from the Void” by Lucy Blue
“Washout” by David B. Coe
“Zombies Read, Too” by J.D. Blackrose
“Therefore I Am” by October K. Santerelli
“Trash” by Sarah J. Sover
“Hidden Treasures” by Jody Lynn Nye
“A Barely Perceptible Flaw” by James R. Tuck
“Ricochet Happens” by Samantha J. Bryant
“Tiger by the Tail” by Darin Kennedy
“Smoke People” by Nicole Givens Kurtz
“Rising Water” by A.J. Hartley
“Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. The Pecking Order” by Gini Koch
“Immigrant Song” by John G. Hartness
“Public Property” by Sara T. Bond
“Blood of the Coven” by Jonathan Maberry

Disruptive Intent is available for purchase direct through the Falstaff store and through our partner distributors: