Strange Horizons

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Podcast Editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with long-time Strange Horizons contributor RB Lemberg for a conversation about their extensive work with the magazine, using poetry as a tool to refine short and long-form fiction, writing about the diaspora experience, and the comfort one can find in stories from perspectives outside one's own. Oh, and Ursula K LeGuin, of course.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Are you starting to read stories for SFF awards season? Consider our fiction and poetry archives as a good starting point, and let us know your favourite stories and poems of the year on Bluesky.Episode show notes:Read RB Lemberg's work in our archives.Visit their website, their Patreon, or follow them on Bluesky.Buy Yoke of Stars, their latest Birdverse novella, which just won the World Fantasy Award!Pre-order We Will Rise Again, the activism anthology edited by Annalee Newitz, Karen Lord, and Malka Older.Find more links to their work, plus other interesting things, scattered through the transcript on our website.

Celebrating 25 Years with The Strange Horizons Editorial CollectiveIn this special episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Senior Podcast Editor Kat Kourbeti and Editor Michael Ireland welcome current members of the Strange Horizons Editorial Collective for a series of interviews to give you a glimpse behind the curtain of each department and to celebrate 25 years of this pioneering speculative fiction magazine.Read the full transcript on our website.A big thank you to Arturo Serrano, Proofreader; Dan Hartland and Aisha Subramanian, Senior Reviews Editors and hosts of Critical Friends; Hebe Stanton, Senior Fiction Editor; Romie Stott, Administrative Editor and Senior Poetry Editor; and Gautam Bhatia, Co-Ordinating Editor and Senior Articles Editor, for joining us for these interviews. Happy 25 years, one and all, and here's to many more!

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Tim Melody Pratt walks Podcast Editor Kat Kourbeti through their extensive oeuvre in the SH archives, recounts meeting their life partner through the magazine, and explains how it all intertwined together into a life and career bursting with magic.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Want to meet the team? Podcast editors Kat and Michael will be at World Fantasy Con, alongside Poetry Editor Vanessa Jae and Fiction/Articles Editor Joyce Ch'ng! Come to the first Strange Horizons Tea Party in years on Sunday at 11am, and celebrate our 25th anniversary with us.Episode show notes:Read Tim Pratt's work in our archives.Visit their website, follow them on Bluesky, and check out their Patreon to read their monthly short stories.Buy Tim's latest book, Starfinder: Era of the Eclipse, or the one before that, The Knife and the Serpent.Find further links to Tim's work and other things mentioned throughout the transcript on our website.

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti chats to author Debbie Urbanski about her 2018 Strange Horizons publication and the 13 years of submissions it took to get accepted, writing in the gray areas between genres, and what it means to be artistically honest in your work.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Want to meet the team? Podcast editors Kat and Michael will be at Seattle Worldcon! Come to our Table Talk on Wednesday morning, or to our live episode recording on Friday evening, grab a ribbon, and tell us about your favourite Strange Horizons stories, poems, or special issues.Episode show notes:Read Debbie Urbanski's story, Some Personal Arguments in Support of the BetterYou (Based on Early Interactions)Visit her website, or follow her on Instagram and SubstackBuy her book, After World, or her short story collection PortalmaniaRead Andy Sawyer's Strange Horizons review of After WorldFind more links to her work and other things mentioned throughout the transcript page on our website.

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Mary Robinette Kowal about the fractal nature of story structure, , and writing to please the teenaged version of you.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Want to vote for Strange Horizons in the Hugos? We have two poems, a novelette, and the magazine all on the ballot! Get your WSFS and/or virtual Seattle Worldcon membership on their website, and you can cast your vote now.Want to meet the team? Kat and Michael will be at Seattle Worldcon! Come to our Table Talk on Wednesday morning, or to our live episode recording on Friday evening, grab a ribbon, and tell us about your favourite Strange Horizons stories, poems, or special issues.Episode show notes:Read Mary Robinette's work in our archives.Listen to the audio of the Portland Strange Horizons 10th Anniversary Reading event on her website.Buy The Martian Contingency and pre-order Apprehension/Red Star Hustle (part of a Saga Double with Sam J Miller)Follow Mary Robinette on Instagram or visit her website to sign up for her monthly newsletter, The Mary Robinette Gazette. Both places abound with talking cat content!Find more links to her work and other things as you read the transcript below.

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Nghi Vo about how Strange Horizons kickstarted her publishing journey, her weird and interesting life before writing took off, and the fearlessness it takes to make a writing career happen.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Want to vote for Strange Horizons in the Hugos? We have two poems, a novelette, and the magazine all on the ballot! Get your WSFS and/or virtual Seattle Worldcon membership on their website, and you can cast your vote now.Episode show notes:Read Nghi's work in our archivesFollow Nghi on Bluesky or visit her website, nghivo.comBuy her newest book, Don't Sleep With the DeadFind more links to her work and other things as you read the transcript on our website.

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Naomi Kritzer about her non-linear writing journey, imagining positive futures, and how to deal with the world catching up to your near-future specfic.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Want to vote for Strange Horizons in the Hugos? We have two poems, a novelette, and the magazine all on the ballot! Get your WSFS and/or virtual Seattle Worldcon membership on their website, and you can cast your vote now.Episode show notes:Read Naomi's work in our archives.Visit Naomi's website, or follow her on Bluesky.Order her latest book, Liberty's Daughter, featuring all of the previously serialised Seastead stories from F&SF Magazine.Find more links to her work, along with everything else we talked about today, peppered throughout the transcript on our website.

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Charlie Jane Anders about her Strange Horizons publications dating all the way back to 2002, charting her journey as a writer and her experience with the magazine over 20 years, as well as her love for community events and bringing people together.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Want to vote for Strange Horizons in the Hugos? We have two poems, a novelette, and the magazine all on the ballot! Get your WSFS and/or virtual Seattle Worldcon membership on their website, and you can cast your vote as soon as the end of this month.Episode show notes:Read Charlie Jane's stories in our archivesVisit Charlie Jane's website, or follow her on BlueskyPre-order Charlie Jane's upcoming novel, Lessons in Magic and Disaster.Find more links to her work, along with everything else we talked about today, peppered throughout the episode transcript on our website.

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, we present a soundscaped reading of Jordan Kurella's poem, 'this tree is a eulogy', and afterward Kat Kourbeti chats to Jordan about his writing process, the wonders of New Weird fiction, and the magic of writer friendships.Links and things:Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠.Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Episode show notes:For the poem reading:Narration by Jordan KurellaSoundscape by Michael IrelandMusic credit: 'Reawakening' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.For the interview:Follow Jordan Kurella on Bluesky, or check out his website.Read Jordan's work in our archives, including his poem 'this tree is a eulogy'.Pre-order Jordan's upcoming novella, The Death of Mountains.Find more links to his work, along with everything else we talked about today, peppered throughout the episode transcript.

In this special episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Kat Kourbeti sits down with fiction editors Hebe Stanton and Kat Weaver, as well as poetry and administrative editor Romie Stott, to talk about some of the work we published last year, just as the Hugo nominations deadline draws close.Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes.Episode show notes: Read the full Azimuth post including all links to today's recommendations, plus some extras for good measure. Follow Romie Stott on Bluesky Read Hebe Stanton's SFF review blog Follow Kat Weaver on Bluesky Follow Kat Kourbeti on BlueskyAnd of course, find a fuller list of what we talked about today as you read the transcript on our website .

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Kat Kourbeti sits down with longtime friend and Seattle Worldcon Poet Laureate Brandon O'Brien, chatting all things speculative poetry, TTRPG design and actual play streaming, and the impact of markets that have many readers and editors—hey wait, that's us!Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes. Did you know SH@25 is eligible for the Best Related Work category in the Hugo Awards? Keep us in mind for your 2025 ballot!Episode show notes: Follow Brandon on Bluesky, or sign up to his newsletter, Afternoon Tea. Read Brandon's work in our archives Get a Seattle WSFS Membership and longlist your favourite SH poems today! Find more links to everything we talked about as you read the transcript on our website.

In this episode of Strange Horizons @ 25, editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with SFF critic and writer Bogi Takács for an in-depth conversation about the role of criticism in the SFF space, plus an overall look at their varied career. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes. Did you know SH@25 is eligible for the Best Related Work category in the Hugo Awards? Keep us in mind for your 2025 ballot! Episode show notes: Follow Bogi on Bluesky, and visit their website, BogiReadsTheWorld.com Read Bogi's work in our archives, including their reviews, poems, and fiction. Buy Bogi's latest collection, Power To Yield and Other Stories Find more links to their work and everything else we talked about, as you read this episode's transcript.

In this episode of Strange Horizons @ 25, producer Michael Ireland sits down with acclaimed SF author John Scalzi to discuss his 2001 story Alien Animal Encounters, which just so happens the only story he ever submitted anywhere, plus his long and decorated career in the SFF genres. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes. Did you know SH@25 is eligible for the Best Related Work and Best Fancast category in the Hugo Awards? Keep us in mind for your 2025 ballot! Episode show notes: Visit John Scalzi's website, or his blog, 'Whatever' Read his 2001 story, Alien Animal Encounters, in our archives Follow John on Bluesky, @scalzi Preorder When The Moon Hits Your Eye, out March 2025 Find more links to John's work, along with links to everything we talk about in this episode, on the transcript page.

In this special episode of SH@25, editor Kat Kourbeti narrates 'Little Brother' by Bruce Holland Rogers, originally published on 30 October 2000. Hosted by producer Michael Ireland, with warm holiday wishes from the entire SH Editorial Collective. Read the story on the SH website. Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes. Did you know SH@25 is eligible for the Best Related Work category in the Hugo Awards? Keep us in mind for your 2025 ballot!

In this episode of SH@25, Editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li to discuss her foray into poetry, screenwriting, music composition and more, and also presents a reading of her two poems published in 2022, 'Ave Maria' and 'The Mezzanine'. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click here to record an audio message, and here for video. Join our Patreon for early episode access, or donate through any other way to hear your name and message in our next episodes. Did you know SH@25 is eligible for the Best Related Work category in the Hugo Awards? Keep us in mind for your 2025 ballot! Episode show notes: Visit Vivian's website, or follow her on social media (Bluesky/Instagram) Read Vivian's poems 'Ave Maria' and 'The Mezzanine' in our archives Find more links to Vivian's work, along with links to everything we talk about in this episode, on the transcript page. Leave us a comment and let us know what stories from the archives you'd like to hear next!

In the 5th episode of SH@25, editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with author E.M. Faulds to chat about her 2022 story, Broken Blue, combining Eldritch horrors with mundane moments, writing female characters, and bigging up your crew when you have the chance. Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click here to record an audio message, and here for video. Join our Patreon for early episode access. Did you know SH@25 is eligible for the Best Related Work and Best FanCast categories in the Hugo Awards? Keep us in mind for your 2025 ballot! Episode show notes: Visit E.M. Faulds' website and follow her on social media (BlueSky / Instagram) Read E.M.'s microfiction over your coffee break on her Ko-fi page (and throw her some change while you're there) Read E.M.'s story Broken Blue in our archives Buy a copy of Gallus, the 2024 Glasgow SF Writers' Circle anthology Check out Nova Scotia Vol II from Luna Press Check out Ada King, E.M.'s novel, and Under the Moon, her short story collection featuring all-female protagonists Find more links to E.M.'s work, as well as recommendations and links to other media we talked about, on our episode transcript page.

In the 4th episode of SH@25, Editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with tabletop game designer and SFF critic Kyle Tam, whose young career has taken off in the last few years. Read on for an insightful interview about narrative storytelling from non-Western perspectives, the importance of schlock and trash in the development of taste, and the windows into creativity we find in moments of hardship.Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click here to record an audio message, and here for video.Join our Patreon for early episode access.Did you know SH@25 is eligible for the Best Fancast category in the Hugo Awards? Keep us in mind for your 2025 ballot!Episode show notes:Visit Kyle Tam's website for her full credits/bibliographyFollow Kyle on BlueSky @percypropa.bsky.socialRead Kyle's reviews for SH on her author pageBack ⁠Devil's Due on Backerkit⁠Find more links to Kyle's work, as well as recommendations and links to other media we talked about, on the episode transcript page.

In the third episode of SH@25, editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with author Arkady Martine, for an in-depth interview on her multifaceted career, her review writing, and the history that inspired her two-time Hugo Award winning Teixcalaan Empire series.We also present a reading of Arkady's poem, Cloud Wall, which marked her Strange Horizons debut, and remains to this day one of three poems she ever published, with reading by Kat Kourbeti and sound design by Michael Ireland. The music heard in the poetry segment is 'Uprising' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click here to record an audio message, and here for video. Join our Patreon for early episode access.Show notes: Read a full transcript of this episode Find Arkady Martine in the SH Archives, including her poem 'Cloud Wall', the story 'City of Salt', and her book reviews Follow Arkady Martine on BlueSky (@byzantienne.bsky.social) Buy Arkady's books through Bookshop.org A full list of Arkady's short fiction elsewhere can be found on her website

In the first guest interview of this series, editor Kat Kourbeti sits down with author Kate Heartfield, whose 2015 story 'Limestone, Lye, and the Buzzing of Flies' marked a turning point in her publishing career. Follow Kate on social media @kateheartfield, or sign up for her newsletter on her website: https://kateheartfield.com For fuller show notes and to read the transcript of the interview: http://strangehorizons.com/podcasts/sh25-episode2-kate-heartfield/ ‎ Read Kate's story "Limestone, Lye, and the Buzzing of Flies": http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/limestone-lye-and-the-buzzing-of-flies/ Kate's 2017 fund drive essay "Expanding Ambitions": http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/azimuth/expanding-ambitions/ Buy Kate's books through Bookshop.org: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/strange-horizons-25-guests

Podcast Editor Kat Kourbeti and Producer Michael Ireland announce our brand new podcast project, SH@25, a year-long interview and feature series that will delve into the Strange Horizons archives, celebrate the work of past contributors and staff, and highlight the contributions of Strange Horizons to SFF publishing and the wider community.A full transcript can be found ⁠on our website⁠.Click here to leave us an audio voicemail for our episodes or video message for our socials.For the curious, the narrator recruitment form can be found on this page. Shoot us an email with any questions at podcasts (at) strangehorizons.com.