News & Press from The Future Fire: Davian Aw

Showing posts with label Davian Aw. Show all posts

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Micro-interview with Davian Aw

We welcome Davian Aw, author of the poem “ship of living ghosts” in The Future Fire #75, to the latest in this issue’s microinterview series.

TFF: What does “ship of living ghosts” mean to you?

Davian Aw: It emerged from worrying about the global rise of anti-trans legislation and the spectres of forced detransition and deportation, and wondering what it might look like when people who know and love each other start physically turning into strangers. It seemed a very SFF thing.

TFF: What are you working on next?

DA: It would be a lie to say I’m actively working on anything, but I’m currently procrastinating on a lot of short stories, all spec fic! One of them is a workplace horror-comedy and another is a non-workplace horror-comedy, possibly as a reflection of the current state of the world.

Extract:

we breathe
in small dark spaces cast upon the waves
beneath an infinite sky;

Reminder: You can comment on any of the writing or art in this issue at http://press.futurefire.net/2026/02/new-issue-202675.html.

Saturday, 31 January 2026

New issue: 2026.75

“I was attracted to science fiction because it was so wide open. I was able to do anything and there were no walls to hem you in and there was no human condition that you were stopped from examining.”

—Octavia E. Butler

Issue 2026.75

Flash fiction

‘A Multitude of Sparks Descend’, Marc A. Criley - art by Melkorka

Short stories

‘The Visitor’, Sylvie Althoff - art by Leyelle M.G.
‘Fruiting Bodies’, Lyra Meurer - art by L.E. Badillo
‘We Will See’, L.F. Howard - art by L.E. Badillo

Novelettes

‘Prata Neptunia’, S.J. Ladds - art by Ellis Bray

Poetry

The Weight of Winter’, Kaya Skovdatter - art by Leyelle M.G.
‘ship of living ghosts’, Davian Aw - art by Ellis Bray

Download e-book version: PDF | EPUB

Friday, 15 September 2023

Micro-interview with Davian Aw

We welcome back Davian Aw, author of “Between the Shadow and the Soul” in TFF #66 for a brief chat about virtual worlds and escapism.

TFF: What does “Between the Shadow and the Soul” mean to you?

Davian Aw: The escapist allure of guilty pleasures that save us even as they destroy us, and how those two things can't always be separated. I think many of us—especially from marginalised communities—have secret dreams and aspirations (and favourite media) that may not always be the most aligned with our political beliefs and values, but where those may sometimes be among the few things that keep us going or bring us joy. So that was the tension I wanted to explore here, and the ways in which we disengage from reality when the world makes it unbearable for us to exist as ourselves. Separately, I started writing this story while homesick for New York City after working there a few months, and a lot of the scenes were snapshots of places that I wanted to remember.

TFF: Did you ever wish to be someone else?

DA: All the time. Part of it is that need for escapism, which faded as I grew older and things got better and I found my place in the world. But there's still that curiosity and a kind of grief that we can only ever experience such a limited part of all that this world has to offer. There are experiences and perspectives that are forever inaccessible just because of who each of us are, and I've always been sad about that. Stories are the next best thing we have to get those intimate glimpses into lives we will never live, in this world and beyond.

Extract:

Personality modules spin into motion and transform Johanna into Ashley. She turns to the window and meets the sight of her beautiful face framed by sun-gilt hair. Crafted memories rush over her own until that face is no longer a stranger’s, but hers, drawing her deep into the soft embrace of Ashley’s perfect life. It’s her life, now; her memories, her body, and everything is all right.

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.

Sunday, 30 July 2023

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

Thursday, 8 October 2020

New issue: 2020.55

“Now is the time to warrior up and empower each other to take a stand for our planet. We need to sustain the little we have now, and develop ways not to pollute the environment, and sustain relationships with Mother Earth and save what we have left.”

—Autumn Peltier