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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.



Ness is a queer Baltimorean with a gaming habit and a fondness for green things. Work hats include developmental editing, calligraphy, writing, learning design, and community management (that history degree was extremely useful). Ve started as an articles editor at Strange Horizons in 2012, and is constantly surprised about the number of fencers on the team.
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16 Jun 2025

When I met the young Mr Turing, I had not yet ascended as Autumn’s King. Nowadays it has become fashionable for the sons and daughters of the lesser fey gentry to improve their position in the shifting hierarchy of the Courts by virtue of intrigue, scandal, and the naked blade; but in those times, it was the custom to advance one’s position through the collection of human bagatelles.
When women cross the border, / coyotes get rooms at motels.
With their noses shaped like rockets and ancient vacuum cleaners
By: Ariel Marken Jack
Podcast read by: Emmie Christie
In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Ariel Marken Jack's 'Sister, Silkie, Siren, Shark' read by Emmie Christie. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠
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