News & Notes

Upcoming Readers Write Deadlines

Fantasy, Taste, and Uniforms

There’s still time to submit to Readers Write on “Fantasy”! Be sure to get your entry to us by October 1 — we’ve suggested a few potential prompts if you still need to get your creative juices flowing. And it’s never too early to start your first draft for an upcoming topic. . . .

The Other Side of the Portal

Speculative Fiction in The Sun

As part of our ongoing celebration of The Sun’s fiftieth year in print, we featured Debbie Urbanski’s 2016 short story “The Portal” as our September issue’s Dog-Eared Page. In my introduction to the story I noted that several other writers of science fiction and fantasy — too many to list in print — have also found their way into the magazine. But here in the more generous confines of our website I can share some of my other favorites from our archives.

New-Release Roundup

September 2023

As the weather cools and the days get shorter, curl up with one of these new books from Sun contributors. You’ll find descriptions from their publishers and links to some exclusive excerpts on The Sun’s website. Click the titles for more information, including purchase details.

A Brief and Highly Subjective Appreciation of Fifty Years of Sun Covers

One history that especially fascinates me is The Sun’s. On the wall of my office is a calendar the magazine sent to subscribers — all forty or so of them — at the beginning of 1977. It’s outdated and nonfunctional, but I hung it there because of its . . . well, grooviness. I like the horoscope-adjacent artwork and the handmade feel. It’s very much a product of its time, the kind of thing my brother would call “crunchy.”

September: This Month in Sun History

A Look Back for Our 50^th Year of Publication

On a quiet Friday afternoon in the summer of 2007, the phone rang in The Sun’s office. It was someone calling on behalf of a man on death row to inform us of a glaring error in an upcoming issue.

The Power of Silence and Sound

Selections from the Archives

This month’s interview with Gordon Hempton, reprinted from 2010 as part of our ongoing celebration of The Sun’s fiftieth year of publication, is on the search for silence in a noisy world. The selections from the archives offer other ways to think about the power of silence — and of sound.

Upcoming Readers Write Deadlines

Yard Sales, Fantasy, and Taste

There’s still time to submit to Readers Write on “Yard Sales”! Be sure to get your entry to us by September 1 — we’ve suggested a few potential prompts if you still need to get your creative juices flowing. And it’s never too early to start your first draft for an upcoming topic. . . .

More from the Streets of San Francisco

Joseph Johnston’s photo essay about unhoused people, “On the Streets of San Francisco” [February, 2023], struck a chord with readers. We heard from one man who lives in Joseph’s neighborhood and recognized people in the photos. . . . When we passed along all the letters we received, Joseph thanked us for lifting his spirits and sent us a new image from the series.

Looking in a New Way

Maria Kuznetsova on Absurdity and Postpartum Insomnia

When I read Maria Kuznetsova’s story “Sandwoman,” I was immediately drawn to its offbeat tone and to the narrator’s voice, which is in turns playful, exuberant, dark, and funny. Though much of the story is fantastical, it speaks volumes about the real-life experiences of women who struggle with their physical and mental health postpartum. Maria’s imaginative and surprising perspective made me want to dig into the story’s origins when I got to talk to her.

Removing the Mask

John Paul Scotto on Learning to Live with Autism

As someone who was a socially awkward kid — and remains a socially awkward adult — I find a lot to identify with in John Paul Scotto’s essays. He was recently diagnosed with autism, but for most of his life he knew only that he needed to hide his true self around other people if he wanted to fit in. . . . We’re pleased to have published some of his work in The Sun, including his essay in this month’s issue: “Coach’s Kid.”