Paper Airplane Vol. 1

Paper Airplane Vol. 1 was the magazine’s special debut issue, an all-volunteer collaboration by writers, artists, photographers, and puzzlemakers to raise money for USCRI (Refugees.org).

The donation-only digital debut issue exceeded its fundraising goal, raising more than $10,000 to support refugees and immigrants.

Vol. 1 is now available as a free preview issue. To get a free digital copy, enter your email and you’ll receive a download link.

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Vol. 1: What's Inside

  • A Q&A with nonfiction writers including Mary Roach, Dr. Helen Scales, and Julia Cooke about the most memorable passages they’ve ever had to cut from a piece of their writing.

  • “The Shape of Color,” a longform article by author Kory Stamper about the centuries-long history of artists, philosophers, and scientists trying to organize the colors of the spectrum into a single shape.

  • Comics by graphic novelists Maris Wicks, K. Wroten, and Mercedes Campos López.

  • A stunning photo series zooming in and out on our world, from microscope photos to images from the International Space Station and the James Webb Space Telescope.

  • A dazzlingly elaborate maze by Guinness World Record-holding mazemaker Michelle Boggess-Nunley. 

  • An “escape page” by Mystery League Commissioner Sandy Weisz and fantasy mapmaker Lauren Hottinger. 

  • A word puzzle by author Alec Nevala-Lee. 

  • Full-page excerpts from Phenomena: An Infographic Guide to Almost Everything by Camille Juzeau and The Shelf Studio.
  • Printable coloring pages, including from artist Vanna Black.

  • A special edition of author Erin McKean’s newsletter column “Things I learned while looking up other things.” 

  • Wordplay by Nick Norlen, former Senior Editor of Dictionary.com.

  • Cover art by illustrator Kaitlin Brito. 

  • And more—over 70 pages!

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