August 2026 Newsblotter
Aliens visit Salt Lake City, Sanderson comments on why Mormons write SF, and more!
As part of Further Light’s mission to gather together a community who is interested in the conversation about LDS speculative fiction, we publish a free monthly-ish roundup of news, events, and interesting publications. If we missed something that you think should be included, please drop us a note!
Further Light News
Issue 2 is now officially submitted to our printer, so print copies should be available very soon. If you are a paid subscriber, please update your address so you don’t miss your copy! We’ll be sending out issues to our subscribers in 17 states and 3 countries as soon as they hit our hands. Links to purchase copies at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.com, and other retailers will be added to our Purchase Past Issues page as soon as they become available.
And that means we’re beginning to read submissions for issue 3! If you want to be a part of this crazy mission we’re on, send something in by August 31st. We’ve already surpassed the number of submissions we received for our first issue, and we’re excited to see what gems we find.
Interesting Publications
Congratulations to all the winners of last month’s Mormon Lit Blitz!
Are you watching the new season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? We enjoyed this essay from Critical Star Trek Studies about whether Captain Pike’s decision in the first episode is justifiable, tying in the discussion about xenia and Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey.
The summer issue of Dialogue features a short story about aliens landing in Salt Lake City: “Narrow is the Gate” by Danny Nelson. You’ll never guess what questions they have for the prophet. Also check out this interview with the author on the Dialogue podcast.
In a recent interview, Brandon Sanderson answers the “Why so many Mormon SFF writers” question with several interesting ideas. We’d love to hear your take: why do you write or read speculative fiction?
Steven Peck was recently interviewed on the BBC’s Sunday program (timestamp 10:00) in connection with his speculative theological novel A Short Stay in Hell being re-released as part of the Vintage Classics series at Penguin Random House. If you loved Short Stay, make sure to check out Peck’s story “Emergence” in issue 2 of Further Light.
If you’re a fan of civilization-spanning strategy games like Age of Empires, check out the new video game Missouri 1838 by the BH Roberts Foundation.
And finally, a report on what Latter-day Saint reading culture is like outside of North America from the author of “A Letter from Captain Robert Walton.”
Read something great that we should know about? Send links to editor@furtherlightmag.com with the subject line “Interesting Publications.”
Community Events
BYU ed week, show our panel and the Tolkien panel
August 17–21 - BYU Education Week - While we’re sure all the classes will be fantastic, we want to highlight two classes of special interest to our readers. At 3:10 pm, there will be a series on “Science Fiction and Theology” with discussions about aliens, AI, Narnia, and portrayals of Latter-day Saints in science fiction. And at 7:10 pm, a class on how Tolkien’s mythology can teach us about our journey with Christ.
Oct 15-17 - LDSPMA Conference - LDSPMA is a hub for LDS professionals in publishing, media, and the arts. Their annual conference is a great place to learn about writing, art, social media, and film from a gospel perspective. Special guests this year include Heidi Jo Gilbert, DreamWorks Co-Director & Head of Story, and Steve Schank, chair of the Church’s new global hymnbook committees. Can’t afford a ticket? Volunteer for the conference to attend for free. Message Devan Jensen on Facebook for details.
Got an event we missed? Send information to editor@furtherlightmag.com with the subject line “Community Events.”
Submissions & Deadlines
August 31 - Submit to Further Light issue 3 - Submissions continue to roll in! We are always in need of more poetry that includes fantastical elements and isn’t preachy. And we would particularly love to receive nonfiction essays discussing Harry Potter, Dune Messiah, and The Magician’s Nephew, which all have major new adaptations coming up. Another subject we’d love to see examined is Latter-day Saint speculative fiction that involves the Salt Lake Temple, like Orson Scott Card’s classic short story “Salvage” or Mette Ivie Harrison’s Vampires in the Temple.
Aug 31 - Wow readers with your first 1000 words - Utah literacy conference StoryCon is hosting a first 1000 words contest. Entry fee is $29, but all entries get a critique by a professional writer. Age brackets for teens age 13-15, teens age 16-19, and adults 20 and up.
Sept 21 - Apply to be on panels at LTUE - If you are a creative of any type, apply to be on panels at the Provo science fiction and fantasy writers convention. All you have to do is fill out your profile and apply to topics that sound interesting. Don’t miss this deadline to be part of a hub for LDS speculative writers!
October 1 - Send in a paper to LTUE - Got something clever to say about your favorite science fiction or fantasy property? Submit an essay to LTUE’s academic track to share your thoughts with everyone (and get free conference admission and snacks in the green room—seriously, those mini eclairs are worth it).
October 1 - Enter the Wilford Woodruff Papers Arts Contest - Create something based on the legacy of Wilford Woodruff. Categories available for both literary and visual arts. Six $1000 prizes available.
Got an opportunity we missed? Send information to editor@furtherlightmag.com with the subject line “Submissions & Deadlines.”
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I'd add that the new issue of Irreantum is entirely speculative but some are more sf/f than others, including a three-parter on an art instillation in Zion during the Millennium: https://irreantum.associationmormonletters.org/phony