Fiction

Fantasy

The young necromancer is a blight on the social landscape, because when his sweetheart meets with an untimely interruption of service (don’t they all? don’t they always?), he’s bound to do something the rest of us regret.

In Aug. 2012 (Issue 27)

Fantasy

Give Her Honey When You Hear Her Scream

by Maria Dahvana Headley

Author spotlight

In the middle of the maze, there’s always a monster. If there were no monster, people would happily set up house where it’s warm and windowless and comfortable. The monster is required. The monster is a real estate disclosure.

2012 Nebula Award Finalists 2013 Million Writers Award Finalists Illustrated by Galen Dara Million Writers Award Finalists Nebula Award Finalists Reprinted in Rich Horton's The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Science Fiction

The Giving Plague

by David Brin

Author spotlight

You think you’re going to get me, don’t you? Well, you’ve got another think coming, ‘cause I’m ready for you.

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Fantasy

Gordon, the Self-made Cat

by Peter S. Beagle

Author spotlight

Once upon a time, to a family of house mice there was born a son named Gordon. He looked very much like his father and mother and all his brothers and sisters, who were gray and had bright, twitchy, black eyes, but what went on inside Gordon was very different from what went on inside the rest of his family.

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Science Fiction

The Sweet Spot

by A.M. Dellamonica

Author spotlight

“I’m gonna visit Dad.” Matt is curled in the passenger seat of their antique minivan, scowling as offworlders tromp and slither past their front bumper. Shooting a glance at Ruthie through long, pretty eyelashes, he flips down the visor to check the mirror.

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Fantasy

Singing of Mount Abora

by Theodora Goss

Author spotlight

A hundred years ago, the blind instrument-maker known as Alem Das, or Alem the Master, made a dulcimer whose sound was sweeter, more passionate, and more filled with longing than any instrument that had ever been made.

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Science Fiction

Four Short Novels

by Joe Haldeman

Author spotlight

Eventually it came to pass that no one ever had to die, unless they ran out of money. When you started to feel the little aches and twinges that meant your body was running down, you just got in line at Immortality, Incorporated, and handed them your credit card. As long as you had at least a million bucks—and eventually everybody did—they would reset you to whatever age you liked.

Illustrated by Galen Dara

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Fantasy

Ghost River Red

by Aidan Doyle

Author spotlight

Akamiko arrived three days before the anniversary of the Lady of All Colors’ death. The village held a small market filled with stalls selling fish and vegetables, and a bathhouse stood by the river. It was hard to imagine the Lady of All Colors growing up here.

Illustrated by Galen Dara

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Science Fiction

Requiem in the Key of Prose

by Jake Kerr

Author spotlight

There is such a thing as an antifuse. This device is used to maintain the ongoing flow of electricity when there is local failure. The antifuse works similarly to a fuse in that it is designed to be sacrificed for a specific goal. But while a fuse is sacrificed to stop electricity from flowing, an antifuse is sacrificed to guarantee that the electricity does not stop.

In July 2012 (Issue 26)