I have a new story out in the April issue of Epic Echoes Magazine. “The Time Traveler’s Acquaintance” is (hopefully!) a fun and fast-paced story, but it’s based on the idea that we face so many existential threats these days that if time travel is possible, half the people we meet are probably here from the future trying to stop us from screwing anything else up.
I’m pleased to share that Aaron Kreader and I have signed a contract for an Italian edition of Zanján.
For those keeping track, this will be the second foreign language edition, following the German edition from Mazloum.
The first foreign rights we negotiated were for Spain, but that version was never finalized. The Italian edition is slated for release by Casa Editrice Bahá’í.
“One Week Before the Election” is about a political change that transforms society for the better. It’s a flash fiction story in Sunshine Superhighway, a new anthology from JayHenge Publishing.
From the promotional copy: “Embark on a visionary journey through the pages of Sunshine Superhighway: Solar Sailings, a solarpunk anthology that charts a course toward a luminous future. In this collection, you will discover a mosaic of narratives that illuminate the ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit, as we navigate the turbulent waters of ecological uncertainty.
“Each story in this anthology is a beacon of hope, casting light on the potential of research and technology to forge new pathways for living on our planet. From the minds of creative thinkers comes a series of tales where solar-powered cities blossom from the ruins of the old world, communities thrive in symbiosis with the land, and innovative solutions to environmental crises are not just dreams, but realities.”
My review “How FOUNDATION Missed an Opportunity,” published originally last year, is out today in Interstellar Flight Magazine Best of Year Four. Interstellar Flight Magazine is an online magazine with essays exploring what’s new in the world of speculative genres.
My story “The Perpetual Empire,” originally published in Planet Scumm issue 7, has been reprinted in EVERYTHING! Volume 2, which collects the stories from Planet Scumm‘s issues #5-10. (The ebook version is here.) Preorders are available now for a Dec. 15 release date.
“The Perpetual Empire” is about techniques authoritarian governments use to control their populations.
I also have a story (“A Small Price to Pay”) in EVERYTHING! Volume 1.
For all the Perpetual Empire stories, look here.
So, this is actually old news: Midnight Legion was reviewed by Black Gate way back in 2020. But, it’s new to me, so I’m sharing it here. Two other reasons for sharing it now:
“High quality solo RPGs are rare, and it’s a delight to find one as ambitious and well conceived as Midnight Legion.”
My new story, “Immortal,” is out now in Flash Point Science Fiction. It’s accompanied by the perfect cover art from Kevin Pabst.
“Immortal” is about a boy who asks the gods to give him immortality—and unfortunately for him, they grant his wish.
In a way, this story is a mirror of “The Last Engine,” which appeared in Sci Phi Journal in 2021. That flash fiction was about trying to put off an inevitable ending, while “Immortal” is about the terror of knowing an end may never come.
My story “The Authentic History” is out now in Abyss & Apex issue 86. It describes the fall of the Perpetual Empire, the creation of which was featured in the story “Agents of Empire” back in Aurealis issue 99.
This story was inspired by a lot of ideas, including what would really happen to your consciousness in Star Trek-like teleporters, how authoritarian regimes convince family members to betray each other, and how to find the truth when everyone around you is lying (and maybe you’re lying to yourself).
Originally, the story ended on a darker note. The editor asked me to provide a more positive conclusion, and I decided that might work. I think it did.
Go here for more stories about the Perpetual Empire.
Pete has spent his life trying to find his way back to the timeline of his childhood. “The Best of All Possible Worlds” is a flash fiction story in the inaugural issue of Half-Light Press.
Irini knows the world she grew up in isn’t her home — and now she’s found a way to escape.
“The Clockwork World” is a new Irini story, and my second story for MYTHIC: A Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. It’s out now in issue #20.
For a list of all the Irini stories, click here.
