The Readers’ Guide
What’s in Issue 1132
| News | This is the last issue of the first quarter (northern winter, southern summer) of the year. Next week, we’ll bring you the Editors’ Choices in the First Quarterly Review of 2026. |
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| Short Stories |
New contributor Steve Akinkuolie introduces Baba Femi, an aged seer in the village of Oja, in western Africa. Is he clumsy and primitive? Perfumers would find him a master of product promotion with his Beautiful Stuff. New contributor Ken Hogarty introduces a brilliant high-school student, Faryn, in the memories of a teacher in the school’s High Potential Program. For what she becomes, he has No Hard Feelings, part 1; conclusion. Advertising will show you exactly what you’re supposed to want when it’s combined with AI and mind control. Jeff Pepper, Harry’s New Pants, part 1; conclusion |
| Flash Fiction |
Annie is nicknamed “Main Dock” because no one knows her name and that’s where she lives, with a very protective Wilbur.
Gary Clifton, Main Dock Annie and Wilbur Uncle Gaylord proffers to a new parent some useful advice about in-laws. And he can take it from a “side of life” he says he doesn’t even believe in. Charles C. Cole, In-Laws Out of Time |
| Poetry |
John Eric Ellison, When Time Says No Channie Greenberg, Feline Quiddity |
| Short Poetry |
Michael Wooff, Libation to Neptune |
Departments
| Welcome | Bewildering Stories introduces and welcomes Steve Akinkuolie and Ken Hogarty. |
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| Challenge | Challenge 1132 can imagine why sailors might share with the sea what they consider to be a Salubrious Drink. |
| The Reading Room |
Fairfield Scribes, Words at Play excerpt |
| Letters |
Gary Inbinder, The Devil in Montmartre at the San Diego Museum of Art |
| The Art Gallery |
Richard Ong, Trinity College John D. Connelley, The One-Shot Alison McBain, Toddler Times, 1132 A randomly rotating selection of Bewildering Stories’ art NASA: Picture of the Day Sky and Telescope, This Week’s Sky at a Glance |
Randomly selected Bewildering motto:
Randomly selected classic rejection notice:
Bewildering Stories’ official mottoes:
“Poems are not made with ideas; they are made with words.” — Stéphane Mallarmé
Ars longa, vita brevis. Rough translation: “Proofreading never ends.”
To Bewildering Stories’ schedule: In Times to Come
Readers’ reactions are always welcome.
Please write!
