A Few Current Publications of Interest

I’ve been catching up on some recent issues of horror and dark fantasy magazines of interest. The difficulty of keeping track of them, along with the recent quality pieces put out, again reminds me of the healthy state the horror genre currently enjoys. Although a true indicator of interest and innovation in horror might always be the small press, it’s still excellent to have a number of professional and semi-pro magazines published on a regular basis to choose from. Here are a few that have caught my eye recently:

Dark Wisdom: Formerly known as Book of Dark Wisdom, this one has been gaining prominence the last few years. Under the auspices of William Jones as Editor and published by Elder Signs Press, this magazine has grown from humble Lovecraftian beginnings to a position of leadership among dark fiction outlets in a relatively short time. It has broadened its horizons a fair bit from Lovecraftian horror the last several issues, but still maintains an excellent flavor that will appeal to Cthulhu mythos fans with broader tastes. The magazine attracts big names in horror and science fiction as well. The latest issue has the likes of Alan Dean Foster, John Shirley, and an interview with Jack Ketchum. For just $6.00, if you can find it around your local bookstore or specialty shop, “Dark Wisdom” is one of the best values around. In full color, it comes packed with fiction and reviews, with interesting extras like advice on writing from Richard Lupoff, interviews with contemporary leaders in dark fiction, and comics. It appears quarterly.

H.P. Lovecraft’s Magazine of Horror: After some difficulty getting off the ground, it seems “H.P. Lovecraft’s Magazine of Horror” is appearing with greater regularity and quality. It is published by Wildside Press, also responsible for the current incarnation of “Weird Tales” (more on that one below), and looks like an appeal to a more specific focus in a market that would ordinarily overlap. Moreover, it is an outlet for those explicitly Lovecraftian themed pieces that would’ve previously appeared in “Weird Tales.” Fortunately, whenever this magazine pops up, it is always of high quality. Reprints of older Cthulhu mythos stories, alongside new tales of terror that may or may not make direct mention of Yog-Sothery, grace the pages here. Like “Dark Wisdom,” it has lately taken a turn toward highlighting contemporary greats. Richard Matheson, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Brian Lumley have all had spotlight issues. More than anything, “H.P. Lovecraft’s Magazine of Horror” makes a nice showcase for new fiction and information in horror, with the potential for even more excellence in the future, provided its irregular schedule difficulties are now resolved.

Weird Tales: The magazine that refuses to die is back again. The 346^th issue is imminent this month, bearing the same revived format and new logo of the last two issues. One of the greatest strength of this magazine continues to be quality editors: George Scithers and Darrell Schweitzer have years of experience writing, editing, and running a smooth operation. And as has long been the case, “Weird Tales” continues to strive for innovative and bizarre tales with an often dark twist, under the aegis of a seasoned staff. Quality fiction, articles, and reviews surface regularly from the pens of mature writers and a smattering of talented newbies. “Weird Tales” still has a bit of a shaky release schedule, but will continue to appeal to anyone with a general interest in weird fiction, horror, and those odd works difficult to pigeonhole into any category.

Black Petals: This is a small press publication. That said, I have felt for awhile “Black Petals” deserves more attention than they’ve gotten, so I am noting them here. Long a publisher of amateur, though interesting stories of science fiction, dark fantasy, and even some Lovecraftian horror, they just put out their tenth anniversary issue. Now, the bad news: it seems shifts in editorial staff and financial difficulties have put the magazine out of print form after the next issue. The good news: they are soon moving to an all online format that will likely be free. Whether this is an attempt to increase readership for re-releasing a print magazine in the future or not is unknown at this point, but they are worth keeping an eye on. The shakeup of such a quality small press magazine leaves me saddened, but carries an important lesson for the broader small press community. It is the readers who will ultimately make or break you. Yet, conversely, readers who enjoy a fine publication ought to do their part to keep them alive, particularly when it doesn’t take much in this internet age of forums and interest groups. A positive recommendation or a link to their website is all it takes. While I do not place total blame squarely upon the readers of “Black Petals” (including myself) for their failure, I have to admit I would be sorely pissed if the small press environment were not as healthy as it is right now. Almost-guilt trip aside, look for their online version to appear in the near future for a few good tales.

The Willows: This specialty magazine is another small press publication that will not satisfy everyone’s taste, but it is one of the most interesting and specifically focused upon weird fiction. It also enjoys a unique caveat: tales set after 1945 do not ordinarily appear here. This, in my opinion, is responsible for enhancing the publication’s creativity and quality. It also helps endow many of the stories with an eerie and classic, but not pastiche feel. The magazine also deserves praise for thus far operating on a relatively smooth and regular release schedule—often a rare quality in the small press world. The Editor, Ben Thomas, is also a writer of fiction who runs an interesting blog called “Literacity” here.

-Grim Blogger