by Lynne M. Thomas 

This issue will get under your skin. I didn’t set out to produce a theme issue, but with two stories featuring tattoos as a central motif, the urge to pair them together was overwhelming, and I succumbed.

This month, David J. Schwartz’s “Bear in Contradicting Landscape” and A.C. Wise’s “My Body, Her Canvas” both use tattoos, but to completely different ends. Our reprint this month is from the inimitable Maureen McHugh. “Useless Things” meditates upon creation, humanity, and parenthood in a post-apocalyptic setting. Carrie L. Vaughn graces us with her lovely poem “Caverns of Science.”

This month’s nonfiction brings an interview with Lavie Tidhar, who is putting the final editorial touches on the Apex Book of World SF 2. Alex Bledsoe explains why all those secret societies of vampires and werewolves wouldn’t work very well, in his essay “No Mortals Allowed.”
Our gorgeous cover art this month is by Donato Giancola.

It’s also awards nomination season: nominations are now open for the Hugos, the Nebulas, and the Stokers. For your convenience, our website has a list of Hugo and Nebula eligible works (http://apex-magazine.com/2012/01/06/nebula-and-hugo-award-eligible-works-published-by-apex-magazine/) and Stoker Award eligible stories (http://apex-magazine.com/2012/01/16/stoker-award-eligible-stories/), including links to read them all for free.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of Apex.

Lynne M. Thomas
Editor-in-Chief, Apex Magazine