What’s in Issue 130

Novels	Andina and Kendel battle the blood fairies. Andina must also come to an understanding with her mage, Renson, who can read her thoughts: Julian Lawler, Battle Seer, chapter 9: The Hills of Fae, part 2. ‘Toni only has time for a fleeting look around Florence but then discovers exactly why Carla chose to set her sights on him’: Michael E. Lloyd, Observation One: Singing of promises, chapter 11: Between the Lines.
Novella	Martin and Michelle find out what fiendish means Booth means to employ to extract vital information from them: Michael J A Tyzuk, Through a Glass, Darkly, part 8.
Serial	Bob Sorenson reveals the basic problem with artificial intelligence; it’s like young children: perfectly logical but without a grain of common sense. Considering all that computers are expected to do, what might be the consequences? And the Truth Shall Set You Free, conclusion.
Short Stories	New contributor M. Scott Harris portrays a mysterious figure who has big plans for a relatively small piece of concrete: Sidewalk Chunk. New contributor Danielle L. Parker introduces a favorite character of hers: Captain Jim Blunt of the “less than reputable starship Pig’s Eye.” They’re hot on the trail of “loot!” and are crackerjacks at arithmetic, especially short division: The Curse of the Dog-Faced Mummy, part 1; conclusion.
Flash Fiction	New contributor Laurie Seidler tells a story about an unfortunate baby and a miracle worker. It is indeed easier to cure the body than the soul: Miracle Baby.
Poetry	Ian Donnell Arbuckle tells us what might happen if we stay at our computers too long: You’ll Get Radiation Damage. Roberto Sanhueza writes a poignant poem of love lost. It’s part of his “vampire” cycle of poems, but you’ll have to look hard to see it. Maybe vampires have their human side, after all: Cry Me Not.
Art	New contributor Eric Bell sends us a colorful picture of a little girl and a big dragon: Dragon Rider. Claudio Parentela continues his second series of portraits: Art 830.

Departments

Welcome	Bewildering Stories welcomes M. Scott Harris, Danielle L. Parker and Laurie Seidler.
Challenge	Claudio Parentela and Thomas R. write about Angoscia. Challenge 130 examines Narrative Style
The Reading Room	Jerry Wright reviews John Gregory Betancourt’s To Rule In Amber.
Editorial	Jerry Wright, Caritas

In Times to Come

This issue looks longer than usual, but it really isn’t: the number of categories makes it seem that way. If we’d had entries in three more categories — Articles, Review Articles and Discussion — we still wouldn’t have exceeded our quota, because non-fiction doesn’t count against our issue space limit. Maybe that’s something Yer Editors need to talk about, but it doesn’t seem all that urgent.

What is urgent is achieving a balance: planning the 130’s to keep veteran contributors from falling too far behind even as we introduce new ones. The days are long gone when Bewildering Stories pretty much scheduled itself, but we’ll try to keep on top of things; gentle queries about backlog are not taken amiss, although we may be at a loss for a precise answer. And compare our turnaround time with just about anybody else’s, especially the print mags. We look forward to seeing stories on line as much as the authors and readers do!

Readers’ reactions are always welcome.
Please write!

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