Historical & Mythological Short Fiction
World History Encyclopedia's international historical and mythological short story contest
We're excited to announce the official winners of the Ink of Ages Fiction Prize 2025, an international writing competition highlighting historical and mythology-inspired short fiction, sponsored by Oxford University Press. Every shortlisted story was read by multiple specialist judges, 6 for the adult category and 4 for the youth category, and re-read by Joanne Taylor from the World History Encyclopedia editorial team.
Scores were awarded for literary merit, originality and creativity, historical interest, and impact and enjoyment. Bonus points were awarded each time a judge placed a story in their personal top five. The whole shortlist impressed the judges, and decisions were tough! Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who entered a story. We enjoyed reading every single one.
"These are wonderfully vivid time capsules and mythological dreamscapes, transporting readers to unexpected places in just a few well-crafted pages."
Oxford University Press Editor
"The youth division writers were so impressive—the historical moments and myths they chose to explore and the compelling narratives, dialogue, and imagery they created really brought their stories to life."
Author
"Unique as each one is, all the stories [on the shortlist] make their mark."
Oxford University Press Editor
First Prize:
Second Prize:
“Møya” by Senthan Thomas Sivasangar →
Third Prize:
“Shining Light” by Richard Garcka →
Highly Commended:
First Prize:
“To Forget” by Sophia Campbell →
Second Prize:
“The Defeat of the Emperor” by Cassandra Hughes →
Third Prize:
“Maidens, Men and Raging Seas” by Prisha Roy Mahapatra →
Highly Commended:
“Shattered Souls, Eternal Light” by Faaris Jamali →
"I was blown away by the high standard of writing in the Youth Category, in both the short list and in others which did not quite make the list. The writing was generally mature, innovative, well researched and a pleasure to read. I want to encourage every one of these contestants to continue writing, as they all have considerable talent. My sincere congratulations to all."
Author
"Congratulations to the Ink of Ages contestants for creative, fun, and fascinating stories. Many authors featured a little-known historical figure and wove a personality and story based on the few threads found in the actual record. Other authors gave us first-hand fictional accounts of familiar events, often with surprising but historically consistent perspectives. Those stories remind us that no two witnesses see any incident the same way."
Author & Speaker
"We were amazed by stories from all over the world in this year’s Ink of Ages, including our first-ever youth category! There was incredible storytelling, from bold intertwining of history and myth to deeply moving tales inspired by grandparents. Some stories packed so much into the word count and will really stay with me. Congratulations to everyone who entered − the research, characters, and creativity made judging a privilege. It’s fantastic to celebrate these writers in genres we love!"
World History Encyclopedia
We've enjoyed re-reading the longlist and have selected 16 short stories based on their literary merit, originality, creativity, historical interest, and impact and enjoyment. The shortlist is now in the care of our specialist panel of judges. We appreciate everyone who has supported us in the second year of the Ink of Ages Fiction Prize and are excited to announce the shortlist for the 2025 prize! Listed in randomized order:
| Anna McHugh | Joao Costa | Peter Hankins | Richard Garcka | Matt Roberts | Senthan Thomas Sivasangar | Paul Burdick | Mairi McCurdy | Morna Sullivan | Loïs Raoult-Sambourg | Michael Kowalczyk-Barker | Abaan Zaidi | Lara Mennel | Rhianna K. Clary | Miriam Culy | Will Reardon |
Jump to the Youth Prize shortlist ↓
by Anna McHugh
Inspired by the murder of Zannanza, the Hittite prince who was requested as a husband by a widowed Egyptian queen anxious not to be forced into a marriage with an ambitious member of the Egyptian nobility.
Zannanza’s young soul rises up from his body into the hot air above the desert road. They are still in Hittite territory, the empire of his father, the Hittite king. He feels a sense of rueful surprise that this was it – at only fifteen years old, this was how he died.
by Joao Costa
Inspired by the Spanish Civil War.
by Peter Hankins
Inspired by the Great Fire of London, and salamanders.
by Richard Garcka
Inspired by the construction of The Lighthouse of Alexandria.
by Matt Roberts
Inspired by the Aberfan Disaster, Wales.
by Senthan Thomas Sivasangar
Inspired by Møya i Ulveham, an old Norwegian myth spread via folk ballads in the 18th and 19th centuries across the Norwegian county of Telemark.
by Paul Burdick
Inspired by my mother's life story of escaping Nazis in Germany during WW2.
by Mairi McCurdy
Inspired by the scandals surrounding the Catholic Church, its associated mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries in Ireland that have emerged in recent years.
by Morna Sullivan
Inspired by the writing and illustrations in The Book of Kells.
by Loïs Raoult-Sambourg
This story is inspired by Sophocles' Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone). I intentionally mixed elements from historical Mycenaean Thebes with customs from Classical Athens.
by Michael Kowalczyk-Barker
Inspired by Wieliczka Salt Miners.
by Abaan Zaidi
Inspired by The Epic of Gilgamesh (Tablet XI).
by Lara Mennel
Inspired by the Great Famine, Ireland.
by Rhianna K. Clary
Inspired by The Great Plague of Marseille, 1720.
by Miriam Culy
Inspired by The Black Death.
by Will Reardon
Inspired by Orpheus and Eurydice, Greek mythology.
At World History Encyclopedia, we've enjoyed reading all 404 adult and 107 youth submissions this year! Each story was read by at least two reviewers from World History Encyclopedia. It's a delight to read stories from all over the world inspired by such a range of history and mythology, and even those stories that did not make the longlist this time were read and enjoyed by the team.
Thank you to everyone who shared their creativity with us.
Jump to the Youth Prize shortlist ↓
Jump to the Youth Prize longlist ↓
Listed in no particular order:
Crimson Trails – J Mildanoff
The Women of Margate Go Beneath the Earth to Converse with the Dead – Harriet Matthews
The Invention of Beer – Omnologos
Armed With Affection – Christine Collinson
The Deluge – Abaan Zaidi
The Shower – Janine Pietsch
Mercy From Wolves – Kathleen Mikos Mason
Bronze Petals – Paige Elliott
Confessions of a Shipwrecked Sailor – E V Wallace
The Indian and the Greek – Sanjeev Ghotge
But A Ribbon Round It – Denarii Peters
Echoes of Hunger and Hope – Lara Mennel
Destined to Lose – Jeff Meade
Encrusted – Michael Kowalczyk-Barker
The Last Lament of Orpheus – Phoebe Bush
Olympus Inc. – AJ Coates
Møya – Senthan Thomas Sivasangar
The Last Stand of the Goddesses – Amy Cantrill
Bane of Legions – Vijay Hare
Nilus, Savior of the people – Philina Becker
Eurylochus, Shepherd Once More – Margaret Spencer
In This Garden – Samantha Williams
Death Makes An Artist – Pax Europaea
A Husband's Favor – Lixin Foo
Michael and the Bear – Achim Hanne
The Visitor – Amrita Dhillon
The Letters of Mathieu Telier – E. E. Skinner
Awakening of the Bagh – Maryam Zahid
No Place Like Home – Jaime Gill
The Wendigo Tale – Mark Willis
Shining Light – Richard Garcka
Shrouded Thebes – Loïs Raoult-Sambourg
Thankful – Hilary Smith
Unniyarcha's Victory – K. E. Priyamvada
The Walls of Roxburgh Castle – Brian Lowrey
The Night of Victory – Alistair Nash
The Air Raid – Paul Whittington
Dust and Letters – Annabelle McGrane
A Silent Meal of Forgiveness – Kaylee Gabriel
Fable – Sarveen
How the Brisingamen Came to Midgard – Gregory Amato
The Protective Circle – Joeyta Dutta
A Daughter of France – Freda Lynne Quarrell
The Twilight of the Tuatha Dé Danann – Kyenna Jensen
A Man’s World – Bethany Royle
Becchino – Matthew Ewan Thomas
The Curse of Silence – Charlotte Hall
Perun's Retribution – Patrick Crawford
The Anchor – Monique Hayes
Moon and stars – Tabitha Parrish
King Minos And The Daughters of King Cocalus – Thomas Malloch
Letter To Home – RJ Balzer
Ladies Who Wait – Nancy Edwards
Mictlantecuhtli – Emma Boxer
Fidelity – Morna Sullivan
The Monk, The Abbot, The Emperor – C. J. Thomas
Havens – Joanne W. Kline
Gord Afarid – Faezeh Nadimi
Zannanza – Anna McHugh
A Cataclysmic Folly – James D. Best
The Price of Gold – Sanya Dimova
Derailing Leon – William Leonard
The Diary – Matt Roberts
Rabbit's Foot – David Mathews
Where Hyacinth Blooms Unbidden – Trais Pearson, PhD
Strangers in a Strange Land – Alyson Serena Stone
An Enthusiastic Rage – Chris Hudson
Scales of Justice and Retribution – Aliya Drake
Roric's Bridge – Garth Pettersen
Above the Eastern Sea – Stephany Zoo
Bubblegum's Brief Foray into the Black Market – Katie Thorn
The Night When Mau Came Home – T. Mak
Marcus Tullius Cicero my first trial – Simona Rotella
Crab Village – Otancia Noel
Bog Child – Mairi McCurdy
Federico – Joao Costa
Rules of Engagement – Wally Smith
Irk Bitig – DW Draffin
Love-Back – Anna Agaronyan
A stained-glass heart – Julio San Román Cazorla
Sugar and Milk – Aditya Iyengar
A Bird’s Conscience – Wilson Knoll
A Perfect Art – Sarah Stook
The Silk Shoes – Julie Dron
The Last Song of Alexandria – Chinmay Khare
The Neophyte – Jonathan Smith
God of the Gallows – Jonathan McCallum
Drawing a Veil With Brooms – Anne Meale
Vienna, 1529 A.D., The Siege, and Turkish Soup – Charles Havens
Descendant – Rachel Atkins
Lamentations – Rebecca Hurst
A Mountain God's Dilemma – Paul Burdick
The Forgotten Song of Muthiwa – Black Author KPM
The Tale of Cwenhild – Matthew Llewelyn
Letters to Jane – Ella Cave
The Sleeping Beau – Katelin Tebbutt
Outlaw – Kayleigh Hunter
The sound of salt – Will Reardon
Calamachus – Peter Hajinian
Tides of War – Tracy Bradford
Medusa's lair – James Robert Clark
In the Name of Crow – Rick Duffy
The Bones – Amy Luxton
Ossuary, Sanctuary – Juliette Jarabek
The Miracle Thief – K. S. Dearsley
Sir Gawain and the Green Rhizome – Luca Scala
Home Front – Carolyn Owen
The Naiad – C S Firestone
To End a Nightmare – Miriam Culy
The Brave Solider – Archie Macpherson
This is the End of the World – Rhianna K. Clary
My Eureka Moment – Jane Jennings
The Salamander of London – Peter Hankins
The Red Painted Chamber – Zane Peterkovic
For entrants aged 13 to 17. We've enjoyed re-reading the youth longlist and have selected 13 short stories based on their literary merit, originality, creativity, historical interest, impact, and enjoyment. The shortlist is now in the care of our specialist panel of judges. We appreciate everyone who has supported us in the first year of the Ink of Ages Youth Prize and are excited to announce the shortlist for the 2025 prize! Listed in randomized order:
| Faaris Jamali | Cassandra Hughes | R. M. Ahmed | Tabitha Jorimann | Jenna Davis | Tatiana Randjelovic | Yau | Emily Peters | Iris | Somya | Sophia Campbell | Prisha Roy Mahapatra | Kayla Williams |
Jump to the adult prize shortlist ↑
by Faaris Jamali
Inspired by the myth that fairies on a full moon come down from heaven to bathe at a lake (now called Saif-ul-Malook), in Pakistan.
by Cassandra Hughes
Inspired by researching Napoleon for school – the rabbit saga fascinated me!
by R. M. Ahmed
Inspired by the complexity in Norse myths, especially where Loki is concerned. The god of mischief often causes trouble and chaos, and I often wondered how that impacted his relationship with his family.
by Tabitha Jorimann
Inspired by Greek mythology.
by Jenna Davis
Inspired by the story of Arachne, the first spider according to Roman mythology.
by Tatiana Randjelovic
Inspired by America History/Western expansion.
by Yau
Inspired by Chinese mythology, where the Nüwa (女媧) is the goddess of nature, and the creator of man. There are many tales told about the Nüwa, and two of the most well known ones tell a story of how she crafted men with soil and dirt, and how she rebuilt the Earth and fixed the sky when it fell.
by Emily Peters
Inspired by Hera and Zeus in Greek mythology.
by Iris
Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh.
by Somya
Inspired by the Greek myth of Arachne and Athena.
by Sophia Campbell
Inspired by Native American residential schools.
by Prisha Roy Mahapatra
Inspired by Selkies/Seal brides from Celtic and Norse folklore.
by Kayla Williams
Inspired by the theft of the Mona Lisa, 1911.
For entrants aged 13 to 17. At World History Encyclopedia, we've enjoyed reading all 107 youth submissions this year! Each story was read by at least two reviewers from World History Encyclopedia. It's a delight to read stories from all over the world inspired by such a range of history and mythology, and even those stories that did not make the longlist this time were read and enjoyed by the team.
Thank you to everyone who shared their creativity with us!
Jump to the adult prize longlist ↑
Jump to the adult prize shortlist ↑
Listed in no particular order:
Homemaker – Bella Majam
Salem's Child – Anika Fairlie
Mora – Valerie Golebiewska
The Land We Dream Of – Tatiana Randjelovic
The Greatest Sin – Leah Rose Whitwham
Phraya Thaen, the Rain God’s Revenge – Saffron Martens
To Forget – Sophia Campbell
Red Squares and Unanswered Prayers – Justin Qin
The Daughter of Achilles and Her Final Fate – Elizabeth Daine
The Broken Rope – Tabitha Jorimann
Maidens, Men and Raging Seas – Prisha Roy Mahapatra
Our Worlds Align – Saleha
The Spinster – SomyaBride of the Mediterranean – Maya Ashoub
Wedding Flowers – Emily Peters
The Tortured Artist – Iris
When Going Green Goes Wrong – Olivia Tyrrell
How The Iliad Was First Written Down – Madeline Male
The Weaver – Jenna Davis
The Daughter of the Sun – Gautham Chunduri
A Dangerous Deal – Anastasia Currie
Follow Me Into The Dark – Vienna
The Creation of Us – Allison Arnett
Undying Flames – Zara Rowlatt
The People of Clay – C L
The Magic of a Myth – Yau
The Sound of a Laugh – Sophia Reis
The Secret of the Louvre – Kayla Williams
Sweet Venom – R. M. Ahmed
Paris: The Final Gamble – Tan
Flickering Flames – Nhat Tran
The Defeat of the Emperor – Cassandra Hughes
Shattered Souls, Eternal Light – Faaris Jamali
From Merchant to Mathematician – Cameron Mostofi