Utopia Science Fiction Magazine, Vol. VII, June 2026

“Don’t Fear the Blood Moon” by Elese Mathis

“The Third Law of Infinity Travel” by Sam W. Piscotta

“Pistachio Ice Cream Dreams” by Katherine Garrison

“Pomegranates for Kangaroos” by Ramez Yoakeim

“Living in the Past” by Glen Engel-Cox

Reviewed by Chuck Rothman

Utopia SF starts out with “Don’t Fear the Blood Moon” by Elese Mathis. Jafari lives in what seems to be a primitive society, where everyone fears the eye that appears in the sky, knowing that looking into its full gaze leads to disaster. She begins to suspect that the eye isn’t what the legends say and goes to challenge them. The result is a surprising twist that reveals the real situation. I think that idea is certainly a clever one, but the ending is a minor disappointment.

Sam W. Piscotta contributes the flash fiction story “The Third Law of Infinity Travel” where Devon tries to use time travel to try to save his lover Sesha, but there are issues with various laws of time travel to prevent it. Interesting idea, but I found the ending unconvincing.

“Pistachio Ice Cream Dreams” by Katherine Garrison is set on a colony world beneath a dome, probably on Mars, where, in order to survive, there is no place for foods that are hard to grow. The main character is a young girl who is enchanted by tales of the various Earth foods they cannot provide. Evocative, but not much more.

Ramez Yoakeim contributes another food-themed story in “Pomegranates for Kangaroos.” Nesma and Nady are twin siblings, children living with their grandmother in a world where climate change has taken a big toll. The only jobs are from a fortress-like company, which is ruthless, even up to killing people who steal fruit from trees outside their compound. Nesma and Nady come up with a plan to get some pomegranates. It turns out to be a charming story about sibling love and support.

“Past” by Glen Engel-Cox is a more cheerful version of a similar theme of family. Guo Sat is an elderly fisherman who uses the traditional Chinese fishing method using Yusheng, a cormorant, to catch fish. These days, fish are few, so he makes his living by showing the technique to tourists. When Yusheng finds a small statue, it starts to help him reconnect with his past. A story with a lot of heart and emotional power.

Chuck Rothman’s novel The Cadaver Princess is out from Amazing Stories Selects. He’s online at chuckrothman.com.