October 2023 (Issue 161)

We’re be running a two-part serialization of a new SF novelette by A.L Goldfuss: “Where the God-Knives Tread.” We also have two terrific flash SF pieces: “The Void Wyrm’s Guide to Devouring Stars” from AJ Wentz and “Excerpts from a Scientist’s Notebook: Ancestral Memory in Europan Pseudocephalopods” by David DeGraff. Plus, we have original fantasy by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe (“Immortality Soup, Or, An Excerpt from the Cookbook of the Gods”) and Jae Steinbacher (“What You Are and the Wolf”). We also have a flash story (“A Small God”) from Jeff Reynolds, and another (“Four Self-Care Secrets for a Long and Happy Life”) from Tina S. Zhu. 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 also enjoy a book excerpt from Tlotlo Tsamaase’s novel WOMB CITY.

Cover art by Luizishan / Adobe Stock

October 2023 (Issue 161)

Editorial

Editorial: October 2023

by John Joseph Adams

Be sure to check out the editorial for a discussion of this month’s terrific content.

Science Fiction

Where the God-Knives Tread [Part 1]

by A.L. Goldfuss

When the ship’s scanners first chirped in the dead of night, Sien figured it was another misfire: light reflecting off asteroid ice, solar radiation, space dust. But xe still slid from xir berth into the chilly, cramped cockpit, eyes bleary.

Fantasy

Four Self-Care Secrets for a Long and Happy Life

by Tina S. Zhu

Welcome to my seminar, Self-Care Secrets for Immortals! Few foxes make it to over nine hundred years old in this day and age, but you’ll be one of them with four of my time-tested, battle-honed secrets.

Science Fiction

The Void Wyrm’s Guide to Devouring Stars

by AJ Wentz

The smaller creatures of the universe have called me many names: She Who Darkens the Sky, Star-Blotter, The One That Unstitches Constellations. None of them knew how right they were. They named me for my shadow.

Fantasy

Immortality Soup, Or, An Excerpt from the Cookbook of the Gods

by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe

Author spotlight

Hello, there. If you are reading this, then I assume you are either a mortal who somehow stumbled upon this text or a young demigod seeking to ascend closer to Eledumare’s throne. If you are the latter, I welcome you.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe

by Laurel Amberdine

I have always been fascinated by Yoruba mythology, especially the many untold stories it contains. Eshu is a god who isn’t represented enough in the few stories that draw inspiration from Yoruba myths.

Nonfiction

Book Review: Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

by Aigner Loren Wilson

Aigner Loren Wilson says: “With her second novel, Vampires of El Norte, Isabel Cañas crafts a suspenseful romantic vampire tale set along the Texas-Mexico border.” Find out more about this new book!

Science Fiction

Where the God-Knives Tread [Part 2]

by A.L. Goldfuss

Author spotlight

Every Teshiarr metropolis, town, and hamlet had featured an agora, the community centerpiece for shopping, conversing, and joining. It was where one received their daily meals, heard news from leaders, and reported to communal soul alcoves.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: A.L. Goldfuss

by Laurel Amberdine

The initial spark, the image I built the entire story around, was a scene from the FromSoft game Echo Night where the player must return the eye of a large fish mural. It’s not a particularly important part of the game, but I found the concept charming and wanted to turn it inside out.

Fantasy

A Small God

by Jeff Reynolds

A small god once lived far out among the hidden objects that plied the stardust between galaxies. They were not a handsome god, nor an ugly god; not an intelligent god, nor an ignorant god.

Nonfiction

Book Review: Paula Guran’s The Year’s Best Fantasy, Volume 2

by Arley Sorg

Arley Sorg talks about the value of Best Ofs and Year’s Bests—and explains why Paula Guran’s The Year’s Best Fantasy, Volume 2 is worth a spot in your TBR stack.

Science Fiction

Excerpts from a Scientist’s Notebook: Ancestral Memory in Europan Pseudocephalopods

by David DeGraff

When I was five years old, my mother left for Europa as part of the expedition that discovered the Europan Pseudocephalopods, which have a superficial resemblance to squid. My mother wanted to call them Icypods but was overruled.

Fantasy

What You Are and the Wolf

by Jae Steinbacher

Author spotlight

His long voice weaves itself into your dream with a promise: I’ll come for you. I know you’re not who they think you are. Your mind sharpens as you wake, the voice thinning to the howl of a lone wolf.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Jae Steinbacher

by Laurel Amberdine

A friend gave me a zine on the queer language of flowers and flower symbolism. There are a couple nods to these in the story, or to specific color groupings. I also took inspiration from wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest.