Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

We have original science fiction by Richard Thomas (“The Darkness Between the Stars”) and Archita Mittra (“The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strain’d”). We also have two terrific flash pieces: “Resistance” from Cat Rambo and “Under the Skin” by Deborah L. Davitt. Plus, we have original fantasy by Dominique Dickey (“Look at the Moon”) and Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe (“Child of the River”). We also have a flash story (“Mud Maidens Rise”) from K.A. Wiggins, and another (“What’s in a Name”) from Matthew Hughes. All that, and of course we also have our usual assortment of author spotlights, along with book reviews from our terrific review team.

Cover art by Warmtail / Adobe Stock Images

Aug. 2024 (Issue 171)

Editorial

Editorial: August 2024

by John Joseph Adams

Be sure to check out the editorial for a rundown of this month’s great material.

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.

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.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Richard Thomas

by Alex Puncekar

Part of what drives this story for me is the lack of control, the chaos—he doesn’t know how it works, he screws up, the machine pushes forward (showing him such strange sights) and it pushes him backwards.

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?”

Nonfiction

Book Review: In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran

by Melissa A Watkins

Melissa A. Watkins recommends In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran—find out why!

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.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Cat Rambo

by Alex Puncekar

Resistance is much on my mind lately, with the world in its current state, and I wanted to talk about how communication might shape itself in a conversation about the act of resistance.

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.

Nonfiction

Book Review: The Crawling Moon edited by dave ring

by Arley Sorg

Looking for your next anthology? Arley Sorg recommends The Crawling Moon: Queer Tales of Inescapable Dread (edited by dave ring).

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.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Archita Mittra

by Mayookh Barua

It feels scary to even be hopeful about the distant future, especially because I sometimes wonder if there will even be a “distant” future for humanity, with the devastating consequences of climate change already unfolding.

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.

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe

by Phoebe Barton

I tried to give the narrator and his ancestors a kind of power that forces them to give back. They don’t get to control the elements freely like powerful mages. In the end, they are claimed by the forces that gave them those powers in the first place.

Nonfiction

Book Review: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

by Chris Kluwe

Chris Kluwe says: If you’re looking for a relatively light-hearted romp set in a time loop, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying is perfect for wiling away a couple hours at the beach!

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.