Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine - November/December 2021

In this issue

Asimov’s November/December 2021 issue includes a captivating novella by John Richard Trtek. Set in the far future, “La Terrienne” is filled with evocative writing about aliens, disreputable humans, and an intriguing mystery. We also have an exciting novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson. “Daydream Believer” follows the adventures of a teenager named Jean who works the helpline on the Cape Horn colony ship.
A quartet of stories lend an aquatic feeling to the issue. Gregory Norman Bossert brings together dance, swimming, and alien communication in “Hānai”; a scientist and an octopus are both beguiled by “Czerny at Midnight” in Sheila Finch’s new tale; a great battle takes place “And the Raucous Depths Abide” under the waves in Sam Schreiber’s story; while Sandra McDonald splashily reveals the secret of “The Gem of Newfoundland.” Introducing another element, Leah Cypess shows us the consequences of escaping “From the Fire”; new to Asimov’s author Misha Lenau offers us a tale about coping amid “Bread and Circuits”; David Gerrold muses on “The Ones Who Walk Away from the Ones Who Walk Away”; Jack McDevitt raises the alarm in “Tau Ceti Said What?”; Gregory Feeley never eases up on the tension in “Striding the Blast”; Jack Skillingstead’s new terrifying story provides instructions for “Dream Interpretation”; and Ray Nayler takes us to a remote Azerbaijan village in his lovely tale about the people who reside there and a “Muallim.”