Letter from the Editors
Dear Reader,
"Why can't we just get along?" It seems like such a simple idea, yet whether we're talking about societies, civilizations, or one-to-one relationships, we constantly find ourselves out of harmony with each other.
Spec fic may not have the answers, but at least stories give us a fertile playground to explore the way we connect and clash. And as it turns out, all of our stories in this issue examine the nature of relationships from unique perspectives only the imagination can offer.
In this issue, we're proud to share:
- "A Touch of Cooperation" by D. A. D'Amacio--There's a great prize to be had on a hostile alien world, but no single person has the strength to claim it.
- "The Kipnibble Singularity" by Andrea M. Pawley--When an AI society arises in the most unlikely of places, how will they treat humans... or cats, for that matter?
- "Jeremy Sleeps" by Elizabeth Guilt--To be in love is to share our dreams... yet for one woman, the experience is anything but a honeymoon.
- "The Law of Stonekin" by Sean Mabry--In gargoyle culture, there are a few simple rules for survival. Then there's always that one person who has to push the limits...
- "The Annie Scam" by Luke Foster--Social media gives us a seductive illusion of connection--and for one influencer, reality crashes down in a startling way.
In our Editor's Corner, we present the long-awaited conclusion to The Iron That Binds by Nikki Baird.
Finally, in honor of our many mealtime social traditions, we thank our cover artist for this issue: Michael Dioguardi with "We Get to Eat Now."
We thank all of our authors for reaching out to connect through their superb fiction... and hope you enjoy this month's stories!
Thanks for reading,
Lesley, Nikki, Grayson, and the Electric Spec Team
