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Apex Magazine
Apex Magazine, September 2018
Apex Magazine is a science fiction, fantasy, and horror magazine featuring original, mind-bending short fiction from many of the top pros of the field. New issues are released on the first Tuesday of every other month. EDITORIAL Words for Thought—Jason Sizemore FICTION Field Biology of the Wee Fairies—Naomi Kritzer River Street—S.R. Mandel Coyote Now Wears a Suit—Ani Fox A Siren's Cry Is a Song of Sorrow—Stina Leicht Talking to Cancer—Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali NONFICTION The Apex Book of World Volume 5—Cristina Jurado The Power of Anger, Acceptance, and Affirmation in Dirty Computer—Lashawn M. Wanak COLUMNS Page Advice—Mallory O’Meara and Brea Grant Between the Lines with the Print Run Podcast—Laura Zats and Erik Hane INTERVIEWS Interview with Author Naomi Kritzer—Andrea Johnson Interview with Cover Artist Joel Chaim Holtzman—Russell Dickerson
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Jason Sizemore
120 books116 followersI was born the son of an unemployed coal miner in a tiny Kentucky Appalachian villa named Big Creek (population 400). It’s an isolated area with beautiful rolling hills, thick forests, and country folk. I lived in Big Creek until I went to college, spending my weekends cruising the Winn Dixie parking lot of ladies, partying in my cousin’s run-down three room trailer, and being a member of the bad-ass Clay County High School Academic Team.
College was quite a shock for me. Girls! Minorities! Strip clubs! And it didn’t help that I attended Transylvania University, a fairly snotty (but excellent) private college in Lexington, KY (on scholarship… no way my family could have sent me otherwise). I graduated in the standard four years with a degree in Computer Science.
Since 1996, I’ve worked for evil corporations (IBM), dot com dreamers (eCampus.com), The Man (both city and state government), and for The Kids (KY Dept. of Education), and assholes (lots and lots of assholes).
In 2004, I decided my life was boring, that I no longer needed disposable income, and I needed to increase my stress levels. I started Apex Publications, a small press publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. At first it was just a small print zine, then a pro-level online zine, then books, and then ebooks.
I edit anthologies, mostly for Apex (because I’m a control freak). I occasionally do copy editing (when pressed) and have done plenty of acquisition editing over the years.
I also write. I don’t really write enough to leave a mark, but it seems to go well when I do put pen to paper.
Miscellaneous facts about me: left-handed, blue eyes, super geeky, hillbilly accent, near-sighted, and typically in a goofy mood.
Also, and most importantly, I’m not the drunkard all those Facebook photos makes me out to be. It just happens that cameras are always around when I… have libations. Honest!
College was quite a shock for me. Girls! Minorities! Strip clubs! And it didn’t help that I attended Transylvania University, a fairly snotty (but excellent) private college in Lexington, KY (on scholarship… no way my family could have sent me otherwise). I graduated in the standard four years with a degree in Computer Science.
Since 1996, I’ve worked for evil corporations (IBM), dot com dreamers (eCampus.com), The Man (both city and state government), and for The Kids (KY Dept. of Education), and assholes (lots and lots of assholes).
In 2004, I decided my life was boring, that I no longer needed disposable income, and I needed to increase my stress levels. I started Apex Publications, a small press publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. At first it was just a small print zine, then a pro-level online zine, then books, and then ebooks.
I edit anthologies, mostly for Apex (because I’m a control freak). I occasionally do copy editing (when pressed) and have done plenty of acquisition editing over the years.
I also write. I don’t really write enough to leave a mark, but it seems to go well when I do put pen to paper.
Miscellaneous facts about me: left-handed, blue eyes, super geeky, hillbilly accent, near-sighted, and typically in a goofy mood.
Also, and most importantly, I’m not the drunkard all those Facebook photos makes me out to be. It just happens that cameras are always around when I… have libations. Honest!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 7, 2018
Read strictly for Field Biology of the Wee Fairies by Naomi Kritzer, a story for all those science-minded girls who didn't want PrettyInPink Barbie.
“I don’t want to catch a fairy,” Amelia said. “If I did catch a fairy, I’d keep her in a jar like my mice and study her.”
Everyone laughed when she said things like that, except for Betty, who rolled her eyes and said that Amelia would change her mind when she grew up a bit. “You don’t want to be an old maid like Miss Leonard,” she pointed out. Miss Leonard was their English teacher. No one had ever asked her about this directly, but everyone agreed that Miss Leonard had never caught a fairy.
Oh; clearly, I did not read the entire magazine. It's just that the librarians insist on putting short stories where they appear. The rest of the mag? No idea. But I'll be on the lookout for more from Kritzer, who not only knows how to turn a stereotype or two on its head, but does it well.
https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b...
“I don’t want to catch a fairy,” Amelia said. “If I did catch a fairy, I’d keep her in a jar like my mice and study her.”
Everyone laughed when she said things like that, except for Betty, who rolled her eyes and said that Amelia would change her mind when she grew up a bit. “You don’t want to be an old maid like Miss Leonard,” she pointed out. Miss Leonard was their English teacher. No one had ever asked her about this directly, but everyone agreed that Miss Leonard had never caught a fairy.
Oh; clearly, I did not read the entire magazine. It's just that the librarians insist on putting short stories where they appear. The rest of the mag? No idea. But I'll be on the lookout for more from Kritzer, who not only knows how to turn a stereotype or two on its head, but does it well.
https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b...
October 4, 2018
*Updated to add review for "Coyote Now Wears a Suit," an offbeat story about a closeted Hawaiian and his run-ins with the Sioux god Coyote. Familiarity with Hawaiian slang is almost a must here. See review below.
5 stars on the strength of the first story in this issue, "Field Biology of the Wee Fairies," which is SO cool and fun (Girl Power!) and really should not be missed. You can read it free online here at Apex magazine. Reviews first posted on Fantasy Literature:
When Amelia turns fourteen, everyone assures her that she’ll catch her fairy soon. Almost every girl catches a fairy, and the fairy will give you a gift if you promise to let her go. The gift is always something like “beauty or charm or perfect hair or something else that made boys notice you.” What no one around Amelia realizes is that she doesn’t want to catch a fairy. Amelia has no interest in becoming more beautiful, through fairy magic or otherwise; what she really wants is for her science teacher, Mr. Crawford, to let girls join the high school science club. (It’s 1962, so no one is forcing Mr. Crawford to treat girls equally). Maybe he’ll relent if she wins the upcoming District Science fair with her mouse behavioral study?
So when Amelia sees a lovely little turquoise-clad fairy hovering in front of her face, she just ignores the fairy … until it occurs to Amanda that there might be other, more scientific reasons to catch a fairy. She wants to capture and examine the fairy without letting it touch her and possibly work some unwanted beautification on her. And those glass jars with perforated lids that Amanda uses for the mice in her behavioral study could be just the thing!
“Field Biology of the Wee Fairies” is an appealing story with some creative twists that really elevate the tale to something memorable. Naomi Kritzer deftly recreates a realistic 1962 America setting ― except, of course, with the addition of magical fairies. Amelia’s parents are fairly forward-thinking for the time (Don’t go trading away your brains, girl,” her father said. “You can have looks and smarts.”), but Amelia’s mother is still hoping for Amelia to pay just a little more attention to her outward appearance. Amelia’s conversation with the fairy is amusing as well as surprising, and the cute neighbor girl Betty plays a much more interesting role in the story than I anticipated.
3 stars for "Coyote Now Wears a Suit" by Ani Fox: Kupua is a member of a large, eccentric and colorful Hawaiian clan that careens from one crisis to the next. As the story begins, Kupua is helping to get a friend of the family released on bail. While they’re in the Honolulu Police Station, he sees Coyote ― as in, the Sioux trickster god ― sitting in the room with them. To Kupua, he looks just like a real dog, albeit dressed in an Armani suit, but he soon realizes that everyone else sees Coyote as “Cousin Mica.” But when everything starts to go wrong on this crazy day, Kupua is pretty certain he knows who to blame.
This story is also about the secrets that Kupua is hiding from his family: first, he’s gay, transgender, and a cross-dresser. Also, he’s an excellent student, and he’s sitting on an acceptance letter from Harvard University, including a full ride scholarship. The answer to Harvard is due in four days, but Kupua is afraid to leave his family and his boyfriend behind.
This story is rather chaotic in its style, though I have to concede that’s befitting of the trickster Coyote’s personality and methods; not so much of the narrator’s hidden academic personality, though it reflects the side of his personality he shows around his family. It’s somewhat hard to follow, both because of this writing style and because of the liberal use of pidgin Hawaiian (without translations) in the dialogue and narration. But it’s a goodhearted tale, balancing love of family with the need to follow your own path, and the Coyote element adds a nice twist … though I’m still not sure what the Sioux god was doing in Hawaii. Vacationing, maybe.
I also read "River Street" by S.R. Mandel, which is a short, poetic allegory about life and the destination we're all heading toward. It's okay but didn't really leave much of an impression on me. A soft 3 stars for that one.
5 stars on the strength of the first story in this issue, "Field Biology of the Wee Fairies," which is SO cool and fun (Girl Power!) and really should not be missed. You can read it free online here at Apex magazine. Reviews first posted on Fantasy Literature:
When Amelia turns fourteen, everyone assures her that she’ll catch her fairy soon. Almost every girl catches a fairy, and the fairy will give you a gift if you promise to let her go. The gift is always something like “beauty or charm or perfect hair or something else that made boys notice you.” What no one around Amelia realizes is that she doesn’t want to catch a fairy. Amelia has no interest in becoming more beautiful, through fairy magic or otherwise; what she really wants is for her science teacher, Mr. Crawford, to let girls join the high school science club. (It’s 1962, so no one is forcing Mr. Crawford to treat girls equally). Maybe he’ll relent if she wins the upcoming District Science fair with her mouse behavioral study?
So when Amelia sees a lovely little turquoise-clad fairy hovering in front of her face, she just ignores the fairy … until it occurs to Amanda that there might be other, more scientific reasons to catch a fairy. She wants to capture and examine the fairy without letting it touch her and possibly work some unwanted beautification on her. And those glass jars with perforated lids that Amanda uses for the mice in her behavioral study could be just the thing!
“Field Biology of the Wee Fairies” is an appealing story with some creative twists that really elevate the tale to something memorable. Naomi Kritzer deftly recreates a realistic 1962 America setting ― except, of course, with the addition of magical fairies. Amelia’s parents are fairly forward-thinking for the time (Don’t go trading away your brains, girl,” her father said. “You can have looks and smarts.”), but Amelia’s mother is still hoping for Amelia to pay just a little more attention to her outward appearance. Amelia’s conversation with the fairy is amusing as well as surprising, and the cute neighbor girl Betty plays a much more interesting role in the story than I anticipated.
3 stars for "Coyote Now Wears a Suit" by Ani Fox: Kupua is a member of a large, eccentric and colorful Hawaiian clan that careens from one crisis to the next. As the story begins, Kupua is helping to get a friend of the family released on bail. While they’re in the Honolulu Police Station, he sees Coyote ― as in, the Sioux trickster god ― sitting in the room with them. To Kupua, he looks just like a real dog, albeit dressed in an Armani suit, but he soon realizes that everyone else sees Coyote as “Cousin Mica.” But when everything starts to go wrong on this crazy day, Kupua is pretty certain he knows who to blame.
This story is also about the secrets that Kupua is hiding from his family: first, he’s gay, transgender, and a cross-dresser. Also, he’s an excellent student, and he’s sitting on an acceptance letter from Harvard University, including a full ride scholarship. The answer to Harvard is due in four days, but Kupua is afraid to leave his family and his boyfriend behind.
This story is rather chaotic in its style, though I have to concede that’s befitting of the trickster Coyote’s personality and methods; not so much of the narrator’s hidden academic personality, though it reflects the side of his personality he shows around his family. It’s somewhat hard to follow, both because of this writing style and because of the liberal use of pidgin Hawaiian (without translations) in the dialogue and narration. But it’s a goodhearted tale, balancing love of family with the need to follow your own path, and the Coyote element adds a nice twist … though I’m still not sure what the Sioux god was doing in Hawaii. Vacationing, maybe.
I also read "River Street" by S.R. Mandel, which is a short, poetic allegory about life and the destination we're all heading toward. It's okay but didn't really leave much of an impression on me. A soft 3 stars for that one.
February 28, 2020
Read for Field Biology of the Wee Fairies by Naomi Kritzer
Can be read here: https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b...
Superbe coming-of-age story with accents of feminism, friendship and loyalty.
It's the 1962's America and Amelia, at fourteen, is expected to soon catch her fairy and become like the other girls her age: interested in her appearance and boys. But all Amelia wants is to join the science club, so she treats everything through the scientific method.
I loved Amelia's voice, her intelligence and determination, the way she treated with the fairy. There are also some nice sly bits, eg. the one with what happens to a boy catching a fairy.
Good, solid story, highly recommend it.
Can be read here: https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b...
Superbe coming-of-age story with accents of feminism, friendship and loyalty.
It's the 1962's America and Amelia, at fourteen, is expected to soon catch her fairy and become like the other girls her age: interested in her appearance and boys. But all Amelia wants is to join the science club, so she treats everything through the scientific method.
I loved Amelia's voice, her intelligence and determination, the way she treated with the fairy. There are also some nice sly bits, eg. the one with what happens to a boy catching a fairy.
Good, solid story, highly recommend it.
October 4, 2018
It’s easy to recognize Naomi Kritzer’s cagey style in the title for her latest short story, “Field Biology of the Wee Fairies”. The saying goes that every girl will become pretty after they “catch their fairy”. But Amelia doesn’t care about being pretty, she wants to win first prize at the science fair, hoping stodgy old Mr. Crawford will let her join the boys-only science club. When Amelia’s fairy arrives, she tries to ignore it so it will go away. It won’t, so she traps it in one of her specimen jars and applies the scientific method to figure out what the hell is going on with these fairies, anyway. The real magic of a Kritzer story is the graceful tone and sly humor she effortlessly deploys in her perfectly plotted tales; this one is no exception. Just try to wipe that smile off your face before the story ends. I dare you.
A fun, frantic inner monologue chock full of Hawaiian slang makes up the misadventure tale “Coyote Now Wears a Suit”, by Ani Fox. Kupu springs the Sioux trickster god Coyote out of lockup because his auntie insists Coyote is family. Apparently, Kupu is the only one who can see that he’s a giant dog wearing a suit. Things spiral out of control from there, but Coyote isn’t a malicious god and everything that goes wrong also has a silver lining. It’s a nice, light, upbeat story, though maybe a little overboard with the gonzo attitude.
The heroine sisters of Stina Leicht’s “A Siren’s Cry is a Song of Sorrow” don’t want to escape from their lives due to suffering any extraordinary abuse; they’re weary of the ordinary abuse one suffers just for being born a girl. Enticed by mermaid lore, the girls seek magic that can transform them into the mythical creatures. The author’s points carry weight, and the girls are admirably rebellious in their refusal to internalize the world’s misogyny and conform to its stifling definitions.
A fun, frantic inner monologue chock full of Hawaiian slang makes up the misadventure tale “Coyote Now Wears a Suit”, by Ani Fox. Kupu springs the Sioux trickster god Coyote out of lockup because his auntie insists Coyote is family. Apparently, Kupu is the only one who can see that he’s a giant dog wearing a suit. Things spiral out of control from there, but Coyote isn’t a malicious god and everything that goes wrong also has a silver lining. It’s a nice, light, upbeat story, though maybe a little overboard with the gonzo attitude.
The heroine sisters of Stina Leicht’s “A Siren’s Cry is a Song of Sorrow” don’t want to escape from their lives due to suffering any extraordinary abuse; they’re weary of the ordinary abuse one suffers just for being born a girl. Enticed by mermaid lore, the girls seek magic that can transform them into the mythical creatures. The author’s points carry weight, and the girls are admirably rebellious in their refusal to internalize the world’s misogyny and conform to its stifling definitions.
partially-read
June 20, 2025Of this issue I just read Field Biology of the Wee Fairies by Naomi Kritzer, available at that link.
This 2018 short story is about an alternate 1962 where girls catch fairies for a reward of improved good looks, but the main character wants to be a scientist instead - about being female in the 1960s, and it is wonderful. The teenagers feel just right, there is a point which is important but not hammered in a too overly didactic way and it's just that "life affirming thing". So good. I am becoming a Naomi Kritzer fangirl.
This 2018 short story is about an alternate 1962 where girls catch fairies for a reward of improved good looks, but the main character wants to be a scientist instead - about being female in the 1960s, and it is wonderful. The teenagers feel just right, there is a point which is important but not hammered in a too overly didactic way and it's just that "life affirming thing". So good. I am becoming a Naomi Kritzer fangirl.
September 24, 2018
This is just a review for "Field Biology of the Wee Fairies" by Naomi Kritzer found free online here. What an outstanding story this is! Amelia isn't interested in catching her fairy because beauty and looks don't entice her as much as getting into Mr. Crawford's Science Club (which he reserves for boys as apparently one can do in 1962). She's concentrating her efforts on winning the District Science Day. So when a fairy shows up practically begging to be caught, and with a mason jar with holes on top already to hand, Amelia decides she'd much rather take the opportunity for a different experience.
I really liked Amelia and her determination and curiosity. I also appreciated how multi-faceted some of the side characters were (like the shallow-at-first-blush Betty). In short, this is an outstanding story that I'm glad I picked up (Thanks, Tadiana, for the heads up).
I really liked Amelia and her determination and curiosity. I also appreciated how multi-faceted some of the side characters were (like the shallow-at-first-blush Betty). In short, this is an outstanding story that I'm glad I picked up (Thanks, Tadiana, for the heads up).
September 3, 2020
Disclaimer: there's a whole bunch of short stories in this magazine, but I only read Naomi Kritzer's “Field Biology of the Wee Fairies.” Because I'm despicably selective like that.
This is how I usually feel about stories featuring silly fairies:
Yeah, you could say I'm not quite exactly their biggest fan. Now. See my rating here? Get it? Good.
➽ Full review to come and stuff.
P.S. This story can be read or listened to online for free here. You're welcome and stuff.
This is how I usually feel about stories featuring silly fairies:
Yeah, you could say I'm not quite exactly their biggest fan. Now. See my rating here? Get it? Good.
➽ Full review to come and stuff.
P.S. This story can be read or listened to online for free here. You're welcome and stuff.
December 3, 2023
Review (for now) solely for “Field Biology of the Wee Fairies” by Naomi Kritzer, who is fast becoming one of my favorite new short-story writers. I'll just refer you to Tadiana and Gary's reviews, nearby, and repeat the link: https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b...
Very nice. Don't miss.
And in case you missed her Hugo-winning "Cat Pictures Please", that's at http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kritz... 5 stars, by memory.
Which reminds me, "Waiting Out the End of the World in Patty’s Place Cafe." 4.5 stars!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And new add: "Better Living Through Algorithms", which I kicked up to 4.5 stars on reread. Awesome. https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/krit...
My personal "Best Of Naomi Kritzer So Far" list, updated to 12/2/23. Enjoy!
Very nice. Don't miss.
And in case you missed her Hugo-winning "Cat Pictures Please", that's at http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kritz... 5 stars, by memory.
Which reminds me, "Waiting Out the End of the World in Patty’s Place Cafe." 4.5 stars!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And new add: "Better Living Through Algorithms", which I kicked up to 4.5 stars on reread. Awesome. https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/krit...
My personal "Best Of Naomi Kritzer So Far" list, updated to 12/2/23. Enjoy!
December 15, 2018
Field Biology of the Wee Fairies—Naomi Kritzer
When Amelia turned fourteen, everyone assured her that she’d find her fairy soon. Almost all girls did. You’d find a fairy, a beautiful little fairy, and catch her. And she’d give you a gift to let her go, and that gift was always beauty or charm or perfect hair or something else that made boys notice you.
Great story. Creative. If life gives you obstacles, you don‘t have to fight through them, you can also find another way. Girl power! So what, if people expect girls wanting to look pretty and find a boy. Find a way. Do your thing.
Free short fiction, 4.700 words: https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b...
When Amelia turned fourteen, everyone assured her that she’d find her fairy soon. Almost all girls did. You’d find a fairy, a beautiful little fairy, and catch her. And she’d give you a gift to let her go, and that gift was always beauty or charm or perfect hair or something else that made boys notice you.
Great story. Creative. If life gives you obstacles, you don‘t have to fight through them, you can also find another way. Girl power! So what, if people expect girls wanting to look pretty and find a boy. Find a way. Do your thing.
Free short fiction, 4.700 words: https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b...
February 14, 2021
Reviewed solely for Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali's Talking to Cancer and Naomi Kritzer's Field Biology of the Wee Fairies
Muhammad-Ali's piece is heavy and emotionally complex, with just the right amount of magic/dreamery for the subject she's working with-- those broad strokes are things it has in common with the first short fiction of hers I encountered, a piece called "She Searches for God in the Storm Within" that I caught on a Podcastle episode. Kritzer's piece is by contrast lighhearted in tone and endeared me thoroughly; the subject and ending had me muttering "fuck yeah" in sympathetic triumph.
Muhammad-Ali's piece is heavy and emotionally complex, with just the right amount of magic/dreamery for the subject she's working with-- those broad strokes are things it has in common with the first short fiction of hers I encountered, a piece called "She Searches for God in the Storm Within" that I caught on a Podcastle episode. Kritzer's piece is by contrast lighhearted in tone and endeared me thoroughly; the subject and ending had me muttering "fuck yeah" in sympathetic triumph.
Read
June 24, 2025just read Field Biology of the Wee Fairies by Naomi Kritzer, recommended by the great hirondelle, here
September 25, 2018
Read Naomi Kritzer's "Field Biology of the Wee Fairies" found here https://www.apex-magazine.com/field-b.... Absolutely wonderful--more please.
December 7, 2018
Specifically: Field Biology of the Wee Fairies, recommended by Carol. Pretty interesting. Maybe a trifle predictable in its outcome, but it's a short story so I will not be overly picky here.
October 4, 2019
Field Biology Of The Wee Fairies - Naomi Kritzer ***
River Street - SR Mandel ***
Coyote Now Wears A Suit - Ani Fox ***
A Siren's Cry Is A Song Of Sorrow - Stina Leicht ***
Talking To Cancer - Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali ****
River Street - SR Mandel ***
Coyote Now Wears A Suit - Ani Fox ***
A Siren's Cry Is A Song Of Sorrow - Stina Leicht ***
Talking To Cancer - Khaalidah Muhammad-Ali ****
October 2, 2018
I'm glad I've finally gotten round to subscribing. Some great stories here.
November 11, 2018
A strong issue all around. Particularly enjoyed Naomi Kritzer's "Field Biology of the Wee Fairies" and Ani Fox's "Coyote Now Wears a Suit." Kritzer's author interview is also a good read.
January 17, 2019
(Field Biology of the Wee Fairies by Naomi Kritzer)
Really cute story about a teenage girl who prefers experimenting with science to experimenting with makeup. And, of course, there are fairies.
Really cute story about a teenage girl who prefers experimenting with science to experimenting with makeup. And, of course, there are fairies.
June 12, 2023
Field Biology of the Wee Fairies by Naomi Kritzer
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