New issue: 2025.72

“As climate movements, we’re often almost bullied into this belief that as soon as we talk about anything but emissions we’re losing sight of our actual issues. But as climate activists we need to stand up for democracy, we need to stand up for the truth.”

—Luisa Neubauer

Issue 2025.72

Short stories

• ‘Minotaur’, Jaime Gill - art by Toeken
• ‘Featured Exhibit: Drop in a Bucket’, Ziggy Schutz
• ‘Safe in a Malachite Storm’, Devin Miller - art by Carmen Moran
• ‘All That Water’, Eris Young - art by Barbara Candiotti
• ‘Turnabout’, Ana Wesley - art by Joel Bisaillon

Novelettes

• ‘Cupernicity’, B. Morris Allen - art by Katharine A. Viola

Poetry

• ‘Unformed’, Veda Villiers - art by Melkorka
• ‘Raised’, Deborah Harford - art by Melkorka

Download e-book version: EPUB

Micro-interview with Devin Miller

We welcome Devin Miller, author of “Smells of Brine, Witching” in The Future Fire #66, for a mini-interview.

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TFF: What does “Smells of Brine, Witching” mean to you?

Devin Miller: We tend to think of things that change and decay as sad, wasted things. What forests teach us is that decaying things are food, homes, an essential part of creation and regeneration. What beaches teach us is that when water wears a stone down, it does get smaller but it also gets smooth and beautiful. This is one of my favorite metaphors for writing: unwritten ideas and unfinished stories aren't wasted, they're just compost for future writing. And compost is a form of transformation, and therefore magical.

TFF: Is it the double nature of fungi that makes them such a suitable witchcraft ingredient, in your opinion?

DM: I think they're a suitable witchcraft ingredient because they are themselves witches. Saprobic fungi feed on dead organic matter, break it down and transform it, which is pretty much what a witch does stirring her cauldron.

TFF: What are you working on next?

DM: I've got lots of short fiction to revise; I've particularly been meaning to get to the one about a road trip with a sea-wife.

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Extract

Quiet have I lived at the border between
woods and sea. Here where shorebirds scurry, forage,
where wrens, juncoes make busy life in tree homes,
here have I breathed salt.

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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: 2021.59

“Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we must all take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.”

—Rep. John Lewis

Issue 2021.59

Short stories

• ‘The Avlina Flower’s Magic’, Jamie Lackey, illustrated by Carmen Moran
• ‘A Luxury Like Hope’, Aimee Ogden, illustrated by Toeken
• ‘The Abridged Excerpts from the Diary of a Corpse’, Naethan Pais, illustrated by Naethan Pais

Novelettes

• ‘The Devil Hunters of Fawn Street’, Clark Lewis, illustrated by Eric Asaris
• ‘Archive of the Inexplicable and Dangerous’, Alexandra Grunberg, illustrated by Miguel Santos

Poetry

• ‘Armor’, Devin Miller, illustrated by Cécile Matthey
• ‘he kindly danced for me’, J.D. Harlock, illustrated by Cécile Matthey
• ‘You Are Whole’, Anshritha, illustrated by Dr T. Eratopo
• ‘How to Tell Your Husband You’re a Werewolf’, Katherine Shats, illustrated by Fluffgar

Full issue and editorial

Download e-book version: EPUB | Mobi