What’s in Issue 291

Novel	Slawomir Rapala, The Three Kings Iskald escapes his captors and sets off across country. Isla sends his taskmaster, Cisl, after him. But the pursuers are in no hurry; they know the lay of the land, while Iskald does not. Chapter VI: King of Pain, part 1; part 2
Novellas	Bertil Falk, Eucharist for a Sinless Mankind The characters gather with the Pope in peace and reconciliation as they celebrate the eucharist for the new-found sinless ‘mankind’. Chapter 4: Celebration of the Eucharist, part 1; conclusion Bill Bowler, Upwyr Josey is terrified and perplexed that Janosh Straker, monster hunter, is coming after him. Chapter 1: The Man on the Flying Trapeze, part 1
Serial	Archeologist John Sheppard has discovered the operating manual for an Assyrian water demon. His friend and financial backer, Grayson Thorne, is very interested in the discovery: Tim Simmons, A Body of Water, part 1; part 2.
Short Stories	New contributor R. R. Brooks implies an intriguing question: If you were a space alien intent on improving mankind, how would you do it? Xenolith. If appearances can be deceiving, and so can reality, how do you choose? Randy Foster, Desperate Women. New contributor Amanda K. Stein updates a classic fable with a modern twist. ‘Home is where the heart is’, but what if one has no heart? Two Birds.
Flash Fiction	If you’re a pirate from space, you may not want to get stranded on an alien planet: Crystalwizard, Best Laid Plans. New contributor Rosie de la Mare reminds us that forgetting can become A Heavy Burden. In a post-life world, what’s an artificial intelligence to do? Bill West, Butterflies.
Poetry	John Grey, It’s a... Michael Murry, Scapegoat Job Application Shannon J. Prince, Compassionate Palimpsests
Short Poetry	Anna Ruiz, Small Wingless Creatures Lewayne L. White, Crowsong

Departments

Welcome	*Bewildering Stories* welcomes R. R. Brooks, Rosie de la Mare, and Amanda K. Stein.
Challenge	Challenge 291 heads To Nearby Shores. Special Challenge: Charles Aznavour, Les Deux Pigeons — The Two Pigeons
Contest 4	Rachel Parsons, Ape Men of Mars
Letters	Charles A. Coignard writes about “The Cricket and the Ant” Bertil Falk writes about The Trappist Vindicated.
The Art Gallery	A randomly rotating selection of Bewildering Stories’ art 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.
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