Fiction

Science Fiction

Reconstructing “The Goldenrod Conspiracy,” Edina Room, Saturday 2:30-3:30

Can someone get the doors? Thanks. Please remember we’re on an honor system for chairs—if you’ve eaten today, please leave them for someone who hasn’t. We don’t need another fainting incident. First of all, if you’re looking for a technical look at restoring and reconstructing lost Backwards Man episodes, that’s Greg Bakun’s panel tomorrow morning at 9:30, which I really recommend checking out if you’re not too hungover. This panel is about the recent recovery of clips of “The Goldenrod Conspiracy,” the changes to the story that arise from them, and what it means that every single surviving frame of “The Goldenrod Conspiracy” comes from censorship board clips.

In Sept. 2024 (Issue 172)

Fantasy

The Terrible Secret of the Immortal Bards

by Adam-Troy Castro

The great writer had lived well past his appointed lifespan, not by years but decades, and now existed less as an ongoing contributor to the literate zeitgeist but as an icon of a past age. He was a super-centenarian, just topping an unbelievable 110 and still appearing at literary conferences.

In Sept. 2024 (Issue 172)

Science Fiction

Under the Skin

by Deborah L. Davitt

I know what you’re going to say. That I got what I deserved. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Nothing like kicking someone when they’re down, eh? But here I am, dressed in all my mistakes. Huddling inside a house I don’t dare to leave.

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Fantasy

Child of the River

by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe

Author spotlight

Mother used to say I am a child of the river. I never understood her. I thought I would be a child of the wind, like her. Like all the children of the wind, my mother could fly. When I was younger, I liked spying on her.

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Science Fiction

The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strain’d

by Archita Mittra

Author spotlight

It is the year 3048 and you still hate your job. In the past eight hours since landing on this wasteland planet, you fended off two rogue mechas, hacked the building’s access code, and decapitated a droid.

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Fantasy

What’s in a Name

by Matthew Hughes

“What do you mean, ‘no?’” I said. “We have a deal. I kept my end, now you have to keep yours.” She showed me the face of a willful child. “I’m not doing it.” Then she turned her back and summoned the royal guards.

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Science Fiction

Resistance

by Cat Rambo

Author spotlight

We have seen you come before. We have always resisted. We will always resist. The first aliens came as conquerors, ready to crush us, ready to destroy us. We went to ground, we hid. We fought. We picked away at them, bit by bit.

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Fantasy

Look at the Moon

by Dominique Dickey

We drove out to Joshua Tree for the star party—a gathering of amateur astronomers under a clear, dark sky. It was Holly’s idea, an impromptu adventure on a Friday after work: “Hey, Lou, do you want to go look at the moon tonight?”

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Science Fiction

The Darkness Between the Stars

by Richard Thomas

Author spotlight

Buddy and I abandoned our hydrogen nomad at the edge of the wastelands before trudging around the rusted chain-link perimeter of the abandoned fairgrounds, waiting for the blast of steam and guttural earthly moan to escape.

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Fantasy

Mud Maidens Rise

by K.A. Wiggins

At first, it was the not-quite-hidden things. Worms suspended from sticky silk, tree-trapping the unwary. Glassine jointed lines, half-helical, hardly seen vitreous shadows. Diamonds caught in fallen leaves.

In Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)