A thousand years ago, in June 2019, our fund drive backers helped us fund a special issue on climate change. I publish it today from my home to yours, many of us on lockdown for an indefinite amount of time. Reading "crisis" today, the first word that probably comes to mind is not climate, but disease. While the incursion of humans into wilderness habitats may be related to our current pandemic, it may seem a remote concern, or too much of one in a cup overfull.
The Earth is still in crisis; the climate is still changing. That has not gone away. But it might be like looking at the sun right now. I understand that. I have heard from some who cannot read more than a few pages at a time before anxiety skitters them off again. Some have dived into blissful fluff; others have looked for alternative futures, compared despairs. I have done all of these in the last few weeks, and one thing is clear: a speculative framework handles disaster of any sort. It is a space to engage with crisis.
The Strange Horizons team presents new speculations with climate at its heart. This issue deals with very difficult and potentially upsetting topics. We've added "infectious disease" as a content warning to help. Engage as you can. Discuss what interests you. Give the authors and editors your feedback and support. And take care of yourselves, folks.