Mixed-Genre Magazines
Albedo One edited by John Kenny, Frank Ludlow, David Murphy, Roelof Goudriaan, and Robert Neilson brought out two issues in 2010 and published strong dark fiction by Allison Francisco, Priya Sharma, J. L. Abbott, Martin McGrath, and Matthew F. Perry. Realms of Fantasy edited by Shawna McCarthy specializes in fantasy but occasionally dips into horror. The darkest stories in 2010 were by Euan Harvey and Bruce Holland Rogers. Cabinet des Fées: A Fairy Tale Journal edited by Helen Pilinovsky and Erzebet YellowBoy is the third volume in this irregularly published series. It’s always a perfect entertainment for lovers of fairy tales variations. The darkest tales were by Helen Ogdon, Kim Kofmel, Rebecca W. Day, and Catherine Knutsson. Kate Bernheimer edited the Red Issue of The Fairy Tale Review, which comes out annually and is “devoted to literary fairy tales and to contemporary writers working with the aesthetics and motifs of fairy tales…. Fairy Tale Review also seeks to celebrate and preserve traditional fairy tales through its initiatives.” There were two issues of Aurealis out in 2010, and the second, Aurealis 44, was the twentieth anniversary issue of the Australian magazine, which is currently edited by Stuart Mayne. Of the seven stories in the issue, a number were quite dark. In this special issue there was a history of the magazine written by co-founder Dirk Strasser. The strongest dark stories during the year were by Bill Congreve, Jason Fischer, Christopher Green, Kirstyn McDermott, and Lachlan Huddy. Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine is another Australian mixed-genre magazine. There were dark stories and poetry by Debi Carroll, Christopher Green, Danny Stone, Simon Messingham, and a collaboration by John Dixon and Adam Browne. Minnetonka Review edited by Troy Ehlers is published twice yearly. The fall issue had worthwhile dark poetry by Temple Cone and Mary Crow, and a very good story by Noah Milligan. Something Wicked: Science Fiction and Horror Magazine edited by Joe Vaz is published in South Africa. It seems to have gone on hiatus after its tenth issue, which is a shame as there were very good horror stories by Abigail Godsell, Paula Stiles, and two collaborations by William Meikle and Graeme Hurray and Sean and Craig Davis. Sybil’s Garage edited by Matthew Kressel had excellent darker stories by E. C. Myers, Cheryl Barkauskas, and Terence Kuch. Zahir edited by Sheryl Tempchin has moved from print to online, but all the stories were collected in a print anthology at the end of the year. There was very little horror but a couple of strong dark tales by Trent Hergenrader and Jennifer Griffin Graham. Not One of Us is the long-running magazine edited by John Benson with “otherness” as its theme. In 2010 two issues and one special one-off called “Hidden” were published, with good dark stories and poetry by Sonya Taaffe, Tim L. Williams, Jennifer Crow, and Alison J. Littlewood. GUD (Greatest Uncommon Denominator) edited by Debbie Moorhouse is a good-looking, twice-yearly magazine of mostly science fiction and fantasy, with some darker fiction. In 2010 there were notable dark stories by Steven J. Dines, Caroline Yoachim, Ian McHugh, and Lavie Tidhar. Needle edited by Steve Weddle is a new crime magazine specializing in noir. Although there’s no out-and-out horror the darker stories might appeal to horror readers. From the three 2010 issues I recommend the stories by Stephen Blackmore, Sophie Littlefield, and Kieran Shea. The Magazine of Bizarro Fiction edited by Jeff Burk published four issues. The fiction is less horrific than just plain weird but there were good dark stories by Livia Llewellyn, Violet Glaze, and James Steele. Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet edited by Gavin J. Grant and Kelly Link had two issues out in 2010 and strong work by Sean Melican and Lindsay Vella, and a fantastic story (although only very slightly dark) by the collaborative team of Harvey Welles and Philip Raines. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction edited by Gordon Van Gelder publishes horror in its mix. The best darker stories in 2010 were by Dean Whitlock, Kate Wilhelm, Ken Altabef, Robin Aurelian, Dale Bailey, Richard Bowes, Albert E. Cowdrey, Alexandra Duncan, Michael Libling, Ian R. MacLeod, Sean McMullen, Michael Reaves, Michaela Roessner, Aaron Schutz, and two by John Langan, both reprinted herein. Asimov’s Science Fiction edited by Sheila Williams only rarely publishes horror, but in 2010 there were notable dark stories by Felicity Shoulders, Allen Steele, Kate Wilhelm, Caroline M. Yoachim, Sara Gene, and Will McIntosh. Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine edited by Linda Landrigan had notable dark stories by Stephen Ross, Abdón Ubidia, and Mark Patrick Lynch, and its sister, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine edited by Janet Hutchings had notable dark stories by Martin Edwards, Judith Merchant, and Stephen Ross. Clarkesworld, the webzine edited by Neil Clarke, occasionally runs horror and in 2010 the best dark stories were by Kelly Barnhill, Robert Reed, and a terrific one by Peter Watts. Subterranean, edited by William Schafer had fine dark fiction by Livia Llewellyn, Maureen McHugh, Rachel Swirsky, and William Browning Spencer.