Message from the Editors Here at Electric Spec, we're almost as excited about summer as we are for our new issue. Check it out and you'll see why. In "Girl with the Crooked Spine" by Jason Sturner we have an unusual fantasy about a unique girl and a misfit boy who meet in the Field Museum in Chicago. Let's just say: adventures ensue. In "A Learned Man" by Melinda Brasher we have another unique fantasy. This one is inspired by "La Leyenda de Bolsa Salgado," an El Salvadorian folktale. Is he, in fact, a learned man? We'll let you read it and decide for yourself. Also not to be missed is "Khuminay and the Axe-Wielding Psycho" by Barton Paul Levenson. As you might have guessed from the title, there's a creature named Khuminay and there's at least one murder via an axe. Just that little bit sounds dramatic, doesn't it? :) It is dramatic. In Mark Webb's "Showdown" an older Australian woman discovers her helpful neighbors are even more helpful and unusual than she suspected. When some other folks object to these neighbors, the woman helps them out and a showdown ensues. Is that sufficiently cryptic for you? :) Well,we can't give the story away! Trust us: you'll want to read it! Finally, in "Between the Covers" by Kathryn Yelinek we have a story that takes place partly on Earth and partly on another very interesting world. The challenge here: what do you do if your memories of yourself aren't reliable? Again, you'll want to read it to find out what we're talking about! Speaking of memories, Editor David E. Hughes has a story about what happens when memories fade--the result is worse that you might think but makes a great story. We also have some excellent special features in this issue, including a 'Spec Fic in Flicks' column by our own Marty Mapes. He reviews another movie that lots of us probably missed but need to add our list. Finally, check out our interview with Brian McClellan. McClellan writes epic fantasy, specifically, The Powder Mage Trilogy. The first book was Promise of Blood.