Boxes / Nick Harkaway -- Life's a game / Charles Stross -- All the childhood you can afford / Daniel Suarez -- The lexicography of an abusive but divine relationship with the world / Ilona Gaynor -- The new us / Pepe Rojo -- It takes more muscles to frown / Ned Beauman -- Consolation / John Kessel -- Gallery / The art of Virgil Finlay -- All-natural organic microbes / Annalee Newitz -- The internet of things your mother never told you / Jo Lindsay Walton -- The design doyenne defeats the dullness / Paola Antonelli -- The ancient engineer / Bruce Sterling.