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Asimov's Science Fiction, January/February 2026
NOVELLAS
The Lady in Camo by John Richard Trtek
NOVELETTES
Ecobomb by Alexander Jablokov
Stay by William Preston
The Tourist by R.T. Ester
As Long as We’re Still Here, We Might as Well Dance by Adam-Troy Castro
SHORT STORIES
The Greenway by Susan Palwick
The Man with the Ruined Hand by Sean Monaghan
Replacement Theory by Jack Skillingstead
The Imaginative Youngster’s Handbook to UFOs by Will Ludwigsen
All My Birds by K.A. Teryna (Translated by Alex Shvartsman)
The Moribund by Lavie Tidhar
And We Shall Find Rest by James Sallis
POETRY
Monster by Megan Branning
The Freetown Bar and Bookstore by M.C. Childs
Thirty-Six Views of the Milky Way by Connor Yeck
Closing Time by Brian U. Garrison
Humans Make Anything Their Pets by Dawn Vogel
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial: WorldCon Extravaganza . . . Sheila Williams
Reflections: The Multiplicity of Mermaids by Robert Silverberg
On the Net: Welcome to Just Okay by James Patrick Kelly
Thought Experiment: Bradbury and Truffaut’s empathy in Fahrenheit 451 by Kelly Lagor
On Books by Kelly Jennings
The Lady in Camo by John Richard Trtek
NOVELETTES
Ecobomb by Alexander Jablokov
Stay by William Preston
The Tourist by R.T. Ester
As Long as We’re Still Here, We Might as Well Dance by Adam-Troy Castro
SHORT STORIES
The Greenway by Susan Palwick
The Man with the Ruined Hand by Sean Monaghan
Replacement Theory by Jack Skillingstead
The Imaginative Youngster’s Handbook to UFOs by Will Ludwigsen
All My Birds by K.A. Teryna (Translated by Alex Shvartsman)
The Moribund by Lavie Tidhar
And We Shall Find Rest by James Sallis
POETRY
Monster by Megan Branning
The Freetown Bar and Bookstore by M.C. Childs
Thirty-Six Views of the Milky Way by Connor Yeck
Closing Time by Brian U. Garrison
Humans Make Anything Their Pets by Dawn Vogel
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial: WorldCon Extravaganza . . . Sheila Williams
Reflections: The Multiplicity of Mermaids by Robert Silverberg
On the Net: Welcome to Just Okay by James Patrick Kelly
Thought Experiment: Bradbury and Truffaut’s empathy in Fahrenheit 451 by Kelly Lagor
On Books by Kelly Jennings
208 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2026
7 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Williams
284 books67 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sheila Williams is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Editor, Short Form.
Sheila grew up in a family of five in western Massachusetts. Her mother had a master's degree in microbiology. Ms. Williams’ interest in science fiction came from her father who read Edgar Rice Burroughs books to her as a child. Later Ms. Williams received a bachelor's degree from Elmira College in Elmira, New York, although she studied at the London School of Economics during her junior year. She received her Master's from Washington University in St. Louis. She is married to David Bruce and has two daughters.
She became interested in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (as it was then titled) while studying philosophy at Washington University. In 1982 she was hired at the magazine, and worked with Isaac Asimov for ten years. While working there, she co-founded the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing (at one time called the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing). In 2004, with the retirement of Gardner Dozois, she became the editor of the magazine.
Along with Gardner Dozois she also edited the "Isaac Asimov's" anthology series. She also co-edited A Woman's Liberation: A Choice of Futures by and About Women (2001) with Connie Willis. Most recently she has edited a retrospective anthology of fiction published by Asimov's: Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: 30th Anniversary Anthology. Booklist called the book "A gem, and a credit to editor Williams."
She has been nominated for 4 Hugo Awards as editor of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.
See also Sheila Williams's entry in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
Sheila Williams is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Editor, Short Form.
Sheila grew up in a family of five in western Massachusetts. Her mother had a master's degree in microbiology. Ms. Williams’ interest in science fiction came from her father who read Edgar Rice Burroughs books to her as a child. Later Ms. Williams received a bachelor's degree from Elmira College in Elmira, New York, although she studied at the London School of Economics during her junior year. She received her Master's from Washington University in St. Louis. She is married to David Bruce and has two daughters.
She became interested in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (as it was then titled) while studying philosophy at Washington University. In 1982 she was hired at the magazine, and worked with Isaac Asimov for ten years. While working there, she co-founded the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing (at one time called the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing). In 2004, with the retirement of Gardner Dozois, she became the editor of the magazine.
Along with Gardner Dozois she also edited the "Isaac Asimov's" anthology series. She also co-edited A Woman's Liberation: A Choice of Futures by and About Women (2001) with Connie Willis. Most recently she has edited a retrospective anthology of fiction published by Asimov's: Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: 30th Anniversary Anthology. Booklist called the book "A gem, and a credit to editor Williams."
She has been nominated for 4 Hugo Awards as editor of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.
See also Sheila Williams's entry in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 16, 2026
One of the best issues in a while.
The Lady in Camo by John Richard Trtek
Future noir novella follows a hard-boiled gitman as she tries to locate a missing uber-rich woman. Wonderful world building with a manufactured lingo worthy of Gene Wolfe.
Ecobomb by Alexander Jablokov
After 100 years of genetically softening up the Earth, aliens land. A wonderfully delicious piece of irony wrapped in a chocolatey biofilm coating.
Stay by William Preston
God is in the details.
—L. M. van der Rohe
Master is dying. Dog will be sad. Will dog accept a robot replacement or is the uncanny valley a problem even with canines? A quiet, thoughtful examination of the inadequacy of AI.
As Long as We’re Still Here, We Might as Well Dance by Adam-Troy Castro
The Nihilators approach. The city empties, but two defiantly remain. James Dean would approve.
The Greenway by Susan Palwick
A quiet, poignant story that made me think of hospice workers and the wonderful work they do. Life > death > life. When our loved ones pass on they still have a lot to give us.
The Man with the Ruined Hand by Sean Monaghan
Unusual occurrences in the desert - three men, a bag of money, and a hole in the sand. A twisty film noirish sort of story. Billy Wilder to direct.
Replacement Theory by Jack Skillingstead
When we put masks on the people around us, we must be sure that we can still see through them, especially when we gaze upon the ones we love.
The Imaginative Youngster’s Handbook to UFOs by Will Ludwigsen
I suspect that our youngest came upon this book in the 001.9 section of his middle school library. How else was he able to earn his Night Lights merit badge on the way to becoming a Weird Scout?
All My Birds by K.A. Teryna (translated by Alex Shvartsman)
Circled by swallows
In a world for the weary.
Courted by warblers; wicked and eloquent trilling.
-I. Anderson
Memories, loss, and longing; birds as metaphor.
The Moribund by Lavie Tidhar
A dark, little story where your life flashes before others eyes.
And We Shall Find Rest by James Sallis
A going-out-of-business sale? Everything—and everyone—must go.
The Lady in Camo by John Richard Trtek
Future noir novella follows a hard-boiled gitman as she tries to locate a missing uber-rich woman. Wonderful world building with a manufactured lingo worthy of Gene Wolfe.
Ecobomb by Alexander Jablokov
After 100 years of genetically softening up the Earth, aliens land. A wonderfully delicious piece of irony wrapped in a chocolatey biofilm coating.
Stay by William Preston
God is in the details.
—L. M. van der Rohe
Master is dying. Dog will be sad. Will dog accept a robot replacement or is the uncanny valley a problem even with canines? A quiet, thoughtful examination of the inadequacy of AI.
As Long as We’re Still Here, We Might as Well Dance by Adam-Troy Castro
The Nihilators approach. The city empties, but two defiantly remain. James Dean would approve.
The Greenway by Susan Palwick
A quiet, poignant story that made me think of hospice workers and the wonderful work they do. Life > death > life. When our loved ones pass on they still have a lot to give us.
The Man with the Ruined Hand by Sean Monaghan
Unusual occurrences in the desert - three men, a bag of money, and a hole in the sand. A twisty film noirish sort of story. Billy Wilder to direct.
Replacement Theory by Jack Skillingstead
When we put masks on the people around us, we must be sure that we can still see through them, especially when we gaze upon the ones we love.
The Imaginative Youngster’s Handbook to UFOs by Will Ludwigsen
I suspect that our youngest came upon this book in the 001.9 section of his middle school library. How else was he able to earn his Night Lights merit badge on the way to becoming a Weird Scout?
All My Birds by K.A. Teryna (translated by Alex Shvartsman)
Circled by swallows
In a world for the weary.
Courted by warblers; wicked and eloquent trilling.
-I. Anderson
Memories, loss, and longing; birds as metaphor.
The Moribund by Lavie Tidhar
A dark, little story where your life flashes before others eyes.
And We Shall Find Rest by James Sallis
A going-out-of-business sale? Everything—and everyone—must go.
February 18, 2026
The Geez had a set modus operandi for invasion: “Ecobomb” the target planet with organisms inimical to the locals which can outvompete the native life, setting up a walk-in setlement after a few decades. Problem was Earth was very good at bioweaponry itself and very adaptable. Alexander Jablokov’s tale is neat. Susan Palwick’s “The Greenway” continues the bioweapon theme, with Earth struggling through an infestation of spore life that feeds on the humans. In this instance it also gives them a compensatory benefit. Larry completely misunderstands how dogs perceive the world when he arranges for a substitute of himself to keep his dog Charlie company in “Stay” by William Preston. Sean Monaghan takes us to the desert region of a distant planet where a man hired to deal with a thief finds his position compromised in “The Man With The Ruined Hand”. Nice heist tale. Tyler has a problem: he woke up one morning and everybody he sees looks like a monster. Like Kafka in reverse he must try to figure out if his “Replacement Theory” is real or fantasy in Jack Skillingstead’s terrifying tale of paranoia and mystery. A visit to the doctor results in a referral to an ornithologist in this wonderful fable from K. A. Teryna (in translation). From there it gets more and more surreal as she tries to leave the city in which she is trapped in “All My Birds”, while Lavie Tidhar shows once again that there is no real upside to owing a loan shark money but that there may be a kind of karmic balance when you agree to work off your debt with “The Moribund”. The Nihilators gave ample warning before invading Earth, where they will change every structure into things that conform to their own weird aesthetics and alter living things into unpalatable permanently living nightmares. The last dozen or so humans who refused to leave are gradually suiciding as the deadline approaches, but for the last two their own inherent nihilism may become defiance in “As Long As We’re Here, We Might As Well Dance” by Adam-Troy Castro. Jack Twice is a gitman, an investigator for hire, and her latest client is searching for a missing girl, a well-connected and wealthy Uptown denizen. But the client is not who they say they are, and other powerful interests are also looking for Carol Campion, even her boyfriend who Jack suspects Carol may have been fleeing. “The Lady In Camo” is great neo-noir from John Richard Trtek. Good issue.
February 17, 2026
4.5/5
Really great issue with some exceptional stories.
Some of the highlights:
The Greenway by Susan Palwick - A plague turns people into slowly into plants. A caravan with a wagon passes through with the bodies of people infested with the plague and they plant them along a trail. Their bodies turn the land green and produce crops to feed people.
Ecobomb by Alexander Jablokov - Alien invaders bomb Earth with an ecobomb of life that changes the ecology on Earth over many years. Humans on Earth use this to their advantage, learning how to manipulate the changes so they can resist the ultimate invasion.
Replacement Theory by Jack Skillingstead - A man sees monsters in the faces of everyone around him, including his girlfriend. He wonders if is going crazy or has a brain tumor.
The Tourist by R.T. Ester - A time traveling tourist using the Bank of Zero to travel into the past to correct an event in the future. Afterwards he is given an option of returning to a different splinter, one of his choosing. Some are more expensive than others. He chooses the most expensive one but it turns out he has no money because money isn't a concept from his future. He is allowed to leave the time port and make money by any means necessary. A system of exchanging goods exists in the time port so the man can sell anything he wants to a time splinter. He does this by repeatedly going out and stealing different things to sell, including expensive cars and a work of art.
The Lady in Camo by John Richard Trtek - Jack Twice is a gitman, hired to track down a missing person from Uptown, Carol Campion. Jack lives in Freedom Town and doesn't often see the wealthy elite from Uptown. Elements of swapping minds into different bodies, cloning, mind backups and resurrected minds. Cyberpunk feel.
Really great issue with some exceptional stories.
Some of the highlights:
The Greenway by Susan Palwick - A plague turns people into slowly into plants. A caravan with a wagon passes through with the bodies of people infested with the plague and they plant them along a trail. Their bodies turn the land green and produce crops to feed people.
Ecobomb by Alexander Jablokov - Alien invaders bomb Earth with an ecobomb of life that changes the ecology on Earth over many years. Humans on Earth use this to their advantage, learning how to manipulate the changes so they can resist the ultimate invasion.
Replacement Theory by Jack Skillingstead - A man sees monsters in the faces of everyone around him, including his girlfriend. He wonders if is going crazy or has a brain tumor.
The Tourist by R.T. Ester - A time traveling tourist using the Bank of Zero to travel into the past to correct an event in the future. Afterwards he is given an option of returning to a different splinter, one of his choosing. Some are more expensive than others. He chooses the most expensive one but it turns out he has no money because money isn't a concept from his future. He is allowed to leave the time port and make money by any means necessary. A system of exchanging goods exists in the time port so the man can sell anything he wants to a time splinter. He does this by repeatedly going out and stealing different things to sell, including expensive cars and a work of art.
The Lady in Camo by John Richard Trtek - Jack Twice is a gitman, hired to track down a missing person from Uptown, Carol Campion. Jack lives in Freedom Town and doesn't often see the wealthy elite from Uptown. Elements of swapping minds into different bodies, cloning, mind backups and resurrected minds. Cyberpunk feel.
March 5, 2026
Another good collection of scientifiction and fantasy. More than one of the stories study the end of the world or just death in general. Some stories are better than others but as a whole a quite good issue. Only the obvious political motivation of the book reviewer at the end mars the collection.
March 29, 2026
This doesn't disappoint with the typical fare from this series, basically a couple hundred pages of short stories and novellas and poems. Bordering on speculative fiction, but thats hard to avoid in sci fi and fantasy. Some don't resonate, but some take your breath away, like the cover story, Susan Palwick's "The Greenway." Love, love, love.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews