What’s in Issue 286

Novel	Slawomir Rapala, The Three Kings Iskald explains to his comrade in chains, Xunnax, how geopolitics might affect their fate. Chapter III: End of Days, part 2; part 3; part 4
Novella	Bertil Falk, Eucharist for a Sinless Mankind Mother Saulcerite is missing at her mah-jong party. Cardinal Leonida Brown seeks help from the faithful atheist, Carolus Brainflower. He recommends an old flame, Teresia Nightmare. Chapter 1: The Bureau of Salvation, part 3 Chapter 2: The Not-Sinning Ones, part 1; part 2
Serial	In a tragedy, you die; in a comedy you get married. And, if you’re lucky, reburied in the process: Bob Friedman, Graveless in South Cynica, conclusion.
Short Stories	New contributor Jamie Eyberg presents archeologists with their perennial peeve: an anachronism — at Naj Tunich, part 1; conclusion. New contributor Brandon Myers introduces a visitor from Gamma Pavonis, who is here to collect your perspective: Ex Libris Pavonis. E. S. Strout demonstrates how to foil interstellar carjackers with some real Power, part 1; conclusion.
Flash Fiction	Glenn Gray continues the saga of Karl and Stew as they battle space aliens plopping from the sky on A Day in the Cornfield, part 3. An experimenter ought to be nice to his test subjects, especially if the chimpanzee is smarter than he: Sarah Hilary, Esmé and O’Ryan. New contributor Harold N. Walters tells a bedtime story from hell, but the morning-after treat is sweet: Bedtime Story.
Poetry	Michael Murry, Peace with Horror John Stocks, For Amnesty
Short Poetry	Christopher Barnes, Play “Stay With Me, Baby” Again
Prose Poetry	Mel Waldman visits an illusion of The Old Country.

Departments

Welcome	*Bewildering Stories* welcomes Jamie Eyberg and Harold N. Walters.
Challenge	Challenge 286 goes Dancing in the Spark.
Contest 4	L. Roger Quilter, Baloney
The Art Gallery	Joseph Howse, Shadow NASA: Picture of the Day

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!

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