Witch House: Amateur Magazine of Cosmic Horror

Witch House #1

by Jason Ray Carney (Editor), Brianna Malotke, Chuck E. Clark

Issue 1, Summer 2021

54 pages, PDF

First published August 20, 2021

About the author

Jason Ray Carney, Ph.D. is a lecturer in popular literature and creative writing at Christopher Newport University; he is the author of the academic book, *Weird Tales of Modernity: The Ephemerality of the Ordinary in the Stories of Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and H.P. Lovecraft* (McFarland 2019) and the sword and sorcery collection, *Rakefire and Other Stories* (Pulp Hero Press 2020). He co-edits the academic journal, *The Dark Man: The Journal of Robert E. Howard and Pulp Studies* and is the editor of *Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Pulp Sword and Sorcery.* He is the area chair of the "Pulp Studies" section of the Popular Culture Association.

Reviews

[James T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great collection of “amateur” horror published by Spiral Tower. Like most of their anthologies the amateur in the title belies the quality. There are some really striking stories in here. I love Chuck Clark’s “Too Fast” it really hits you on a personal level. “The Light” by Rob Graham will make your skin crawl. The other stories are all great, and some take cosmic horror in directions you would not expect.

There’s also cool art and some poems. The poem “The Light Comes Early” really got me too.

If you like William Hope Hodgson, HP Lovecraft, Poe etc you’re doing yourself a disservice not checking this out. It’s brisk 54 pages and it’s free!!!

[Rob Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many amazing stories and poems in this one. Spiral Tower press seems to be bringing back the old days of really talented “amateur” authors, though I struggle to call authors like Chuck Clarke an amateur at this point, and giving them a place to showcase their abilities.

Absolutely fantastic, and I can’t wait to see what all comes out of Spiral Tower in the future.

[NOLA Bert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The magazine contains eight short stories and three poems, plus an editor’s note from Jason Ray Carney about the history of cosmic horror. My biggest complaint about the stories is that too many of them focus on a very vague horror, or vague dread. Maybe too much of a focus on atmosphere or feeling. I’m familiar with H.P. Lovecraft, and while his writing can, at times, drag, usually the cosmic horror is tangible. Even if alien, even if incomprehensible, it’s usually a thing.

My favorite stories were “Through Stranger Lands” by Chase A. Folmar—an interesting variant on the mad scientist tale. I knew where it was going, and that didn’t sink the story. “The House” by Susan P. Sinor—cults! “The Light” by Rob Graham—madness and bugs!

[Michael Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great debut issue. Some great tales that really stuck with me Chuck E. Clark's "Too Fast", Susan P. Sinor's "The House" and the most haunting tale of the issue Geza A.G.Reilly's "Between the Reflection and the World".