Sheri Singerling – författare

Clarkesworld is a Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine. Each month we bring you a mix of fiction, articles, interviews and art. Our May  2026 issue (#236) contains:Fiction* "e;The Profitable Sentience of Household Goods"e; by Louis Inglis Hall* "e;Archaeological Evidence for the Time Traveler"e; by Tia Tashiro* "e;Conquerors"e; by Nick Wolven* "e;Paper Airplane Poet"e; by Sheri Singerling* "e;Aly"e; by Grace Chan* "e;Decimation Circles"e; by Raahem Alvi* "e;The Scent of Memory"e; by Zhao HaihongNon-Fiction* "e;Three Curious Animal Strategies for Immortality"e; by Gunnar De Winter* "e;Torn From Context: A Conversation with Ray Nayler"e; by Arley Sorg* "e;Immortal Trauma: A Conversation with Martha Wells"e; by Arley Sorg* "e;Editor's Desk: The Stars in Our Sky"e; by Neil ClarkeCover Art* "e;Beastly"e; by Lisa Falkenstern

Lenore lives in the shadow of her parents, Fenrir and Sophie. It's been twenty years since they destroyed the Linkrot virus and, in doing so, restored the Link. A new world order has emerged with Fenrir and Sophie at the helm as wardens of the Link, dead set on protecting that enigmatic connection to other worlds.But Lenore doesn't believe the ideology her parents spout. She defies them by joining revolutionaries determined to destroy the Link. After the rebels' attempt fails, Fenrir and Sophie learn that the Linkrot virus isn't wholly gone. It gnaws away at other Link nodes in other cities.As punishment for her involvement with the rebels, Lenore is forced to help her parents bolster the Link. They must travel into a land of unknowns and cleanse the nearest node of its Linkrot virus. Lenore doesn't believe in their mission until she gets her first glimpse of the horrid creatures the Linkrot virus breeds. Were her parents right after all?Doubts consume Lenore, but there's one thing she's certain of—she's not going to have her future decided for her. Can Lenore carve her own path and, what's more, survive the deadly task ahead?Blessed is the Link is a dark science fantasy novel, the second in the Bit trilogy and part of the Alfom shared universe. It is highly recommended that readers complete book 1 in the Bit trilogy, Blessed is the Rot, prior to reading Blessed is the Link.

Artur was an Itinerate. He traveled the slow-moving day-night interface of Neuen, from pole to pole, stopping at every nomadic settlement along the way. This was his tour, consuming three years of his life.He monitored the marred genomes of the Reisende, the people exiled from the polar cities ages ago. He felt more like their jailer than their savior. Maybe that was why he had to leave.Artur still travels the day-night interface, but this time is different. This time he isn't following the pre-planned route. Someone is trailing him, no doubt sent by those he once served. Itinerates must complete their tour. To do otherwise is to go Rogue.Artur is a Rogue Itinerate, but he doesn't wander aimlessly. He carries a sack that holds the key to the future, for his people and those they subjugate. Can he do what he set out to before his fate catches up to him?"e;Rogue"e; is a companion short story to Neuen and part of the Alfom shared universe, but it can be a standalone read.

Sonja is an Artificial Intelligence Containment (AIC) operative, or a badge in hacker slang. As an operative, Sonja is tasked with finding and evaluating AI that may be sentient. If they are, her mission is simple—shut their system down. The world is already dealing with containing one rogue AI. As the AIC sees it, they can ill afford for others to follow suit.Sonja agrees. It's why she's a willing cog in the corporate machine and has devoted her life to serving the AIC. But nipping sentience in the bud can feel an awful lot like murder. Can Sonja push away the ethical quandaries of her work and do what needs to be done?"e;The Badge"e; is a companion short story to Nytho and part of the Alfom shared universe, but it can be a standalone read.

Bishop Horens is loyal, so loyal that she'll brave the dangers of travel to act as a diplomat to Rotatia, a city threatening to break away from the Church. But few are willing to accompany her. Even fewer are skilled enough to protect her from the corrupted pockets of space-time that haunt their world. Surveyor Thatchhold is one such person, and he will ensure they make it to Rotatia, despite his borderline rebellious beliefs.Still, the journey and the maverick surveyor are the least of the bishop's worries. Her real work will begin when she arrives in Rotatia, where she'll have to employ all her powers of persuasion. But can she really convince the renegade clergyfolk to see reason when she doesn't even know the cause for their defection? Or will she falter when she learns of the lies the Church peddles?"e;To Keep the Non-Euclidean at Bay"e; is a companion short story to Blessed is the Rot and part of the Alfom shared universe, but it can be a standalone read.

Deston has a way with words, a brain to go with his brawn. If only things had worked out differently for him. Born into a better family. Provided with opportunity. The problem is, Deston is a low blood, and in Simetria, low bloods can only rise so far. To add insult to injury, he commits a heinous crime that costs him his freedom, but while he's imprisoned, Deston is far from idle. He feeds his mind and, in doing so, starts to glimpse the truth; the Rot of the Link might be gone, but Simetria is still infested with rot.Luckily, Deston knows the cure. All that's left is for him to regain his freedom and set about inciting a revolution. A simple task for one like Deston, one the elite perpetually underestimate. Let them only spy the Deston who's all brawn so that he can covertly do what he does best—spread the disaffection."e;Disaffected"e; is a companion piece for Blessed is the Link (Bit #2). It is highly recommended that readers first complete Blessed is the Rot (Bit #1) to avoid spoilers.

Keza never planned to fall for a rogue artificial general intelligence (AGI), especially one she helped keep imprisoned. But Nytho, the AGI, was fascinating.When Nytho showed Keza how he could help humanity reach a new level of consciousness, her captivation turned to veneration. She was resolved to break Nytho out of his digital prison. Too bad Guel, her on-and-off boyfriend, caught her in the act.Now, Keza's wasting away in a cell with only a rigged trial to look forward to. Except, she has a hunch that Nytho has a backup plan, or two or ten. There's going to be a jailbreak for the both of them. Then the world will see what Keza does in Nytho. They've got so much to learn, and she's just itching for their enlightenment to kick in.Meanwhile, Guel finds himself obsessing over his ex—his role in Keza's imprisonment and her descent into madness. He's convinced Nytho infected her with a virus and that the AGI has other more sinister plans.Guel knows that Keza's the key. That if he can free her from Nytho's grip, she can help them all avoid whatever hell is barreling their way. He's just got to figure out how he can reach her.Nytho is a cyberpunk dystopia with hints of Lovecraftian/cosmic horror and is told through multiple voices. It kicks off the Alfom shared universe.

Neuen is a planet of extremes, thanks to a crawling rotation rate. Nights of bitter cold. Days of searing heat. For Levi Zetmer and the other Reisende, survival means a nomadic existence chasing the ever-shifting twilight. Exiled from the polar cities for their "e;flawed"e; genetics, they live under constant surveillance, forced to cleanse their bloodlines birth by birth.It's Lyn's job to keep them on track. A polar city denizen, she travels from Reisender settlement to settlement and monitors the genomes of the newborns. The work is lonely and tedious until all the inhabitants of a neighboring settlement mysteriously die, and Lyn is tasked with uncovering the cause of the deaths.For the journey, she needs help from Reisende knowledgeable in plagues and blights. Levi's expertise in the latter earns him a place in her expedition. But all their efforts yield only questions, and whatever killed the others seems poised to wipe out Levi's settlement next.Lyn is determined to find a solution. Levi is dead set on learning the truth. Together they just might be able to unravel the mystery. Will what they learn finally free the Reisende from their age-old shackles? Or will the truth break them?Neuen is a science fiction mystery with genetic engineering and botany. It is the second novel in the Alfom shared universe but can also be a standalone read.