Weirdbook #31

Weirdbook #31

by Douglas Draa (Editor)

Weirdbook returns after a nearly 20-year hiatus under the editorship of Douglas Draa! Here are great fantasy and horror tales by current and upcoming masters of the genre... Chivaine, by John R. Fultz
Give Me the Daggers, by Adrian Cole
The Music of Bleak Entrainment, by Gary A. Braunbeck
Into The Mountains with Mother Old Growth, by Christian Riley
The Grimlorn Under the Mountain, by James Aquilone
Dolls, by Paul Dale Anderson
Gut Punch, by Jason A. Wyckoff
Educational Upgrade, by Bret McCormick
Boxes of Dead Children, by Darrell Schweitzer
The Forgotten, by D.C. Lozar
Coffee with Dad's Ghost, Jessica Amanda Salmonson
Missed It By That Much, by Gregg Chamberlain
A Clockwork Muse, by Erica Ruppert
The Rookery, by Kurt Newton
Wolf of Hunger, Wolf of Shame, by J. T. Glover
Zucchini Season, by Janet Harriett
The Jewels That Were Their Eyes, by Llanwyre Laish
The Twins, by Kevin Strange
Princess or Warrior?, by S.W. Lauden

Genres: Weird Fiction, Anthologies

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2015

Reviews

[S.E. Lindberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Weird' is resurrected, and seeks your identity: Weirdbook Magazine aims to deliver a menu of genres: “fantasy, dark fantasy, sword and sorcery, ghost, horror, heroic fantasy, science fantasy or just plain odd” (quote from their submission requests online). This is fitting because “Weird Fiction” grew out of the pulp magazine era (~1920’s) when the above list was all mashed into one genre. In 1967 W. Paul Ganley edited Weirdbook magazine, its compelling run ceased in 1997 (Back issues available via Ganley’s ebay store). A century from its origins, Weird Fiction still has followers, but its identity is split across myriad markets/venues; in 2015, editor Doug Draa partnered with John Betancourt of Wildside Press to reboot the magazine.

Cover and Themes: Weirdbook 31 contains 19 short stories ( ~10 are traditional length, ~9 are very short/flash fiction) and 8 poems. Many associate Weird Fiction with “Mythos/Lovecraft Horror”; expect some influence, but the net was cast wider. The vast majority of the 19 stories are modern-day ghost/horror stories; less represented are ones with sci-fi elements--which had ~3 entries, and the Sword-n-Sorcery/Fantasy-Myth type--numbering ~2. This mix was unexpected because the Front cover by artist Dusan Kostic appeals to Dark Fantasy readers. The cover arguably leads nicely into the opening story by John R. Fultz, which is one of my favorites of the collection. The back cover by Stephen Fabian was originally planned to be the front cover.

If there is a predominant theme across these disparate stories, it is “Finding Personal Identity.” Greater than half of the stories deal with possession, haunts, or missions around the protagonists defining/dealing-with “who they are.” I enjoyed finding that theme but it was not clearly designed. I would have enjoyed the collection even more if there was an explicit sub-theme. With all that could be ‘Weird Fiction,” having a theme per issue would help readers know when they should delve in.

My personal favorites include: Fultz’s ghostly myth Chivaine, the two wilderness adventures from Riley and Aquilone (Into the Mountains with Mother Old Growth and The Grimlorn Under the Mountain), Schweitzer’s ghost story Boxes of Dead Children, and Laish’s plight of a raven The Jewels That Were Their Eyes. Short-fiction wise, Harriett’s Zucchini Season and Gregg Chamberlain’s Missed It By That Much both made me laugh aloud. On the poetry front, the one that most affected me as Bride of Death by Dave Reeder.

In all, Weirdbook is solidly reborn with #31; looking forward to see how #32 shapes up.

Content / Author/ milieu-tone
19 SHORT STORIES:
Chivaine by John R. Fultz (sword-n-sorcery, ghosts, myths)
Give Me the Daggers by Adrian Cole (modern/gothic noir, silly side of carnivals & crime)
The Music of Bleak Entrainment by Gary A. Braunbeck (modern horror sound - physics)
Into The Mountains with Mother Old Growth by Christian Riley (modern wilderness adventure-weird)
The Grimlorn Under the Mountain by James Aquilone (another modern wilderness adventures- weird)
Dolls by Paul Dale Anderson (modern possession ghost-like witches)
Gut Punch by Jason A. Wyckoff (modern possession – crazy mother and psychologists)
Educational Upgrade by Bret McCormick (modern Possession - Gypsy magic)
Boxes of Dead Children by Darrell Schweitzer (modern Ghost Story)
The Forgotten by D.C. Lozar (very short fiction – modern trippy experience)
Coffee with Dad’s Ghost by Jessica Amanda Salmonson (very short fiction – modern ghost story)
Missed It By That Much by Gregg Chamberlain (very short fiction – very funny zombie/writer theme)
A Clockwork Muse by Erica Ruppert (sci-fi-ish, robots)
The Rookery by Kurt Newton (very short fiction – modern day hunting story)
Wolf of Hunger Wolf of Shame by J. T. Glover (sci-fi-ish, non-humanoid protagonist)
Zucchini Season by Janet Harriett (very short, meet Death herself, she can laugh)
The Jewels That Were Their Eyes by Llanwyre Laish (medieval, non-humanoid protagonist)
The Twins by Kevin Strange (very short modern day, resurrection gone bad)
Princess or Warrior? by S.W. Lauden (sci-fi-ish, very short modern day)

8 POEMS:
The City in the Sands by Ann K. Schwader
NecRomance by Frederick J. Mayer
Walpurgis Eve by Kyle Opperman
Sonnets of an Eldritch Bent by W. H. Pugmire
Castle Csejthe by Ashley Dioses
The Shrine by Wade German
Bride of Death by Dave Reeder
Modern Primitive by Chad Hensley

[L.F. Falconer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This resurrection issue of Weirdbook Magazine certainly allows the publication to live up to its name. The wickedly delightful mix of its contents ensures there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Though the stories and poems were all well done, two of my personal favorites were "The Forgotten," by D.C. Lozar, and "Zucchini Season," by Janet Harriet. The pages are filled with talent, both established and emerging, and this is a great bang-for-your-buck investment!

[S.E. Lindberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Weird' is resurrected, and seeks your identity, Weirdbook Magazine aims to deliver a menu of genres: “fantasy, dark fantasy, sword and sorcery, ghost, horror, heroic fantasy, science fantasy or just plain odd” (quote from their submission requests online). This is fitting because “Weird Fiction” grew out of the pulp magazine era (~1920’s) when the above list was all mashed into one genre. In 1967 W. Paul Ganley edited Weirdbook magazine, its compelling run ceased in 1997 (Back issues available via Ganley’s ebay store). A century from its origins, Weird Fiction still has followers, but its identity is split across myriad markets/venues; in 2015, editor Doug Draa partnered with John Betancourt ofWildside Press to reboot the magazine.Cover and Themes: Weirdbook 31 contains 19 short stories ( ~10 are traditional length, ~9 are very short/flash fiction) and 8 poems. Many associate Weird Fiction with “Mythos/Lovecraft Horror”; expect some influence, but the net was cast wider. The vast majority of the 19 stories are modern-day ghost/horror stories; less represented are ones with sci-fi elements--which had ~3 entries, and the Sword-n-Sorcery/Fantasy-Myth type--numbering ~2. This mix was unexpected because the Front cover by artist Dusan Kostic appeals to Dark Fantasy readers. The cover arguably leads nicely into the opening story by John R. Fultz, which is one of my favorites of the collection. The back cover by Stephen Fabian was originally planned to be the front cover. If there is a predominant theme across these disparate stories, it is “Finding Personal Identity.” Greater than half of the stories deal with possession, haunts, or missions around the protagonists defining/dealing-with “who they are.” I enjoyed finding that theme but it was not clearly designed. I would have enjoyed the collection even more if there was an explicit sub-theme. With all that could be ‘Weird Fiction,” having a theme per issue would help readers know when they should delve in.My personal favorites include: Fultz’s ghostly myth Chivaine, the two wilderness adventures from Riley and Aquilone (Into the Mountains with Mother Old Growth and The Grimlorn Under the Mountain), Schweitzer’s ghost story Boxes of Dead Children, and Laish’s plight of a raven The Jewels That Were Their Eyes. Short-fiction wise, Harriett’s Zucchini Season and Gregg Chamberlain’s Missed It By That Much both made me laugh aloud. On the poetry front, the one that most affected me as Bride of Death by Dave Reeder.In all, Weirdbook is solidly reborn with #31; looking forward to see how #32 shapes up. Content / Author/ milieu-tone19 SHORT STORIES:

Chivaine by John R. Fultz (sword-n-sorcery, ghosts, myths)
Give Me the Daggers by Adrian Cole (modern/gothic noir, silly side of carnivals & crime)
The Music of Bleak Entrainment by Gary A. Braunbeck (modern horror sound - physics)
Into The Mountains with Mother Old Growth by Christian Riley (modern wilderness adventure-weird)
The Grimlorn Under the Mountain by James Aquilone (another modern wilderness adventures- weird)
Dolls by Paul Dale Anderson (modern possession ghost-like witches)
Gut Punch by Jason A. Wyckoff (modern possession – crazy mother and psychologists)
Educational Upgrade by Bret McCormick (modern Possession - Gypsy magic)
Boxes of Dead Children by Darrell Schweitzer (modern Ghost Story)
The Forgotten by D.C. Lozar (very short fiction – modern trippy experience)
Coffee with Dad’s Ghost by Jessica Amanda Salmonson (very short fiction – modern ghost story)
Missed It By That Much by Gregg Chamberlain (very short fiction – very funny zombie/writer theme)
A Clockwork Muse by Erica Ruppert (sci-fi-ish, robots)
The Rookery by Kurt Newton (very short fiction – modern day hunting story)
Wolf of Hunger Wolf of Shame by J. T. Glover (sci-fi-ish, non-humanoid protagonist)
Zucchini Season by Janet Harriett (very short, meet Death herself, she can laugh)
The Jewels That Were Their Eyes by Llanwyre Laish (medieval, non-humanoid protagonist)
The Twins by Kevin Strange (very short modern day, resurrection gone bad)
Princess or Warrior? by S.W. Lauden (sci-fi-ish, very short modern day)

8 POEMS:

The City in the Sands by Ann K. Schwader
NecRomance by Frederick J. Mayer
Walpurgis Eve by Kyle Opperman
Sonnets of an Eldritch Bent by W. H. Pugmire
Castle Csejthe by Ashley Dioses
The Shrine by Wade German
Bride of Death by Dave Reeder
Modern Primitive by Chad Hensley

 

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine collection of stories & poems, mostly shading more into the dark fantasy/horror side of the spectrum.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Weird' means a lot of things. This ambitious reboot of the concept of Weirdbook tries to cover a significant number of those variations within its slim shape.
Did it succeed? Quantitatively, yes. Qualitatively, not entirely, but...
Let me go one-by-one.
After the brief but interesting introductions penned by Editor et.al, we come across lots of stuff. They include eight (8) poems, of which I am no judge. I can only explain how I felt about the fictional pieces.
1. John R. Fultz's "Chivaine": Nice, lyrical, haunting fantasy.
2. Adrian Cole's "Give Me the Daggers": Nick Nightmare tells us one of his wonderful 'pulpworldly' adventures.
3. Gary A. Braunbeck's "The Music of Bleak Entrainment": Chilling!
4. Christian Riley's "Into the Mountains with Mother Old Growth": Very good story that brought back the memories of reading Laird Barron's awesome 'Old Virginia'.
5. James Aquilone's "The Grimlorn Under the Mountain": Very-very good.
6. Paul Dale Anderson's "Dolls": Overlong, boring, devoid of any story, and very badly written as well.
7. Jason A Wyckoff's "Gut Punch": Brilliant.
8. Bret McCormick's "Educational Upgrade": Charming.
9. Darrell Schweitzer's "Boxes of Dead Children": Very good story. Scary and ambiguous.
10. D.C. Lozar's "The Forgotten": Tripe.
11. Jessica Amanda Salmonson's "Coffee with Dad's Ghost": Vignette, not story.
12. Gregg Chamberlain's "Missed It By That Much": Ironic little piece.
13. Erica Ruppert's "A Clockwork Muse": Boring and pointless.
14. Kurt Newton's "The Rookery": Drab.
15. J.T. Glover's "Wolf of Hunger, Wolf of Shame": It was nothing but one of Aesop's Fables refurbished as a story.
16. Janet Harriett's "Zucchini Season": Witty.
17. Llanwyre Laish's "The Jewels That Were Their Eyes": Haunting, lyrical, magical.
18. Kevin Strange's "The Twins": Exquisite.
19. S.W. Lauden's "Princess or Warrior?": A sweet, cute piece garbled as scifi (sort of).

Overall, this volume has plenty of readable material, some of which are definitely worthy of revisiting. Unfortunately, the few bad works drag the level of the entire volume down. Nevertheless, it's definitely worth an intense read. Plus, the illustrations, esp. Fabian's back-cover, are outstanding.
Recommended.

[Cherei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weirdbook 31 was my intro to all of the various authors. Some of them really stick with you.. whereas a few were just weird. :)

I particularly really liked the Give me the Daggers, by Adrian Cole. It reminded me a great deal of some of Stephen King's earlier works where the character can exist in two different "planes of existence".

The Music of Bleak Entrapment, by Gary A. Braunbeck was just off the wall.. padded wall that is! I can easily see this story being turned into a horror movie that would freak out most anyone. The scientific research in this story has the reader sitting back and wondering what would happen if you sine waved sound and it's physical properties. It really reminded me of a freaky SS German WWII experiment that sent the victims over the edge of mental stability.

Into the Mountains with the Mother old Growth by Christian Riley.. Now this one.. is perfect for retelling around a campfire. Trust me.. it'll scare the crap outta any camper! lol

Educational upgrade by Bret McCormick.. again.. this one reminded me of a Stephen King tale. As did Missed it by that much by Gregg Chamberlain.

The Twins, by Kevin Strange will freak you out! You will NEVER want to go to a funeral again! lmao. Wicked sense of humor and a delightfully fun horror story!

Dolls, by Paul Dale Anderson was probably my favorite of all of the stories. All I'm going to say is .. you are what you eat! Another one that would make one heck of a movie!

Overall.. good reading! The perfect book to take with you when you have to wait in line for whatever. It will pass the time and give you a whole new perspective of those folks that may be in any waiting room with you.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weirdbook 31 magazine by Wildside Publishing is a revival of the magazine from 1997. I am not familiar with the original Weirdbook, so I have nothing to compare it to. An anthology series is only as good as the authors involved. Strong contributions are: ‘Chivaine,’ by John R. Fultz, ‘NecRomance’ by Fredrick J. Mayer, ‘The Jewels That Were Their Eyes,’ by Llanwyre Laish. Fun contributions are ‘Missed It By That Much,’ by Gregg Chamberlain, ‘Zucchini Season,’ by Janet Harriett and ‘Sonnets of an Eldritch Bent,’ by W.H. Pugmire. However don’t judge this magazine by the cover. Most of the stories here fall under the category of horror not weird.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a deliciously dark collection of fantasy and horror stories that are truly unsettling, plus some phantasmagorical poetry and wonderful artwork! This is especially good reading during the Halloween season, so you really should order a copy now!

[Bogdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting new issue of an old weird/fantasy magazine.

There are some good stories here.

I liked more the long ones than the others but still it`s an entertaining issue.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like a pulpy, put-it-all-out-there and revel in it vibe, this is a great selection. I love the commitment to variety in this magazine. I never knew what I was going to encounter next and it adds an extra bit of excitement to the read. There were enough hits that I could deal with the pieces that didn't do much for me. It's one of the beautiful things about the weird, really. There's so many flavors of it--and Weirdbook puts out quite a buffet.

Here are my favorites. "Chivaine" by John R. Fultz was a stellar opener. It's got an epic old-school sword and sorcery feel to it that I loved. James Aquiline's "The Grimlorn Under the Mountain", Llanwyre Laish's "The Jewels That Were Their Eyes" and J.T. Glover's "Wolf of Hunger, Wolf of Shame" capture the exquisite creepiness and adventure of dark fairy tales. "Educational Upgrade" by Bret McCormick has such a cool premise. It won me over enough to forgive a move or two that landed flat for me. That may sound like faint praise, but isn't meant to be. Gregg Chamberlain's "Missed it by That Much" was a welcome bit of fun. And, finally--the one I liked the most: "Zucchini Season" by Janet Harriett.

3.5

[Mr Calum I MacIver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first issue of the reborn World Fantasy Award winning magazine that was published from 1977 and 1997 and what a fabulous rebirth it is. There are 19 short stories (nine are very short) and eight poems, which range from Lovecraftian through to modern horror and on into sword and sorcery. The book is opened by my favourite tale in the anthology, “Chivaine” by John R. Fultz’, a haunting and beautifully told tale of a dead warrior hero brought back from the dead to save his land from a brutal invader. This is classic sword and sorcery told in a beautifully wrought style that carries a weird Dunsanian vibe. Also of note is Christian Riley’s terrifying “Into the Mountains with Mother Old Growth”, a story of a hiker’s encounter with something sinister in the deep woods and James Aquilone’s “The Grimlorn Under the Mountain” which comes across as a monstrous modern fairy tale. Overall editor Doug Draa has brought together am excellent set of tales and delivered a fantastic rebirth for the magazine.

[Peter Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy and fun-to-read short stories! Most of these stories were very well written.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun stories. Also poetry. A short book, and the stories are short, too. I liked The Twins, Cthulhu Mythos story The Music of Bleak Entrainment.

[Monte · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn’t enjoy the poetry in this volume there’s an abundance of engaging prose pieces here that made it hard to put the volume aside: Fulz’s, ‘Chivaine’; Cole’s, ‘Give Me the Daggers’; Braunbeck’s, ‘The Music of Bleak Entertainment’; Salmonson’s ‘Coffee with Dad’s Ghost’. I could throw in a couple more, and in fact a few more than that: but this is indicative more of the satisfying thematic, stylistic, and tonal variety to be found in this collection than of stories that hit a sweet spot. If a fan is someone who wants more of the same, consider me a fan.

[Chris Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally satisfying--worth the read. The editor (Doug) did a fantastic job with this classic resurrection. As promised, there was a dose of just about everything under the speculative umbrella, and every piece kept my interest. Looking forward to the next issue!

[Doug Draa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can i say. i edited it. :-)

[Jeremy Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not have been more happy for the return of a well-developed book full of wonderfully weird tales that I can hold in my hand.