In this episode of the Strange Horizons podcast, editor Anaea Lay presents Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali's "Concessions (part 1 of 2)."

Models of the homo economicus which have done so much harm over the centuries work on an assumption that the flow of consciousness is a fungible of rational calculation, not a flow of marriages.

The hinterland desert grew each year, not by inches, but by feet. The sand bleached whiter over time for lack of moisture. Water-hungry insects clung to the undersides of the seedling's leaves desperate to leech any bit of moisture they could. The insects were desperate. No different than us.

Take care of your tagmas / and sharpen your flames, / circumvent, if you can, the red giants’ call.