Celebrate Halloween with a chilling new short story from Jon Cronshaw. The Children Who Didn’t Log Off is a dark speculative tale about technology, control, and what happens when the system won’t let go. Read it free on Patreon.
Happy Halloween!
I’ve just released a brand-new short story called The Children Who Didn’t Log Off, and you can read it right now — completely free — on my Patreon.
It’s a dark speculative tale set in a near future where education has gone entirely digital… and one mother realises something isn’t right when her son doesn’t return from his online classroom.
I won’t spoil anything, but if you enjoy stories that blend technology, bureaucracy, and quiet horror, this one’s for you.
It’s a public post, so you don’t need to be a member to enjoy it. Feel free to leave a comment, share it around, or just settle in with a warm drink and let the story unsettle you a little.
Stay safe, keep your devices charged, and have a very happy Halloween.
Get into the Halloween spirit with The Pumpkin in the Window, a free psychological horror short story by Jon Cronshaw. Read it now on Patreon — the first of two free Halloween tales from the author of The Ravenglass Chronicles.
The spooky season has arrived — and I’ve got something special to share.
My new short story, The Pumpkin in the Window, is now live to read for free on my Patreon: 👉 patreon.com/joncronshawauthor
It’s the first of two free Halloween stories I’ll be releasing this year — the next one will arrive on Halloween itself.
This first tale brings a darker, more psychological edge to the season… something to curl up with on a grey autumn night while the wind rattles the windows and the trick-or-treaters pass by.
You don’t need to be a member to read it — it’s a public post, open to everyone. Feel free to comment, share, and enjoy.
I hope it gets you perfectly in the mood for the spooky days ahead.
Filed 3E.928 under Archive Classification: Draconidae — Sentient Species — Restricted Study.
By Master Aelric Venn, Senior Beast-Lecturer, High Collegium of Natural Enquiry, Reichsherz
INTRODUCTION
Wyverns remain among the most fascinating and misunderstood creatures of the known world. Their biological structure, social behaviours, and psychic abilities mark them as an evolutionary anomaly—perhaps even a deliberate construct of natural magic. From the mountain peaks of Wiete to the jungles of Boeki, wyverns appear in remarkable diversity, and their history stretches deep into the fossil record.
This paper attempts to summarise what is known, observed, and theorised regarding wyvern anatomy and lifecycle, with specific reference to fossil studies, field observation, and limited vivisection performed under Collegium sanction.
PHYSIOLOGY
Modern wyverns are defined by their bipedal body plan: two powerful hind legs and a pair of leathery, bat-like wings extending from shoulder-mounted joints. They lack forelimbs, though many use wing claws for perching, climbing, or limited manipulation.
Wyvern sizes vary dramatically:
The lesser whisperling, no larger than a fly, is often mistaken for an insect.
The black mountain reaver, recorded in the Greyspine Wars, stands as large as a wolf.
Fossil evidence indicates that in the Second Age, many wyvern species reached titanic proportions—some rivalling mammoths in mass. These megafauna likely supported human riders, and possibly contributed to the origin of bonded wyvern-rider legends.
Wyverns develop scales after emerging from their cocoon stage. These interlocking plates vary in hardness and colouration depending on species and environment, but are generally impervious to common blades. Only Ravenglass-forged weapons or high-grade armour-piercing bolts reliably penetrate them.
Wyverns possess elongated canine and carnassial teeth, suitable for tearing meat and inflicting deep puncture wounds. Their claws—particularly on the talons—are curved, durable, and capable of disembowelling a human adversary with a single strike.
VARIATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS
Regional variants exhibit specialised traits:
Southern venom-tail breeds possess retractable poison barbs on the end of their tails, used both for hunting and defence.
Rarer highland breeds, such as the Fangmist Howler, house venom sacs in their throat, allowing them to spit corrosive liquid capable of blinding and burning exposed flesh.
Tundra wyverns have thicker scale layering and reduced wing surface, adapted for gliding and insulation in cold climates.
These adaptations suggest significant environmental plasticity, and possible ongoing evolution—or deliberate magical manipulation in ancient times.
REPRODUCTION AND LIFE CYCLE
Wyverns follow a unique reproductive cycle:
Dominant female wyverns form matriarchal nests, often high in mountainous or inaccessible terrain.
One female will maintain several subordinate males, with whom she mates cyclically.
Fertilised eggs are laid in secure ledges or cavern bowls.
The hatchlings emerge not as miniature wyverns but as proto-wyverns—long, pale, worm-like creatures bearing little resemblance to their mature form.
These larval young spin silken cocoons and enter a prolonged metamorphic state.
Upon emergence, they display their characteristic limbs, wings, and scalation—born ready, in most cases, to fly, fight, and hunt.
Mortality is highest at the proto-stage, with unhatched eggs often preyed upon by cliff crows, carrion wolves, or rival wyverns.
PSYCHIC ABILITIES
Perhaps the most debated element of wyvern biology is their psychic faculty.
Even lesser breeds demonstrate the capacity for emotional influence—calming prey, unnerving rivals, or bonding with sentient beings through prolonged proximity. Higher breeds, particularly those exposed to Ravenglass, develop complex telepathic communication, and in rare cases, the ability to project sensory illusions.
Most remarkable, some wyverns demonstrate spoken language, using melodic, structured phrasing understood by humans. Their vocal cadence has a harmonic quality often described as musical, echoed, or unnervingly perfect.
Ravenglass acts as a psychic amplifier—a bonded wyvern bearing proximity to the substance gains greater clarity, range, and precision in its mental projection. Some claim that ancient wyverns helped design the Ravenglass binding rituals still used today by the Empire and the Guardians.
CONCLUSION
Wyverns are not simple beasts, nor wholly magical creatures. They are a unique convergence of natural evolution, magical adaptation, and ancient history—creatures of claw and wing, mind and scale.
To study wyverns is not merely to dissect flesh or measure wingspan. It is to engage with a creature whose legacy is written not only in the bones of old empires, but in the psychic threads that still connect sky, thought, and fire.
Let us hope that when the next great brood awakens in the mountains, we are wise enough to learn rather than conquer.
Filed under restricted circulation. Authorisation required for reprint or citation.
In this macabre and darkly comedic episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw serves up a deliciously disturbing glimpse into a world where cannibalism isn’t just accepted—it’s celebrated as a cherished tradition.
“Eating” introduces us to an unnamed narrator who casually reflects on the culinary merits of recently deceased family members while preparing their own grandmother’s remains. With matter-of-fact delivery and chilling nonchalance, they muse on family recipes, funeral etiquette, and the proper distribution of human remains in a society where consuming the dead has become normalised.
Themes & Topics
• The malleability of social taboos
• Family traditions and rituals around death
• The commodification of human remains
• Class divisions in funerary practices
• The search for meaning and connection in death
• The thin veneer between civilization and barbarism
Listener Discretion
This episode contains explicit descriptions of cannibalism presented in a casual, normalised manner that some listeners may find disturbing.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that challenges social norms and examines how easily the unthinkable could become mundane under the right circumstances. His flash fiction often delivers maximum impact through deceptively simple premises taken to their logical—and frequently horrifying—conclusions.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
In this darkly comedic episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw delivers a biting satire of influencer culture and the often stark contrast between online personas and private realities.
“The Mediocre Maverick” follows Millie, a social media personality who has built her brand and fortune on promoting the joys of mediocrity and unremarkable living. Her “Mediocrity Maverick” persona preaches the gospel of beige walls, predictable routines, and embracing life’s most mundane moments.
But behind the carefully curated facade of ordinariness lurks a woman who secretly craves the extraordinary. When her thrilling skydiving hobby is accidentally exposed during a livestream, we witness the desperate lengths she’ll go to protect her empire of averageness—and the shocking turn events take when her carefully constructed world begins to unravel.
Themes & Topics
• The performance of authenticity in social media
• The commodification of lifestyle philosophies
• The disconnect between public personas and private lives
• The extreme pressure of maintaining a personal brand
• How quickly violence can erupt when livelihoods are threatened
• The dark humor in turning even tragedy into content
Listener Discretion
This episode contains sudden violence and a death that some listeners may find disturbing.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that examines our relationship with technology and social media. His stories often feature characters caught between their authentic selves and the versions they present to the world, revealing the psychological toll of living a double life in the digital age.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
Free Story Collection
Download Jon’s free short story collection “Optimised” featuring ten thought-provoking tales exploring technology, society, and human nature. Visit joncronshaw.com/optimised to sign up for his newsletter and download your copy today.
In this unsettling episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw delivers a masterful slow-burn horror story set in the seemingly mundane world of public transportation.
“I’m Not Allowed Past Dudley” follows a veteran bus driver who has spent twenty-two years piloting the number 12 route between Wolverhampton and West Bromwich. When management suddenly truncates his route to end at Dudley, he begins noticing subtle but disturbing anomalies. His attempts to venture beyond the new boundary—whether in his bus, car, or on foot—are met with increasingly bizarre and frightening consequences.
As our narrator’s investigations deepen, the very fabric of reality begins to unravel, revealing a terrifying truth about the nature of his world and his place within it. What begins as a simple route change spirals into an existential nightmare that challenges everything he thought he knew about his familiar Midlands surroundings.
Themes & Topics
• Reality simulation and boundary enforcement
• The unsettling nature of the familiar made strange
• Working-class routine disrupted by cosmic horror
• The psychological impact of lost autonomy
• The Black Country as a setting for existential dread
• The surreal horror of bureaucratic control
Listener Discretion
This episode contains themes of existential horror and psychological distress that some listeners may find disturbing.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that transforms everyday settings into landscapes of subtle terror. His stories often feature ordinary people confronting extraordinary circumstances, revealing the fragility of what we perceive as reality.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
In this darkly satirical episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw delivers a scathing portrait of modern internet culture and the slippery slope from critic to cult leader.
“The Anti-Guru” follows the rapid transformation of Alex who begins as a frustrated critic of self-help charlatans and ends as the very thing he once despised.
Themes & Topics
• The corrupting influence of online validation and attention
• How algorithms encourage extremism and hypocrisy
• The self-help industry and its manipulation tactics
• The thin line between critic and practitioner
• How movements become marketplaces
• The psychology of cult formation in digital spaces
Listener Discretion
This episode contains cynical commentary on online culture and self-help industries that some listeners may find uncomfortably accurate.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that examines the darker aspects of our digital existence. His stories act as mirrors reflecting uncomfortable truths about how technology shapes our behavior and beliefs, often without our conscious awareness.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode.
In this episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw invites us into a bleak near-future where hope seems all but extinguished.
“To Grip the Bright White Chains” follows Elsie, an elderly woman navigating a harsh world of addiction, poverty, and environmental decay. When we first meet her, she appears to be engaging in a dubious transaction with a desperate young addict. But as Cronshaw gradually reveals Elsie’s true intentions, we discover her quiet act of resistance against the desolation surrounding her.
Themes & Topics
• Finding hope in dystopian circumstances
• The importance of creating safe spaces
• Memory and nostalgia as motivating forces
• The power of simple pleasures
• Intergenerational connection
• Environmental deterioration
• The cycle of addiction
Listener Discretion
This episode contains references to drug addiction and child poverty that some listeners may find affecting.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that finds light in the darkest of futures. His stories often focus on characters who maintain their humanity and compassion despite overwhelming societal collapse, offering glimmers of hope in otherwise bleak landscapes.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
In this chilling episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw delivers a nightmarish glimpse into a post-apocalyptic world where human reproduction has been fundamentally altered by plague.
“Host” follows an unnamed narrator confined to dark tunnels, their body transformed into an incubator for the children of surviving humans. Neither male nor female, the host has become something “other”—revered yet feared, necessary yet loathed.
In just a few paragraphs, Cronshaw creates a deeply unsettling vision of reproductive horror where the boundaries between human and other have collapsed, raising profound questions about bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and what constitutes personhood in the aftermath of catastrophe.
Themes & Topics
• Body horror and reproductive nightmare
• Post-apocalyptic adaptation and survival
• Dehumanization and objectification
• The thin line between reverence and revulsion
• Reproductive enslavement and bodily autonomy
• The cycle of othering and violence
Listener Discretion
This episode contains disturbing imagery related to body horror, forced reproduction, and infanticide that some listeners may find deeply unsettling.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that examines bodily autonomy and social hierarchies through visceral, often disturbing imagery. His flash fiction often condenses complex ethical questions into brief but powerful narratives that linger in the mind.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
In this micro-fiction from Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw offers a piercing allegory of colonialism and cultural erasure through the lens of an Indigenous Earth scholar in a Martian-dominated world.
“Meditations on the Martian Invasion” follows an academic who has dedicated their life to preserving Earth languages and customs in a society where Martian culture has become the default. Through the narrator’s reflections on being treated as a curiosity for wearing “traditional” Earth clothing and studying “dead” Earth languages, Cronshaw delivers a commentary on cultural appropriation, assimilation, and the persistent othering of Indigenous peoples.
Themes & Topics
• Colonialism and cultural erasure
• Indigenous identity and resistance
• Cultural appropriation and assimilation
• The preservation of language as cultural resistance
• The myth of post-racial/post-colonial societies
• The persistent “othering” of Indigenous peoples
Listener Discretion
This episode contains themes related to colonialism and cultural erasure that may resonate deeply with listeners from historically marginalized communities.
About the Author
Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that uses the lens of science fiction to illuminate real-world power dynamics and social issues. His flash fiction often packs complex political and cultural commentary into deceptively simple narratives.
Support the Show
If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.
