In his article “The Joy of Helping” in the latest Clarkesworld, writer and translator Ken Liu (The Wall of Storms, Invisible Planets) says some splendidly on-point things about helping others. The truth is: It feels good to help people. Even today, much of my motivation in editing and translating stories from China is still tied up with this satisfaction of helping writers reach readers. Surely I would have written more original works and made more money without these translations —…

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I checked Tangent Online this morning to get their thoughts on the current issue of Clarkesworld, but their review isn’t up yet. Phooey. Fortunately, Charles Payseur at Quick Sip Reviews posted an enthusiastic review this week. Here’s his overview: It’s another packed month at Clarkesworld with six original stories, including a rather charming novelette in translation. And it’s another month that is entirely science fiction, with a splash of science-fantasy thrown in for flavor. These are tales that show visions of the future,…

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Okay, I’ve settled into a routine now. I drop by Charles Payseur’s Quick Sip Reviews to see what he thinks of this month’s crop of magazines, read what he has to say about Clarkesworld, and then make a beeline to the Clarkesworld website. The guy knows how to whet your appetite for good fiction. Here he is on Genevieve Valentine’s 9,000-word tale, “Everyone from Themis Sends Letters Home.” So this is a rather heartbreaking story about a place that doesn’t even exist….

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The September Clarkesworld, issue #120, is packed with new fiction by Jack Skillingstead, Rich Larson, Bogi Takács, and others, plus reprints by Tom Crosshill and Nick Wolven. Here’s the complete list of stories. “The Despoilers” by Jack Skillingstead “Aphrodite’s Blood, Decanted” by Jennifer Campbell-Hicks “The Green Man Cometh” by Rich Larson “The Opposite and the Adjacent” by Liu Yang “Toward the Luminous Towers” by Bogi Takács “The House of Half Mirrors” by Thoraiya Dyer “The Dark City Luminous” by Tom…

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I’ve been enjoying Charles Payseur’s short fiction reviews at his website, Quick Sip Reviews. Here’s what he says about the August issue of Clarkesworld: It’s a month of surprises at Clarkesworld this August, as there is an extra original story plus a story in translation from German instead of the usual Chinese translation. So there’s definitely a lot to see with four short stories and two longer novelettes. The good news is that it’s all weird. Seriously, these are stories…

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Clarkesworld #118 has five new stories by Mike Buckley, Eric Schwitzgebel, John Chu, Jack Schouten, and A Que, and two reprints by Linda Nagata and Mary Rosenblum. Short stories featured this issue are: “Helio Music” by Mike Buckley “Fish Dance” by Eric Schwitzgebel “The Sentry Branch Predictor Spec: A Fairy Tale” by John Chu “Sephine and the Leviathan” by Jack Schouten “Against the Stream” by A Que “Nahiku West” by Linda Nagata (from Analog Science Fiction, October 2012) “Lion Walk” by Mary Rosenblum (from Asimov’s Science Fiction, January 2009)…

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In his editorial this issue, Neil Clarke has some powerful words to say about how all of us can help keep short fiction alive. If we want short fiction to thrive, we have a responsibility to spread the word and promote the works we’ve enjoyed. There are many ways to do this, but it needs to be focused, respectful, and timely. More specifically, it needs to be done in locations that are relevant to the audience you are trying to attract….

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I love Peter Mohrbacher’s cover for the May issue of Clarkesworld, a gorgeously creepy piece titled “Ananiel, Angel of Storms” (click the image at right for a bigger version.) Mohrbacher has covered other Clarkesworlds — mostly recent issue 111 — but this is the first to really make me sit up and take notice. Robert L Turner III at Tangent Online raves about Rich Larson this issue, calling him “an excellent new talent.” “Jonas and the Fox” by Rich Larson is set in…

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Tangent Online is, as usual, more on top of things than I am. Their review of the latest issue of Clarkesworld magazine was posted yesterday, before I’d even had a chance to look at this month’s cover. Reviewer Jason McGregor does a fine job of writing intriguing summaries for each story (a subtle art, and I know that from experience.) Here’s his summary of “Touring with the Alien” by Carolyn Ives Gilman. Avery is a woman with something in her…

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Clarkesworld is one of the most-reviewed genre magazines out there. So if you’re too busy to read every issue, there are plenty of places that will point you towards the stories that might appeal to you most. Take issue #114 for example. Just about everything in the TOC looks interesting, but I only have time for one story tonight. Enter Charles Payseur at Quick Sip Reviews, who’s done an admirable job of profiling the entire issue. Sixty seconds is all…

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