The Gods Issue

No. 23, spring 2025

The 23rd issue of F(r)iction sets its sights on Mount Olympus, Asgard, Jannah, Heaven, Hell, places of worship, and the majestic environs of the night sky, dazzling you with a pantheon of terrific tales and powerful poetry. Our writers question, define, confront, and defy our ideas of higher powers, mythological figures, forces that move mountains, and icons of faith, while exploring infinite power and influence alongside the kinds of heroes and heroics that we canonize and memorialize.

In these pages, K-Ming Chang teaches us about forgotten gods, what they represented and where they’ve gone. You’ll join a literal goddess on a series of bad dates and witness a worker who helps the dead resolve their last business on Earth. We’ve got a story of a man of faith confronting death and questioning God, and even some heartfelt creative nonfiction about accepting one’s imperfections in the face of godly perfection. Plus, our Gods issue features a can’t-miss comic by Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Immortal X-Men, and Once & Future), an Interview with Lev Grossman (The Magicians, The Bright Sword), a Community Feature with Stain’d Arts, and a very special comic from a justice-impacted student in our Frames Comic Education Program!

The Gods issue takes many shapes and forms (perhaps a bull or maybe a swan?) and explores our relationships to God, gods, godliness, and faith through unique, strange, and oft-underrepresented lenses. Join us to confront the infinite, in spirit or in space…

Please Note: 

  • We may split large print orders into multiple packages. We are not responsible for any import tax you may be charged to receive your order.
  • All print orders also include access to a Digital Download of the issue.
  • Digital Downloads will be made available as a PDF file upon the issue’s release (Spring 2025) via an email with a downloadable link—so please ensure you enter your email address correctly. Once available you will have 30 days to download the file.

All proceeds support our nonprofit mission to change lives through the power of storytelling! For more information about our parent nonprofit, please visit BrinkLit.org.

In this issue: