Zines are similar to anthologies in that they contain multiple authors working around a central theme. In this case, that central theme is simple scieZines are similar to anthologies in that they contain multiple authors working around a central theme. In this case, that central theme is simple science fiction. But as I look deeper, I see memory as a common thread.
The issue opens with "Good Times" by Alexander Jones. Memories are the latest drug. Someone has created the technology where one can extract memories from one person and inject them into another. The experience is like living through them firsthand. Like all drugs, there's always the risk of overdose. I really liked this story. While the characters initially appeared to be just some random shmoes, Jones developed them as each explored a memory shared by the other.
"The Ticket-Taker" by CJ Menart is told to us from the perspective of a ticket-taker robot at a vaudeville show. But something's wrong with it. People are complaining about its behavior. They think it's malfunctioning, and so does the central factory computer, but there seems to be more going on. The robot is a bit of a smart aleck who rambles about its memories of shows past. But if you pay close attention, you just might be able to figure out what the author is trying to say.
A landing on an alien world has gone terribly wrong in "Us or Them". The protagonist in B. Brooks' story is the last person among her crew, pursued by the others and slowly succumbing to the sickness that claimed so many. She struggles to remember her training. And something wants to commandeer her starship and spread its infection to Earth. A nice edge of your seat story.
"The Vestal" is a story that takes place in Rob Steiner's Codex Antonius series. If you know the series, it's back in Kaeso's Umbra Corps days, long before Muses of Roma. But if you're not familiar with it, the story takes place in an alternate universe where Rome never fell. Kaeso works for the CIA equivalent of a free world trying to keep Roma from taking it down. It's an interstellar cold war. In "The Vestal", Kaeso is charged with helping a woman, one of the Vestal Virgins, defect to his world. Hands down, this was my favorite story in the issue. It had action and a solid protagonist. And Rob Steiner's world building is top notch.
In "Playing in the Skeleton on Riot Day", Jedd Cole tells the story of Sheila, a ten-year old girl recounting the days of the occupation of Earth by aliens. Her brother and his friends enjoy watching people protest the occupation. And sometimes it gets ugly. There's an obvious parallel that can be drawn to human armies from one nation that occupy another, where the cultural differences make the other seem alien. But Cole doesn't preach. He's just offering a different POV. A good story.
The editor thought that Michael Andre-Driussi's "Mayhem at Manville" was going to be controversial. I suppose it was because of the S&M, homosexuality, and violent world portrayed in the story. But I didn't find any of it offensive or gratuitous. Human, androids, and aliens mix together in a piece that's part Philip K. Dick, part William S. Burroughs, and all puzzle. I read it twice to try to make sense of it and a chain of memories to see if I could piece together the clues.
In Spencer Wightman's "Shenzhen Blues", video games have become high stakes affairs, like back room poker games are today. But the video games are far more intense than anything we have today. And biotechnology has advanced to the point where implants and organs can be considered collateral on bets. It's the dark underbelly of cyberpunk. The protagonist, Sam, seems hellbent on blazing through life to burn a memory from her past. But at the rate she's blazing, she just might wind up dead.
All in all, I think that this was a good collection of stories and worthy of further investigation. ...more
Another collection of solid fiction. The selected stories all feature top notch writing.
There were two stories in this issue that featured cruel olderAnother collection of solid fiction. The selected stories all feature top notch writing.
There were two stories in this issue that featured cruel older brothers. In the first of these stories, "Beneath the Weeping Willow" by Lee Thompson, David is an autistic boy who struggles to comprehend how his condition puts a strain on his family. His older brother, Jacob, lets David know that he blames him. The story is told in second person POV, a risky move, but it pays off as Thompson instantly connects the reader and David. It makes for a powerful story.
The other cruel older brother story is "Dead Baby Day" by Michael Penkas. In this one, said older brother, Mark, sows the seeds of doubt in his younger brother's mind about the nature of his birth. It's classic older brother torture, sadistically implemented with confidence and menace, and Mark didn't have to lift a finger.
For the first time in ST, one of the contributors was also interviewed. Rennie Sparks of The Handsome Family. I learned that they're a band that a bluegrass band that specializes in murder ballads. Mrs. Sparks is the lyricist, and she explained how everyone assumed that it was her husband that wrote the lyrics. Her story, "Web of Gold", was a first person confessional written by a sociopath, about her days and nights living in underbelly of the city.
Another first personal confessional was "Playlist at the End". While the narrator hides in a closet afraid of being discovered, he explains how each of the songs in his ten-song playlist reminds him of important chapters in his life. For me, it was a fresh approach to this style of story. As such, you think the story is going one way and then, surprisingly, it turns.
"Full Dental" was funny. It shows what might happen in the workplace when political correctness is taken too far. "Weird Tales" offers an homage to H. P. Lovecraft on what the man may have been like.
There's also an interview with Bram Stoker Award winning author Kathe Koja, a poem ("Lobo") by Justin Paul Walters about regret, and the usual assortment of music, book, and film reviews. K. Allen Wood provides this issue's non-fiction essay, "Living Dead".
The last two ghost stories are "Fade to Black" and "The Many Ghosts of Annie Orens". In "Fade to Black", Jaelithe Ingold tells the story of Sasha, who works at a cemetery offering "translator" services between the living and the dead. It isn't all about making peace with the passing of loved ones. Ghosts have their own agendas. This isn't Ghost Whisperer.
In "The Many Ghosts of Annie Orens", Annie is at a crossroads. Ghosts, both paranormal and those from memory, haunt her. She must find a way to deal with them all somehow if she's to carry on with her life.
Even better than Volume 2! The byline for Shock Totem is: Curious Tales of the Macabre and Twisted. What you get is a collection of stories (and more)Even better than Volume 2! The byline for Shock Totem is: Curious Tales of the Macabre and Twisted. What you get is a collection of stories (and more) that don't fall into the standard horror mix. These are tales that Vincent Price might regale you with, or Lovecraft would nod at with approval. If you're looking for guys with chainsaws running around, you're in the wrong place.
I don't think I've mentioned this before but the cover art always sucks me in. This issue, featuring a house of surreal, menacing architecture is no exception.
This issue opens with "Bop Kabala and Communist Jazz". It was the only story that I didn't enjoy so I'm glad that it was first. I can't offer a reason other than to say it didn't grab me.
"The Meat Forest" was next and it was great! The story takes place in a gulag in the Siberian wilderness surrounded by a forest. While the camp described by John Haggerty was bad enough, it was the forest where the real horror began. If I say anything more, I'll spoil it.
The first interview was next. This one was with author D. Harlan Wilson. I enjoy the interviews as they give you a peek inside the author's mind. Later, there's an interview with Count Lyle of the band Ghoultown. There's also many reviews of books, movies, and music. The subject of Mercedes Yardley's "Abominations" column in this issue is mines. The fact that it's titled "Voracious Black" should give you a clue.
"Worm Central Tonite!" was yummy goodness from John Skipp. "Day Job" imagines how the day-to-day grind of watching over humans can wear on an angel. "Wanting It" is a solid ghost story.
"Eye, You" is a rare second person tale that mixes social media narcissism with a dash of Lovecraftian flavored madness. "Stitched" begs the question, "Who gets to decide what is normal?" I'm not sure what was going on in "Duval Street", but I liked it.
"A Birth in the Year of the Miracle Plague" offers a glimpse into the life of children in a zombie apocalypse. It was my third favorite story in the issue.
Stories involving children who see monsters only to have their parents disbelieve them (until it's too late) is a common theme in horror. This issue has two stories that fit that theme: "Drift" and "Mr. Many Faces". The former involves snow, and it reminded me of that Robot Chicken episode where snowflakes are falling from the sky and screaming because they can't move once they hit the ground. They're just stacked on top of each other. Only this story is more sinister. "Mr. Many Faces" starts off with the proverbial daughter complaining there's a monster in her closet. But author S. Clayton Rhodes twists everything around and breaks out of what could've been a cliche. It wound up being my favorite story in the collection.
I look forward to what K. Allen Wood and company have in store for volume 4....more
IMO, volume 2 had a stronger mix of stories than volume 1 (and, yes, the larger font was easier to read). There wasn't any poetry in this issue, but tIMO, volume 2 had a stronger mix of stories than volume 1 (and, yes, the larger font was easier to read). There wasn't any poetry in this issue, but the book/music/movie reviews were still there (and useful).
My favorite story was "The Rat Burner". It was a deliciously dark and gritty story. I'll have to look up Ricardo Bare's other work.
"Sole Survivor" was a humorous twist on adventure style reality shows.
"Sweepers" was decent but a bit lacking. I was left with too many unanswered questions. A longer story could've filled in those gaps.
"The Rainbow Serpent" was surreal with its horror. I really enjoyed the blending of myth, reality and nightmare.
"Abominations: Hide the Sickness", a non-fiction piece, was creepy. It also made me wonder if it's worth it to keep certain people incarcerated for life. I'm not sure they're human anymore.
"Pretty Little Ghouls" was a short bizarro piece. I liked it.
"Messages from Valerie Polichar" is a nice little ghost story that explores death and social media.
"Return from Dust" held an interesting premise, but I felt the execution left a lot to be desired.
"Leave Me the Way I Was Found" successfully grabs Lovecraft's penchant for not describing horrors that are incomprehensible to the human mind. In this case the author, Christian Dumais, suggests how the world would react to a certain YouTube video. In Lovecraft's day, the dark things were whispered about by a select few. In the Internet Age, no one whispers anymore; they broadcast.
"Upon My Return" had a hint of Bradbury (people forget that he wrote horror too) in the way the story was told. I liked it.
As usual, the cover art is great. Now to pick up issue 3....more
A solid debut with good editing and decent story selection. The font was a bit small but that's ok as it helps to keep production costs down.
"The MusiA solid debut with good editing and decent story selection. The font was a bit small but that's ok as it helps to keep production costs down.
"The Music Box", a very dark variation of Toy Story, was the best piece. I'm not normally one for poetry but "Mulligan Stew" was good. "The Dead March" gave us a look inside a trailer park where a troubled kid with a dark gift desperately needs to be loved. The other stories were technically fine, but didn't stand out like these others. And there was a sample chapter from a novel featuring a serial killer, a big turn off for me.
The interviews were good, particularly the one with John Skipp. The various reviews of select books, music, and movies were useful.
I liked it enough that I'll check out another issue or two and see where it goes....more
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