Editorial: Seasons Change Anna Yeatts

Before we dive into this month’s stories, a brief personal note. After a rewarding decade as Publisher of Flash Fiction Online, I’ve decided to pass the baton to Rebecca Halsey. Don’t worry, the magazine will continue to be near and dear to my heart. I’ll be staying on as Editor-in-Chief for the foreseeable future to help Becky settle in as Publisher. I’m grateful for the ten incredible years of your support, and I can’t wait to see where Becky takes us next.

Now, let’s delve into this month’s stories, each of which interrogates complex myths and identities through intimate and nuanced lenses.

Imbued with the grandeur of cosmic myths and celestial destinies, “The First Day of the Week” by Carina Bissett personifies AI as a celestial being tasked with the delicate balance of life and death. A dance between technology and theology, it questions the Creator’s supreme will in a world held together by code and destiny.

“The Anatomy of Witchdaughter” by Nadine Aurora Tabing isn’t just horror—it’s a vivid critique of cultural appropriation within academia. With the lab as its backdrop, the narrative follows Russa, an anthropology student, as she grapples with uncomfortable truths about sacrifice, legitimacy, and who gets to tell history.

“Downfall” by Heather Truett reimagines Pandora’s Box through a female lens, echoing the eternal human condition of knowing and not knowing. Truett challenges the worn narrative trope of woman as the downfall of man, posing the question: what if Pandora chose not to open the box?

“In Search of Body” by Yelena Crane is a dystopian vision of a future where memories can be stored in a global network of wires. The protagonist, tasked with maintaining this network, ponders the essence of identity as they seek out a familial connection lost within the system. Originally published in Nature Futures.

Stories have the power to question, confront, and change us. This month’s selections are no exception.

Enjoy!
Anna Yeatts
Editor-in-Chief
Flash Fiction Online