The July – August issue of Britain’s longest running science fiction and fantasy magazine is now on sale. The cover, by Martin Hanford, is titled “Green Tea.” (Click the image at right for a bigger version.)

This issue has an intriguing installment in an ongoing series by Chris Butler. Here’s Lois Tilton at Locus Online on “The Deep of Winter”:

A prequel to this author’s series in which people emit spores that signal their emotions to others. Because some persons’ spores are more powerful, a coercive aristocracy has been built on them. Here, our protagonist is Sebastián, trusted servant of the Winter Duke, a member of his Guard. People have been reported missing, and the Duke has ordered the Guard to search the buried old city, where trespass has long been forbidden. Sebastián’s narrative alternates with that of Aluna, a mad scientist from an alternate world, ambitious to experiment with other realities, regardless of the consequences to the inhabitants of those worlds. When they meet in the buried city, questions are answered at last.

Read Lois’ complete comments on the issue here.

Interzone #259 contains six stories:

“Silencer – Head Like a Hole Remix” by E. Catherine Tobler
“The Deep of Winter” by Chris Butler
“Rush Down, Roar Gently” by Sara Saab
“After His Kind” by Richard W. Strachan
“Edited” by Rich Larson
“Midnight Funk Association” by Mack Leonard

Non-fiction this issue includes “Love Your Local Scene” and “Future Interrupted” by Jonathan McCalmont, “Time Pieces” by Nina Allan, plus David Langford’s Ansible Link, and the regular columns: book reviews, Nick Lowe’s Mutant Popcorn film reviews, and Tony Lee’s DVD column, Laser Fodder. Issue 259 is nearly 100 pages and packed with fiction, columns, and top-notch art.

Interzone is the sister magazine of Black Static, both are published by TTA Press in the UK. The distinguished Andy Cox is the editor of both.

As usual, the design and interior art adds enormously to the professional look of the magazine. Here’s the table of contents.

Here’s the opening spread for “The Deep of Winter” by Chris Butler (illustrated by Martin Hanford).

And “Rush Down, Roar Gently” by Sara Saab (illustrated by Richard Wagner).

And “After His Kind” by Richard W. Strachan (illustrated by Richard Wagner).

As usual, the reviews look great. Here’s Nick Lowe’s Mutant Popcorn.

As we’ve mentioned before, magazines like Interzone are completely dependent on fans and readers to keep them alive. I hope this one survives for a good long time — but it won’t without reader support. If it sounds intriguing, I hope you’ll consider buying an issue next time you find yourself browsing the magazine rack.

See more details and excerpts from issue 259 at the TTA website.

Interzone is edited by Andy Cox, and published by TTA Press. Issue #259 is cover-dated July-August 2015. It is 96 pages, priced at £4.99. The cover is by Martin Hanford. Copies are usually around $9.99 here in the US. A six-issue subscription is £27 (UK) and £33 in the US. Order right from the TTA Press website.

We last covered Interzone with Issue 258.

See our July Fantasy Magazine Rack here, and all of our recent Magazine coverage here.