APRIL/MAY

Cemetery Dance #54
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction




FEATURED
(Cemetery Dance # 54---100% Delicious)

Cemetery Dance is the best horror magazine that I have found and Issue #54 was no exception.
The featured authors were: Eric Brown, Kealan Patrick Burke, Tony Richards, James Ireland Baker, A.R. Morlan, Loren Rhoads, C.J. Henderson, and Tim Waggoner.

First off, this magazine features an interview with NEIL GAIMAN!!!

"The Man Who Never Read Novels," by Eric Brown was a story in the tradition of the Twilight Zone and was an entertaining story for the opening of this edition.

The story is about a man, named Simon Russel, who is an author looking to break out genre he has been clumped into. On the train, Simon meets a curious man who only reads novels by dead authors. He doesn't read novels by anyone living because the same terrible thing always happens. The story is great fun and the twist at the end is brilliant. At first you can predict an end but the author is talented enough to lead you one way and then jerk you another. Kudos Mr. Brown.

"Snowmen" by Kealan Patrick Burke is a story in the tradition of Tales From the Crypt. But these tales are so much more thrilling in print.

Young Ryan sees two manacing forms in his yard. What are they? Not what you think. Still not what you think. Nope, not that either. Sorry pal, it ain't that easy.

"Nine Rocks in a Row," by Tony Richards shows us that our past may reveal our future.

Two archeologists discover a nine strange orbs beneath a layer of sand and rock. The inscriptions upon them deliver a cryptic message.

"Monkey Lot 9," by James Ireland Baker, was one of my favorites because it took me back to when I first started to love horror.

A safari park closed down after several accidents. People report all sorts of strange sightings. Many people break onto the premises to hunt peacocks. So, how did such a glorious park end up as a forgotten park? An eyesore?

That's what two photography students, and one girl along for the ride, are set to find out. Well, not really. I just thought that would sound cool on the back of a book.

They're doing a school project on the park and decide to take pictures of what is left. And there's a lot more than meets the eye. (Sorry I keep sounding like the Crypt Keeper. It's a habit.)

"Chiaruscuro," by A.R. Morlan blew my mind. It is one of the best pieces of short fiction that I have read this year. It is eery, erotic, and poetic. Beautifully written with an ending that I loved, though words fail to describe it. It's not a terrifying ending, or a shocker. It is an emotionally pleasing end to a dark romance. Words fail me here. Beautiful. Awesome. I am in envy of A.R. Morlan.

"Life With Shattered Glass," by Loren Rhoads is a storry about a woman named Sherry who is a junior, majoring in theater. She meets a girl named Lily at a party and is given a new perspective on life, death, and still life.

"Closing Costs," by C.J. Henderson is a short but sweet story about a man who sells his soul to the Devil for fame and all that jazz. You can never beat the Devil at his own game, man.

"Toad Lilly," by Nick Kaufman is a story about a woman who sees her child everywhere, though he's been dead for several years. Killed by a man, released ten years later, whom she happens to bump into at the gardening store. She recognizes him, and we all know, nobody likes a kiddy killer. (Unless it's Freddy Krueger. People like him. I'm okay with that.)

"The Tongue is the Sweetest Meat," is an incredible story. Think "The Christmas Carol" featuring a depraved Marley who's trying to lure the inner depravity out of Scrooge. Sweet.

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Science Fiction and Fantasy (May 2006)(100%)

This month featured the authors: M. Rickert, Matthew Hughes, Gene Wolf, Charles Coleman Finlay, Robert Reed, Steven Utley, Terry Bisson, and Albert E. Cowdry.

I enjoyed this entire magazine but the two strongest stories, which dominated this edition, were "A Herd of Opportunity" by Matthew Hughes and "Journey into the Kingdom" by M. Rickert. No summary of these stories would be sufficient to describe their power. I can not stress how great these stories are. This magazine must be hunted down and read.

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