Micro-interview with Anna Ziegelhof

We’re joined today by Anna Ziegelhof, author of “Out of Bounds” in The Future Fire #66, for a brief chat about virtual worlds, aliens and exhibition spaces.

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Art © 2023 Cécile Matthey

TFF: What does “Out of Bounds” mean to you?

Anna Ziegelhof: I wrote this story after watching speed-runs of my favorite game (Portal): if you know how, you can disregard the limits of the (game-)world, by-passing the traps meant to kill you. The thought that it might be possible to move independently from the constraints of the world was inspiring to me.

TFF: Would you like to meet aliens from another world?

AZ: Yes. I’d be particularly interested in language, communication, and their perspective on human cultures.

TFF: Tell us about a piece of art that came to life for you.

AZ: There’s an incredible exhibition-space, Gasometer Oberhausen in Germany, a decommissioned gas holder from the area's industrial past. It’s a sublime, completely dark space; you get creature-feeling. They had a video installation by Bill Viola (“Five Angels for the Millennium”) there years ago: that work plus the space in which it was presented is still with me.

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Extract:

I watched my hand, blurred by the turquoise ocean. I imagined a vast unseen world beneath. Nothing down there would deign to pay attention to me. I was unnoticed and insignificant. I moved my hand, palm up, back toward me and said goodbye to the ocean for today. I paddled the board back to the beach. It was nice to move my muscles against the resistance of the water. It felt good to carry the weight of the board and feel the sand under my feet. An evening breeze ruffled through my wet hair. Goosebumps rose on my skin. So real.

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Reminder: You can comment on any of the writing or art in this issue at http://press.futurefire.net/2023/07/new-issue-202366.html.

New Issue 2023.66

“This unrestrained exploitation of the common goods of nature does not generate wealth, but wears down and impoverishes the planet. It is time to fight for the good of humanity and for a new story.”

—Sônia Guajajara

Issue 2023.66

Short stories

• ‘One Day’, Frances Koziar - art by Sebastian Timpe
• ‘Boxes Full of Memories’, Sean R. Robinson - art by Fluffgar
• ‘Out of Bounds’, Anna Ziegelhof - art by Cécile Matthey
• ‘Between the Shadow and the Soul’, Davian Aw - art by Toeken

Poetry

• ‘The Fungal Force: A History’, Colleen Anderson - art by Melkorka
• ‘Mycelial’, Lisa Timpf - art by Dr T. Eratopo
• ‘Smells of Brine, Witching’, Devin Miller - art by Dr T. Eratopo

Download e-book version: PDF | EPUB

New Issue: 2021.57

“We all have dreams, and these dreams keep us positive about the future because if we really want to achieve the dreams that we have and the hopes that we have, that means we have to get fighting for the future. So that’s one of my biggest motivations to keep fighting.”

—Vanessa Nakate

Issue 2021.57

Short stories

• ‘Wives at the End of the World’, Avra Margariti (illustrated by Joyce Chng)
• ‘The City, My Love’, Alexandra Seidel (illustrated by Carmen Moran)
• ‘A Subtle Fire Beneath the Skin’, Hayley Stone (illustrated by Cécile Matthey)
• ‘Autonomous Dispatch’, Anna Ziegelhof (illustrated by Fluffgar)
• ‘Faulty Genes’, Hannah Soyer (illustrated by Eric Asaris)

Poetry

• ‘The Flier and the Sheltered Maid’, Ana Gardner (illustrated by Miguel Santos)
• ‘Alien Armada’, Mary Soon Lee (illustrated by Laura-Anca Adascalitei)
• ‘In Dependence’, Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe (illustrated by Jason Baltazar)
• ‘Apotheosis’, Nicole J. LeBoeuf (illustrated by Toeken)

Download e-book version: PDF | EPUB | Mobi

Full issue and editorial 

New Issue: 2018.46

“No eres ‘provida’ si permites que tus ideas morales y religiosas estén por encima de la seguridad de las mujeres.”

—Beatriz Serrano

Issue 2018.46

Short stories

• ‘A Whisper from the Waves’, Carrie Gessner (illustrated by Toeken)
• ‘Five Tales of the Rose Palace’, Ephiny Gale (illustrated by Martin Hanford)
• ‘Floaters’, Joe Baumann (illustrated by Jason Baltazar)
• ‘Requiem for Kingkillers and Queenmakers’, Andrea Tang (illustrated by Pear Nuallak)
• ‘Little Grey Weirdos’, Anna Ziegelhof (illustrated by Fluffgar)

Poetry

• ‘Echidna’, Stephen Whitehead (illustrated by Eric Asaris)
• ‘Daphne’s Grove’, Hayley Stone (illustrated by Joyce Chng)

Download e-book version: EPUB | Mobi

Full issue and editorial