Image © Adrian Amiro-Wilson
Letter from the Editors Dear Reader, What you see is never what you get. Speculative fiction challenges us to look past the obvious and explore the deeper truths dancing before our eyes. In this month's issue, five authors present stories that compel us to uncover a richer reality than casual observation might reveal. Here, you'll discover a mystery about a crime that is literally invisible, the surprising truth about mythology's most celebrated weapon, two stories in which the simple act of counting unlocks astonishing revelations, and a tale that asks us to reimagine the critical role of observation itself. We invite you to immerse yourself in these five fascinating tales: The Inbetween by Noah Evan Wilson-- The observer effect is well-documented, but do we dare to explore its true implications? Screaming Rain by David Wesley Hill--Earth has entered an active cosmic cloud, and alien possession is a terrifying part of daily life. Now, one paramedic is about to learn why. 14 Seconds by Eric San Juan-- In space, you know exactly how long you have for your life to flash before your eyes. The Wise Guy by Pamela Love--For a detective in ancient Greece, it's not the culprit you have to worry about... it's your Olympian client. The Sword and the Scabbard by Evelyn Pae--Travel to the time of kings and wizards to learn the untold story of Excalibur and its exceptional sheath. In our Editor's Corner, we have "How Much Does Originality Matter?" by Grayson Towler and Candi Cooper-Towler, who explore why "It's already been done" shouldn't stop you. Finally, we're grateful to Adrian Amiro-Wilson, who provided the cover art for this issue. Thanks for reading, Lesley, Grayson, Candi, and the Electric Spec Team