The Angel’s Share by Martin Cahill (Reactor Magazine; July 24, 2024)
When I think of guardian angels in fiction, they typically end up as benevolent guides who are only doing what’s best to help their charges (or at least attempt to). But, Cahill’s The Angel’s Share, turns that concept on its head with the situation the character, Mrs. Mead, is embroiled with .It was rather peculiar: an “infestation of 32 angels.” And the irony is: they do seem to help by catering to Mrs. Mead. However, the story drives home the point how much Mrs. Mead’s past has become a trap and a spiral; loss of control under the guise of comfort. How this kind of help was ultimately detrimental, revealing the cloying but entirely conditional nature, which was menacing rather than benevolent. And the angels, I found them an eerie, spectral presence throughout the story. They weren’t ghosts, but there was something vampire-esque about the way they engaged with Mrs. Mead. That being said, The Angel’s Share was, despite the intrinsic horror of what was becoming of the main character’s life, a story which ended on a hopeful note.
I’m Not Disappointed Just Mad AKA The Heaviest Couch in the Known Universe by Daryl Gregory (Reactor Magazine; November 20, 2024)
I haven’t read anything by Daryl Gregory since his novella, The Album of Dr. Moreau. So I was excited to finally mark this one off my list. I’m Not Disappointed Just Mad AKA The Heaviest Couch in the Known Universe was absurd. I mean, they were moving a couch at the same time as an apparent alien invasion! It was lot of fun to read and surprisingly complicated with its character depth as well as the scope of the story. The sci-fi, first contact, space faring adventure aspect of it was done quite well with sufficient stakes to make what happened personal for Tindal. And, honestly, I just found this story—its unusual structure and fourth wall breaks—incredibly readable.
Parthenogenesis by Stephen Graham Jones (Reactor Magazine; October 2, 2024)
Two friends are moving across the country. So, a road trip right? Well, Stephen Graham Jone’s Parthenogenesis takes on an eerie twist. The horror of this story is how effectively it builds up the characters of Matty and Jac. It shows how their friendship works as they take turns inventing a strange story to pass the time, while the narrative also makes you feel for their situation—the interruption of their move, the faultiness of the truck. And, because the story made me want to be attached to the characters, it was why their fate is all that more horrifying to think about.
From around the web…
- A Specter Is Haunting Catesby Wran: “Smoke Ghost” by Fritz Leiber [Sam Reader; Reactor Magazine; January 14, 2025]: For the past year or so, I’ve enjoyed Sam Reader’s column, Dissecting The Dark Descent. One of the latest entries takes a look at Fritz Leiber’s story, Smoke Ghost.
- Trying and Failing to Figure Out “Escapism” in Books [Molly Templeton’ Reactor Magazine; January 9, 2025]: the title is pretty accurate when it comes to describing what this particular column is about.
- Psychopomp Is Relaunching Fantasy Magazine [Vanessa Armstrong; Reactor Magazine; January 16, 2025]: I saw this announcement and thought it should mention it here too. Fantasy Magazine is being relaunched, which speaks for itself.
