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Bourbon Penn 26
Bourbon Penn 26 features brand new stories of the imagination and odd by Rich Larson, Steve Toase, Nikita Andester, Fred Coppersmith, Jan Stinchcomb, and H. Pueyo. Stories from Bourbon Penn have been reprinted in multiple Year's Best anthologies as well as Stoker Award, World Fantasy Award, and New York Times Notable collections.
140 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 11, 2022
Crisp writing, character driven short stories, and just plain “weird,” encapsulate the 26th issue of Bourbon Penn. A tale with a beginning, middle and end, is never a prerequisite. Nor is it forbidden. Merely accepted, when offered. There are six dark fictions, and a stunning cover depicting—to paraphrase the words of the artist, Ed Binkely—a goblin bedecked in pinstripes. Editor/publisher Eric Secker knows what he likes, accepting a broad spectrum of subgenres, for lack of a better term.
It all starts when Syd relocates to Las Vegas from LA, with boyfriend Tarrick, to be with dying mother for the last weeks of her life in Nikita Andester’s “Black Hole Elvis.” A blend of psychedelic awareness, the need for closure before death as well as beyond, and a depiction of non-binary gender life enveloping a drug fueled vision of one cool cat Elvis thriving beyond the grave.
Bizzarro best describes Rich Larson’s “Good Night Moon.” The title, borrowed from a children’s bedtime book, is apt in that the tale evolves from paragraph to paragraph, much like a dream in which anything goes. The narrator plods through life, working menial jobs, while the world around him descends deeper and deeper into unhealthy escapism, bloody chaos and hopeless insanity.
“Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Along the Road,” by Fred Coppersmith, is a post-apocalyptic slice of life. In another dream-like telling, Meredith (or Margaret, she can’t remember which) journeys toward what will most likely be her final undoing, with a chatty conniving dead man, who might just be her late husband, who she probably murdered in that maddening moment when the angels, aliens or demons—whatever they might be—crash-landed on earth, upending pretty much everything.
Jan Stinchcomb offers us an insight into how families haunt us in “Each Time I set Foot in that House.” Meg is forever drawn to her natal family home, where her parents and sister remain inexorably bound to the past, knowing full well the inevitable consequences of her doing so.
Spells, demons and possession color “Sealed with a Kiss,” by H. Pueyo. Israel, a sensitive boy, tries suicide; Dalila, a seductive girl with a tragic past, manipulates men with ease; their teacher, Professor Sabino, is drawn into their potent puerile magic against his will. There is so much going on here that is barely glimpsed.
Steve Toase’s “On the Hills, the Knitters,” concludes the collection with a most peculiar tale concerning a collective of knitters, who maintain a colossal elephant effigy. Toiling thanklessly and at ever worsening odds with the local villagers upon whose lands they trespass, it remains unclear why they do so until the end. Creepy and dream-like.
You like it smooth and strange? Try Bourbon Penn. Cheers.
It all starts when Syd relocates to Las Vegas from LA, with boyfriend Tarrick, to be with dying mother for the last weeks of her life in Nikita Andester’s “Black Hole Elvis.” A blend of psychedelic awareness, the need for closure before death as well as beyond, and a depiction of non-binary gender life enveloping a drug fueled vision of one cool cat Elvis thriving beyond the grave.
Bizzarro best describes Rich Larson’s “Good Night Moon.” The title, borrowed from a children’s bedtime book, is apt in that the tale evolves from paragraph to paragraph, much like a dream in which anything goes. The narrator plods through life, working menial jobs, while the world around him descends deeper and deeper into unhealthy escapism, bloody chaos and hopeless insanity.
“Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Along the Road,” by Fred Coppersmith, is a post-apocalyptic slice of life. In another dream-like telling, Meredith (or Margaret, she can’t remember which) journeys toward what will most likely be her final undoing, with a chatty conniving dead man, who might just be her late husband, who she probably murdered in that maddening moment when the angels, aliens or demons—whatever they might be—crash-landed on earth, upending pretty much everything.
Jan Stinchcomb offers us an insight into how families haunt us in “Each Time I set Foot in that House.” Meg is forever drawn to her natal family home, where her parents and sister remain inexorably bound to the past, knowing full well the inevitable consequences of her doing so.
Spells, demons and possession color “Sealed with a Kiss,” by H. Pueyo. Israel, a sensitive boy, tries suicide; Dalila, a seductive girl with a tragic past, manipulates men with ease; their teacher, Professor Sabino, is drawn into their potent puerile magic against his will. There is so much going on here that is barely glimpsed.
Steve Toase’s “On the Hills, the Knitters,” concludes the collection with a most peculiar tale concerning a collective of knitters, who maintain a colossal elephant effigy. Toiling thanklessly and at ever worsening odds with the local villagers upon whose lands they trespass, it remains unclear why they do so until the end. Creepy and dream-like.
You like it smooth and strange? Try Bourbon Penn. Cheers.
August 3, 2023
The love affair with Bourbon Penn continues.
"Black Hole Elvis" by Nikita Andester. Many modern writers forget that comedy and tragedy work so well in combo. Shakespeare had comical elements in all his tragedies: there is Yorick in Hamlet and the Porter in Macbeth and the list goes on. And he also had tragic-comedies such as Merchant of Venice, and The Tempest. The Ancient Greeks and the Romans had a comedy and tragedy seen on the same night. So, I feel as though comical elements have a major role to play in narratives. This story manages just that. A daughter and her partner help take care of a dying mother (although the genders here are deliberately vague and much is implied). While fueling up on magic mushrooms and making the most of the mother's last days, parts of the mother-daughter relationship is revealed as far from ideal. I tended to have an overly body-conscious, albeit, loving father, myself, so I could really relate to this story. It delves with the issue in a hopeful manner too. Plus there is a fun ending. 4.5 stars
"Good Night Moon" by Rich Larson. A bizarre story that sadly ends with dream escapist technology. It's innovative and interesting and although it plays with the 'wake-up' convention, it would have been better off IMO without it. Still, a good read. 3.5 stars
"Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Down the Road" by Fred Coppersmith. It was the sole story I struggled with. Not that it is necessarily poorly executed, it's just that 2nd person either works for me or it doesn't. So that relates more to me as a reader. You may love it, especially if you're inclined to 2nd person. See how you go.
"Each Time I Set Foot in That House" by Jan Stinchcomb. A ghost story with a difference. Meg is married, but she keeps the old family home empty for sojourns. And in those sojourns she sees her ghostly family alive again, and what's more, she's part of the old family when she visits. Touching. Wanted a tad more at the end, but it was a clever story and well-written too. 4.5 stars
"Sealed With A Kiss" A high school story, in which nerdy Israel is infatuated with the new odd girl Dalila. Although the girl has traces of the Underworld about her, Israel is eager to please. The duo are delightful. The Latino cultural elements add a lot to the story. It's cute and humorous too in a diabolical manner. My favourite of the lot. 5 stars
"On the Hills, The Knitters" by Steve Toase. This one is well and truly horror. It's darkly atmospheric, as strangers arrive in a small village and knit a massive elephant on the hillside. Some locals take umbrage with these supposedly peaceful arrivals. A little too dark for me, but it successfully explores the darker side of human nature. 4 stars
"Black Hole Elvis" by Nikita Andester. Many modern writers forget that comedy and tragedy work so well in combo. Shakespeare had comical elements in all his tragedies: there is Yorick in Hamlet and the Porter in Macbeth and the list goes on. And he also had tragic-comedies such as Merchant of Venice, and The Tempest. The Ancient Greeks and the Romans had a comedy and tragedy seen on the same night. So, I feel as though comical elements have a major role to play in narratives. This story manages just that. A daughter and her partner help take care of a dying mother (although the genders here are deliberately vague and much is implied). While fueling up on magic mushrooms and making the most of the mother's last days, parts of the mother-daughter relationship is revealed as far from ideal. I tended to have an overly body-conscious, albeit, loving father, myself, so I could really relate to this story. It delves with the issue in a hopeful manner too. Plus there is a fun ending. 4.5 stars
"Good Night Moon" by Rich Larson. A bizarre story that sadly ends with dream escapist technology. It's innovative and interesting and although it plays with the 'wake-up' convention, it would have been better off IMO without it. Still, a good read. 3.5 stars
"Where the Prayers Run Like Weeds Down the Road" by Fred Coppersmith. It was the sole story I struggled with. Not that it is necessarily poorly executed, it's just that 2nd person either works for me or it doesn't. So that relates more to me as a reader. You may love it, especially if you're inclined to 2nd person. See how you go.
"Each Time I Set Foot in That House" by Jan Stinchcomb. A ghost story with a difference. Meg is married, but she keeps the old family home empty for sojourns. And in those sojourns she sees her ghostly family alive again, and what's more, she's part of the old family when she visits. Touching. Wanted a tad more at the end, but it was a clever story and well-written too. 4.5 stars
"Sealed With A Kiss" A high school story, in which nerdy Israel is infatuated with the new odd girl Dalila. Although the girl has traces of the Underworld about her, Israel is eager to please. The duo are delightful. The Latino cultural elements add a lot to the story. It's cute and humorous too in a diabolical manner. My favourite of the lot. 5 stars
"On the Hills, The Knitters" by Steve Toase. This one is well and truly horror. It's darkly atmospheric, as strangers arrive in a small village and knit a massive elephant on the hillside. Some locals take umbrage with these supposedly peaceful arrivals. A little too dark for me, but it successfully explores the darker side of human nature. 4 stars
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews