Marissa Lingen

Science fiction at its best takes from elements of highbrow, lowbrow, middlebrow, and outsider culture. It asks for suspension of disbelief in some areas to reward you in others. At its best, it contains a staggering variety of sentients. You know who else has been doing that? The Muppets.

a brown teddy bear is playing a piano with a sheet of music on it Alt: a brown dog puppet energetically plays a piano with a sheet of music on it

We've had lots of science fiction where characters are directly, out loud influenced by Bach or the Beatles or Shakespeare. The art we put in our science fiction is the art we expect to last, hopefully or trepidatiously.

Me, I hope and work for a future with Rowlf the Dog in it.

Camilla is one of a flock. The rest of the flock mostly does not get names. She's the love interest, muse, pet, general Girl Friday of a conceptual artist, Gonzo the Great. Camilla is loyal and opinionated.

I love her. And when I was writing a colonial organism, I thought...oh....

I'm delighted that this story is apparently working for friends who didn't get all the references, but also I wasn't trying to keep secrets, so I'll tell you: this is the Camilla that my Camilla named herself after.

Thank you!!!

Odes: the Danger Room My niece is the kind of kid who needs to run laps or climb the walls like a spider, or else she will play Minecraft for twelve unmoving hours before a...

This month's ode is about taking my niece to the indoor adventure park, and reflecting on P.E. and how it shapes a relationship with the body that mostly sucks. My newsletter is free, and in 2026 is all about things that I love.

Thank you!

Hee, thank you, friend!

Thank you!

and also luck to any humans who try getting in Camilla's way! :)

Thank you!

Wherever you like, I'm pleased!

Thank you!!!

This quick read is *so good*--a very wonderful alien voice & an excellent portrayal of language & the limits of how we understand things. And it's got great dry humor:

"Humans are very big on things that you don’t say, which would be fine except that they are also very big on saying things." 1/?

I appreciate a friend who can follow directions when it's reasonable to do so, thank you!

Thank you!

Thanks, friend!

this was a delight to read

Thanks!

This is delightful!

Thank you, dear!

Thank you so much, friend!!!

Oh thank you for reminding me to get one for my brag shelf later in the month!

HEE thank you!

Thank you!

Person, Place, Thing by Marissa Lingen Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

New story out today in @clarkesworldmagazine.com ! "Person, Place, Thing": go, read, enjoy! clarkesworldmagazine.com/lingen_03_26/

THERE IS STILL TIME! You could get a signed ARC of OBSTETRIX, a signed early copy of WHAT WE ARE SEEKING by Cameron Reed, a signed copy of THE FORTUNATE FALL by Cameron Reed (the new "under her new name" edition!) or a signed deluxe copy of VOGELEIN: OLD GHOSTS by Jane Irwin! TILL 5 PM TODAY.

Jayme Lawson from Sinners hit the nail on the head and said how I felt with the whole BAFTAs situation.

Look into 4H in your area! It varies widely but is definitely not just for raising livestock--it facilitates kids coming up with projects ALL over the map. I loved my time in 4H, and a generation later so did/do my neighbor kids across the street.

I have openings in my editing calendar for immediate work and future bookings. I work with novellas and novels, and with many genres. More info here: www.kathowardbooks.com/editing and I'm always happy to answer questions.