Marvelous May 2024 Issue Live!

The marvelous May 2024 issue of Electric Spec is live!
Thank you, authors! Thank you to our artist!
Thank you to the whole Electric Spec team!

Thank you, readers!
We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did.

From May Author Ayers

We are pleased the author of "Draconic Academy," Rachel Ayers, in the marvelous May 2024 issue of Electric Spec sent us some comments about the story:

---

I've always loved dragons, ever since I first picked up a copy of Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. At some point I started to develop my own idea of what dragons are - less lizard and more air elemental, great spirits of magic and mystery. These dragons are hoarders, true, but also curators and archivists; their collections are specific and lovingly tended. They are shapeshifters, and choose to be somewhat humanoid in their dealings with humans, as that is more convenient for whatever meddling they want to get up to. They bring magic into the world by their very existence (in much the same way that good stories do).

Of course, dragons are their own mythology, and they are regarded differently throughout the world. In western folklore they are often seen as terrible beasts who steal virgins and burn crops and eat livestock. In eastern folklore they are more likely to be friendly or helpful spirits. In either case they come into the epic tale, bringing a might and magesty that you don't find with pixies or dryads or even unicorns, for the most part. Dragons have bigger tails, erm, tales. The Aurelian is a creature of epic battles, mischief, and an age of history beyond human scope... and yet she dips a wing into this handful of pages about Rukmini, who wants nothing more than a peaceful life as a librarian and researcher.

Stories, like dragons, can shift their shapes unexpectedly. But as humans, especially as authors, we also have choices in how we shape our own stories, whether we tell them as epic adventures or quiet reflections. We may not always control the narrative, but we can choose our focus, and sometimes the details we latch onto make all the difference between tragedy or comedy, laughter or tears, loss or learning. May you curate your library brilliantly, whatever shape your stories take.

---

Interesting! Thanks, Rachel!
Readers, be sure to check out all the May 2024 stories!

From May Author Quinn

We are pleased the author of "Gilmore," Caitlin Quinn, in the marvelous May 2024 issue of Electric Spec sent us some comments about the story:

---

“Gilmore” is essentially the product of a good prompt gone bad. I was participating in the NYC Midnight 500-word micro-fiction challenge, and the prompt called for a comedy that involved a dozen eggs and washing a dog. I immediately thought of how washing my own dogs is a chore—for all of us—and how, at times, I could swear they time their shaking to get me the most soaked. As a writer who is most comfortable in the speculative world, the idea came to set the story in a post-apocalyptic world on a spaceship. The narrator’s voice flowed somewhat naturally in my head, and I saw him surrounded by all these animals with differing personalities and idiosyncrasies. And then I thought, “The animals MUST be in charge. Because, truly, we are doing a crap job taking care of this planet.” Over time, I expanded the story from its original 500-words but still saw it as a flash piece. I have ideas for additional short pieces about these characters and this world. Maybe even a novel down the road. Who knows? Here’s to Laika and her revenge!

---

Interesting! Thanks, Caitlin!
Readers, be sure to check out all the May 2024 stories!

From the May 2024 cover artist

We're excited about our cover art for the marvelous May 2024 issue of Electric Spec. The artist Barbara Candiotti was kind enough to send us some comments about it:

---

The art piece "The Journey" depicts two riders in a deep desert canyon headed toward a sparkling city. The scene could be on Earth or another planet. Are the riders headed home or visiting, or is the town a mirage? Ultimately, it's up to the viewer to decide. What do you think? If asked to write a story about the scene would it be a fantasy, science fiction or speculative fiction story? Personally, I imagine the scene taking place on a fantasy world and the riders are bearing exotic wares to trade with the townsfolk ahead of them.

---

Thanks, Barbara! Very interesting!
So, without further ado here's a sneak peek:

Tone

We had another successful Electric Spec Production Meeting! Huzzah! The marvelous May 2024 issue is well under way. All authors who submitted have heard, or will soon hear, from us. Lucky authors who got a 'Yay' also got a contract. Please return that ASAP so we can start editing. Thanks!

We had an interesting discussion at the meeting about tone. You may or may not have noticed the tone of Electric Spec. If not, feel free to read some of our many FREE stories! The bottom line is: Electric Spec has a specific tone and it is not Grimdark. In fact, it might be the opposite of Grimdark! Anyway, different markets have different tones.
Please submit your art appropriately--for your best chance of success!

We'll start blogging about the new issue soon. Stay tuned!