Captain's Log: May 2026
The story so far, and what's next on the voyage.
What’s been happening in the last few months, and plans for what’s next — including an exciting new sci-fi anthology!
Welcome to this edition of the Captain’s Log!
If you’ve recently come aboard, welcome! Most of the emails you get from me (usually a couple of times a month) will be original sci-fi, fantasy or other speculative fiction. But every so often I send a housekeeping post like this one, to update readers on what’s been happening and what’s coming up next.
Future Britains
A couple of months ago, fellow sci-fi writer Martin Grace put out a call for contributions to a new sci-fi anthology by writers from across the UK. And then he challenged me to write my story in Gaelic. How could I refuse? This is going to be something unique: an indie publication featuring twenty-four up-and-coming writers from all over the country, all writing stories of a near-future Britain and through that commenting on the issues we face today. And to my knowledge it’s the only sci-fi short story anthology to include Gaelic and Welsh as well as English.
My story, Agus Buailidh Iad An Claidheamhan Gu Coltairean (And They Shall Beat Their Swords Into Ploughshares), is the main writing project I’ve been working on the last few weeks. If you don’t read Gaelic, fear not! An English translation will be included as an integral part of the story.
Future Britains is now available for pre-orders through a Crowdfunder, which will hopefully allow us to hire a professional cover designer and editing support. There are some great perks for pre-orders, like getting your name in the Acknowledgments, or getting a copy signed by your favourite contributor — check out Martin’s post below for more information, including the list of contributors, or head straight to the Crowdfunder page!
Best of British Science Fiction 2025
It was a huge thrill to see my short story Dark Matter included in the Best of British Science Fiction 2025 anthology, published last month by NewCon Press. The anthology is now available to buy from their online store and from all good booksellers.
In case you missed it
The wind and frost of the Chu River trim the wings of mandarin ducks is a standalone sci-fi short story perfect for fans of Hugh Howey, Chinese poetry or gingko trees:
Élite (standalone sci-fi short story) asks what makes art highbrow or lowbrow:
In The Glacier (standalone sci-fi short story; flash fiction), a team of engineers has to work out what’s going wrong with their colony’s water supply:
And in Pilgrimage (standalone sci-fi short story; flash fiction) a seeker on a strange planet has to confront herself:
These last two were both inspired by prompts from Scoot’s Flash Fiction Friday - thanks Scoot!
And finally, it was an honour to be included in SUM FLUX again for their Math issue. My piece for this, The Maclaurin Series, is an imagining of 17th-century Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin and a questioning of what it means to know someone. I’m really proud of how it came out. Read it here, and click through to read the other pieces on the theme too!
What’s next?
I’m still easing back into writing after family bereavement but am working on a new sci-fi short story inspired by sowing seeds in the garden this spring, and have an idea for a new Peatpunk story waiting in the wings!
Behind the scenes, I’m also (slowly) working on my Gaelic sci-fi novella and (very slowly) trying to edit Destination Europa. Watch this space!
Thank you for reading! With so many demands on everyone’s time and attention, and so much great writing out there, I don’t take it for granted and I appreciate each one of you! 💙
Gratefully,
Caitriana
So many fun things happening behind the scenes! Watching the space carefully, for sure 👀
Such exciting compilations, Caitriana! And I'm eager to learn what on earth "peatpunk" is. :-)