Suffering the Other (anthology)

A new benefit anthology of dark weird fiction based on the concept of othering -- the process of perceiving or portraying someone or something as fundamentally different or alien, often leading to discrimination and persecution. Othering and dehumanization have long been tools of oppressors, but I don’t recall seeing these tactics so openly embraced, and with such zeal and gusto, here in my lifetime.

While all marginalized groups are under increased attack, two communities seem to have been singled out for especially harsh treatment -- all migrants regardless of legal status, and transgender folks. As such, this book will be a benefit for two organizations doing boots-on-the-ground work: Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), and Transgender Law Center. All proceeds after production costs will be split between these two crucial orgs. Folks involved are taking small token payments for their work so we can raise as much money as possible.

SUFFERING THE OTHER features an excellent line-up of 16 original stories and 8 reprints (indicated with **):

Kurt Fawver - The KnowQuest AI Chatbot Answers All Your Questions About Britemol C
A. J. Sharpe - Sore Thumb
Marigold Rowell - Salt Blossoms
A.C. Wise - Sea Wives
Cheyenne Shaffer - Ursula the Powerful **
Bitter Karella - The Divine Feminine
Clint Smith - January Sick
David Peak - Crawling Out of Black Sun
Erica Ruppert - Nor Stone, Nor Earth, Nor Boundless Sea
Gwendolyn Kiste - My Sister, The Abyss
Matthew Cheney - Queer Horror, and Other Stories
Jeffrey Thomas - Song of the Loved
J. J. Steinfeld - The Suicide Inspector **
Alexander Hay - LEAD **
Pamela Weis - An Abomination
Jonathan Lees - To Those That Have Lost Hope
Laura Mauro - Ptichka
Bogi Takács - A Technical Term, Like Privilege **
Lee Thomas - Kisses from the Pain Chamber
Lisa Cai - The Eighth Cigarette **
Robin Rose Graves - Her True Face
Nadia Bulkin - Infested **
Wen Wen Yang - Ghost Festival in the Desert **
Jennifer DeLeskie - You Shall Love Your Crooked Neighbor with Your Crooked Heart

Lead editor: Justin Steele (Looming Low Volumes I and II, The Children of Old Leech, Strange Aeons)
Co-editor: Sam Cowan
Cover art and design by RewX

380 pages

There will be a limited, numbered paperback edition available here (printed on cream paper, comes with cover art sticker), and a mass-market paperback edition available through Bookshop.org and most other online booksellers. An e-book edition will also be forthcoming soon after print publication

Pre-orders will open sometime in December or January, with the book expected to ship in February 2026.