Science Fiction & Fantasy

Latest Science Fiction Story

The Five Elements of the Heart Mind

by Ken Liu Author spotlight

The Dandelion lost structural integrity so quickly that I doubt the bridge even had time for a distress call, and this escape pod’s radio is only sub-light.

The Five Elements of the Heart Mind by Ken Liu

In Jan. 2012 (Issue 20)

Latest Fantasy Story

A State of Variance

by Aimee Bender Author spotlight

Her son’s face was almost a perfect mirror of itself, in such a way that one realized how imperfections created trust because no one trusted her son, with that perfect symmetry in his face.

A State of Variance by Aimee Bender

In Jan. 2012 (Issue 20)

Night Shade Books New Voices

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Latest Nonfiction

Author Spotlight: Aimee Bender

by Wendy N. Wagner

I had actually read some article once in a magazine that said women responded more to men who had symmetrical faces, which just seemed bizarre and awfully hard to track.

Aimee Bender

In Jan. 2012 (Issue 20)

More Fantasy Stories

Blue Lace Agate

by Sarah Monette

Jamie Keller and his partner hadn’t found the shoggoth larva smugglers yet, but his boss, the head of the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation’s southeast hub, had other things on his mind.

You Have Never Been Here

by M. Rickert

You resist the temptation to look at faces because faces can be deceiving, faces can make you think there is such a thing as a person, the mass illusion everyone falls for until they learn what you have come to learn.

On the Acquisition of Phoenix Eggs (Variant)

by Marissa Lingen

Lloyds was not willing to insure a phoenix egg, not even of the most impeccable pedigree. Hence the inspection of the purchase became a great deal more important.

More Science Fiction Stories

How Many Miles to Babylon?

by Megan Arkenberg

It’s getting harder and harder to pretend we aren’t racing along the edge of a knife, one box of flashlights and a fistful of batteries away from the mercy of the things in the darkness.

Gene Wars

by Paul McAuley

The slime mould he’d created, a million amoebae aggregated around a drop of cyclic AMP, had been transformed with a retrovirus and was budding little blue-furred blobs.

Always True to Thee, in My Fashion

by Nancy Kress

Suzanne liked wearing the new feelings. They were light and cool, allowing her a lot of freedom of movement. The off-hand affection made her feel unencumbered, graceful.

More Nonfiction

Editorial, January 2012

by John Joseph Adams

It’s been an exciting few months here at Lightspeed, and some major changes have taken place. You’ll have noticed by now our slightly different site design; read the editorial for more information about all of the changes, and to find out what we have in store for you this month.

Artist Showcase: Alexey Zaryuta

by J. T. Glover

Usually I begin with outlines and perfect them, and then do the painting. This time I decided to begin with a tonal sketch without the outlining.

Interview: R.A. MacAvoy

by Steven Gould

I find serious martial arts students don’t read adventure fantasy, and serious readers of fantasy don’t bother to work out the moves in their heads. Bummer!

Interview: Neal Stephenson

by The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy

The notion of working the boundary line between a real currency and a virtual currency is inherently interesting to me.