Mar. 2023 (Issue 154)

We have original science fiction by Daniel H. Wilson (“Crystalline”) and Peter Watts (“Contracting Iris”). We also have two terrific flash pieces: “One Pinch, Two Pinch” from Beth Goder and “Four Years Minus Twelve Days” by Samantha Murray. Plus, we have original fantasy by Oyedotun Damilola Muees (“The Chosen Six”) and Benjamin Peek (“The Ministry of Saturn”). We also have a flash story (“Every Little Change”) from Aimee Ogden, and another (“Our Exquisite Delights”) from Megan Chee. All that, and of course we also have our usual assortment of author spotlights, along with book reviews from our terrific review team. Our ebook readers will enjoy an excerpt from Veronica Roth’s new novel Arch-Conspirator.

Cover art by Joeprachatree / Adobe Stock

Mar. 2023 (Issue 154)

Editorial

Editorial: March 2023

by John Joseph Adams

Be sure to read the editorial for an entertaining rundown of this month’s terrific content.

Science Fiction

Crystalline

by Daniel H. Wilson

Author spotlight

“Who loves you?” I ask. My daughter looks away. Doesn’t answer. I lean down and turn her to face me, resting my thumb in the dimple in her chin. It’s the same dimple her mother has. Or had. “You love me, Daddy.” “That’s right, so please listen closely,” I say. She’s only nine, but Anya’s eyes are flat and black and hard to read in the dim light of the cave. “Only you can make our family whole again.” “But. Last time. I saw . . .”

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Daniel H. Wilson

by Laurel Amberdine

I like to think I’m a nice dad. And, possibly as a result, I write a lot of science fiction with nice dad protagonists. For this story, I wanted to challenge myself to go in the opposite direction and write the villainous origin story of a not-very-nice dad. So, I basically fought my best instincts as a parent, and explored a much more selfish point of view. Like most of my short stories, this is just a jumping off point. I’d love to write more about what happens in this cave with these people.

Fantasy

Every Little Change

by Aimee Ogden

On the morning of her thirty-fifth birthday, Francesca awakes to the sound of a blip in the apartment kitchen. It’s 9:30 on a Saturday; good thing she has no responsibilities to drag her out of bed any earlier. No kids, no pets; not even any creative writing essays to grade. She putters around finding her slippers and pulling her tangled hair into a ponytail so that Jason has time to make a pot of coffee. Not that he drinks—or eats—anymore. But he’ll pretend, for her sake.

Science Fiction

One Pinch, Two Pinch

by Beth Goder

The Countess pinches space-stuff between her fingers, touching the cold curve that dips luxuriously around Jupiter. She imagines two marbles rolling across the fabric of space, skirting the indentations that gravity produces. This visualization helps her to pinch space precisely. One pinch, two pinch. She counts, pummeled by space dust, wishing she had never fallen into that black hole.

Fantasy

The Chosen Six

by Oyedotun Damilola Muees

Author spotlight

Dear Maryam: I had a dream last night. I guess it was our ancestors talking to me. Getting a clear view of them was tough—the only thing I saw was an amorphous image. I heard their voices, though, telling me to come for breakfast. I envisaged roasted beef marinated in a sauce with green vegetables as toppings, just the way Mama prepares it. Soon there was an aroma levitating like a UFO, calling out to me, enchanting me to its stronghold. I woke up wishing you were here.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Oyedotun Damilola Muees

by Laurel Amberdine

There’s a common slang we have in Nigeria called “japa.” This simply means migration from your country to another country for better opportunities and greener pastures. I was having a conversation with a friend who was talking about the hardship being faced by the ever-growing Nigerian population, hence, the reason for the mass migration. A spark of an idea was birthed during the conversation. What if this supposed greener pasture is not what we think it is? Perhaps, we are too engrossed with the news we hear about such places.

Science Fiction

Contracting Iris

by Peter Watts

Author spotlight

Iris is deep in an empty ocean, gray-green twilight fading to black everywhere she looks—and she can breathe. She’s a thousand feet above the ground, climbing a fractal cliff suffused with flickering veins of electricity—and she cannot. Iris is flat on her back at home in bed, and her right hand is moving. She lies there, staring straight up, not looking. Dim lozenges of light reach in through the window and play across the ceiling.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Peter Watts

by Laurel Amberdine

If I’m writing a short story, I like to plan everything out in advance and then write from the bullet points; there’s not so much wiggle room when you’re writing against a maximum word count. If I’m writing a novel I also like to plan everything out in advance and write from the bullet points, with the difference that I generally get maybe two-thirds of the way through and realize that two or more of my bullet points conflict with each other and the entire house of cards is gonna collapse.

Fantasy

Our Exquisite Delights

by Megan Chee

Almost everyone has, at some point in their lives, encountered a door that was not there before. A little girl sits up in bed, staring at the two identical closets in her bedroom. She feels certain there had been only one when she fell asleep. A salaryman on the subway blinks through his pre-coffee daze. The train is still in motion, but the doors have opened to an empty subway station he’s never seen before. The other passengers, eyes glued to their phones, don’t seem to notice.

Nonfiction

Book Review: New Suns 2 edited by Nisi Shawl

by Arley Sorg

Looking for more terrific short fiction? You know Arley Sorg is! Luckily, today he’s recommending New Suns 2 edited by Nisi Shawl, the follow-up to 2019’s fantastic New Suns, and just as fun.

Science Fiction

Four Years Minus Twelve Days

by Samantha Murray

You knew from the beginning. You knew because the world knew about the intricate and fascinating life-cycle of the Svarrs, and it had been documented and discussed everywhere throughout the media endlessly. And you knew because Vo made sure you understood, before you married them. Four years is the bonding-period you get with a Svarr. Not quite four years, to be exact. Four years minus twelve days.

Fantasy

The Ministry of Saturn

by Ben Peek

Author spotlight

The town was not called Byzantium. The Ministry named it during the first meeting. “It’s not a colony,” Thomas James would have said if he could, but the office was hot and bright, the sun in the windows, in his eyes. He felt like he was surrounded by faceless figures even though there were only two other people in the room. The town they were talking about was located between worlds. The entrance was in the remains of Ooldea, out on the edge of The Nullarbor Plain.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Benjamin Peek

by Laurel Amberdine

I just like strange things.

Nonfiction

Book Review: The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

by Chris Kluwe

Chris Kluwe says The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai is the perfect read for anyone who loves political history mashed up with fantastical magical struggles. Find out why!

Nonfiction

Book Review: The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

by Aigner Loren Wilson

Looking for an exciting mystery that blends with magic? Aigner Loren Wilson suggests you check out Vajra Chandrasekera’s debut novel The Saint of Bright Doors.