CY: It’s a New Year! There are a lot of great books, shows, and movies to look forward to in 2023, but what did you enjoy in 2022?

AS: I read a bunch of really cool anthologies last year, which means I read a lot of wonderful short fiction! If I had to pick three anthos published in 2022 that I’d want people to look at, I might say: Trouble the Waters by Sheree Renée Thomas, Pan Morigan, and Troy L. Wiggins (Third Man Books); Unlimited Futures by Rafeif Ismail & Ellen van Neerven (Fremantle); and Dreams for a Broken World by Ellen Meeropol and Julie C. Day (Reckoning). But there were other great books, too, and to be honest, it’s very hard to pick a few over others.

CY: Apart from the Cascade Writers Workshop, I didn’t participate in any events, virtual or otherwise. You, however, seemed to be everywhere at once!

AS: A lot of events were virtual, but some were in person. I was glad to attend a number of conventions, including World Fantasy (where we were up for an award for our editorial work) and being a special guest at Can*Con was a definite pleasure. I also got to teach a class for Augurcon, a lovely little virtual event put on by our friends at Augur Magazine, which I was very happy to see happen again. Oh, and everybody needs to watch Everything Everywhere All at Once. I mean . . . this movie is fantastic! It should get all the awards.

CY: I’ve heard it’s amazing. I’m way behind on movie-viewing, but the video media I enjoyed most this year was Neil Gaiman’s adaptation of his own Sandman comics from the 90’s. I started watching it again from the beginning as soon as I’d finished it! I’ll admit it’s been hard to keep up with what’s happening in genre overall this past year, but I’m loving the uptick in dark fantasy television lately. Sandman, What We Do In the Shadows, Wednesday, and Interview With the Vampire have all warmed my gothy little heart.

AS: I mean, I think for both of us, in our personal lives, 2022 was consistently very challenging. But I think in terms of Fantasy Magazine it was a truly wonderful year, filled with great fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. We have some seriously talented, brilliant contributors. In terms of genre as a whole – well, genre has its issues. But it also gets generous helpings of awesome. I’m looking forward to more cool stuff in 2023!

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In this issue’s short fiction, Erin Brown grows a little hope in “Skyscrapers That Twist to the Sun,” and “Broodmare” by Flossie Arend gives us a dark glimpse into the future; in flash fiction, Ruth Joffre turns the lens on us in “A Brief Catalog of Humans, as Observed by the Cryptids of Encante,” and “Monsters” Liz Colter peels away some uncomfortable layers; for poetry, we have “As the Witch Burns” by Marisca Pichette and “I Should Have Been A Pair of Ragged Claws” by Alice Towey. Plus an interview with Infomocracy,  . . . And Other Disasters, and The Mimicking of Known Successes author Malka Older. Enjoy!