The Dark Magazine, January and February 2023

The Dark, Issue 92, Sean Wallace/Clara Madrigano, eds. January 2023.

Four stories, and only four -- but they’re subtle, lovingly-polished and carefully curated. Another excellent entry from this slim, accomplished magazine. “Sweat, Rice” by Shari Paul explores the unexpected places where power lives in an an otherwise exploitative relationship: the road to a man’s heart may be through his stomach, but the exit is through the fridge. “Lap Record” by Nelson Stanley explores the deadly consequences when junkyard man “Mad Derek” takes a beater out from an unusual junkyard for a quick and very final spin. “Love Sharp Enough to Rend” by Leah Ning shows that while there’s great power hidden beneath the sea, the ocean’s no match for a vengeful mother. “We All Fall Down” by Ai Jiang looks at the life-giving and life-ended powers of some very special rain. Imagine life in a place where life comes with a tremendous gift -- but you must, at all costs, stay dry. Forever.

Smirk factor: All clear: 2.0 pts (No smirking.)

Immersion factor: Chest-high: 1.5 pts

Writing quality: Above-average: 1.5 pts

Character/plot development: Average: 1 pt

Innovative/interesting: Above-average: 1.5 pts

Total: 7.5/10 (3.75 stars, rounded up to 4)

The Dark, Issue 93, Sean Wallace/Clara Madrigano, eds. February 2023.

Another slim issue of this accomplished ‘zine brings four more strong morsels of darkness and horror. James Bennett’s Of Gentle Wolves explores the dynamics of a seduction, and the moral destruction which follows. The Names of the Drowned are These, by Angela Slatter brings us through a grim and brutal homecoming of sorts, in which some things refuse to stay hidden. The most unusual point of view of any story I’ve read recently certainly belongs to Silk-Wrapped Love Story, in which Phoenix Alexander describes a tumultuous relationship coming to a head. The most remarkable of a strong lot, though, was H. Pueyo’s The Memory Eater. This is a -- I don’t want to say ‘haunting’ -- tale of the creature who removes memories from the dead, helping move them towards greater peace. But who helps the helper?