Issue 277
September-December 2025

This issue is dedicated to the memory of Dennis McFadden, winner of the 2016 Press 53 Award for Short Fiction with his novel in stories, Jimtown Road. Dennis left peacefully in his sleep during the early morning of August 8 in his cedar-shingled cottage called Summerhill in the woods of upstate New York. After cancer surgery a few years ago, Dennis was forced into retirement, so we did our best to keep him busy judging the Prime Number Magazine Award for Short Fiction and as a guest short fiction editor for several issues of Prime Number Magazine. This issue contains his last three selections for our annual awards competition. Dennis loved contributing to Prime Number Magazine and we always enjoyed reading his selections. We are all going to miss him.

In this issue of Prime Number Magazine we are celebrating the winners of our annual Prime Number Magazine Awards for Poetry & Short Fiction, winners of our “Prime 53 Poem” Summer Challenge, winners of our free, monthly 53-Word Story Contest from May-August, Flash Nonfiction selected by Shuly Xóchitl Cawood, Poetry selected by Terri Kirby Erickson, and Short Fiction selected by Rhonda Browning White.

But first this message. . .

The 2026 Press 53 Award for Short Fiction is now open for entries

We’re looking for an outstanding, unpublished collection of short stories. Judged by Press 53 and Prime Number Magazine publisher & editor in chief Kevin Morgan Watson

First Prize: Publication, $1,000 advance, 53 copies

If a Runner-Up is selected: Publication, $500 advance, 25 copies

Deadline: December 31. Complete information here