The very first work received in 2019
CONTENTS:
Prose –
THE ISHOLOGU // Jonathan Kincade
What truly separates good from evil? When a senseless act of violence unleashes an ancient evil on a community, it’s up to one bokor – an his undead accomplice – to make things right.
GLOSS // Kola Heyward-Rotimi
For Ace and zeal, The Clipper is more than a glitch; it’s an escape, a refuge from reality. But when developers patch their refuge out of existence, Ace has to figure out how to break reality one more time.
THE DAEMON KING OF ENGIM // Rafeeat Aliyu
Saya is a talented wizard who has dreams of being a fighter, but there’s a problem: women aren’t allowed to fight. She makes a deal with a capricious deity who says that they can make her dreams real…but is Saya prepared to pay the cost?
NOTES ON THE PLAGUE // Shamar Harriott
A mysterious plague is killing black people. Amidst this tragedy, a small group of hopeful survivors tries to figure out how to retain their will to survive without the ability to touch – or trust.
THE RAT KING OF SPANISH HARLEM // Nicky Drayden
A sweeping viral epidemic is changing the very fabric of humanity, and Alicia is one of the few unaffected humans remaining. In the midst of Humanity’s change, will she find a place to belong?
Poetry –
NEST // B. Sharise Moore
THE BASKET WEAVER // Soonest Nathaniel