Sean McMullen delivers an entertaining classic “problem in space” type of story with the added complication of communication delays from long distances. With some sprinkles of media critique on top.

Asimovs November December 2025

Follows a mission to a mysterious asteroid around the Lagrange point of Mars where odd readings have been spotted. Apparently some laws of physics doesn’t seem to apply there and there is a suspicion that it might involve ancient alien tech.

The story follows a second in command engineer onboard this mission and of course strange things happens, but the story is written in a way that makes the events be both terrifying and a little funny. As what makes this story stand out from the usual strange events from ancient alien tech type of stories, is how everything about the mission is catered to a near future social media reality. At times a little over the top with its rather stereotyped depiction of the influencer media landscape, which given the readership of this magazine will be just preaching to the converted.

It is far from McMullen’s best, but I was engrossed enough to read the story in one sitting - which doesn’t happen often for me these days.

Read in Asimov’s November/December 2025
Rating: 3+