Apex Magazine Issue 124

Apex Magazine #124

by Jason Sizemore (Editor), E. Catherine Tobler, R Gatwood

Original Fiction
"Without Wishes to Bind You" by E. Catherine Tobler
"How to Be Good" by R. Gatwood
"What Sisters Take" by Kelly Sandoval
"Survival, After" by Nicole J. LeBoeuf
"Osu" by Kingsley Okpii
"Eilam Is Forever" by Beth Dawkins

Classic Fiction
"The Fine Print" by Chinelo Onwualu
"The Shadow We Cast Through Time" by Indrapramit Das

Nonfiction
"Dialog, Patois: If It's Good Enough for Anthony Burgess, It's Good Enough for You" by Tonya Liburd
"A Special Kind of Gaze: Meta-Representation in Science Fiction" by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror

Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2021

About the author

I was born the son of an unemployed coal miner in a tiny Kentucky Appalachian villa named Big Creek (population 400). It’s an isolated area with beautiful rolling hills, thick forests, and country folk. I lived in Big Creek until I went to college, spending my weekends cruising the Winn Dixie parking lot of ladies, partying in my cousin’s run-down three room trailer, and being a member of the bad-ass Clay County High School Academic Team.

College was quite a shock for me. Girls! Minorities! Strip clubs! And it didn’t help that I attended Transylvania University, a fairly snotty (but excellent) private college in Lexington, KY (on scholarship… no way my family could have sent me otherwise). I graduated in the standard four years with a degree in Computer Science.

Since 1996, I’ve worked for evil corporations (IBM), dot com dreamers (eCampus.com), The Man (both city and state government), and for The Kids (KY Dept. of Education), and assholes (lots and lots of assholes).

In 2004, I decided my life was boring, that I no longer needed disposable income, and I needed to increase my stress levels. I started Apex Publications, a small press publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. At first it was just a small print zine, then a pro-level online zine, then books, and then ebooks.

I edit anthologies, mostly for Apex (because I’m a control freak). I occasionally do copy editing (when pressed) and have done plenty of acquisition editing over the years.

I also write. I don’t really write enough to leave a mark, but it seems to go well when I do put pen to paper.

Miscellaneous facts about me: left-handed, blue eyes, super geeky, hillbilly accent, near-sighted, and typically in a goofy mood.

Also, and most importantly, I’m not the drunkard all those Facebook photos makes me out to be. It just happens that cameras are always around when I… have libations. Honest!

Reviews

[Elena Linville-Abdo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short stories I read so far are very good even if the picture they paint of the future is rather bleak.

[Keturah Barchers · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best issues Apex has put out. I highly recommend it.

[Jared Millet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic issue this month. The standouts for me were "How to Be Good" by R. Gatwood and "The Shadow We Cast Through Time" by Indrapramit Das.

[Elaysee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gatwood is particularly chilling, and the author interview on the story's genesis and construction enlightening.

[Michael Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read
"Survival, After" by Nicole LeBoeuf
"Eliam is Forever" by Beth Dawkins