Edited by bestselling anthologist John Joseph Adams, LIGHTSPEED is a Hugo Award-winning, critically-acclaimed digital magazine. In its pages, you'll find science fiction from near-future stories and sociological SF to far-future, star-spanning SF. Plus there's fantasy from epic sword-and-sorcery and contemporary urban tales to magical realism, science-fantasy, and folk tales. Each month, LIGHTSPEED brings you a mix of original short stories and flash fiction featuring a variety of authors, from the bestsellers and award-winners you already know to the best new voices you haven't heard yet. When you read LIGHTSPEED, you'll see where science fiction and fantasy have come from, where they are now, and where they're going. The LIGHTSPEED podcast, produced by Grammy Award-winning narrator and producer Stefan Rudnicki of Skyboat Media, features original audio short stories 6-8 times a month.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine presents three engaging short stories. First, explore the complex relationship between a daughter and her aging supervillain mother in "My Mother, the Supervillain." Then, delve into the unique perspective of a sapient alien creature in "See Now the Misfortune of the Thinking Tenax." Finally, follow the viral journey of a grieving fairy king searching for his lost love in "When the Faerie King Toured the Human Realm."
The episode presents two speculative fiction narratives. The first, "Eyes Grown Thick on the World," explores the life and death of a child in a mountain city whose consciousness inhabits multiple physical forms, focusing on family, grief, and the cyclical nature of life. The second, "The Twenty-One Second God," delves into the global chaos and philosophical implications following a brief event where millions are absorbed into a collective consciousness, and the narrator's personal journey dealing with this experience alongside profound personal loss.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine presents two sci-fi/fantasy short stories: "The Meaning We Seek" by Nancy Kress explores an AI's final moments with a dying human and its quest for consciousness, while "Ninnagan Says Remember" by Jonathan Olfert follows a tithe collector under a oppressive religious regime, forced to confront his past and make a dangerous choice.
This episode presents two speculative fiction stories. First, Meg Elison's "Where Are They Now?" revisits a survivor of a infamous candy factory tour, revealing the truth behind the tabloid headlines. Second, P.A. Cornell's "Through the Machine" follows a successful actor grappling with the unsettling reality of AI being used to generate films and fan interactions, leading him to question the future of human artistry in the entertainment industry.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine features two short stories: "The Temporal Displacement of the Graves" by Russell Nichols, narrated by Janina Edwards, which explores themes of time travel and relationships; and "The Price of Manners" by Martin Cahill, narrated by Stefan Rudnicki, delving into the mysteries and costs of knowledge. The episode also includes author and narrator spotlights and recommendations for other podcasts.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine features two stories: "Shadows on the Pavement" explores a unique connection between a being and its world, while "Arthing It Up: An Oral History" delves into the disastrous annexation of Earth by an interstellar community, examining the cultural clashes and catastrophic decisions that led to its subjugation. The episode questions the ethics of intervention and the consequences of unchecked power.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine features two science fiction short stories. The first story, "Talk: The Siren Song of the Otherworld Goggles," explores themes of simulated reality and alternate selves through the use of advanced technology. The second story, "The Other River," tells the tale of a woman's journey through a mysterious desert, confronting death and seeking redemption.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine features two compelling stories: "Meditations from the Event Horizon," a sci-fi tale exploring isolation and the human condition near a black hole, and "The Potter, His Daughter, and the Boy with the Tribal Marks on His Face," a fantasy narrative about a wizard-turned-potter and his magically created daughter. Themes of survival, identity, and the consequences of love and magic are explored.
This episode features two sci-fi stories: "The Price of Miracles" explores a couple's desperate attempt to buy back eyesight at a divine auction, forcing them to confront profound sacrifices. "Does Harlan Latner Dream of Infected Sheep? Part 2" continues the tale of a father uncovering a corporate conspiracy that's turning humanity into docile, efficient workers, as he fights to save his children and reclaim his life.
This episode features two captivating stories: In "To Navigate the Night," a human girl seeks the help of forest spirits, while in "Does Harlen Lattner Dream of Infected Sheep? Part 1," a doctor uncovers a disturbing medical mystery involving advanced technology and a potential pandemic. Both stories explore themes of connection, sacrifice, and the blurring lines between technology and humanity. The episode highlights the unique narratives and engaging performances typical of Lightspeed Magazine.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine Story Podcast features two science fiction stories: "Instructions for Good Boys on the Interplanetary Expedition" explores themes of loyalty and abandonment through the eyes of a dog left behind on a spaceship, while "The Lexicon of Lethe" delves into language, memory, and relationships as a monster steals words from a community.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine features two science fiction stories: "The Shift" by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, about a prince who transforms into a girl, and "Message in a Babel" by Adam Troy Castro, a nested narrative exploring layers of deception. The episode delves into themes of identity, gender, and the nature of reality, challenging listeners with its intricate plots and thought-provoking concepts. Stefan Rudnicki's narration brings both stories to life.
This episode of Lightspeed Magazine features two captivating science fiction stories: "Those Who Seek to Embrace the Sun" explores themes of artificial intelligence and humanity's search for a new home, while "Memories of Temperance" delves into a Taoist cultivator's journey in the afterlife, confronting memory and identity. Both stories offer unique perspectives on survival, purpose, and the cost of choice.
