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Bourbon Penn 31
Stories from Bourbon Penn are regularly selected for Year’s Best anthologies and have been reprinted in Stoker Award, Shirley Jackson Award, and New York Times Notable collections. Bourbon Penn 31 features brand new fiction from Naomi J. Williams, E. Catherine Tobler, Anthony Panegyres, Alexia Antoniou, Corey Farrenkopf, Nico Montoya, and Shane Inman.
- GenresHorrorFantasyAnthologies
117 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2025
I picked up a copy of this magazine as part of the free packet given to every World Fantasy convention attendee. As someone who had submitted stories to this publication, I thought it might be useful to read what they published. Based on this issue, I kind of doubt I'll ever be selling them anything.
“Mesdames,” Naomi J. Williams — A strange story about a rich man with a secret: a wife who has his former wife living off her like a parasite. The point-of-view is a new lady’s maid named Anna, hired to replace the aging former maid, who has nerves of steel, is incurious, and yet still a mind of her own, which leads to several things happening by the end of the story. I like the way the story was told, and Anna is an intriguing character, but didn’t appreciate that the story answered none of my own curiosity about the situation, how it came to be, and what it actually was. A pity.
“The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs,” E Catherine Tobler — I’m starting to feel a trend here, and I’m only on the second story. A fantasy, unexplained, about a creature that walks like a woman, is able to co-exist with humans, but is something of a cryptid, upset because a younger cryptid has moved into her territory. However, the ending didn’t work for me, with her finding the missing man, then hunting and killing the cryptid (I think). There’s no explanation of what was going on with the missing man, trapped in a cave by the cryptid. Well written, but I didn’t follow the logic of the story.
“An ‘80s Tenement Love Story,” Anthony Panegyres — A modern fantasy story about goblins, in this case able to pass as humans but still grifters who scam what they can. While slightly more logical than the previous stories in this issue of Bourbon Penn, the ending felt like a let down because it doesn’t truly resolve the story, leaving the reader to wonder if the reveal happens, and what does it mean if it does? The writing is vivid and the characters interesting, and that seems to be the vibe for stories these days rather than plot.
“There Are Only Two Chairs, and the Skin Is Draped Over the Other,” Alexia Antoniou — If anything, reading these stories in Bourbon Penn is revealing why I’ve never sold them anything, because I don’t write stories like these. Not just fantasy, but weird fantasy that makes no sense. I have no idea what this story is supposed to be about, much less understand what is the fantasy and what isn’t. I kept struggling to understand if the point-of-view was real, or maybe a dog, or an invisible friend, or if Catherine was any of those things. The writing, like the other stories in this issue, is compelling, but completely mystifying.
“Tone Deaf,” Corey Farrenkopf — Truly a weird tale as it never states it outright but I read it as a Cthulhu mythos story. A group buys an abandoned church in Cape Cod and a trio of boys keep watching the place hoping that it will be turned into a music venue for their band, but what does happen is something entirely different and strange. One of the boys is called by the music of the spheres, of a kind, and that’s the plot. I liked it somewhat better than the others so far in this issue, maybe because cosmic horror is supposed to be ineffable.
“The Right Time,” Nico Montoya — The anachronisms apart, this story made less than no sense. Instead, it was simply surreal. I have no idea what it meant, or even if it was meant to mean something. Think of it like one of those B-grade art movies of the late 60s, where it goes from scene to scene and you wonder if you should have taken some kind of drug to appreciate it.
“Beach Day,” Shane Inman — And if I thought the last story was surrealistic, then this was unsurrealistic. No, that doesn’t make sense, nor does this story. Ostensibly about a down-on-his-luck ice cream man with a dead cat in the freezer, it lurches from being a sad-sack satire into a…I don’t know, some kind of horror show with a crowd of ravenous rich kids buying his dead cat and eating it. Sorry for the spoiler, but now you know and don’t have to experience it like I did. What’s the point?
“Mesdames,” Naomi J. Williams — A strange story about a rich man with a secret: a wife who has his former wife living off her like a parasite. The point-of-view is a new lady’s maid named Anna, hired to replace the aging former maid, who has nerves of steel, is incurious, and yet still a mind of her own, which leads to several things happening by the end of the story. I like the way the story was told, and Anna is an intriguing character, but didn’t appreciate that the story answered none of my own curiosity about the situation, how it came to be, and what it actually was. A pity.
“The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs,” E Catherine Tobler — I’m starting to feel a trend here, and I’m only on the second story. A fantasy, unexplained, about a creature that walks like a woman, is able to co-exist with humans, but is something of a cryptid, upset because a younger cryptid has moved into her territory. However, the ending didn’t work for me, with her finding the missing man, then hunting and killing the cryptid (I think). There’s no explanation of what was going on with the missing man, trapped in a cave by the cryptid. Well written, but I didn’t follow the logic of the story.
“An ‘80s Tenement Love Story,” Anthony Panegyres — A modern fantasy story about goblins, in this case able to pass as humans but still grifters who scam what they can. While slightly more logical than the previous stories in this issue of Bourbon Penn, the ending felt like a let down because it doesn’t truly resolve the story, leaving the reader to wonder if the reveal happens, and what does it mean if it does? The writing is vivid and the characters interesting, and that seems to be the vibe for stories these days rather than plot.
“There Are Only Two Chairs, and the Skin Is Draped Over the Other,” Alexia Antoniou — If anything, reading these stories in Bourbon Penn is revealing why I’ve never sold them anything, because I don’t write stories like these. Not just fantasy, but weird fantasy that makes no sense. I have no idea what this story is supposed to be about, much less understand what is the fantasy and what isn’t. I kept struggling to understand if the point-of-view was real, or maybe a dog, or an invisible friend, or if Catherine was any of those things. The writing, like the other stories in this issue, is compelling, but completely mystifying.
“Tone Deaf,” Corey Farrenkopf — Truly a weird tale as it never states it outright but I read it as a Cthulhu mythos story. A group buys an abandoned church in Cape Cod and a trio of boys keep watching the place hoping that it will be turned into a music venue for their band, but what does happen is something entirely different and strange. One of the boys is called by the music of the spheres, of a kind, and that’s the plot. I liked it somewhat better than the others so far in this issue, maybe because cosmic horror is supposed to be ineffable.
“The Right Time,” Nico Montoya — The anachronisms apart, this story made less than no sense. Instead, it was simply surreal. I have no idea what it meant, or even if it was meant to mean something. Think of it like one of those B-grade art movies of the late 60s, where it goes from scene to scene and you wonder if you should have taken some kind of drug to appreciate it.
“Beach Day,” Shane Inman — And if I thought the last story was surrealistic, then this was unsurrealistic. No, that doesn’t make sense, nor does this story. Ostensibly about a down-on-his-luck ice cream man with a dead cat in the freezer, it lurches from being a sad-sack satire into a…I don’t know, some kind of horror show with a crowd of ravenous rich kids buying his dead cat and eating it. Sorry for the spoiler, but now you know and don’t have to experience it like I did. What’s the point?
July 27, 2024
First time reading this magazine full of strange and unusual stories that are difficult to classify. My faves are Corey Farrenkoph's "Tone Deaf" and Naomi J. Williams "Mesdames," which knocked my socks off.
January 25, 2024
This is another ripper from Bourbon Penn.
5 stars "Mesdames" by Naomi J. Williams. A dark historical story about a servant lady in a wealthy manor, who is caught up taking care of a nightmarish situation. Will give the whole mother and daughter scenario a new feel. Creepy, masterful prose, but also fun is a squeamish manner. I think I'll now read Naomi J. Williams' novel!
5 stars "The Louder I Call, The Faster it Runs" by E. Catherine Tobler. A thriller of sorts, with missing people by a lake town. This utilises a method I've seen before, in which a pseudo human has more the qualities of a wild animal species. But Tobler's story is wickedly fun. It's fairly serious in tone, but you won't be able to put it down. Once again, creepy. Almost the American version of Nordic noir. Very atmospheric too.
5 stars "An '80s Tenement Love Story" by Anthony Panegyres. A story about a pair of confidence tricksters, love and dogs...The voice, characterisation and 80s setting all come alive here in a humorous vibrant story with some deep themes. Very Australian, but it would also appeal to Star Wars fans, 80s geek culture fans, fans of love stories, and dog lovers... I saw it as a coming-of-age love story, but it also deals with poverty, ethics, father and son relationships, relationships with the elderly, and dogs. Not nearly as creepy as the first two, but a truly lovely story with plenty of hope, and equally as wonderful. I love it when gentle humour combines with layered themes. Wonderful.
4 stars "There are Only Two Chairs and the Skin is Draped Over the Other" by Alexia Antoniou. A wonderful set up, as two girls, who are also close in a complex relationship, find a scalped human skin (and I'm assuming its scalped...) in the dirty creek nearby. The girls' relationship is the key focus here and the setup is more of a conceit to explore the girls. Nicely written. It is quite beautiful, but I did want more from it after the middle. Definitely worth the read all up though. Original and thought-provoking.
4 stars "Tone Deaf" by Corey Farrenkopf. Very cool coming-of-age story about some guys in an amateur band, who are about to leave for their uni/college lifestyles. Captures the age and friendships so well. The backdrop is extra-terrestrial occupation of a building. It ends quite abruptly, but the journey is rockingly good. And like Panegyres' story, the genre elements, are not the primary focus, but the friendships, along with the capturing of teenage identity is. Fun but also authentic.
4 stars "The Right Time" by Nico Montoya. A humorous story all about time and history and it's set in a most unusual future. Like the fact that there are sombre stories, such as Tobler, Williams and Antoniou's mixed with the humorous in this edition. This is a lighter story to take the edge off. It's very readable and works a treat.
5 stars 'Beach Day' Weird, symbolic and fabulous. An ice-cream vendor (the mobile van type of vendor) has his dead pet cat frozen in the vehicle, but has to earn a day's living to make the rent for the week, yet his vehicle's air-con unit is going kaput. Incredibly funny, absurd and intriguing. Deals with class themes and the wealth divide but it is also surreal in a way that keeps you absolutely glued to the pages. Loved it. Lovely way to end #31.
5 stars "Mesdames" by Naomi J. Williams. A dark historical story about a servant lady in a wealthy manor, who is caught up taking care of a nightmarish situation. Will give the whole mother and daughter scenario a new feel. Creepy, masterful prose, but also fun is a squeamish manner. I think I'll now read Naomi J. Williams' novel!
5 stars "The Louder I Call, The Faster it Runs" by E. Catherine Tobler. A thriller of sorts, with missing people by a lake town. This utilises a method I've seen before, in which a pseudo human has more the qualities of a wild animal species. But Tobler's story is wickedly fun. It's fairly serious in tone, but you won't be able to put it down. Once again, creepy. Almost the American version of Nordic noir. Very atmospheric too.
5 stars "An '80s Tenement Love Story" by Anthony Panegyres. A story about a pair of confidence tricksters, love and dogs...The voice, characterisation and 80s setting all come alive here in a humorous vibrant story with some deep themes. Very Australian, but it would also appeal to Star Wars fans, 80s geek culture fans, fans of love stories, and dog lovers... I saw it as a coming-of-age love story, but it also deals with poverty, ethics, father and son relationships, relationships with the elderly, and dogs. Not nearly as creepy as the first two, but a truly lovely story with plenty of hope, and equally as wonderful. I love it when gentle humour combines with layered themes. Wonderful.
4 stars "There are Only Two Chairs and the Skin is Draped Over the Other" by Alexia Antoniou. A wonderful set up, as two girls, who are also close in a complex relationship, find a scalped human skin (and I'm assuming its scalped...) in the dirty creek nearby. The girls' relationship is the key focus here and the setup is more of a conceit to explore the girls. Nicely written. It is quite beautiful, but I did want more from it after the middle. Definitely worth the read all up though. Original and thought-provoking.
4 stars "Tone Deaf" by Corey Farrenkopf. Very cool coming-of-age story about some guys in an amateur band, who are about to leave for their uni/college lifestyles. Captures the age and friendships so well. The backdrop is extra-terrestrial occupation of a building. It ends quite abruptly, but the journey is rockingly good. And like Panegyres' story, the genre elements, are not the primary focus, but the friendships, along with the capturing of teenage identity is. Fun but also authentic.
4 stars "The Right Time" by Nico Montoya. A humorous story all about time and history and it's set in a most unusual future. Like the fact that there are sombre stories, such as Tobler, Williams and Antoniou's mixed with the humorous in this edition. This is a lighter story to take the edge off. It's very readable and works a treat.
5 stars 'Beach Day' Weird, symbolic and fabulous. An ice-cream vendor (the mobile van type of vendor) has his dead pet cat frozen in the vehicle, but has to earn a day's living to make the rent for the week, yet his vehicle's air-con unit is going kaput. Incredibly funny, absurd and intriguing. Deals with class themes and the wealth divide but it is also surreal in a way that keeps you absolutely glued to the pages. Loved it. Lovely way to end #31.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews