Welcome to Lightspeed’s 140th issue!

We’re flying into the new year with a piece of fantasy fiction from Maria Dong called, appropriately enough, “In the Beginning of Me I Was a Bird.” It’s a fascinating meditation on self, personality, and our relationships with animals and each other. Vanessa Fogg brings us a beautiful tale of magic in her new short story “An Address to the Newest Disciples of the Lost Words,” and our flash story, “In the Cold, Dark Sea,” is a sea-flavored tale of vengeance from Jenny Rae Rappaport. We also have a reprint of “Give Me Cornbread or Give Me Death,” by the one and only N.K. Jemisin.

If you’re hungry for some science fiction, Aimee Ogden’s flash story “Dissent: A Five-Course Meal (With Suggested Pairings)” will certainly whet your appetite, and Jendayi Brooks-Flemister’s post-apocalyptic tale “Up Falling” will make for a filling second course. Lincoln Michel writes about the future of land-use in his story “Cale and Stardust Battle the Mud Gobblers of Hudson Valley.” We also have a reprint from Leah Cypess (“On the Ship”).

As usual, we have spotlight interviews with all our writers and three great book reviews. And for our ebook readers, we also have a book excerpt (Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi). It’s another terrific month in speculative fiction, friends—we hope you enjoy it!