HIRAETH PUBLISHING’S
FEBRUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER
We are learning that the Universe is even larger than we had thought, and may even be infinite, a concept that eludes the imagination. Trillions of galaxies, each with billions of stars, each (probably, more or less) with half a dozen worlds in orbit. Multiply all that together and that comes to 6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bodies of planet or larger size whirling around out there. (Break, while I replace my 0 key). And only one world out of all those is inhabited by what is purported to be intelligent life? (No, don’t get me started).
So where are they all? In the January 2026 Shelter of Daylight, Richard Schell points out the Enrico Fermi equations that suggest other intelligent life is unlikely. Well, each world has in theory a Goldilocks Zone in which water is a liquid. That reduces the number of habitable planets from six septillion to a mere one septillion.
However, we have not taken into account the possibility that uninhabitable gas giant planets in the Goldilocks Zone might have habitable moons (see my short novel The Quinx Effect for one of the earliest presentations of this possibility). Further, some studies I read a couple decades ago suggest that although the atmosphere of Titan is well below freezing, there may be pockets in the atmosphere where water is a liquid. Still further, pre-organic molecules have been detected in that atmosphere. And this is in just one Solar System.
But all this postulates carbon-based life forms. Around 1935, Stanley G. Weinbaum wrote a short story titled A Martian Odyssey, in which there was intelligent (if incomprehensible) silicon-based life. Its name was Tweel, as I recall. It went around laying silicon eggs.
What about silicon-based life on Earth? Among other elements, silicon is used in Elon Musk’s household robots. How far off can Asimov’s I, Robot movie be?
THIS IS A NEWSLETTER, SO NOW WE MUST RETURN TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING…
DIGITAL STORE REMINDER
We have two digital stores, one for PDFs, the other for ePubs. This is the link to our digital store: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/digital-store Come check out our titles! We add more each month! And we are not nearly as expensive as that place run by Bezos.
SCIFAIKUEST FEBRUARY 2026 ONLINE EDITION
Edited by t.santitoro
This edition is available on our site. It is not the same as the print edition. Come read and enjoy! Here’s the link: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/scifaikuest-online
STORE SALES:
Next up, and at the risk of being somewhat repetitive, because we want our storytellers and poets to be read, and our artists to be seen:
THE NEVER-ENDING SALE!!!
BUY ALL THE BOOKS YOU WANT AND USE THIS 20% DISCOUNT CODE:
BOOK2026
THIS DISCOUNT CAN BE USED AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WISH, SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!
GO TO OUR SHOP AT WWW.HIRAETHSFFH.COM
LASTLY, BOOKS MAKE GOOD PRESENTS…
NEW RELEASES: WHAT’S NEW?
VERMILLION HIGHWAYS
Two of the finest minds in the genres have combined their resources and imaginations to come up with some of the gothiest (and, sometimes,) goofiest vampire short fiction this side of Transylvania. David Lee Summers, of Tales of the Talisman and Scarlet Order fame, and Lee Clark Zumpe, mild-mannered reporter for a daily metro-Floridian newspaper and author of the Lovecraftian anthology Whispers from the Intoxicating Abyss, take you on a journey through tales that fit everywhere between Type O positive and Type AB negative. Vermillion Highways is a must-read even if you don't care for the suckers.
Ordering links
PRINT: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/vermillion-highways-by-zumpe-summers
PDF: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/vermillion-highways-by-zumpe-summers-1
EPUB: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/vermillion-highways-by-zumpe-summers-2
SPACEPORTS & SPIDERSILK February 2026
Spaceports & Spidersilk features science fiction and fantasy for ages 9 to 99. It presents adventures on other planets and in imaginary worlds. Inside these pages you’ll find visitors from other worlds, dragons, magic, and strange friends.
Stories
A Good Man in Space by Hala Dika
Notes and Scales by Adrienne Rex
The Great Change by Hal Bryan
Donuts on the Titanic by Ashleigh Spurgeon
The Spacesuit of Many Colors by Dustin Covey
Pomegranates and Pine Needles by D. P. Aronlee
Poetry
Dragon’s Best Day Ever by Michael Flowers
Space Mouse by Brian Rosenberger
On the Next Try by Lauren McBride
The Giant’s Prescription by Pamela Love
Chicken Little’s Vindication by Lisa Timpf
Poem by Lauren McBride
Illustrations
Musical by Vonnie Winslow Crist
Mouse in Spacesuit by Ann Hoekstra
Ordering links:
PRINT: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-february-2026
PDF: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-february-2026-1
EPUB: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-february-2026-2
SCIFAIKUEST FEBRUARY 2026
Scifaikuest is a quarterly digest of minimalist poetry, such as haiku, scifaiku, tanka, cherita, fibonacci, haibun, senryu, gogyoka, saturne, and others. Also included are articles relevant to poetry and to minimalist poetry.
Featured Poet: Sasha Cantú
The Lucretia Stanhope Page
The Ramund Ro Page
Article: Dodoitsu by Lucretia Stanhope
Plus: Herb Kauderer, John J. Dunphy, Lauren McBride, Lee Strong, M. Frost, and much more!
Ordering links:
PRINT: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-february-2026
PDF: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-february-2026-1
EPUB: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-february-2026-2
ICYMI:
SHELTER OF DAYLIGHT JANUARY 2026
Shelter of Daylight features uplifting stories and poems in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. Although some may start out down, they all finish in the sunlight at the end.
January 2026
Features
Silent Cosmos by Richard E. Schell
Short Stories
Hotel Proteus by Lisa Voorhees
The Coughing Kumquat by Gene R. Stripling
Nightshade by Maureen Bowden
Joust Between Friends by Allison Tebo
The Mother Tree by Elana Gomel
All’s Wall that Ends Wall by Geoffrey Hart
The Dog-Maker’s Apprentice by Robert K. Yost
Flash Fiction
Tightening the Knot by Richard E. Schell
Poetry
One More Walk in the Stars by Matt Athanasiou
Illustrations
Autumn by Sandy DeLuca
Boneless Coda photo by Tyree Campbell
PRINT: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/shelter-of-daylight-january-2026
PDF: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/shelter-of-daylight-january-2026-1
EPUB: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/shelter-of-daylight-january-2026-2
ILLUMEN WINTER 2026
Illumen is a quarterly digest of science fiction and fantasy poetry, including traditional as well as minimalist forms such as haiku, haibun, empat perkataan, cinquains, and others, as well as more traditional formats for poetry, such as rhyming and free verse and experimental.
Winter 2026
In This Issue:
Featured Poet: Jane McCarthy
Plus:
Sharmon Gazaway
Stephanie Smith
Sandy DeLuca
Richard E. Schell
Peter Roberts
And many more!
Cover art “Maid of Justice” by Richard E. Schell
PRINT: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-winter-2026
PDF: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-winter-2026-1
EPUB: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-winter-2026-2
FLASH DIGEST JANUARY 2026
Science fiction, fantasy, ghost, romance, and spooky stories, all served up in small and easily-read portions. Thrill, chill, and don’t spill your wine or beer as you go through this potpourri of adventures. All artwork is in color in this issue.
Stories
Dreams of Mars by James C. Clar
Geode by Tyree Campbell
Between Worlds by Ikechukwu Henry
Daughters of the Accord by Richard E. Schell
Fool Me Once: A Knitting Pattern by Anna O’Brien
Dock and the Hellbender by L. D. Blevins
The Memory Dealer by Richard E. Schell
Influencer by John Leahy
Cinderella Speaks Out At Last by Lisa Timpf
Illustrations
Daughters of the Accord by Richard E. Schell
Queen Mushroom by Sandy DeLuca
PRINT: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/flash-digest-january-2026
PDF: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/flash-digest-january-2026-1
EPUB: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/flash-digest-january-2026-2
FLIGHTS & SHADOWS BY SCOTT VIRTES AND TERRIE LEIGH RELF
Dark and fantastic short fiction, poetry, and art that will take you beyond the magic and the Gothic and into worlds where you have to negotiate your way through the darkness. A bit off-beat, a bit pithy, and always entertaining, Scott Virtes and Terrie Leigh Relf have collaborated in a collection of fiction that will take you everywhere in the Universe, and shine a little light on the questions we have and the answers we seek.
Ordering Links:
PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/flights-shadows-by-scott-virtes-and-terrie-leigh-relf
PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/flights-shadows-by-scott-virtes-and-terrie-leigh-relf-1
EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/flights-shadows-by-scott-virtes-and-terrie-leigh-relf-2
ELDER THINGS EXPEDITIONS
The latest in a series of Lovecraftian anthologies, Elder Things Expeditions is Lovecraftian horror at its finest. Antarctica holds secrets too terrible to face, yet face them the members of these expeditions must. You’ll encounter Old Ones, monsters, and even Cthulhu itself. Will anyone come back alive? And if they do, will they still be human?
PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/elder-things-expeditions
PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/elder-things-expeditions-1
EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/elder-things-expeditions-2
L'ARTÉFACT MALÉFIQUE
Etienne Laurent is a Locater, he finds cursed objects for a client known only as 'The Collector'. He locates them, secures them, and ensures they are delivered to her museum of cursed objects. Each target presents its own challenges and dangers. Join the Locator as he travels the States in pursuit of the next 'l'objet malefique'.
PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/l-artefact-malefique-by-herika-r-raymer
PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/l-artefact-malefique-2
EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/l-artefact-malefique-1
THE END OF INNOCENCE
A Yoelin Thibbony Rescue
Swept up in the interstellar slave trade, Yoelin Thibbony decides to go after the hierarchs involved as well as rescue as many children as she can who have been captured and put to forced labor. Along the way, she moves step by step closer to the hierarch at the top of the trafficking chain. Her suspicions grow after she opens a camp to put slavers themselves to work, for what she learns through interrogations sickens her. But now she has to know for sure who is at the top, even though the knowledge could well ruin her life forever.
PRINT: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/the-end-of-innocence-by-tyree-campbell
PDF: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/the-end-of-innocence-by-tyree-campbell-1
EPUB: www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/the-end-of-innocence-by-tyree-campbell-2
Without further ado, then: browse, read, buy, enjoy. If you have any questions or comments, send them to us at hiraethsubs at yahoo dot com. See you in March!
Tyree Campbell
Storyteller and Managing Editor
February 2026