Bewildering Stories introduces and welcomes...

Arón Reinhold

Arón is a Texan and studied English literature at the University of North Texas until he took a long break for social-justice activism beginning in 2014. He has returned to writing fiction out of sheer love of it and its "promise to envision a different world."

“The Day the Missiles Flew” is a short story that challenges a Bewildering Stories motto: “Any story based on current events is out of date before it’s written.” The challenge is successful to the extent that the story does not name real people. Rather, it raises an interesting question: Would it make any difference if the story did name real people? Who is governing the state if politicians are really actors engaged in performance art?

The concept is very old indeed. Among the more notable examples, Benito Mussolini once went on a nationwide tour, flying from one airfield to another in order to “review the Italian air force.” And all the sixteen planes that comprised the Italian air force went with him on his tour.

Now, did Mussolini fool Italians with his contrived inspection tour? Not a single one. They all knew what he was doing: he was putting on a show. And since the time of Caesar Augustus, politicians not only in Italy but the world over have responded to the public cry: “Panem et circenses!” Good politicians provide bread, but even — and especially — the unseemly know that circuses can win votes.

Arón Reinhold’s bio sketch can be found here.

Welcome to Bewildering Stories, Arón. We hope to hear from you again soon and often!