To all who enter, welcome! My name is James and I’m a co-founder of the exciting new literary magazine, Otherverse. We aim to explore tales and mysteries in both science-fiction and fantasy, so be sure to look out for some dragons with jetpacks in our October issue debut!

Though I was never exactly a devout reader growing up, I’ve been a fan of sci-fi ever since I could walk. For me, it was about the “fiction” as well as the “science”. Whether watching Doctor Who on the small screen or Star Wars on the big screen, my excitement was for the feast of surreal imagery that came from each story—wonders which we couldn’t possibly encounter in our everyday. But as I grew up, I realised that literature allows us to share experiences that the screen simply cannot, from the infinite Library of Babel, to Milton’s war in heaven, to the imaginary colours of Tormance:

‘The sense impressions caused in Maskull by these two additional primary colours can only be vaguely hinted at by analogy. Just as blue is delicate and mysterious, yellow clear and unsubtle, and red sanguine and passionate, so he felt ulfire to be wild and painful, and jale dreamlike, feverish and voluptuous.’

 – David Lindsay, A Voyage to Arcturus

I’ll have to write a review of Lindsay’s novel at some point. Where was I?

The point is, literature can goes beyond what our senses can believe. You’ll never see a painting with ulfire and jale in it, but I bet you’re trying to imagining the colours right now in your head. That’s what written stories can do, and it’s why I love reading science-fiction and fantasy. They are the reigning genres in which this aspect of literature shines brightest—inventing places, philosophies, creatures and people that defy reality. The freedom of speculative fiction is even something that has followed me into my own writing, so stay tuned!

The harder a writer pushes against the boundaries of what’s possible in literature, the more fascinated and enthralled I am as a reader. My favourite stories have been ones that either blur the lines of sci-fi and fantasy, or have reinvented the genres entirely. If you’re looking for some recommendations, they are Dune by Frank Herbert, Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny, and Michael Moorcock’s Dancers at the End of Time trilogy.

What strange and logic-defying worlds have you encountered while reading? Did they blow your mind? I and everyone else at Otherverse would love to know.

If you’re interested in writing for our magazine, be sure to sure to submit your work for our October launch! Our guidelines can be found here: https://otherversemagazine.com/submissions/

You can also donate to use here: https://otherversemagazine.com/support-us-2/ so you too can help keep the worlds of the Otherverse free and alive.

This has been James. Hope to see you soon!