Editor Interview: Folded Space

a populated universe

Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Giganotosaurus, Escape Pod, Clarkesworld, Lightspeed and Otherside

I'm not sure that's a fair question. There are so many writers whose work I enjoy that I'd hesitate to choose one over another, especially since I wouldn't want to imply that only certain people write well. For me, it's less about the author and more about the story itself, how it's told, and the tone it strikes. I'm particularly drawn to perspectives that are less common, overlooked, or underrepresented.

I am a lifelong lover of science fiction. I founded Folded Space to put space, exploration, and technology at the center of the stories we publish. Not every story is set among the stars, but each explores how sentient people live, grow, and die in a universe that is vast, indifferent, and dangerous.

The challenge is that every idea we create must pass through a human mind, which means we can never fully escape ourselves. Yet the attempt is valuable. By imagining what could be, we stretch the boundaries of what we consider possible.

Many authors assume that, because we are associated with a horror podcast, the work they submit should have a similar tone. But Folded Space is not defined by horror. At its core, it is about how people and other sentient beings carve out a niche and survive in places that were never meant to be survivable. Can that be horror? Absolutely. But it can also be adventure, mystery, drama, wonder, or something else entirely.

Good question. Cover letters give me a little glimpse of the person behind the story. I'm not looking for a list of credits or a bio. I want to see the human behind the work. Sometimes a simple, "Thanks for reading my work," tells me more than a long publication history. One thing I don't love is a synopsis in the cover letter. I'd rather discover the story for myself. Like someone once said: "Just say hi. I like it when people say hi."

For audio content, the first page has an even bigger job than it does in print because listeners can't skim ahead. If the opening doesn't quickly create curiosity, emotion, tension, or a strong connection, I generally stop reading.

I read, then read some more, and then spend a little extra time reading. Afterward, I review any notes I've made, along with those from the First Reader. The highlight of my day comes when I reach the end of a story and realize I was so completely immersed that I forgot I was reading at all.

I’ll occasionally edit a story and send questions or suggestions back to the author for approval if I think the work is a good fit. Luckily, audio is forgiving, and we tend to rely more on feel and cadence than strict rules or punctuation. Because we’re a small publication, we don’t have the capacity for a lot of back and forth, so we may pass on pieces that need substantial editing.

We are currently self-funded, which provides the flexibility to develop and validate our concept. As we build credibility and publish additional work, we plan to expand our revenue through donations and crowdfunding, creating a sustainable funding stream that will enable us to move beyond the proof of concept phase. As a podcast, we also have the opportunity to generate revenue through advertising and sponsorships in the future.