New World Journal is a magazine that constructs each volume around a singular aesthetic world. For its inaugural volume, that world is the stars. The journal seeks short stories that engage with the cosmos not as a backdrop but as a unifying idea, drawing from astronomy, exploration, navigation, history, mythology, geography, and the human experience of looking into something larger than ourselves. The call is open to narratives set in any time or place—from a modern observatory to an ancient desert crossing, from a nineteenth-century expedition to a lone figure beneath a night sky. The journal does not impose a shared fictional universe or recurring characters; instead, it seeks stories that resonate with a common thematic core. The stars serve as a connective thread, linking diverse narratives through motifs such as wonder, isolation, discovery, mortality, faith, distance, home, and the unknown. This curatorial approach values cohesion of idea over continuity of plot, allowing each story to stand alone while contributing to a collective meditation on the celestial. As a no-fee opportunity, New World Journal removes financial barriers to submission, aligning with its commitment to accessible, merit-based selection. While no monetary prize is offered, publication in the anthology provides a platform for writers to place their work within a thoughtfully curated volume. The journal's vision is to assemble a collection that reflects the myriad ways the stars have shaped human imagination and experience, from ancient cosmologies to distant planets.