Curio fiction as a subgenre places the fantastic alongside the mundane, yet the story’s speculative elements feel subtle compared to other works classified as fantasy or science fiction. What all curio stories have in common is that they explore human relationships and daily life through the lens of an often-singular or anomalous speculative element. By coining this new fantastical subgenre, I’m hoping to discuss how these stories operate, help authors set expectations with their readers, and inspire writers to bring more curio fiction stories into the world.
