“A hypertext of original narratives and home of the translated from around the globe, Mithila Review is an inquiry into the process of translating and the craft of storytelling.”
I wrote that description as a vision statement for Mithila Review last January, and it has taken us a year to finally begin to explore spectacular worlds in translation. The focus of this issue isn’t different from our previous six issues: we remain committed to publishing speculative fiction from underrepresented countries and marginal groups in the Anglophone world. In doing so, we hope to present to our readers around the world, the genre in its most vibrant form.
Patrons
After our special issue devoted to “Asian SF” in 2016, Mithila Review turned into a paying quarterly publication. This is our first issue where some of our contributors are getting paid. Please note I said “some” not all as we are still short on funding: http://patreon.com/mithilareview.
Starting this year (until we launch a bigger crowd-funding campaign), we want to pay $10 for original poetry, essays, flash stories (under 2.5K words) and reprints; $50 for original stories between 4-8K words or longer. Please subscribe or donate to support Mithila Review and our contributors if you have enjoyed reading what we have published so far.
We can’t pay our contributors without your critical boost and patronage. You can find ways to support us here: https://mithilareview.com/patrons/
Volunteers
Hundreds of hours goes into planning and soliciting work, reading slush, editing and preparing each issue of Mithila Review for publication. I can devote these hours and concentrated effort to the magazine as I currently work as a freelance creative director. I’m now considering opening Mithila Review to more amazing and talented first readers, copyeditors, illustrators, and digital/social media marketers to share the editorial workload and bring their creative minds to the team!
As I am returning to full-time career mode soon, this is an immediate requirement for us. Please do share the news with fellow science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts, students and creative writing friends who might be willing to contribute and shape World SF. Those interested, please fill this short form with the necessary details including a paragraph about how you would like to contribute to Mithila Review. Let us know how serious you are about dedicating a few hours every month to our literary project. Come, let’s create wonder; spread joy! (Please note all positions are voluntary.)
New Year’s Resolutions
This year, do not let cynicism and hatred win; do not let our differences destroy us. Support writers of science fiction and fantasy to imagine better futures for us all in multiple tongues of the world; read and write prolifically; find audacity and inspiration to engage and help change the world. The future is what we make of it — Mithila Review is a small but beautiful example of what we can accomplish together.
An international magazine devoted to speculative arts and culture like Mithila Review can’t exist without the love and support of its readers and contributors. Please help us continue to grow as an open and diverse platform that brings great ideas and stories to people who really need them across the world.
I sincerely hope that the new year brings you the necessary strength and opportunity to pursue your long-held dreams and ambition.
— Salik Shah
Founding Editor, Mithila Review
Email: editor[@]mithilareview.com
