In winter 2022 we embarked on an ambitious idea–a magazine of South Asian Speculative Fiction. Each of us, in some way, had dreamt of this for a very long time and we couldn’t believe we had the chance to make it a reality. We were willing to do whatever it takes.
So with the building music and unwavering hope of the fellowship in Elrond’s council, we set out. And for a while, it all seemed magical. The stories that poured in, that YOU wrote, blew us away. The art we discovered by South Asian artists excited us. We couldn’t wait for the world to see it. But we eventually reached our Mines of Moria. At the end of 2023, we heard it. Doom. Doom. Doom. Life was catching up in a volley of shrieks and a roar that turned the hallway behind us red. And so, reluctantly, fearfully, we closed the book on Tasavvur. We’ll be back, we said. But the truth was, we didn’t know if we would.
In a landscape where so many wonderful magazines come and go–and it is tragic to see them go, knowing you will never read the words curated by those wonderful editors again, hoping that the writers who turned to that magazine find new homes for stories that need to be told–it takes a lot to keep a small venture like Tasavuur going.
In the end, it is all about the crew that keeps things running behind the scenes. I feel very lucky that Tasavvur is backed by a team of people who are not only committed to this cause but who I also look up to and am proud to be friends with. So, I want to dedicate this editorial to them.
To Tehseen, our Aragorn, unwavering and fearless, without whom the magazine would never have gotten back on its feet. To Amal, our Legolas, whose incisive skill, and keen eye are an unbelievable asset. To Mehak, Gimli, reliable and blunt, who will tell it like it is, making her the editorial voice we need. And to Mushba, our Samwise Gamgee, our beating heart, who is there for each of us and for every random thing the magazine needs, making sure we don’t falter. And YOU. You are our Ring Bearers, carrying forth incredible stories. I’m so glad our fellowship survived and Tasavvur lives on.
This issue was curated last year, and then put on hold, and I’m so incredibly excited for you all to read it and view the amazing art. Here’s a little rundown on what you can expect when you turn the page: You’ll see some mind-bending cover art from the talented Emil Hasnain. And then you’ll dive into a world where humans are leashed by tradition, but the wild ones are frightening and free. In that world a father bears and loses a son, taking you through the turns of parental anguish that are universal. You’ll meander through the streets of Samudhrapura as a silent monk who carries the ink stains of stories on his palms. You’ll travel across the stars as an immigrant whose family is falling apart before they can reach their destination. And finally, you’ll hear a voice inside your head, a voice that sees time backwards and forwards, that wants to tell you your own tale.
I hope you guys enjoy reading this issue because we certainly enjoyed putting it together for you!