Cover for The Deadlands Issue 42, Spring 2026. The image shows a pale figure with curled arms and hands laying upon a graying forest floor. A yellow lichen creeps across their hands and face, obscuring their eyes.
COVER
Do Forests Dream of Plasmodial Creep
art by @dorywhynot.bsky.social
FICTION
In This Corner of the World by @aeweisgerber.bsky.social
The Dog by Phoenix Mendoza
Lurid Parts by @aquaticteal.bsky.social
What the Trees Took Back by Marvin Garbeh Davis, Sr.
NOVELETTE
The City in White by @dianadima.com
DOOOOO
IIIIIITTTTTTTT
💀🖤
Hi Chelsea! Happy 4th xo
I said to my husband, I think she out-Anned Anne!!! Love her!
I've never had the pleasure of visiting Iowa, but one of my stories, "Summer Baby" has! In all its glory, as performed by Ashley Schaeffer during 2025's Des Moines Art Festival! Thanks @alkratz.bsky.social! <3 Originally published in @smokelong.bsky.social ... <3 www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mWS...
I felt overdue to write a review, and this chapbook by Christopher Nelson, part of the latest New Michigan Press / @eldiagram.bsky.social series, kept me thinking and talking. You might like it, too. wp.me/p4PD79-2qI
thanks both for the read and consideration! It's a personal challenge to step up and write for this competition and I am proud of all of us who took the call and did our level best! <3
Thanks for the read and consideration! Your commentary is a highlight of the competition every year :^)
That moment was so well detailed. It was a terrific essay.
Good idea from #BeckyLTuch #litmagnews regarding editorial statement of a clear & formal retraction policy: "We seek to publish a range of views, some of which may at times be controversial. We will never remove work from publication. We welcome rejoinders and thoughtful response essays." 💡
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Please vote for "Weapon of Choice" by Fatboy Slim!!! Thank you so much I love this song and film <3 Anne. Vote here: marchxness.com/2ndrd-nellyv...
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Coming up on 14 March via @marchxness.bsky.social I would love y'all to vote for what you love -- music, artist, essay, or any combo of such. xo - A
I have so many favorites and I'm still not through the round one 64!!!! One that stands out bigtime b/c it had such an unexpected approach to the song was
@ashleynaftule.bsky.social 's essay on The Avalanches. One of those where I said 'I wish I'd written that!!!
That was a hard loss in my bracket, for sure ☠️
Big vote on *Thursday 3/14* for my essay on *Fatboy Slim* and *Bootsy Collins* amazing song and video, "Weapon of Choice." Directed by *Spike Jonze* and starring
*Christopher Walken!* Voting link live on 3/14. follow me and
@marchxness.bsky.social so you don't miss the chance to drop ur ballot!
This is a march-madness style voting bracket for March Danceness, an essay contest where essayists write about dance hits from 2000-2009, and readers can vote on the essay/song/video or any combination. This bracket shows FATBOY SLIM's "WEAPON OF CHOICE" winning the contest.
Meanwhile, back at my @marchxness.bsky.social
bracket... stayin' alive but failin' to thrive Good luck in round 2 everybody!!! Vote without rhythm? then you'll never learn!!! #fatboyslim #marchdanceness
Great essay. Song and video are still full of magic. So original.
This @kjmoulton.bsky.social essay = stately procession through fantastic dance joy of #hotinherre by Nelly. "He proved that if you mix a little bit of (ah, ah) unabashed particularity with a little bit of (ah, ah) joyful dexterity, you can pack the dancefloor ..." <3 Still time to vote!
A pinkies-up top A+ author photo! @angermonsoon.bsky.social explores Le Tigre + current climate in @marchxness.bsky.social as round 1 concludes. Quoth he: "The real question, the only question for me in this tournament: How can I transform my anger into joy?How do others do this?" Still time 2 vote!
This Robert Puccinelli essay on OutKast's work is a stroll filled with landmarks of beauty + intellect. RP is an amiable eyewitness to HEY YA's debut. Spun up with Kate Bush, Buzzcocks, Knuckles, and a spyglass full of yes. A joy to read. Great song pairing by the #marchdanceness committee!
Love this #marchxness @sejalshahwrites.bsky.social
essay on 1 Thing by Ameriie: "And yet, there is something about the thinginess of a thing. What’s your thing? What’s mine?" Evokes James Brown and Bootsy Collins. Find. Your. One. Great song/vid/essay combo! marchxness.com/1strd-outkas...
It's been a challenge keeping up w/the torrent of essay magnificence pouring out of @marchxness.bsky.social
these first 8 days of the month. 64 topflight essays in barely over a week. I forgot there's even basketball happening. Hope to read what I missed this weekend. <3 marchxness.com
Happy March Xness, everyone! I have an essay on LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem & apocalypse nostalgia. I would really appreciate your vote--the longer I stay in the game, the more eyes I get on the essay. Everybody just have a good time.
marchxness.com/thegames#/1s...
the best part about dune is that fatboy slim music video
Perma-fave xness essayist, Raquel Gutiérrez, burns it down for Hercules & Love Affair: "You were competing with graduates from the Ivy League and loving language wasn’t enough to power you through anymore. Foucault. Derrida. Weber. Butler. This shit was hard, man. You thought you could handle hard."
I'm finding this site to be like going shopping for a few essentials at a new supermarket and I, well, I hate the superlong user names. I'm a big baby whatever. I'll keep trying not to be. Good luck with that, Anne.
marchxness day 2 round 1 final scores! Voting in live for day 3!