That is surely one possibility. Some day, I hope.

To be clear, I'm not recommending the BBC short film as a good example of that genre.

I am saying I'd like to see more pieces in that genre. Where do I find them?

And while as the archaeologists in the replies have pointed out, the narrator in that story isn't a very good archaeologist (even by 20th century standards), it *is* a piece of archaeological science fiction—which is the only genre I love more than anthropological speculative fiction.

If you'd like to comment on, review, give feedback or say anything else about any of the stories, poems and art in this issue, please do so in the comment thread under the blog post at: press.futurefire.net/2025/09/new-...

If you'd like to comment on, review, give feedback or say anything else about any of the stories, poems and art in this issue, please do so in the comment thread under the blog post at: press.futurefire.net/2025/09/new-...

And I know it's at the top of this thread, but I just wanted to point out THAT COVER ART! by Barbara Candiotti.

There’s a guy at the bar with lips like wet marble and a credit score you can feel in your spine. He orders vodka neat. Who drinks vodka neat? People who don’t need mixers, or feelings, or food. People who glide.

#speculativefiction #freeScifi

Justin Taroli gives us “Unblooded Gospel,” a razor sharp, queer, punk, urban apocalypse, with art by the splendid @toeken.bsky.social.

futurefire.net/2025.74/fict...

In the dappled shade of a stand of bamboo, an old woman takes a stick and scratches two curved lines in the dusty yellow earth.

“Pai is for pera
Limue’s plucked eye”

#speculativefiction #sociolinguistics #FreeScifi

A super-smart novelette about poetry and divinity and language in the face of cultural contact: “Limue’s Alphabet” by Eleanor Glewwe (@eleanorglewwe.bsky.social) with art by the fabulous Barbara Candiotti. futurefire.net/2025.74/fict...

We were both teenagers at the time. Or near enough, anyway. Neither of us knew when our birthdays really were. Children didn’t seem to be born in Shenzhen. They materialized around alleyways and market stalls before being adopted by the proper enclaves.

#speculativefiction #freeScifi #novelette

“The Better Ends,” a speculative, postcolonial coming-of-age by V. Zixin, with art by the brilliant Carmen Moran @floopy-b.bsky.social

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A thickset bird shuffles along the railing of the viewing platform, catches me looking across the river at its home, then turns to face the same way. We become an old married couple, exchanging sighs and idly scratching away the afternoon’s humidity.

#speculativefiction #ecoSF

Nancy S. Koven’s “Seven Stories for Now and Later,” also eco-fiction, family history, funny and moving. Art is by John Gould and H.C. Richter.

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Victor Levitak was not well-loved by the other residents of the Coop, but we sat a feeble shiva for him anyway. We gathered in the lobby, draping old blankets and shawls over the mirrors and windows and reflective surfaces.

#scifi #horror

Rowley Amato offers the dark but hopeful, gorgeously voiced “The Sons of Victor Levitak.” The always superb @toeken.bsky.social provides art. #freeScifi #speculativefiction

futurefire.net/2025.74/fict...