Lightspeed Magazine Issue 113 (October 2019) - Lightspeed Magazine #113

Sam J. Miller, Cixin Liu, John Joseph Adams, Kai Ashante Wilson, Chris Kluwe, E. Lily Yu, Merc Fenn Wolfmoor, Isabel Yap

Summary

LIGHTSPEED is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine. In its pages, you will find science fiction: from near-future, sociological soft SF, to far-future, star-spanning hard SF--and fantasy: from epic fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and contemporary urban tales, to magical realism, science-fantasy, and folktales.
Welcome to LLIGHTSPEED's 113th issue! This month's first original short story comes from E. Lily Yu--and it's a classic tale of a naïve prince, a scheming queen, and a good-hearted cook. So where do the deer come in? You'll have to read "The Valley of Wounded Deer" to find out. Our other original fantasy short ("Windrose in Scarlet") is by Isabel Yap, who plaits two well-known fairy tales into a brand-new story. We also have fantasy reprints by Kai Ashante Wilson ("«Légendaire.»") and Ken Liu ("The Hidden Girl"). Our science fiction shorts include an original story by Eli Brown, "Nesting Habits of Enceladan Jade Beetles," which takes us on a scientific expedition to icy Enceladus. Once you defrost from that chilly read, warm up with Ray Nayler's new short, "The Death of Fire Station 10," a thoughtful muse on intelligence in all its forms. We also have SF reprints by Sam J. Miller ("The Beasts We Want to Be") and WC Dunlap ("Revival"). Of course we also have our usual assortment of author spotlights, book and media review columns, and a feature interview with Valerie Valdes. Our ebook readers will also enjoy an excerpt from Cixin Liu's new novel, SUPERNOVA ERA.

Available since: 10/01/2019.

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For hundreds of years, readers have been enchanted by the tale of Cinderella, of how a nobleman's daughter escaped a life of servitude with the help of a pumpkin, a pair of glass slippers and her Fairy Godmother. But the truth is very different from the fairytale yet no less extraordinary. Marigold and Gardenia Roche have simple dreams; to marry well and live happily ever after. Yet this is a tricky proposition when neither heralds from money nor could be considered a great beauty. But two events are about to change the lives of everyone in the tiny Kingdom of Andovia: the first is the announcement of a great ball, at which the Crown Prince has vowed to choose a bride. The second is the arrival of a widowed French nobleman and his beautiful daughter. Two events, seemingly unconnected, and yet both will have dire consequences for all – unless something is done. Marigold and Gardenia's lives are about to become entwined with the girl who would be Queen. And yet few will ever know the dangers they faced nor the sacrifices they made to save a vainglorious Kingdom from the damsel with the crocodile smile.
Every child knows the story of Cinderella. But this is the story of Marigold and Gardenia Roche – otherwise known as the Ugly Sisters. And it is no fairytale.
»One of the few writers to make me laugh out loud.« – David Baddiel, Comedian
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Things are getting serious at the Society for Magickal Heritage. An ancient legend has plans for Ves, and Ves has plans for just about everything else.
 
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Well, everything. As usual. But if old magick is going to survive in the modern world, it’s no use being cautious.
 
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and Ves is giving it everything she’s got. But can she handle the cost?
 
And can the cost handle her?
 
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As an agent of the Society for Magickal Heritage, I, Cordelia Vesper, have an important job: rescue endangered creatures, artefacts, books and spells wherever they are to be found.
 
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