As you may glean from our cover (with art by Tim Hildebrandt), we’re not doing the holiday season as some kind of sweetness and light this year (or ... well, maybe we just haven’t in these recent years). Russia is still invading Ukraine, and now Israel seems intent on destroying Gaza (not just Hamas, with whom they have a legitimate problem, but every last building, every last road, every ... well, person). Dictatorial and far right governments seem to be gaining power in many places (except in England, where they seem intent on destroying everything—the national health service, any semblance of human rights law, any kindness at all to their fellow human beings—before they get kicked out of office), and in the US we still, somehow, incredibly, have the looming shadow of Donald Trump and those who enable him, who would vote for him even if (when) he were proven to be a cheat, liar, and wannabe dictator. We have a social media landscape dominated by Far Right and antisemitic propaganda. And we have the 28th (!) attempt by governments around the world to convince themselves that climate change will just go away if we throw enough good intentions at it. And this time it's basically being hosted by the fossil fuels industry!

No wonder I think the state of the world is ... well, our cover.

Now, to be fair, the stories and art herein are not as unremittingly bleak as all that. There is some hope in the world, after all. Heck, even in my Grinch-like heart, there is that tiny glimmer, that spark, that might someday be proven right.

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As we are about to reopen for written submissions, I should mention that we’re changing our submissions guidelines somewhat. Due to the large (and increasing) number of submissions Penumbric receives each submissions period, we've had to update our guidelines. As managing editor, I read every submission, and there's just a limit on how many I can read lol. I don't want to change to reading only some of the subs, especially as I offer commentary on submissions. Here are the changes for the upcoming submissions period, starting 15 December:

• Limit of one short story or 5 poems at a time. Once we have gotten back to you with an acceptance or rejection, you can submit more work to us if the submissions window is still open. Note, however, that we are unlikely to accept more than one piece per author per submissions window, whether poetry or prose. If you submit more than this we will contact you to see which pieces you wish us to consider.
• Limit of ten pieces of art at a time. As above, once we have replied, you can submit more work to us if the submissions window is still open. Unlike fiction and poetry, we often accept multiple pieces of art per artist.

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Despite my lack of holiday spirit, I hope you all have a wonderful December and start to the New Year, and we will see you again in February!

Jeff Georgeson
Managing Editor
Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazine