EDITORS' NOTE | Volume 4

May 24th, 2025.

I’d describe the fourth volume of Ark Review as clever. It is abundant with adept writing, but what stands out most is how it expresses human emotion: through relatable stories about our relationship with the world. Within these stories there is selfishness and destruction—a darkness that covers the sky—yet hope, resistance, wonder, and love still shine through. I hope that they inspire you with a bold passion for our planet.

- Sean

The fourth volume of Ark Review highlights many environmental issues and topics. One piece that really spoke out to me was The Next Morning, No Earth by Karen Walker. In this refreshingly-written story, people's lack care or empathy for our planet leads to Earth’s literal disappearance. We cannot let Earth end due to our ignorance, and we need to take care of it so Earth isn’t "last seen" as destroyed and dying. In the past 50 years vertebrate wildlife populations have decreased 73% (World Wildlife Fund). Earth is supposed to be full of life and it’s our job to fight for that life. All of Ark Review highlights the importance of our planet and why we should care.

- Gianna

It might be easier to answer "What is not new?"—Volume 4 presents our first featured art piece, designs from our second graphics editor, and a new wave of absurdist fiction. In the world, the volume witnesses a global climate summit in Vienna, tornado outbreaks in the US, La Niña in the Pacific, and a wildfire season on the horizon.

But to answer the question, what's not new is a set of voices so bold & sharp & encompassing that it forms an ark: something substantial to carry us through storms, metaphorical and literal. Each piece is heartbreaking in its own way... an ode to insects, an imploration of flight, a meditation on the grass in our front yards, a wedding with our planet, two friends and two deer, a splotch eating the sky, a stream running through a forest, a note that's also a promise...

It is all so beautiful. And it is all on us.

- Mason