Issue of December 8, 2025

The Value of Butterflies in a Colorblind World by MJ Skinner — Cover story speculative fiction

MJ Skinner lives in northeast Ohio. He is married with a three-year-old daughter, and another daughter on the way. His history in the helping professions (law enforcement, counseling, and social work) has provided valuable insight into pain, pleasure, and complexities of the human condition. He currently writes speculative fiction, with a particular focus on horror, dystopian, and science fiction stories.

Where's Levi? by Carl V. Nord — Fiction

Really, don't mess with this janitor...

Hanging on Ten by Sreelekha Chatterjee — Flash fiction

"Balancing from moment to moment..."

The Festival Stage by Deborah Blenkhorn — Flash fiction

Deborah Blenkhorn is a poet, essayist, and storyteller living in the Pacific Northwest. Her work fuses memoir and imagination, and has been featured in over three dozen literary magazines and anthologies.

Don’t Resurrect Like A Rejected Ancestor by Ndaba Sibanda — Poem

"...Take it as if it’s your last chance..."

CALL THIS NUMBER, TODAY by Michael Minassian — Poem unrhymed

"...mathematical equations and astrological accusations..."

Crush the Hell on Earth: A Prayer in 10 Parts! (7) by Pranab Ghosh — Poem unrhymed

"Let’s say ‘No’ to: bombs that kill..."

Lou Rawls by Peter Mladinic — Poem unrhymed

"...what started it, a misunderstanding?..."

Mind-Boggler by Sanjeev Sethi — Poem unrhymed

"We are ill-equipped to understand..."

Palindrome by Arshi Mortuza — Poem unrhymed

"...A mirror, but with no depth..."

The Gentle Snow by Richard LeDue — Poem unrhymed

"...mittens forgotten on the kitchen counter..."

Typing Life Away by George Gad Economou — Poem unrhymed

"...it just feels right sitting in front of the typer pounding the keys..."

Ngongo Chronicle: Copper: A Memoir 05 by Ron Singer — Serial fiction

Festus is called in for a talk with President Batakoudou.