Reprint Archives - Page 46 of 52 - Lightspeed Magazine

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

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.

In July 2012 (Issue 26)

Science Fiction

The Way of Cross and Dragon

by George R.R. Martin

“Heresy,” he told me. The brackish waters of his pool sloshed gently.

“Another one?” I said wearily. “There are so many these days.”

Fantasy

Lost

by Seanan McGuire

Let the world tell all the lies it wants; I was there in the Year of the Children, and I know the truth. This is how it happened.

Science Fiction

Contact

by Eileen Gunn

The Desert of Winds was inland, a four-day flight from the eyries along the coastal mountains. After the eight-day fast, it was a long journey, even for the strongest-winged. But when they felt the high, hot desert wind lift them like dry leaves, even the most exhausted stretched their wings to the fullest and surrendered to the euphoria of approaching death.

Fantasy

Cup and Table

by Tim Pratt

Sigmund stepped over the New Doctor, dropping a subway token onto her devastated body. He stepped around the spreading shadow of his best friend, Carlsbad, who had died as he’d lived: inconclusively, and without fanfare.

Science Fiction

Different Kinds of Darkness

by David Langford

It was always dark outside the windows. Parents and teachers sometimes said vaguely that this was all because of Deep Green terrorists, but Jonathan thought there was more to the story. The other members of the Shudder Club agreed. The dark beyond the window-glass at home, at school, and on the school bus was the second kind of darkness.

In May 2012 (Issue 24)

Fantasy

The Ruby Incomparable

by Kage Baker

The girl surprised everyone. To begin with, no one in the world below had thought her parents would have more children. Her parents’ marriage had created quite a scandal, a profound clash of philosophical extremes; for her father was the Master of the Mountain, a brigand and sorcerer, who had carried the Saint of the World off to his high fortress.

In May 2012 (Issue 24)

Fantasy

A Hole to China

by Catherynne M. Valente