Apex Magazine Issue #23, April 2011 by David Hebblethwaite

This issue contains two original stories and two reprints. Michael J. Deluca tells a tale from the early days of language, and considers the relative merits of life with or without words. Eugie Foster writes of a girl dealing with difficult circumstances, who may have to put herself first whatever the cost to herself or others. Mike Allen's...

Strange Horizons, April 4-May 30, 2011 by Carole Moleti

In “Pataki,” by Nisi Shawl, published in two parts on 4 and 11 April 2011, Rianne is starting over in a new place, but still hasn't recovered from the disproved allegations that caused her to flee Ann Arbor, Michigan for Oakland, California. And it's affecting her magic. She meditates in front of her altars, but it...

Expanded Horizons #27 by Jessica Barnes

This issue features four female authors, three of whom are Indian, and one who is from the Philippines. Though there are only four stories, they cover such varied topics as transdimensional portals, mermaids, the Indian goddess of destruction, and space travel. The offerings of Filipina Eliza Victoria and Keyan Bowes are flavored with tragedy, Neesha...

Expanded Horizons #28 by Sarah Goslee

The story "God in the Sky", by An Owomoyela, is especially interesting coming as it does on the heels of the Rapture hype in the news in May. In this story, a light appears in the sky. Scientists study it, others claim it is evidence of God, everyone panics. Owomoyela uses the light in the...

Crossed Genres Year Two

Submitting to Crossed Genres is an interesting exercise in interpretation and limiting one’s creativity – every month, there is a theme, and submissions should fit the theme of any given month. The themes are interpreted in a variety of ways, so it’s pretty exciting to see what comes out of any given theme. A small...

Rigor Amortis

For those who like their romances literally mushy, Rigor Amortis, edited by Jaym Gates and Erika Holt, collects an anthology of flash fiction pieces, interspersed with the occasional poem, all centered on zombies and erotica/romance. Actually, it would be fairer to say that the stories concern relationships and zombies because not all content within the...

Residential Aliens #4, July/August 2010

This issue of Residential Aliens is guest-edited by John Ottinger III. Billing itself as “speculative fiction from the Seven Stars,” ResAliens strives for science fiction with a spiritual bent. We start off with “Fishing the Moons of Jupiter” by Jason Rizos. Morris tells the story; he is one of several fishermen turned miners boring through...

Weird Tales, #356, Summer 2010

Review of Weird Tales, Issue #356

The Portal Archive: Shimmer, Issue 12

What kind of magazine is Shimmer? What kind of stories do Beth Wodzinski and her staff choose for inclusion, do they hold true to their criteria, and in the end do all of the components mix and match and meld into a compelling collection of modern fantasy fiction? “Seek Him i'th’ Other Place Yourself” by...

The Portal Archive: Sybil’s Garage, no. 7

Sybil’s Garage no. 7 marks its growth with a new format in its print version and a movement from ISSN to ISBN. No. 7 contains eighteen stories of various lengths (along with poetry and a long essay on Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds), ranging from science fiction to fantasy, to magic realism, to fable, and in...