Rich Larson returns to Analog with his latest short story, “Linka’s Out,” in our [January/February issue, on sale now!]. Learn more about Rich’s writing process, his history with our magazine, as well as as his calisthenic prowess in this enlightening interview
AE: What is the story behind this piece? Is it part of a greater universe of stories?
RL: This story is a prequel to my 2022 novel Ymir. It’s rare for me to double dip in a universe, but I liked the titular ice world quite a bit, and wanted to do a little more with two of the book’s best side characters, Nocti and Linka. It was also an opportunity to showcase a cool location (Chlora’s workshop) that got cut from Ymir.
Originally I hoped “Linka’s Out” would drop around the same time as the novel, but I got stuck and didn’t finish it until late 2024—after which it took a few months to land with Analog. If you’re at all intrigued by the story’s setting and characters, I highly recommend you pick up Ymir. It’s a very good, difficult book that didn’t get much marketing.
AE: What is your history with Analog?
RL: We go back about a decade, and they’ve published some of my best. That includes Instagram satire “Razzibot,” reprinted in my debut collection Tomorrow Factory, terraforming pirate story “Lowlife Orbit,” reprinted in my illustrated flash collection The Sky Didn’t Load Today, and bayou revenge thriller “The Old Man,” reprinted in my brand new collection Changelog.
The magazine also published my lone Spanish-to-English translation, “Render Unto Caesar” (Dad al césar) by the excellent Eduardo Vaquerizo. They take swings! And Trevor Quachri has great instincts as an editor.
AE: How much or little do current events impact your writing?
RL: I think it’s inevitable these days, as things seem to be spiralling toward cataclysm. It’s rare for me to write a story in direct response to real-world events, but real-world events often seep through as mood or theme. “Linka’s Out” has a lot of devastation, but also defiance.
AE: What is your process? What are you currently working on?
RL: I continually plunge myself into a slippery pit of partially finished projects, then try to claw my way out. Right now I have eight stories on the go, including an asteroid coup, a cruise ship horror, and a science-fiction version of my friend’s uncle’s favorite spaghetti Western. I would love to finish five of the eight by the end of this (2025) calendar year.
AE: What are you reading right now?
RL: I picked up a speculative evolution book from the BAnQ recently: Demain, les animaux du futur by Marc Boulay and Jean-Sébastien Steyer. The cool artwork is a great lure to get me through the occasionally challenging French. Before that, I read a couple English poetry chapbooks from a local press.
But to be honest, I watch a lot more than I read. The last show that knocked my socks off was Andor; and now I’m alternating I May Destroy You with the latest Bob’s Burgers, which has been my comfort watch for the past six years or so.
AE: What is something we should know about you that we haven’t thought to ask?
RL: Ask me if I can do a handstand.
AE: Can you do a handstand?
RL: Sometimes! My record is eleven seconds, but there’s a ton of variance.
AE: What careers have you had and how do they affect your writing?
RL: This is the only career I’ve ever had. I was studying to be a translator (thus the Eduardo Vaquerizo story), but my first book deal interrupted that and I’ve been writing fiction full-time ever since through a combination of luck, skill, and prolificity. Finances have been getting tighter in the past couple years; we’ll see what happens.
AE: How can our readers follow you and your writing?
RL: My Instagram is @richlarsonwrites, and you can find links to all my online publications at richwlarson.tumblr.com. If you want monthly updates / author commentaries / sneak peeks, and to slightly loosen my tightening finances, try patreon.com/richlarson.
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