Here are stories of abandonment, exhibitionism, spontaneous combustion, hysteria, people power, reincarnation, cuisine, race relations, orchidaceous tomfoolery and much more. They will take you to hot beaches and deserted nighttime streets, to disputed urban spaces, to an overheated and under-resourced emergency ward, behind the scenes at a fancy restaurant, and to the chill vicinity of deserted lakes and pools. Three are set in America, two in Africa, one each in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, London and darkest Sussex.

WINNING STORIES: Dark Song by Roberta Dewa; Art Zoo by Paul J. Martin; Swimming Lessons by Douglas Hill; Rictus by Tanvir Bush; Isa's Pitch by Maureen Cullen; The Quarry by Katherine Davey; The Day John Lennon Died by Raphael Falco; A History of Fire by Gerard McKeown; Trespass by Roland Miles; The Fish that was not my Pa by Meganrose Weddle

With an introduction by 2017 judge, Lane Ashfeldt