Merf. Thinking is Hard.

cosmicyoruba:

Almost two hundred thousand years ago, Homo Sapiens fought a war against the Homo Helmei for the coastal passages out of Africa. Although modern man won, the deadly virus that had infected the Homo Helmei infected the early migrants. The disease lay dormant in their DNA until the year 2012. Every descendant of those migrants, from India to China to the United States has been infected. All will die.

The only survivors are the children of the Africans who did not migrate, whose DNA did not contain the virus. There is no test, no method of determining who will live and who will die to rise again as the living dead. If you are dark skinned, there is hope.

If not, you have 24 hours to live.

This sounds sweet.

(Source: thefemaletyrant)

We are seeking submissions for a colonialism-themed anthology of new stories told from the perspective of the colonized, titled We See a Different Frontier, to be guest edited by Fábio Fernandes and published by The Future Fire.

It is impossible to consider the history, politics or culture of the modern world without taking into account our colonial past. Most violent conflicts and financial inequalities in some sense result from the social-political-economic matrix imposed by European powers since the seventeenth century—even powerful countries such as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) have to be viewed through the filter of our history to fully appreciate their current circumstances. The same is true of art and literature, including science fiction; as Rochita Roenen-Luiz eloquently explained, “it is impossible to discuss non-Western SF without considering the effects of colonialism.” Cultural imperialism erases many native traditions and literatures, exoticizes colonized and other non-European countries and peoples, and drowns native voices in the clamour of Western stories set in their world. Utopian themes like “The Final Frontier”, “Discovering New Worlds” and “Settling the Stars” appeal to a colonial romanticism, especially recalling the American West. But what is romantic and exciting to the privileged, white, anglophone reader is a reminder of exploitation, slavery, rape, genocide and other crimes of colonialism to the rest of the world.

We See a Different Frontier will publish new speculative fiction stories in which the viewpoint is that of the colonized, not the invader. We want to see stories that remind us that neither readers nor writers are a homogeneous club of white, male, Christian, hetero, cis, monoglot anglophone, able-bodied Westerners. We want the cultures, languages and literatures of colonized peoples and recombocultural individuals to be heard, not to show the White Man learning the error of his ways, or Anglos defending the world from colonizing extraterrestrials. We want stories that neither exoticize nor culturally appropriate the non-western settings and characters in them.

We See a Different Frontier will pay US$0.05 per word, with a minimum payment of $50, plus the possibility of royalties if sales are good enough. We are looking for stories between 3,000 and 6,000 words in length; we are willing to be flexible about this wordcount, but the further a story falls outside this range, the harder a sell it will be. Please do not submit stories that are also under consideration elsewhere. Query before sending more than one story to us. We are unlikely to be interested in reprints unless they were published in an obscure market unlikely to be known to our audience, but in any case please query before sending a reprint, explaining when and where the story has appeared before.

Please send submissions as an attachment (.doc[x], .rtf or .odt) to differentfrontier@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is midnight GMT, September 14, 2012.

This was a successful Kickstarter, and I should add, a professionally-paying market.

Please reblog widely!

Due to various extenuating circumstances, and lack of submissions, JoSelle Vanderhooft, Editrix of awesomeness, has extended the submission deadline for Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories, from June 15 to September 1!! 

YAY! THIS MEANS I HAVE A CHANCE TO WRITE SOMETHING AND SUBMIT!

And you all too, of course. *nudges karnythia*

ANYWAY. Guidelines, once again. PLEASE REBLOG WIDELY!

Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories is an anthology of steampunk stories that feature lesbian-identified protagonist and which strives to be inclusive of underrepresented (and often misrepresented!) identities in steampunk and lesbian fiction.

Although “steampunk” is a fairly broad genre, we are interested in the following:

• * Stories set in the past and present as we know them, or in an alternate past or present, as well as a future in which 19th Century technology dominates.
• * Stories that involve 19th Century steam technology or retro-future technology that does not involve steam. For example, if your story is set in the Gobi Desert, the lack of water may make this technology look different than it would in a society that has enough water for steam technology to be feasible. For a good idea of what I mean here, please read this essay by Steam-Powered 1 contributor Amal El-Mohtar: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/10/towards-a-steampunk-without-steam.
• * Stories that explore and critique 19th and early 20th Century notions of colonialism, empire, race, sex and sexuality.
• * The editor also has a strong preference for stories set outside Victorian England and the United States, stories that feature women of color protagonists, stories that feature protagonists from the lower or working class, stories with disabled protagonists (including those with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses), and stories whose protagonists are not Christian. This is not to say that more ‘typical’ steampunk stories are unwelcome, just that they will be a harder sell.
• * While Torquere Press publishes several romance and erotica titles, stories need not have romantic or erotic elements.

We are not interested in the following:

• * Stories that exoticize, misrepresent or demonize lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities, or any culture or religion. (look up “cultural appropriation” for an idea of what we mean here).
• * Stories with anti-lesbian clichés (such as the lesbian who would really enjoy heterosexual sex, if she met the right man)
• * Stories with villains whose sole motivation for being bad is a mental illness or “being crazy.”
• * Poetry
• * Fan fiction (stories featuring characters that are not copyrighted to the author)

As Steam-Powered is entering its third incarnation, we’ve seen a lot of stories set in a lot of places. However, some countries and regions have never appeared at all. Thus, I am particularly keen on seeing stories set in the following countries/regions/cultures.

1. Eastern and Central Europe. Seriously. We’ve had all of one submission ever set here.
2. Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. (I will seriously love you forever if you send me a story set in Italy—though by saying this I’m aware I may have just opened the floodgates lol)
3. Southern and Central Africa. Though I always want more stories about this continent!
4. Australia
5. Russia
6. Mexico
7. Canada
8. Anywhere in South America. I have one acceptance for SP3 set here, but I’d love more.

Of course, all regions are fine—specifically if they’re not England—so please don’t think I’m going to bounce your story if it isn’t set in any of these places. I’m simply, again, offering up a few that I’ve seen little or nothing from and would like to see represented.

Submission Period: March 15 – June 15 September 1.

Word Count: 3,000 – 10,000 words (though shorter stories may be considered). **PLEASE query with your story idea first to save both you and the editor time.

Payment: $35 per story.

If your query is accepted, submit stories in .rtf or .doc format to JoSelle Vanderhooft at upstart.crow@gmail.com. Please title your submissions as [Author’s Last Name]: Steam-Powered III Submission, and use standard manuscript format that includes your full name (and pen name if applicable), address, phone number and email. 

Beep beep! Another reminder!

Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories is an anthology of steampunk stories that feature lesbian-identified protagonist and which strives to be inclusive of underrepresented (and often misrepresented!) identities in steampunk and lesbian fiction.

Although “steampunk” is a fairly broad genre, we are interested in the following:

• Stories set in the past and present as we know them, or in an alternate past or present, as well as a future in which 19th Century technology dominates.
• Stories that involve 19th Century steam technology or retro-future technology that does not involve steam. For example, if your story is set in the Gobi Desert, the lack of water may make this technology look different than it would in a society that has enough water for steam technology to be feasible. For a good idea of what I mean here, please read this essay by Steam-Powered 1 contributor Amal El-Mohtar: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/10/towards-a-steampunk-without-steam.
• Stories that explore and critique 19th and early 20th Century notions of colonialism, empire, race, sex and sexuality.
• The editor also has a strong preference for stories set outside Victorian England and the United States, stories that feature women of color protagonists, stories that feature protagonists from the lower or working class, stories with disabled protagonists (including those with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses), and stories whose protagonists are not Christian. This is not to say that more ‘typical’ steampunk stories are unwelcome, just that they will be a harder sell.
• While Torquere Press publishes several romance and erotica titles, stories need not have romantic or erotic elements.

We are not interested in the following:

• Stories that exoticize, misrepresent or demonize lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities, or any culture or religion. (look up “cultural appropriation” for an idea of what we mean here).
• Stories with anti-lesbian clichés (such as the lesbian who would really enjoy heterosexual sex, if she met the right man)
• Stories with villains whose sole motivation for being bad is a mental illness or “being crazy.”
• Poetry
• Fan fiction (stories featuring characters that are not copyrighted to the author)

As Steam-Powered is entering its third incarnation, we’ve seen a lot of stories set in a lot of places. However, some countries and regions have never appeared at all. Thus, I am particularly keen on seeing stories set in the following countries/regions/cultures:

1. Eastern and Central Europe. Seriously. We’ve had all of one submission ever set here.
2. Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. (I will seriously love you forever if you send me a story set in Italy—though by saying this I’m aware I may have just opened the floodgates lol)
3. Southern and Central Africa. Though I always want more stories about this continent!
4. Australia
5. Russia
6. Mexico
7. Canada
8. Anywhere in South America. I have one acceptance for SP3 set here, but I’d love more. 

Of course, all regions are fine—specifically if they’re not England—so please don’t think I’m going to bounce your story if it isn’t set in any of these places. I’m simply, again, offering up a few that I’ve seen little or nothing from and would like to see represented.

Submission Period: March 15 – June 15.

Word Count: 3,000 – 10,000 words (though shorter stories may be considered). **PLEASE query with your story idea first to save both you and the editor time.

Payment: $35 per story.

If your query is accepted, submit stories in .rtf or .doc format to JoSelle Vanderhooft at upstart.crow@gmail.com. Please title your submissions as [Author’s Last Name]: Steam-Powered III Submission, and use standard manuscript format that includes your full name (and pen name if applicable), address, phone number and email.

Please reblog widely! <3

(Source: jhameia, via gingerslice)

Other people treat laborers like the dirt they work with. But skilled labor is crucial to the continuation of human culture on earth – and if we ever wish to visit the stars, skilled labor will be indispensable.

We want stories about men and women who understand the nuts and bolts, the atmosphere and the water and the soil. You know – the things that keep us alive. We want characters who get their hands dirty every day; people who aren’t too proud to work their bodies at least as hard as their minds.

We welcome and strongly encourage submissions with underrepresented main characters: characters of color, LGBTQ characters, women characters, etc.!

GUIDELINES

• Science Fiction stories (no Fantasy)
• No stereotypes/caricatures of the lower classes
• No retellings of John Henry (it’s a great story, it’s just done too often)
• 2000-8000 words (firm)
• Single-spaced, double-space between paragraphs. Use a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial, in 12 pt. (Note: Courier is evil.) Use DOC, DOCX or RTF format.
• No simultaneous submissions. No reprints.

Now Open for Submissions Until May 31, 2012

Have you ever thought your computer, car, cellphone, etc. was haunted? Well, this book is for you. We are looking for original short fiction about haunted machines. Naturally, the Steampunk concept comes to mind. However, your story doesn’t have to take place in the Victorian Era, a great story about a haunted machine transcends the calendar. 

Stories should range between 2,000 and 7,000 words. Sex, language, and violence are fine…as long as it’s relevant.  Stories that revel in child abuse will be summarily deleted. We do enjoy stories that apply multiple genres.  If you have a sci-fi horror story that fits this theme—or mystery-horror, or fantasy-horror—send it along.  

To submit your short story for consideration: ghost@postmortem-press.com

I got this in the email from someone who sent me the most generic email ever, and the press is making me meh, but if any of you POC want to colour-bomb it, go for it.

Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories is an anthology of steampunk stories that feature lesbian-identified protagonist and which strives to be inclusive of underrepresented (and often misrepresented!) identities in steampunk and lesbian fiction.

Although “steampunk” is a fairly broad genre, we are interested in the following:

• Stories set in the past and present as we know them, or in an alternate past or present, as well as a future in which 19th Century technology dominates.
• Stories that involve 19th Century steam technology or retro-future technology that does not involve steam. For example, if your story is set in the Gobi Desert, the lack of water may make this technology look different than it would in a society that has enough water for steam technology to be feasible. For a good idea of what I mean here, please read this essay by Steam-Powered 1 contributor Amal El-Mohtar: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/10/towards-a-steampunk-without-steam.
• Stories that explore and critique 19th and early 20th Century notions of colonialism, empire, race, sex and sexuality.
• The editor also has a strong preference for stories set outside Victorian England and the United States, stories that feature women of color protagonists, stories that feature protagonists from the lower or working class, stories with disabled protagonists (including those with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses), and stories whose protagonists are not Christian. This is not to say that more ‘typical’ steampunk stories are unwelcome, just that they will be a harder sell.
• While Torquere Press publishes several romance and erotica titles, stories need not have romantic or erotic elements.

We are not interested in the following:

• Stories that exoticize, misrepresent or demonize lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities, or any culture or religion. (look up “cultural appropriation” for an idea of what we mean here).
• Stories with anti-lesbian clichés (such as the lesbian who would really enjoy heterosexual sex, if she met the right man)
• Stories with villains whose sole motivation for being bad is a mental illness or “being crazy.”
• Poetry
• Fan fiction (stories featuring characters that are not copyrighted to the author)

As Steam-Powered is entering its third incarnation, we’ve seen a lot of stories set in a lot of places. However, some countries and regions have never appeared at all. Thus, I am particularly keen on seeing stories set in the following countries/regions/cultures:

1. Eastern and Central Europe. Seriously. We’ve had all of one submission ever set here.
2. Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. (I will seriously love you forever if you send me a story set in Italy—though by saying this I’m aware I may have just opened the floodgates lol)
3. Southern and Central Africa. Though I always want more stories about this continent!
4. Australia
5. Russia
6. Mexico
7. Canada
8. Anywhere in South America. I have one acceptance for SP3 set here, but I’d love more. 

Of course, all regions are fine—specifically if they’re not England—so please don’t think I’m going to bounce your story if it isn’t set in any of these places. I’m simply, again, offering up a few that I’ve seen little or nothing from and would like to see represented.

Submission Period: March 15 – June 15.

Word Count: 3,000 – 10,000 words (though shorter stories may be considered). **PLEASE query with your story idea first to save both you and the editor time.

Payment: $35 per story.

If your query is accepted, submit stories in .rtf or .doc format to JoSelle Vanderhooft at upstart.crow@gmail.com. Please title your submissions as [Author’s Last Name]: Steam-Powered III Submission, and use standard manuscript format that includes your full name (and pen name if applicable), address, phone number and email.

Please reblog widely! <3