Just because Worldcon is happening it doesn’t mean that magazine production schedules get put on hold. The new issues of Clarkesworld and Lightspeed continue to come out like clockwork. What have we got for you this month?

The headline story from Clarkesworld is a team effort by David Klecha and Tobias S. Buckell. It is a science fiction story called “The Found Girl”, and as usual is also available in audio, narrated by Kate Baker.

Also in fiction is “Robot” by Helena Bell which, on a quick glance, is not about a robot at all. And then there is “muo-ka’s Child” by Indrapramit Das, a Clarion graduate from Kolkata. Jonathan Strahan and Ian Mond were talking about Das in the inaugural Last Short Story podcast. I have a feeling we’ll be discovering a lot of writers from India in the coming years.

The non-fiction starts with a fascinating biography of Canadian scientist, Omond Solandt, written by Jason S. Ridler. Jeremy interviews Nick Mamatas and Paul Tremblay about the practice of satire. And Chesya Burke’s Another World column looks at a new form of magical negro stereotype.

The cover for this issue is “Awe at Thistledown” by Angel Nieves.

That leaves us with Neil Clarke’s editorial. Firstly I’m delighted to see that his health is much improved, and I wholeheartedly support those who encouraged him not to go to Worldcon. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for him in the Editor: Short Form category. The editorial, however, focuses more on the Word Fantasy Award nomination. The “Special Award Non-Professional” tends to irritate most of the people who get nominate for it because no one likes it being suggested that they are unprofessional. For Clarkesworld, however, it is an acknowledgement that the people who produce it are largely unpaid (except in Hugos). Neil has taken the opportunity to announce that he has set a new goal – to be able to pay the staff. I’m delighted to see him do that, and I hope he succeeds. You can help, by paying money for the magazine rather than reading it for free.

The new issue of Lightspeed is also available in the store. I’m pleased to see them include a Harry Harrison story in the issue. There’s the usual profusion of fiction, both original and reprint. Non-fiction includes an interview with John Scalzi. And the ebook exclusive novella is Walter John Williams’ Nebula winning “The Green Leopard Plague”.