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gnashchick's review
4.0
I picked up this first issue out of enlightened self-interest. I'm a voracious reader of speculative fiction magazines, anthologies and collections. New publications are difficult to launch and even more difficult to sustain. I hope this review will inspire others to take a look at something new.
Editor Stephen Baird offers fourteen stories, each with a "twist in the tale." As with any collection, every reader will find some they love, some they hate, and many more in between. I'd like to point out my particular favorites.
"The Diary of Margreth Frogonne" by Phyllis Green
I have a soft spot for distopian fiction. This story is a chilling read that anticipates a future driven by today's tabloid headlines. Margreth has been chosen for Project Intake and her mother tells her that she will save the world. Locked away in a room, she's showered with gifts, good food, and a cleaning woman. Speaking to anyone is forbidden, so she keeps a diary. Like a good sixteen-year-old, she breaks the rules and befriends the maid. Through her diary, we see the reality of her situation. Margreth transforms both physically and emotionally as the reality of her situation creeps past the propaganda.
"Stranger has Disconnected" by Deborah Bailey
I'm old enough to have seen the early days of the internet, using a dial-up BBS chat service. In this story, UsChat is "The greatest place to meet people from around the world." Are you certain that you're talking to an actual person when you chat online? What if you aren't? This is a quiet story that appealed to me out of nostalgia and the authors homage to a famous fictional character.
"Pipe Monster" by Logan Merriweather
Humor can be painful. I'm a homeowner who just recently remodeled, so this story was hilarious. Richard and Katie are trying to sell their house, but they're having a bit of a problem with the plumbing. The plumber calls for backup, and an awl pike. What's an awl pike? Well...
Unfortunately, I was unable to read "Spookmouth" because of an error that rendered the text unreadable on all of my Kindle devices. I blame technology.
I recommend Wicked Words Quarterly to readers who enjoy speculative fiction in small but manageable bites. Pick up a copy, and find your own favorite stories.
Editor Stephen Baird offers fourteen stories, each with a "twist in the tale." As with any collection, every reader will find some they love, some they hate, and many more in between. I'd like to point out my particular favorites.
"The Diary of Margreth Frogonne" by Phyllis Green
I have a soft spot for distopian fiction. This story is a chilling read that anticipates a future driven by today's tabloid headlines. Margreth has been chosen for Project Intake and her mother tells her that she will save the world. Locked away in a room, she's showered with gifts, good food, and a cleaning woman. Speaking to anyone is forbidden, so she keeps a diary. Like a good sixteen-year-old, she breaks the rules and befriends the maid. Through her diary, we see the reality of her situation. Margreth transforms both physically and emotionally as the reality of her situation creeps past the propaganda.
"Stranger has Disconnected" by Deborah Bailey
I'm old enough to have seen the early days of the internet, using a dial-up BBS chat service. In this story, UsChat is "The greatest place to meet people from around the world." Are you certain that you're talking to an actual person when you chat online? What if you aren't? This is a quiet story that appealed to me out of nostalgia and the authors homage to a famous fictional character.
"Pipe Monster" by Logan Merriweather
Humor can be painful. I'm a homeowner who just recently remodeled, so this story was hilarious. Richard and Katie are trying to sell their house, but they're having a bit of a problem with the plumbing. The plumber calls for backup, and an awl pike. What's an awl pike? Well...
Unfortunately, I was unable to read "Spookmouth" because of an error that rendered the text unreadable on all of my Kindle devices. I blame technology.
I recommend Wicked Words Quarterly to readers who enjoy speculative fiction in small but manageable bites. Pick up a copy, and find your own favorite stories.
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