Sci Fi Magazine /Apex/ to Dedicate November Issue to Arab, Muslim Writers

Apex itself mentions nothing about this on its submissions page, but editor Catherynne Valente has tweeted (and blogged) that the November issue of the popular sci fi magazine will be “an entirely Arab/Muslim issue.”

Apparently, this is in response to the “Elizabeth Moon situation”? (I’d prefer you just check that out yourself. If it’s more hysteria about Muslims/Arabs, I’ve already had my dose this month.)

In any case, Valente writes:

It will be beautiful. It will showcase writers of Arab descent and Muslim writers. (I am aware that many folk not of Arab descent are Muslim, that’s why I’m structuring it this way, so that writers from either culture or both can be part of the issue.) It will show how Islam is as much a part of the human experience as any other faith or story system that writers of the fantastic draw from. It will be a small thing, in the grand scheme. It will not save the world. But it will exist, and perhaps in its own way can stand beside the recent ugliness in the SFF world as something bright and good.

If you’re going to submit, Valente has some advice for you about your first paragraph. (Although, in any case, she’s really looking for poetry.)

I can’t quite see how she’s going to turn around all this material for the November issue. She must have a lot on hand. Or it’s a sci fi thing.

And, oh yes, I look forward to it.