Taking Submissions: Strange Religion

by · Published · Updated

Deadline: May 31st, 2021 (Original call had windows that has been modified to this date)
Payment:CAD 2c/word for originals; 50% rate for reprints
Theme: Speculative Fiction of Spirituality, Belief, and Practice
Note: Reprints welcome

As a special way to accommodate people developing stories for Strange Wars or Strange Religion, authors have the option of requesting to make late submissions. This is intended for authors who expect not to be able to finish writing and polishing their submission before the close of our submission window. If you think you will need any additional time, you can request to make a late submission here.

Strange Religion: Speculative Fiction of Spirituality, Belief, and Practice

Strange Religion thoughtfully and respectfully explores religious traditions and ideas through speculative fiction.  These are stories about the rituals, theology, and spirituality of aliens, AI, and the denizens of fantastic worlds depicted by scripture and religious folklore.

How do Muslims on other planets pray and perform the hajj? How would AI worship or read scripture? How would interreligious dialogue change if shamanic magic turned out to be real? What would the Bible be like if it were written by elves? How would the Buddha get by today? Suppose the remains of Krishna were found—what then? What if prophets didn’t only see the future but were from the future?

These stories depict religion with the complexity it has in the real world, where gods aren’t just plot devices to create political tension or to give characters magical powers. They delve into the struggles of adherents of tomorrow’s religions and religions that might have been.

Strange Religion fills a lacuna in the field of speculative short fiction, which often does not treat religion with sufficient depth and thoughtfulness. These stories reconsider theological topics—incarnation, reincarnation, revelation, miracles, and the like—through the lens of science fiction and fantasy.  They put religion in dialogue with other human activities, including science, philosophy, and art.  With nuance, they engage religious themes and ideas through thoughtful and engaging narratives.

Details:

  • Pay: CAD 2c/word for originals; 50% rate for reprints

  • Rights sought: worldwide print and digital rights, exclusive for a period of 3 months for originals, and non-exclusive for reprints

  • Reprints allowed: yes, reprints are allowed, and paid at half the rate of originals

  • Multiple submissions allowed: no, only one submission is allowed

  • Simultaneous submissions allowed: yes, just please let us know promptly if it is accepted elsewhere

  • Length: up to 7500 words

  • first submission window: March 21st to March 28th

  • second submission window: May 15th to May 22nd

Submit with our submission form here

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