Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 194 (July 2026)

We have original science fiction by Max Gladstone (“The Assumption of Maria”) and V.M. Ayala (“If a Discarded God Can Change, So Can I”). We also have two terrific flash pieces: “You, Me, Us” from Oyedotun Damilola Muees and “FETSPACE” by Rhiannon Rasmussen. Plus, we have original fantasy by Ruth Joffre (“Waru Waru”) and B. Pladek (“The Punishing Animal”). We also have a flash story (“Hungry Like The”) from E. Catherine Tobler and another (“Concerto for Wartime”) from Sean Williams. All that, and of course we also have our usual assortment of author spotlights, along with book reviews from our terrific review team. It’s another great issue, so be sure to check it out.

Cover art by Asanee

Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 194 (July 2026)

Editorial

Editorial: July 2026

by John Joseph Adams

Be sure to check out the editorial for a rundown of this month’s content and for all of John Joseph Adams’s media and book recommendations!

Publishes Online on 7/9

Science Fiction

You, Me, Us

by Oyedotun Damilola Muees

You know you are fucked when you see fragments of the broken radio on the floor. Your damaged ship lay nose caked into the sand, and coupled with your sprained ankle that hums an excruciating pain, and slight concussion on your head—your chances of survival in this unknown territory has now drastically dropped. In your first year as a space cadet, you were taught to remain calm, breathe slowly, and call for help in the event of a crash.

Publishes Online on 7/9

Fantasy

Waru Waru

by Ruth Joffre

Abuelita has been feeding me her memories. Yesterday, it was the time she trudged up the mountain carrying a basketful of offerings for Pachamama (flowers, incense, a llama sculpted out of animal fat and adorned with gold leaf) in hopes the Earth Mother would alleviate the drought ruining the harvest. Today, it’s the time she visited Tío Roberto’s farm in Sapecho, how the smell of the cows made her eyes water and how at her uncle’s urging she coaxed one over to her with a big yellow carrot and let it eat out of her hand while she stroked its ears.

Publishes Online on 7/9

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Ruth Joffre

by A Humphrey Lanham

When I first read about the Andean agricultural practice waru waru, I knew I wanted to write a story that incorporated it, but I wasn’t sure how. It kicked around in the back of my brain for a couple years, trying to attach itself to some kind of story, until something terrible happened: My aunt had a stroke.

Publishes Online on 7/9

Science Fiction

Down in the Dim Kingdoms

by Tobias S. Buckell

The airship’s spotlights played off the vast rocky sides of the shaft that plunged deep into the Earth’s core through the lithosphere and eventually to our destination: the Center of the Earth! I yawned. We fell so slowly, the sides of the shaft several hundred feet away, and it had been a long, boring day of this. There’d been a boy, earlier, that caught my eye. But now he was talking to Bridgette with the French accent and the big chest. Laughing at anything she said like it was the cleverest thing in the entire world. Or below it.

Publishes Online on 7/16

Science Fiction

The Assumption of Maria

by Max Gladstone

Maria Haddid looked like she was screaming.

I’ve heard singers say that’s all singing is deep down, but if you’ve seen enough screams you won’t often get them mixed up.

The faithful gathered around her in the picture—the soccer mom, the children, the person with the ill-advised beard—on the bright green pews of the Church of the Redeemer’s main worship hall. They smiled.

Publishes Online on 7/16

Fantasy

Hungry Like The

by E. Catherine Tobler

There’s a wolf where my brother used to be, a beast absolutely hellbent on ruining my life. He plunges his broad snoot into the Wednesday night spaghetti, and neither Mom nor Dad cares when half the bite slides off his nose and onto the table, to later be jostled to the floor by his grabbing, grubby paws. But if I came to the table without washing up first . . .

Publishes Online on 7/16

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: Max Gladstone

by Erik Grove

Money and religion go way back: If you try to trace the origins of money, you find yourself in Sumerian temples, looking at cuneiform tax and granary records. Many religions discuss the question of “creation debt”—the question of what humans owe their divine creators (and whether this debt can ever be repaid). Sacrifices are often conceived as a kind of payment to God (which also has the benefit, from priests’ perspectives, of supporting the life of priests).

Publishes Online on 7/16

Nonfiction

Book Review: Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., eds.

by Arley Sorg

Arley Sorg is back to recommend the second installment of Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.’s horror anthology Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II.

Publishes Online on 7/16

Fiction

FETSPACE

by Rhiannon Rasmussen

LOGIN CREATE ACCOUNT username: squirglover46 password: **************** for security reasons your password must contain minimum 1 number, 1 diacritic, 1 universal babelkey and at least 8 distinct phonemes. password cannot contain your username, date of birth in any registered calendar system, or location. for augmented reality account access gesture here. Thanks for joining FetSpace! Remember: […]

Publishes Online on 7/23

Fantasy

The Punishing Animal

by B. Pladek

Son

He hates the birds. There are two, a breeding pair. Their eyes are red as devils’. On land they’re stupid, little feet pushed so far back on their bodies that they can’t escape by running. Yet they glide over the water, glossy mottled boats. Their chicks ride their backs. The adults protect them, tuck black wings up to shield them from wave and eagle. They are good parents.

Publishes Online on 7/23

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: B. Pladek

by Erik Grove

This piece began as a challenge I set for myself to tell a story from at least three distinct perspectives. By the time it was finished, it also became a story exploring the different people we become in different relationships. Each section is named after a relationship between Swimmer and someone else in the story. “Son” and “Brother” are both from Swimmer’s perspective, but show who he becomes in his relationship with his father and Boater, who he sees as a sister.

Publishes Online on 7/23

Nonfiction

Book Review: The Winter Folk by Jen Julian

by Melissa A Watkins

Melissa A. Watkins recommends The Winter Folk for fans of Charles De Lint’s Newford novels or Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series.

Publishes Online on 7/23

Science Fiction

If a Discarded God Can Change, So Can I

by V.M. Ayala

Green Plumed Orbital Line A; viridis metamorphos A

Common sighting; Flies along the forty-fifth latitude every 12 minutes

Traveler’s addendum: Last functional line along a northern latitude; southern latitudes TBD

My crawler runs out of energy as I reach the platform summit. I’m two minutes early.

Publishes Online on 7/30

Fantasy

Concerto For Wartime

by Sean Williams

The magician raises his wand.

Initially, this commission seemed simple. One large country invading a much smaller one, a clear case of aggressor and victim—but nothing is ever so straightforward.

Publishes Online on 7/30

Author Spotlight

Author Spotlight: V.M. Ayala

by Robin Jeffrey

“Discarded God” was partially inspired by a quiet moment when I turned thirty-five last year. I had been reflecting on how much I’d changed from the person I used to be, and how difficult things were in my twenties. I wasn’t out to myself back then, yet alone out to anyone else. I hadn’t realized I could simply use she/they pronouns and embrace being nonbinary. Now? Well, I’m queer as hell and happy with who I am.

Publishes Online on 7/30

Nonfiction

Book Review: We Interrupt This Program by Randee Dawn

by Chris Kluwe

Reviewer Chris Kluwe highly recommends this second entry in Randee Dawn’s Tune-iverse, We interrupt This Program.

Publishes Online on 7/30