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Eye to the Telescope 35, Hard Science Fiction Tropes, will be edited by David C. Kopaska-Merkel.

Hard science fiction is based on contemporary or historical science extrapolated into the future (which may also be the past). Think anything from H. G. Wells or Jules Verne to Larry Niven or C. J. Cherryh. Noteworthy hard science fiction poetry has been written by F. J. Bergmann, Ruth Berman, Geoffrey Landis, David Lunde, Ann K Schwader, and Gene Wolfe, among many others. The technology doesn't have to be the main point of the poem, but technological advances have to be integral to it. Many poems are set in technological futures, but the focus is usually on the people.

Tropes include time travel, matter transmission, alternate worlds, faster than light travel, fundamental changes in human bodies (intentional or otherwise), alien technology, and lots more. You can take a serious look at the implications of technology, especially taking fresh looks at widely used tropes such as those I just mentioned, or you can poke fun at themes from science-fiction literature that you feel have been done to death. Consider the implications of recent scientific advances, or established technology whose implications have not been properly appreciated. Or, look at the far distant future, at times when humanity or its works may be utterly different than they are now, if they exist at all. The use of vehicles such as parallel worlds to find the familiar in things that are completely different (or vice versa) also would be in keeping with the theme of this issue.

Pieces submitted can be of any tone, length, or poetic form, but please keep in mind this is a speculative poetry journal, so submissions are expected to be identifiable as works of science fiction, or an affiliated genre of speculative fiction. Translations are also welcome, and should be submitted in English as well as in the original language. Reprints will be considered if they appeared long ago or someplace obscure.

If your poetry pays homage to the work of a particular author or scientist, and you want this to be known, include the relevant information in your cover letter. Should your poem be selected for inclusion, the background info you've provided will be included in the introduction to the issue.

I’m really looking forward to reading your work!

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