The Heartbeat of the Universe

“The Heartbeat of the Universe gathers poems into a story of the world, past, present, and future, as seen through sound and rhythm, wonder and science. It is a collection that spins and weaves—using both experimental and formal structure—a core connectivity: that we are all, each of us, in every moment, speculative and liminal, and the poetry that recognizes this is truly special. My heartfelt congratulations to the authors and editors of this magnificent book.”

—Fran Wilde, Nebula-winning author and occasional battle-poet

"When I first started reading science fiction as a teenager, I always loved discovering the occasional poem tucked in among the short stories and novelettes in the Year's Best collections, and I was so happy when ANALOG and ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE carried on the tradition of including poetry in their definition of what science fiction could be. And now this! It's a true delight to see so many wonderful poems in one place! And such an infinite variety! There are poems here exploring virtually everything you can think of:--aliens, ants, quantum entanglement, grocery stores, 1950s sci-fi movies, math, music, Marie Curie, the National History Museum, messages from (and to) the dead, and poetry itself--and ranging from the elegaic to the soaring, the nostalgic to the futuristic, the harsh to the contemplative. A truly galactic collection of science fiction's best poems and poets!"

—Connie Willis

"This collection constitutes an important step in keeping our appreciation of speculative poetry alive and well, with a remarkable sampling of the diverse voices and approaches poets featured in Analog and Asimov's over the past decade. In an age when so many challenge the role of poetry in science fiction and fantasy, the editors have taken great care to remind us of how much has been achieved, and how more is yet possible. A commendable achievement, and I look forward to returning to this collection in the years ahead."

—Bryan Thao Worra, former SFPA President (2016-2022) 

Marketing Plan (optional) Editor Biography:

Emily Hockaday is the senior managing editor for Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine and Analog Science Fiction and Fact. With Jackie Sherbow, she coedited the horror anthology Terror at the Crossroads. She is the author of the poetry collections In a Body (Harbor Editions 2023) and Naming the Ghost (Cornerstone Press 2022), along with six chapbooks. She can be found online at www.emilyhockaday.com.

About the Cover Designer:

Joy Brienza lives in a small shoreline town in Connecticut with her family. The cover designer of the anthology, Terror of the Crossroads: Tales of Horror, Delusion and the Unknown, Joy has been at her current job for 11 years as Manager of Design, Websites, and Digital Publishing for Penny Publications, publisher of Dell Magazines and Penny Press books and magazines. Her other creative work also includes designing print, digital, and social media ads, and websites for Asimov’s Science Fiction and Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazines, among many other sites. As an artist, Joy has worked in all types of mediums, but especially loves oil painting. In her free time she enjoys spending time at the beach with family and friends.