Our Nominations for the Best of the Net Anthology 2027
This year, the editorial team at Abraxas Review nominated twelve exceptional pieces for inclusion in the annual Best of the Net anthology. This annual anthology highlights unique writers who work with digital publishing spaces that break out of conventional publishing’s conforms. We reviewed our contributors’ work and selected pieces that made us do a doubletake—pieces with a special sheen to them, whose details entice you and leave a new flavor lingering in your mouth. We are excited to reintroduce you to twelve pieces of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art from our third issue that we believe deserve to be honored in the 2027 Best of the Net Anthology.
1. “The Dog” by Peter Cashorali
Peter Cashorali’s poem about an accident that never happened forces you to recognize the ways in which our perceptions create reality. “The Dog” breaks your heart and sews it back together again, but not without leaving a bittersweet ache in the wet night air of Cashorali’s piece.
2. “But what kills the nematode?” by S.D. Dillon
S.D. Dillon’s poem combines scientific jargon with Greek mythological references and children’s games to create a short poem that uses every line to pack a punch. “But what kills the nematode?” wondering if the answer to Dillon’s question is right under your nose and hungry for more.
In “Radius,” Conor Gearin makes math not only engaging, but painstakingly human. He plays with the concepts behind and impacts stemming from industrialization while centering a personal narrative of his struggle against the constraints of logic.
4. “I wish you warblers” by Andrea Giugni
Andrea’s Giugni poem examines the complicated nature of love with fresh, tender details—trees rolling into the wind, tide pools, and cheesecake—and experiences that snag on your shirt and remind you of the ache that love can leave behind. .
5. “I Dreamt I Was Unblemished” by Colleen S. Harris
In “I Dreamt,” Colleen S. Harris takes something quotidian, her skin, and transforms it from a vessel for her body to a vessel for storytelling. In an endearing and relatable fashion, she reflects on how one’s appearance is affected by age and the impact emotional experiences have on our bodies.
6. “If I had a ‘real’ penis, I’d name him Sting” by Remi Rechhia
“If I had a ‘real’ penis” bumps into something new at every corner, from an exploration of painful physicality to a condemnation of the United States’ flawed TSA system to a reclamation of identity in the face of fear. Remi Rechhia’s poem vulnerably yet unabashedly explores his experiences as a trans man, weaving a web of original connections and emotions.
In his fictional piece, “Language,” Logan Smith plays with human notions of infatuation, communication, and weakness in an alien landscape—literally. On another planet, during a scientific test of “the Creature” that quickly goes awry, Smith’s protagonist ends up learning more about their own emotions than the alien species they were studying.
8. “Pure Pursuit” by Maxine West
Maxine West’s “Pure Pursuit” combines the bleak destructiveness of war with the intimacy of fantasy, attraction, and desire. Employing direct, poignant language, this short piece of fiction explores the relationship formed by two fighter pilots, with the protagonist traversing a violent landscape both physically and emotionally.
9. “Birds of Yesterday, Dreams of Tomorrow” by Stephanie Maru
By placing a series of moments in conversation, Stephanie Maru’s creative nonfiction piece “Birds of Yesterday, Dreams of Tomorrow” is a refreshing, first-person narrative reflecting on Maru’s past and imagining alternative futures. She allows the audience to fill in gaps and weave the story together with her, making meaning from unassuming moments.
10. “Turkish Fortunes” by F. T. Rose
In their creative nonfiction piece “Turkish Fortunes”F.T. Rose opensa window into the tight-knit bond between a grandmother and a grandchild. Rose’s rich prose nods to the dynamics that scamper in the undergrowth of families—skeletons in the closet, formative childhood experiences, and differing memories—and how they change the way relatives interact.
11. “Sea Wall” by Judith Skillman
The expansive sky and abstract details in “Sea Wall” juxtapose its painstakingly rough texture, creating a visually engaging piece that plays with the way oceans reflect their surroundings. Judith Skillman paints expressionist works in oil on canvas, board, and paper.
12. “Front” by Judith Skillman
Skillman’s “Front” uses contrasting textures and colors to form an inconsistent gradient, evoking the tension of thick air and heavy sky right before a storm rolls in. Skillman paints expressionist works in oil on canvas, board, and paper.
