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pearseanderson's review
4.0
Bourbon Penn! What a hidden little gem of a magazine. I'm glad I found and you offered a Kindle version of your newest issue. I just wish the cover was better on the digital version: it's tiny! I can't see what everyone's talking about.
As for the fiction, wow!! All fairly good fiction, with some pieces that did tone and tonal prose better than plot: "Season of the Hyssop" and "Playing Dead," and others taking perplexing concepts and running with them. Jamie Schultz wrote an outstanding piece, just a fantastic short film pressed into a long interrogation scene. First prose that really struck me this year. Later in the mag, "The Attack of the Forty-Foot Cobra Women" was really interesting. Felt like something out of Rust Belt mag and a Kelly Barnhill collab. The other pieces were, like, alright. Probably a better average than some other speculative mags' average.
I wish it had more than just six fictions. Like Grimdark had a letter from the editor, some nonfic, an author explaining their craft. I think this really elevates something from just a collection to a MAG. Anyway, I like Bourbon Penn and I think I can see my fiction here. I'll have to throw "Sharing Space with Others" or something their way. Worth it!
As for the fiction, wow!! All fairly good fiction, with some pieces that did tone and tonal prose better than plot: "Season of the Hyssop" and "Playing Dead," and others taking perplexing concepts and running with them. Jamie Schultz wrote an outstanding piece, just a fantastic short film pressed into a long interrogation scene. First prose that really struck me this year. Later in the mag, "The Attack of the Forty-Foot Cobra Women" was really interesting. Felt like something out of Rust Belt mag and a Kelly Barnhill collab. The other pieces were, like, alright. Probably a better average than some other speculative mags' average.
I wish it had more than just six fictions. Like Grimdark had a letter from the editor, some nonfic, an author explaining their craft. I think this really elevates something from just a collection to a MAG. Anyway, I like Bourbon Penn and I think I can see my fiction here. I'll have to throw "Sharing Space with Others" or something their way. Worth it!
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