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Dark Currents
All original stories providing a dazzling blend of science fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy and horror: a set of stories that traverses genre boundaries, linked only by their common inspiration. Contributors were given just those two words: `Dark Currents' and then asked to let their imaginations run wild... From haunted seascapes to distant starscapes, from reality-hopping soldiers to naval battles in the aether, from the deeply poignant to the breathlessly exciting... immerse yourself in deep Dark Currents.
1. Introduction by Ian Whates
2. The Fall of Lady Sealight - Adrian Tchaikovsky
3. The Age of Entitlement - Adam Nevill
4. Electrify Me - Tricia Sullivan
5. Alternate Currents - Rod Rees
6. The Barricade - Nina Allan
7. Things that Are Here Now - Andrew Hook
8. Loose Connections - Finn Clarke
9. Sleepless in R'lyeh - Lavie Tidhar
10. Damnation Seize my Soul - Jan Edwards
11. Home - Emma Coleman
12. A Change in the Weather - Rebecca J Payne
13. Bells Ringing Under the Sea - Sophia McDougall
14. In Tauris - Una McCormack
15. Lost Sheep - Neil Williamson
16. The Bleeding Man - Aliette de Bodard
17. George - V.C. Linde
1. Introduction by Ian Whates
2. The Fall of Lady Sealight - Adrian Tchaikovsky
3. The Age of Entitlement - Adam Nevill
4. Electrify Me - Tricia Sullivan
5. Alternate Currents - Rod Rees
6. The Barricade - Nina Allan
7. Things that Are Here Now - Andrew Hook
8. Loose Connections - Finn Clarke
9. Sleepless in R'lyeh - Lavie Tidhar
10. Damnation Seize my Soul - Jan Edwards
11. Home - Emma Coleman
12. A Change in the Weather - Rebecca J Payne
13. Bells Ringing Under the Sea - Sophia McDougall
14. In Tauris - Una McCormack
15. Lost Sheep - Neil Williamson
16. The Bleeding Man - Aliette de Bodard
17. George - V.C. Linde
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
107 people want to read
About the author
Ian Whates
122 books81 followersIan Whates lives in a comfortable home down a quiet cul-de-sac in an idyllic Cambridgeshire village, which he shares with his partner Helen and their pets – Honey the golden cocker spaniel, Calvin the tailless black cat and Inky the goldfish (sadly, Binky died a few years ago).
Ian’s earliest memories of science fiction are fragmented. He remembers loving Dr Who from an early age and other TV shows such as Lost in Space and Star Trek, but a defining moment came when he heard a radio adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. From that moment on he was hooked and became a frequent haunter of the local library, voraciously devouring the contents of their SF section.
This early love of science fiction manifested most tellingly during his school days, when he produced an SF murder mystery as homework after being set the essay title “The Language of Shakespeare”, much to the bemusement of his English teacher.
Ian’s first published stories appeared in the late 1980s in small press magazines such as Dream and New Moon Quarterly, after which he took a break from writing in order to research his chosen fields of science fiction and fantasy. In other words, he read copious amounts of both. Clearly the research was extensive, because he published nothing further for some seventeen years. In the early 2000s he made the decision to pursue writing seriously, joining the Northampton SF Writers Group in 2004 after being introduced to its chairman, Ian Watson.
In 2006 he started submitting stories again, and has subsequently been surprised at how many otherwise eminently sensible people have chosen to publish him. A couple have even appeared in the science journal Nature, and one, “The Gift of Joy”, even found its way onto the five-strong shortlist for best short story in the British Science Fiction Association Awards. And it didn’t come last! Ironically, the award was actually won by Ken MacLeod’s “Lighting Out”, a piece Ian had commissioned, edited and published in the NewCon Press anthology disLOCATIONS (2007).
In 2006 Ian launched independent publisher NewCon Press, quite by accident (buy him a pint sometime and he’ll tell you about it). Through NewCon he has been privileged to publish original stories from some of the biggest names in genre fiction, as well as provide debuts to some genuinely talented newcomers. The books, their covers and contents have racked up an impressive array of credits – four BSFA Awards, one BSF Award to date, inclusion in ‘Year’s Best’ anthologies and recommendations and honourable mentions from the likes of Gardner Dozios and Locus magazine.
In addition to his publishing and writing, Ian is currently a director of both the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), editing Matrix, the online news and media reviews magazine, for the latter.
His first two completed novels are both due to appear in early 2010: City of Dreams and Nightmare via Harper Collins’ imprint Angry Robot, and The Noise Within from Rebellion imprint Solaris, with sequels to follow. When not pinching himself to make sure this is all really happening, Ian is currently beavering away at the sequels… honest!
Ian’s earliest memories of science fiction are fragmented. He remembers loving Dr Who from an early age and other TV shows such as Lost in Space and Star Trek, but a defining moment came when he heard a radio adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. From that moment on he was hooked and became a frequent haunter of the local library, voraciously devouring the contents of their SF section.
This early love of science fiction manifested most tellingly during his school days, when he produced an SF murder mystery as homework after being set the essay title “The Language of Shakespeare”, much to the bemusement of his English teacher.
Ian’s first published stories appeared in the late 1980s in small press magazines such as Dream and New Moon Quarterly, after which he took a break from writing in order to research his chosen fields of science fiction and fantasy. In other words, he read copious amounts of both. Clearly the research was extensive, because he published nothing further for some seventeen years. In the early 2000s he made the decision to pursue writing seriously, joining the Northampton SF Writers Group in 2004 after being introduced to its chairman, Ian Watson.
In 2006 he started submitting stories again, and has subsequently been surprised at how many otherwise eminently sensible people have chosen to publish him. A couple have even appeared in the science journal Nature, and one, “The Gift of Joy”, even found its way onto the five-strong shortlist for best short story in the British Science Fiction Association Awards. And it didn’t come last! Ironically, the award was actually won by Ken MacLeod’s “Lighting Out”, a piece Ian had commissioned, edited and published in the NewCon Press anthology disLOCATIONS (2007).
In 2006 Ian launched independent publisher NewCon Press, quite by accident (buy him a pint sometime and he’ll tell you about it). Through NewCon he has been privileged to publish original stories from some of the biggest names in genre fiction, as well as provide debuts to some genuinely talented newcomers. The books, their covers and contents have racked up an impressive array of credits – four BSFA Awards, one BSF Award to date, inclusion in ‘Year’s Best’ anthologies and recommendations and honourable mentions from the likes of Gardner Dozios and Locus magazine.
In addition to his publishing and writing, Ian is currently a director of both the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), editing Matrix, the online news and media reviews magazine, for the latter.
His first two completed novels are both due to appear in early 2010: City of Dreams and Nightmare via Harper Collins’ imprint Angry Robot, and The Noise Within from Rebellion imprint Solaris, with sequels to follow. When not pinching himself to make sure this is all really happening, Ian is currently beavering away at the sequels… honest!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 3, 2021
Dark Currents is an anthology of short stories from interesting little publisher Newcon Press for which the authors were given one simple prompt: Dark currents/dark tides. They could make of that what they would and author brains being each unique they delivered sixteen different stories and one poem. I read the hardcover version but it’s available in paperback.
After an introduction by editor Ian Whates, the show starts with some heavy weird in ‘The Fall of Lady Sealight’ by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The British Empire rules the world but the Commonwealth is rebellious. The war takes place in the Void; ‘along and behind and within the physical world, without end, without measure.’ It’s a kind of dream place perceived differently by each warrior. Not many have access and most that do go mad. The few who don’t fight the Battle of Britain. Lady Sealight is a powerful force for the Crown but is severely challenged when Commonwealth scientists invent a new weapon for the Void. Tchaikovsky creates a different reality, immerses you in it and then throws in cosmic consequences and clever plot twists to boot.
I enjoyed ‘Alternate Currents’ by Rod Rees. A smooth meteor six inches in diameter lands in Central Park, New York in March 1895. Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt summons Nikola Tesla to investigate, meeting him at the site of the crash. Roosevelt is accompanied by Major Henry Arnaud, a former Confederate officer now working in Military Intelligence and the narrator of this story. Tesla takes the meteor back to his lab for analysis and reaches a startling conclusion. In this story, he behaves like Sherlock Holmes, making deductions that Major Arnaud, like Watson, finds astounding. Great fun with clever use of historical characters.
As an editor, Andrew Hook published diverse tales which I reviewed in Elasticity: The Best of Elastic Press. As an author, he works in similar slipstream mode which is not my favourite genre but can be different and interesting. ‘Things That Are Here Now, Things That Were There Then’ features an artist named Constance who photographs every part of her life and keeps hard copies all over her flat. The narrator is a photographer she hired to help her in this project. I’m not sure what the story meant but it contained much beautiful writing and some interesting thoughts on art and artists. Photographing every part of your life is perfectly normal nowadays but you’re meant to post it all on Instagram. Hard copies are so last century.
‘Loose Connections’ by Finn Clarke introduces Dark Current Therapy, a technique evolved from Electric Sensory Therapy that allows citizens of Britain to unleash their dark side vicariously in a safe space. Criminals act as ‘dummies’ to receive the bad vibes of good folks who must undergo DCT regularly. An interesting premise brought to life by vivid characters and a clever plot.
‘Sleepless in R’Lyeh by Lavie Tidhar is written in the form of a movie script with interior and exterior shots and features a couple of characters somehow involved with Lovecraft’s Old Gods, Tom via dreams and Meg by sailing to the most remote part of the Pacific Ocean. The repetition gave it a song-like quality and it was more of a mood piece than a narrative but I liked it. As with Thomas Ligotti’s work, it captured the essence of Lovecraft.
‘Lost Sheep’ by Neil Williamson is set in a far future where the most valuable commodity is new cultural experiences and agents patrol the Hegemony like gold prospectors, seeking novelty. Hope to Die is the sentient ship of Daniel Gibbs, black sheep of the Gibbs Galactic Cultures dynasty whose on the run from his family, law enforcement agencies and bounty hunters when he comes across an ancient vessel with a unique culture that could be worth a fortune; a saintly starship where sheep may safely graze. Neil Williamson gives us an entertaining romp with a dash of religious satire.
The book closed strongly with a fantasy, ‘The Bleeding Man’ by Aliette de Bodard, an author whose name seems to be on award nominations everywhere. Sarisha is twelve but sees much and when a bleeding prisoner is brought in for her mother to interrogate her curiosity is piqued. Chandni, her mother, is a blood-empath, an interrogator and executioner for the Pahate dynasty. Sarisha wants to follow this path but her mother resists. As well written as you would expect from de Bodard and with a surprising approach to cold and hard versus warm and fluffy. Are we not all warm and fluffy nowadays? I love secondary world fantasy short stories, especially when they are this good.
It’s something different, this literary weird. The best of it has wit, a plot and some kind of catharsis at the end. The worst of it has dreary descriptions of everyday life and leaves you with a sense of futility. Happily, there are several good stories in Dark Currents. It may thrill you, stretch your mind, frustrate you and annoy you in about equal measure but it will not bore you.
After an introduction by editor Ian Whates, the show starts with some heavy weird in ‘The Fall of Lady Sealight’ by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The British Empire rules the world but the Commonwealth is rebellious. The war takes place in the Void; ‘along and behind and within the physical world, without end, without measure.’ It’s a kind of dream place perceived differently by each warrior. Not many have access and most that do go mad. The few who don’t fight the Battle of Britain. Lady Sealight is a powerful force for the Crown but is severely challenged when Commonwealth scientists invent a new weapon for the Void. Tchaikovsky creates a different reality, immerses you in it and then throws in cosmic consequences and clever plot twists to boot.
I enjoyed ‘Alternate Currents’ by Rod Rees. A smooth meteor six inches in diameter lands in Central Park, New York in March 1895. Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt summons Nikola Tesla to investigate, meeting him at the site of the crash. Roosevelt is accompanied by Major Henry Arnaud, a former Confederate officer now working in Military Intelligence and the narrator of this story. Tesla takes the meteor back to his lab for analysis and reaches a startling conclusion. In this story, he behaves like Sherlock Holmes, making deductions that Major Arnaud, like Watson, finds astounding. Great fun with clever use of historical characters.
As an editor, Andrew Hook published diverse tales which I reviewed in Elasticity: The Best of Elastic Press. As an author, he works in similar slipstream mode which is not my favourite genre but can be different and interesting. ‘Things That Are Here Now, Things That Were There Then’ features an artist named Constance who photographs every part of her life and keeps hard copies all over her flat. The narrator is a photographer she hired to help her in this project. I’m not sure what the story meant but it contained much beautiful writing and some interesting thoughts on art and artists. Photographing every part of your life is perfectly normal nowadays but you’re meant to post it all on Instagram. Hard copies are so last century.
‘Loose Connections’ by Finn Clarke introduces Dark Current Therapy, a technique evolved from Electric Sensory Therapy that allows citizens of Britain to unleash their dark side vicariously in a safe space. Criminals act as ‘dummies’ to receive the bad vibes of good folks who must undergo DCT regularly. An interesting premise brought to life by vivid characters and a clever plot.
‘Sleepless in R’Lyeh by Lavie Tidhar is written in the form of a movie script with interior and exterior shots and features a couple of characters somehow involved with Lovecraft’s Old Gods, Tom via dreams and Meg by sailing to the most remote part of the Pacific Ocean. The repetition gave it a song-like quality and it was more of a mood piece than a narrative but I liked it. As with Thomas Ligotti’s work, it captured the essence of Lovecraft.
‘Lost Sheep’ by Neil Williamson is set in a far future where the most valuable commodity is new cultural experiences and agents patrol the Hegemony like gold prospectors, seeking novelty. Hope to Die is the sentient ship of Daniel Gibbs, black sheep of the Gibbs Galactic Cultures dynasty whose on the run from his family, law enforcement agencies and bounty hunters when he comes across an ancient vessel with a unique culture that could be worth a fortune; a saintly starship where sheep may safely graze. Neil Williamson gives us an entertaining romp with a dash of religious satire.
The book closed strongly with a fantasy, ‘The Bleeding Man’ by Aliette de Bodard, an author whose name seems to be on award nominations everywhere. Sarisha is twelve but sees much and when a bleeding prisoner is brought in for her mother to interrogate her curiosity is piqued. Chandni, her mother, is a blood-empath, an interrogator and executioner for the Pahate dynasty. Sarisha wants to follow this path but her mother resists. As well written as you would expect from de Bodard and with a surprising approach to cold and hard versus warm and fluffy. Are we not all warm and fluffy nowadays? I love secondary world fantasy short stories, especially when they are this good.
It’s something different, this literary weird. The best of it has wit, a plot and some kind of catharsis at the end. The worst of it has dreary descriptions of everyday life and leaves you with a sense of futility. Happily, there are several good stories in Dark Currents. It may thrill you, stretch your mind, frustrate you and annoy you in about equal measure but it will not bore you.
October 25, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in return for a review, via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
A very belated review of this book I received several years ago. This anthology is created from giving the prompt "Dark Currents" to several authors and collecting their responses. As with most anthologies, there are strong and weak stories. The weak ones never seemed to go anywhere, and the strong almost appeared to be chapters out of novel. While not terrible, I wouldn't recommend it to those who's list of "to-read" may conceivably run longer than their natural life-span.
A very belated review of this book I received several years ago. This anthology is created from giving the prompt "Dark Currents" to several authors and collecting their responses. As with most anthologies, there are strong and weak stories. The weak ones never seemed to go anywhere, and the strong almost appeared to be chapters out of novel. While not terrible, I wouldn't recommend it to those who's list of "to-read" may conceivably run longer than their natural life-span.
May 28, 2012
The authors who contributed to this anthology were given two words, “Dark Currents” with which to create a story. Most came back with stories involving space, the sea, or electricity. It’s a diverse collection of stories, some quite good, others less so. There’s an art to writing a good short story. The authors in this collection used two different approaches. Some had complete, self-contained stories. Others were complete stories, but served more as preludes to what could be, and in some cases I hope are, full-length novels. I enjoy both kinds.
Alternate Currents, by Rod Rees was one of the standouts. A period piece involving Nicholas Tesla and a mysterious object from space. A fun stand-alone story and one that could spawn more stories or a full-length novel.
Loose Connections was another story that served as a prelude to what could be a longer story. While it was quite good as far as it went, it stopped more than concluded. Where Rod Rees wrapped up his story while leaving a world ripe for further adventures, this story felt unresolved.
The Barricade by Nina Allen was another standout. It impressively created a nuanced character and a very atmospheric mood.
The Bleeding Man by Aliette de Bodard was also a cut above the rest. A well-developed main character and very interesting story.
Things that Are Here Now by Andrew Hook was one of my least favorites. The author seemed more interested in coming up with clever metaphors than telling a story. Some of the metaphors worked, most didn’t.
The rest of the stories were a mixed bag. A variety of moods that did a good job of sticking to the theme. The sum result is some very good stories and some pretty mediocre ones. All in all, an enjoyable collection. I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of the book.
Alternate Currents, by Rod Rees was one of the standouts. A period piece involving Nicholas Tesla and a mysterious object from space. A fun stand-alone story and one that could spawn more stories or a full-length novel.
Loose Connections was another story that served as a prelude to what could be a longer story. While it was quite good as far as it went, it stopped more than concluded. Where Rod Rees wrapped up his story while leaving a world ripe for further adventures, this story felt unresolved.
The Barricade by Nina Allen was another standout. It impressively created a nuanced character and a very atmospheric mood.
The Bleeding Man by Aliette de Bodard was also a cut above the rest. A well-developed main character and very interesting story.
Things that Are Here Now by Andrew Hook was one of my least favorites. The author seemed more interested in coming up with clever metaphors than telling a story. Some of the metaphors worked, most didn’t.
The rest of the stories were a mixed bag. A variety of moods that did a good job of sticking to the theme. The sum result is some very good stories and some pretty mediocre ones. All in all, an enjoyable collection. I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of the book.
October 15, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in return for a review, via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Each night, in dreams, she still flow through the green-blue dappled vastness of the Void. The dim-lit chasms arched and wheeled around her. A space that is no-space, greater than the mind can conceive, immeasurable, ineffable, nowhere and nothing.
In her dreams she could still soar through the infinite sea-lit halls that her mind made of the Void's awful nothingness; dance amidst the motes of sifting dust; soar unbound and untethered as man has always yearned to do, and never done, save there.
from "The Fall of Lady Sealight"
This book contains fifteen stories and a poem, with a majority of female authors and also of British authors. The editor requested stories on the theme of dark tides or dark currents, and since several of the stories submitted concern electricity rather than the sea, as well as others which interpret the brief less literally, so the title "Dark Currents" fits well.
The stories are mainly fantasy and science fiction, and although there is a Cthulhu mythos story,"Sleepless in R'lyeh" it isn't really frightening, while the most scary story, "Home", wasn't really horror, being the tale of someone who lingered too long in a liminal zone, was caught by creatures from beyond the threshold, and made the mistake of drinking their wine.
My favourites were "The Age of Entitlement" and "The Barricade", while my least favourite was "Electrify Me".
Each night, in dreams, she still flow through the green-blue dappled vastness of the Void. The dim-lit chasms arched and wheeled around her. A space that is no-space, greater than the mind can conceive, immeasurable, ineffable, nowhere and nothing.
In her dreams she could still soar through the infinite sea-lit halls that her mind made of the Void's awful nothingness; dance amidst the motes of sifting dust; soar unbound and untethered as man has always yearned to do, and never done, save there.
from "The Fall of Lady Sealight"
This book contains fifteen stories and a poem, with a majority of female authors and also of British authors. The editor requested stories on the theme of dark tides or dark currents, and since several of the stories submitted concern electricity rather than the sea, as well as others which interpret the brief less literally, so the title "Dark Currents" fits well.
The stories are mainly fantasy and science fiction, and although there is a Cthulhu mythos story,"Sleepless in R'lyeh" it isn't really frightening, while the most scary story, "Home", wasn't really horror, being the tale of someone who lingered too long in a liminal zone, was caught by creatures from beyond the threshold, and made the mistake of drinking their wine.
My favourites were "The Age of Entitlement" and "The Barricade", while my least favourite was "Electrify Me".
May 22, 2012
With anthologies there are always stories that hold up the collection and then a few that seem thrown in there just to add bulk. This collection is no different. I felt lost in quite a few of the stories- many had a bit of an ethereal quality but they just didn't quite live up to any understandable realm. There were a few gems in the collection though- of note I really enjoyed: "The Bleeding Man" and "The Age of Entitlement". There were a few more that were decent. The stories I enjoyed were a pleasure to read while the nonsensical ones I felt as though I trudged through them.
October 18, 2012
Enjoyed this. The writers were an eclectic bunch, several in the 'been meaning to read something by...' category, so that was an added bonus.
One of the things I particularly liked was the very loose interpretation of 'Dark Currents' Ian Whates allowed the authors. The book ends up with a mixture of genres from SF to horror, well balanced. One or two stories go on a little too long, but none so much they drag.
All in all a very pleasant read, ideal for bedtime 'snacking'
One of the things I particularly liked was the very loose interpretation of 'Dark Currents' Ian Whates allowed the authors. The book ends up with a mixture of genres from SF to horror, well balanced. One or two stories go on a little too long, but none so much they drag.
All in all a very pleasant read, ideal for bedtime 'snacking'
dipped-in
November 1, 2018Read Nina Allan's story 'The Barricade'. This is a quiet and magical story, set on the Cornish coast, that reminded me of Lucy Wood and Kirsty Logan. Christine is on holiday with her husband Trevor. She's growing tired of him and questioning whether they should stay together. While they're looking at the art in a local gallery, she falls in love with a painting called 'The Barricade', and when she goes back to buy it, she meets the artist, Jeff Turner. He asks her a question that makes her begin to reassess her history and memories as well as her relationship with Trevor.
What's happened to you? she thought. The only thing that's different is that you bought a painting.
I wouldn't say 'The Barricade' is typical of Allan's work – it's a little more whimsical – but I liked it. I particularly liked that Christine and the other women are middle-aged, something seldom seen in a mermaid/selkie story.
What's happened to you? she thought. The only thing that's different is that you bought a painting.
I wouldn't say 'The Barricade' is typical of Allan's work – it's a little more whimsical – but I liked it. I particularly liked that Christine and the other women are middle-aged, something seldom seen in a mermaid/selkie story.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews