Fingerprints on Glass and Clay by Fernanda Coutinho Teixeira – 3.7
Strange Horizons, January 2026 Lúcio is a goldfish with human vocal cords, created by the Lifemaker as a simple project during a period of estrangement from his sister Olga. He…
A Formal Academic Review of “Joiner and Rust” by Lavie Tidhar – 4.3
Introduction Lavie Tidhar’s “Joiner and Rust” (2026) represents a significant contribution to contemporary science fiction’s exploration of post-human consciousness and artificial sentience. Published as a novelette of approximately 8,500 words,…
Joiner and Rust by Lavie Tidhar – 4.3
Reactor, January 2026 In this poignant science fiction novelette, an aging robot named Rust journeys through rural China to visit an old friend, Joiner, carrying a watermelon as a symbolic…
Tinker’s Leap or The Prince Who Fell From The Sky by Krushna Dande – 3.7
Tasavvur, January 2026 This enchanting fairy tale explores the meeting of two dreamers from vastly different worlds during an unprecedented cosmic event. The story begins with the narrator explaining that…
The Tailors by Kurt Fawver – 3.4
Nightmare Magazine, January 2026 “The Tailors” is a dark horror story set in a war-torn village controlled by the warlord Jurgen Blanco. The narrative begins when Blanco’s enforcers raid the…
Academic Review: Climate Grief and Childhood Resilience in Marlene Jo Baquiran’s “The Very Important Case of Rami and the Rainbow Bird” – 4.1
Introduction Marlene Jo Baquiran’s “The Very Important Case of Rami and the Rainbow Bird,” published through Grist’s Imagine 2200 climate fiction initiative, represents a significant contribution to the emerging genre…
The Very Important Case of Rami and the Rainbow Bird by Marlene Jo Baquiran – 4.1
Grist, January 2026 Six-year-old Rami Saleh’s precious multicolored porcelain bird shatters in the school playground, triggering a crisis that mobilizes his entire elementary school. The bird, a cherished gift from…
A Formal Academic Review of “Donuts from the Daydream Network” by Julia Vee – 4.0
Introduction Julia Vee’s “Donuts from the Daydream Network” (2026) represents a significant contribution to contemporary speculative fiction’s engagement with themes of familial obligation, entrepreneurial innovation, and cultural identity in near-future…
Donuts from the Daydream Network by Julia Vee – 4.0
The Sunday Morning Transport, January 2026 Araminta “Min” Lee runs her family’s doughnut shop while her father recovers from a stroke in the hospital. The shop has been in the…
Bird and Bread by Aparna Kapur – 2.8
Tasavvur, January 2026 “Bird and Bread” is a clever speculative fiction story told through three interconnected narratives that ultimately reveal how the end of the world was prevented by an…