Between 304 and 589 CE, China was divided into rivaling regimes occupying North and South China. While the north was controlled by a series of non-Han Chinese peoples, ultimately culminating in the Xianbei Northern Wei, the south was ruled by ruling houses of Han Chinese descent. In this companion episode to the interview ith Scott Pearce on the No…

This episode features "The Library of the Apocalypse" written by Rati Mehrotra. Published in the May 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/mehrotra_05_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Brainstem Disco, 2191" written by Angela Liu. Published in the May 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/liu_05_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "An Even Greater Cold to Come" written by Rich Larson. Published in the April 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/larson_04_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "In My Country" written by Thomas Ha. Published in the April 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ha_04_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?By Clarkesworld Magazine

This episode features "Symbiotic" written by Carolyn Zhao. Published in the April 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/zhao_04_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Still Water" written by Zhang Ran and translated by Andy Dudak. Published in the April 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/zhang_04_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Aegiopolis Testudo" written by Gordon Li. Published in the April 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/li_04_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Seed" written by Sheryl Singerling. Published in the April 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/singerling_04_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Through These Moments, Darkly" written by Samantha Murray. Published in the April 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/murray_04_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Funerary Habits of Low Entropy Entities" written by Damián Neri. Published in the March 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/neri_03_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Sound of the Star" written by Ren Zeyu and translated by Jay Zhang. Published in the March 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ren_03_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Hook and Line" written by Koji A. Dae. Published in the March 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/dae_03_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Those Uncaring Waves" written by Yukimi Ogawa. Published in the March 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ogawa_03_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Mindtrips" written by Tlotlo Tsamaase. Published in the March 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/tsamaase_03_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Pollen" written by Anna Burdenko and translated by Alex Shvartsman. Published in the March 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/burdenko_03_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

More Swindles from the Late Ming is the companion piece to the Book of Swindles, a translation of a Late Ming text by Zhang Yingyu (fl. 1612–1617) which details various types of scams and swindles and how to guard against them. More Swindles from the Late Ming "presents sensational stories of scams that range from the ingenious to the absurd to the…

This episode features "From Enceladus, with Love" written by Ryan Cole. Published in the March 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/cole_03_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Celestial Migrations" written by Claire Jia-Wen. Published in the February 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/jia-wen_02_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Numismatic Archetypes in the Year of Five Regents" written by Louis Inglis Hall. Published in the February 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/hall_02_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Hanging Tower of Babel" written by Wang Zhenzhen and translated by Carmen Yiling Yan. Published in the February 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/wang_02_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clark…

This episode features "A Planet Full of Sorrows" written by M. L. Clark. Published in the February 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/clark_02_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "We Begin Where Infinity Ends" written by Somto Ihezue. Published in the February 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ihezue_02_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "King of the Castle" written by Fiona Moore. Published in the February 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/moore_02_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Bodyhoppers" written by Rocío Vega and translated by Sue Burke. Published in the February 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/vega_02_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Autonomy" written by Meg Elison. Published in the January 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/elison_01_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Beyond Everything" written by Wang Yanzhong and translated by Stella Jiayue Zhu. Published in the January 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/wang_01_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Temporary Murder of Thomas Monroe" written by Tia Tashiro. Published in the January 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/tashiro_01_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

The Northern Wei was a nomadic conquest dynasty that existed in north China between 386 and 535 CE. It was founded by the Tuoba (Tabgach) clan of the Xianbei (Särpi) peoples, a nomadic-pastoralist people originating from the Mongolian steppes. The Northern Wei is particularly noted for unifying northern China in the first half of the fifth century,…

This episode features "Never Eaten Vegetables" written by H.H. Pak. Published in the January 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/pak_01_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Child of the Mountain" written by Gunnar De Winter. Published in the January 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/dewinter_01_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "When There Are Two of You: A Documentary" written by Zun Yu Tan. Published in the January 2025 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/tan_01_25 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Retirement Plan" written by Paul Starkey. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/starkey_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Life Sentence" written by Gelian and translated by Blake Stone-Banks. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/gelian_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Coffee Machine" written by Celia Corral-Vázquez and translated by Sue Burke. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/corral-vazquez_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clar…

This episode features "Driver" written by Sameem Siddiqui. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/siddiqui_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Lucie Loves Neutrons and the Good Samarium" written by Thoraiya Dyer. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/dyer_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Souljacker" written by Shari Paul. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/paul_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Painted Skin and the Final Stroke" written by Zhu Yixuan. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/zhu_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "From Across Time" written by Chisom Umeh. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/umeh_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Stranger Seas Than These" written by L Chan. Published in the December 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/chan_12_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Unquiet Graves" written by Michael Swanwick. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/swanwick_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Technicolor Bath" written by Raahem Alvi. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/alvi_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Slide" written by Oliver Stifel. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/stifel_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Duty of Care" written by E.N. Auslender. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/auslender_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Negative Scholarship on the Fifth State of Being" written by A. W. Prihandita. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prihandita_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkeswor…

This episode features "Luminous Glass, Vibrant Seeds" written by D.A. Xiaolin Spires. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/spires_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "Mirror Stages" written by Claire Jia-Wen. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/jia-wen_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "LuvHome™" written by Resa Nelson. Published in the November 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/nelson_11_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…

This episode features "The Face of God: A Documentary" written by Damián Neri. Published in the October 2024 issue of Clarkesworld Magazine and read by Kate Baker. The text version of this story can be found at: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/neri_10_24 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/join/clarkesworld?…