Micro-interview with Marc A. Criley

And today we’re joined by Marc A. Criley, author of the wonderful “A Multitude of Sparks Descend” in The Future Fire #75, for a micro-interview and chat about creation myths, antiquities and writing.

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Art © 2026 Melkorka

The Future Fire: What does “A Multitude of Sparks Descend” mean to you?

Marc A. Criley: I wanted a creation myth that really focused on the joy of creation and bringing life to the universe. Two deities, lovers, one intimately working hands-on with dirt, water, air, and DNA; the other acting on the grandest of cosmic scales. Tragedy strikes and it seems all hope is lost, but soon the universe of life they sparked into being join the search and the rescue, proving that friends are everywhere and hope is never truly lost.

TFF: What would be the most terrifying thing about being in outer space?

MAC: The most terrifying (and exhilarating) thing about being in outer space is knowing that you’re wholly dependent on the few dozen cubic meters of home world that you’ve brought with you.

TFF: One hundred years in the future, one of your descendants finds something that used to belong to you. What would you like that to be?

MAC: The five thousand year old stone knife blade that me and my dog found up on the hill behind my house. Pass it on.

TFF: What is the most important thing to remember about writing?

MAC: Do not compromise or allow your voice, the unique way in which you write, to be diluted. That voice is what makes your writing yours and yours alone.

TFF: What are you working on next?

MAC: Active in the queue is a story about journeying to the literal end of the universe; a sinner trying to reclaim his humanity one saved life at a time; and 10,000 gods in a space elevator.

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Extract:

I hear the echo of your joy; your laughter spun into nebula, open cluster, gamma ray jets; imprinted on cosmic dust and intergalactic magnetic fields. An intergalactic palimpsest beneath white noise.

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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.

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

Micro-interview with Marc A. Criley

For today’s micro-interview we are joined by Marc A. Criley, author of “Sun-Dappled Sheets of Methane Rain” in The Future Fire #69.

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Art © 2024 Ellis Bray

TFF: What does “Sun-Dappled Sheets of Methane Rain” mean to you?

Marc A. Criley: The solar system is full of wonders, so far only glimpsed through our robotic spacecrafts’ cameras and sensors. How astonishing is it going to be when we can go and see them with our own eyes?

TFF: Would you like to visit another planet?

MAC: See question 1! 😁 Seriously, all the places in SDSoMR exist—I’d like to visit them all just to get started on my planetary “bucket list.”

TFF: What is the most important thing to remember about writing?

MAC: Write the story you want to write—and read. Tell it the way you want to tell it; don’t muffle your unique voice, make sure the story is your story.

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Extract:

A few scattered raindrops float down from a hazy orange sky. They’re as big as my child-thumbs, plopping onto my enviro suit and spotting the visor. The liquid methane evaporates fast, leaving sooty splotches. The rain tapers off. Dad and I wait. I get antsy. Dad sighs.

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Reminder: You can comment on any of the writing or art in this issue at http://press.futurefire.net/2024/04/new-issue-202469.html.

New issue: 2024.69

“L’abolition [de la peine de mort] a connu une irrésistible progression à travers le monde. Ce mouvement, comme en Europe, influence le droit international dont, en retour, les évolutions confortent l’abolitionnisme et lui donnent les assises nécessaires pour connaître un rayonnement encore plus grand.”

—Robert Badinter, 1928–2024

Issue 2024.69

Special issue on hopeful SFF

Flash fiction

• ‘Sun-Dappled Sheets of Methane Rain’, Marc A. Criley - art by Ellis Bray

Short stories

• ‘Space Gardens’, L.J. Lacey - art by L.E. Badillo
• ‘Terranueva’, Katie Kopajtic - art by Melkorka

Poetry

• ‘Sunrise over Neo-Tokyo’, Lae Astra - art by Katharine A. Viola
• ‘Manipulating the Light’, Mahaila Smith - art by Fluffgar
• ‘Guidelines for Living Your Fairy Tale (in no Particular Order)’, Amanda Cook - art by Joel Bisaillon

Download e-book version: PDF | EPUB