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by Karen

 

The Story Doctor is (In):Thakrar’s “The Mango Tree”

The Story Doctor is back to tell us why The Mango Tree’s magic works so very well on us. The Story Doctor is (In):Thakrar’s “The Mango Tree” by James Patrick Kelly I’m wondering how many of you paused in your reading “The Mango Tree” to look up some of the Hindi words. Did you know

 

The Story Doctor is (In) by James Patrick Kelly

The incomparable Jim Kelly is back, story-doctoring the equally incomparable Maurice Broaddus’s “At the Village Vanguard (Ruminations on Blacktopia)” for your delight. Learn how Maurice works his magic in this original story. The Story Doctor is (In): Broaddus’s “At the Village Vanguard (Ruminations on Blacktopia) by James Patrick Kelly Not every story needs to be

 

Story Ideas from the Oxford English Dictionary by Karen Bovenmyer

MZ’s nonfiction editor is back with more story-idea-generating words from the Oxford English Dictionary. Discover new words, story concepts, and reflections on how English evolves (or some say, steals words shamelessly and makes up the rest). Story Ideas from the Oxford English Dictionary by Karen Bovenmyer I’ve been working with my editor on my first

 

The Penelope Qingdom by Aidan Moher

Childhood is a time for escapist fantasies and sweet friendships. Aidan Moher spins a heartwarming tale about magic real and figurative, the kind that brings two kindred spirits together and links them forever. The Penelope Qingdom by Aidan Moher It was during the particularly frozen-solid Prince George winter of ’91, a few days after the

 

Game Review: Have You Met My New Birdie? He’s a Lawyer by Rachael Acks

Rachael is back again to amuse us all with zir adventures. This time we assigned zir the game Aviary Attorney (to continue the theme we started with Hatoful Boyfriend) and giggled behind our hands. Check out Rachael’s take and then, in the spirit of MZ, try out this fun game. Game Review: Have You Met

 

Interview: Jackson Lanzing and Company Take Us All on a Joyride by Adam Gallardo

Nice guy and industry insider Adam Gallardo secured this interview with one of Joyride’s creators and we couldn’t be more thrilled about this new graphic title! Have some fun IN SPAAAACE… Interview: Jackson Lanzing and Company Take Us All on a Joyride by Adam Gallardo Joyride, volume 1 (BOOM! Studios / Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly,

 

NaNoWriMo: Pro or Con? by Mur Lafferty

Our editor-in-chief reminds us why many of us write novels in November and some dos and don’ts to keep in mind.   NaNoWriMo: Pro or Con? by Mur Lafferty   I have been an odd fan of NaNoWriMo for the past several years. I’m a fan because I’m fully in support of it. I’m odd

 

Inside the Matrix by Pamela L Gay

We are pleased Dr. Gay consented to speculate in this article about the science behind creating a permanent singularity like the possible future presented in “For the Children” by Jamie Wahls. Well, science and space pirates.   Inside the Matrix by Dr. Pamela L. Gay   Since the beginning of the computer era, people have

 

The Absence of Being Alone: Companions in McCaffrey’s Pern, Lackey’s Valdemar, Hobb’s Farseer

The feelings Sean shares with us in this article brought me back to my own middle school experiences with teasing, bullies, and loneliness and how deeply I bonded with the science fiction and fantasy books I was reading at the time. If I could, I would save every child from experiencing the pain of alienation,

 

Lasting Fiction Review: Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl by Karen Bovenmyer

Lasting Fiction Review: Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl by Karen Bovenmyer Lasting fiction, or books on the New York Times bestseller with staying power, teach the reader specialist knowledge they would have not otherwise have access too. This issue, I’d like to take a close look at Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl (2009), winner of

 

Interview: Finder’s Carla Speed McNeil by Adam Gallardo

Interview: Finder’s Carla Speed McNeil by Adam Gallardo Described as “aboriginal science fiction” when it was first released in 1996, Finder is the brain child of cartoonist Carla Speed McNeil. The comic is set in a world which may be our own in the far future, or it may be something else entirely. Regardless, the

 

Movie Review: There Is No “I” in Lazer Team by Rachael Acks

Author Rachael Acks once again inflicts movies of unknown quality on zirself, much to our delight. Movie Review: There Is No “I” in Lazer Team by Rachael Acks Lazer Team is the first feature length, theatrical release film by Rooster Teeth. Whether that company name rings any alien invasion klaxons depends on if you’re in

 

I Wish I’d Read Xenogenesis Twenty Years Ago by Rachael Acks

Mothership Zeta is please to honor Octavia Butler’s birthday with an early posting of this article from our July issue: We agree with Rachael–where were the valuable lessons we needed to hear from Octavia Butler when we were growing up? If you haven’t read this master of science fiction, check out what ze has to

 

Lasting Fiction: China Miéville’s The City and the City by Karen Bovenmyer

Lasting fiction teaches the reader something, demands hyper reality, and is populated with realistic and believable characters.   Lasting Fiction: China Miéville’s The City and the City by Karen Bovenmyer China Miéville fulfills my MFA professor Liz Hand’s observation that bestselling and award-winning fiction “teaches” the reader. Miéville, in addition to being a lifelong native

 

Astronauts Prepping to be The Martian: They build things and grow things…in space by Dr. Pamela L. Gay

Astronomer Dr. Pamela L. Gay returns what it really takes to be an astronaut—an inside look at required skills and the long timeline involved. Astronauts Prepping to be The Martian: They build things and grow things…in space by Dr. Pamela L. Gay “Kid, by the time you’re grown up NASA will have built all the