Image © E.E. King
Letter from the Editors Dear Reader, Everywhere we look, people seem to be exceptionally busy--working hard under hectic conditions. Is it a sign of our times? A natural consequence of our information-saturated society? An ironic twist on the promise that technology is supposed to make our lives easier and more fulfilling? Whatever the case may be, there are some positives for which we are grateful. The most important is that thanks to so many busy writers, we enjoy a consistent inflow of superb stories in each issue. This month, we are pleased to bring you tales of ghosts, dragons, heroes, villains, and illicit substances: "Secret Identity" by James Van Pelt--Amateur superheroing isn't easy, especially when your powers only work when nobody is watching. "Blackwood Dragon Blues" by Michael Haynes--Even a master thief finds that all bets are off when a dragon is involved. "The Woman in the Mirror" by Marissa Snyder--An angry ghost sets her sights on the woman who's come to take her place. "Bad Weed" by Alison McBain and Edward Ahern--Freelance corporate magicians clash over a lucrative prize with dirty tricks, dangerous spells, and dubious doobage. "Between a Roc and a Hard Case" by L.V. Brooks--A supervillain's quest to own a terrifying monster leaves him with an unexpected new pet. Finally, we are happy to present our cover artist for this issue: Elizabeth Eve King with "Argyle Cat." We hope you are able to take some time in your own busy life to sit back and enjoy these offerings from our talented authors. Thanks for reading, Lesley, Grayson, Candi, and the Electric Spec Team