Welcome to Analog Science Fiction and Fact, a magazine published by Must Read Books. Every issue features award-winning authors, compelling fiction stories, intriguing science fact articles, editorials, news, reviews … Travel to the edges of the universe!
To our print subscribers:
Due to declining print quality and ongoing production delays with our previous printing partner, we made the decision to transition to a new printer. We’re pleased to share that the transition is now complete, our agreement with the new printer has been finalized, and production is moving forward.
The March/April issues are scheduled to ship from the printer in mid-July, with the May/June issues following shortly thereafter. While this transition has caused unfortunate delays, we expect the new partnership to provide a much more reliable production schedule and significantly improved print quality going forward.
In the meantime, you may access the digital version so that you don’t have to wait any longer to start reading. Create a free account here, and then visit this page to find the digital issue.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support throughout this transition. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to getting these issues into your hands very soon.
Warmly,
The Must Read Magazines Team
EXCERPTS:
Beggars Mounted
Eric Del Carlo
The Light of Darian
Sean McMullen
POETRY:
Time Between the Wars
Carol Dorf
The final issue of 2026 is already upon us, and boy, do we have a banger for you! The divide between the haves and the have-nots is sure to follow us into space and any colonies we settle, with the reality of being one of the have-nots surely even harsher than here on Earth, so how is one family of hardworking lunar colonists going to navigate the holidays? Find out in our seasonally appropriate lead story from M.T. Reiten, “Xmas in Derbtown” (or, as I like to think of it: “The Moon is a Harsh Christmastress”). Our fact article for the issue is the first of two parts from Analog stalwart, Richard A. Lovett: the clearly named “Beyond the Sonic Screwdriver: How the Weird Wide World of Acoustical Research is Revolutionizing Everything from Medicine to Microplastics, Part I” And of course we have an array of other stories, seasonal and non, from Ted Kosmatka, Jerry Oltion, James Van Pelt, and many more, so you’ll want to ring in the holidays here!
OVER 90 YEARS OF AWARDS
Analog Stories
- 39 Hugo Awards
- 23 Nebula Awards
Analog Editors
- 7 Hugo Awards for Best Editor
Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine
- 8 Hugo Awards for Best Magazine!
FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to Analog Science Fiction and Fact! A lifelong appreciation of science fiction has led me to an incredibly fulfilling career with Analog…
ABOUT ANALOG
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is the most enduring and popular science fiction magazine in history. Launched in 1930, Analog offers imaginative fiction reflecting the highest standards of scientific accuracy, as well as lively fact articles about current research on the frontiers of real science. A guiding principle for both fiction and provocative opinion columns is the exploration of the impact of science and technology on the human condition.
AUTHOR’S CORNER
Meet the pantheon of Analog Science Fiction and Fact authors. In addition to a Who’s Who of outrageously famous writers, you’ll also find short bios of authors in the current issue, in-depth factual articles examining the processes particular authors utilize, and more. Visit often – there’s always something new to discover!
A simple courier job turns out to be more than a crew of mercs had bargained for—literally, in “The User Manual” by Tony Ballantyne; a coming of age ceremony has more personal stakes than anyone realizes for one participant, in “Beggar’s Mounted” from Eric Del Carlo; an alien superstructure does its best to keep its secrets in “Septo’s Taj” from R.R. Corvi; a burglary leads a pair of Detective Inspectors to a much bigger and weirder crime in “The Light of Darian” by Sean McMullen; an automaton with larceny on its mind gets down to business in “Career Considerations for Starship Burglars” by Hans Enge Wenger; some harsh youths learn a harsh lesson in “Robo Bashers” from Harri Hemlock, plus the next installment in Kelly Lagor’s “Warm Pond” fact series, and much more, from Adam-Troy Castro, Jay Werkheiser, and others!
THE RIVETS
Practical resources for readers and writers, including the Analog Index, Writer’s Submission Guidelines, upcoming Science Fiction events, News, and more.
Beggars Mounted
by Eric Del Carlo
Stir the Pot. Stir the Pot! So the call rings out across the floating estates. These, the glimmering realms of the aristocracy, the sumptuous abodes strung as pearls on a necklace along the edge of the auroral splendor of deep-space phenomena, the fantastical light show of the Pot, all those gases and dust, all that burning wonder so impossibly pleasing: because the rich must always have beachfront property.
Kim arrived at the appointed hour. The shuttle’s interior was silent and betrayed no sense of motion; such utter stillness was expensive. He did not know they had docked until the doors parted. He had come with the other wranglers. They were a motley lot, picked by lottery and randomly assigned to the privileged youth who this day must prove themselves by diving into the Pot to capture and ride a Beast. READ MORE
The Light of Darian
by Sean McMullen
Had it not been for the burglary, the authorities might never have even noticed the house. The intruder’s name was Hal Blake. He had been neat and systematic, bypassing the off-the-shelf security system with a valid code. For a few minutes he had apparently been disappointed, because he took nothing. The house just went through the motions of being lived in, rather than being a home, and there was nothing of obvious value to be seen. Then he collapsed. READ MORE
