Short Story Wednesday Review: Dark Yonder: Issue 1

 

From the archive…

 

Dark Yonder: Issue 1 opens with two introductions. The first is by editor Eryk Pruitt in which he pays homage to Thuglit. The second is by editor Katy Munger where she expresses her love for short stories, the of “idea neo noir,” and how it relates to what they are going to publish. Then, after a drink recipe, it is on to the stories.

Mike McHone starts things off with “Perforation Of A Moment.” Birch Run, Michigan, is not a favorite place for Josh Howard. He went back there to either finish his novel or commit suicide. Which it will be is a tossup. It is late October and the 49-year-old man is going through some things. He has not seen nothing yet.

In “The Twenty-One Foot Rule” by Mick Mamatas, one is reminded that bringing a gun to a knife fight is an interesting choice. Tracy and Robin are twins. They are in a constant battle for supremacy, one way or another.

“Dorothy” by Anna Elin Kristiansen is a tale of what happens after the slap. Her husband never should have slapped her. He did. Things had not been that great lately, but even he knows he should not have done that. Now he wants it all to blow over and to be easily forgotten.

Beni is being forced to be a child soldier in “Beni” by Greg Williard. His fate is grim, even if he survives the training. That same training might give the skills he needs to deal with those who killed his parents and changed his live forever.

Todd Pierce is working the bar as “Verna Maxwell” by Dana King begins. She came into the bar, started a tab, and likes Vodka Collins. Her walking into his bar is going to start a string of events that will ultimately lead to violence. The only question is what will happen and how bad it will be.

Reni knew somebody was in the house, but Teddy refused to get up and look. She used to be a cop, still has her K9 partner though he is up in years, and has the 1911 cold Teddy’s father used in WWII. She also has home field advantage in “Home Game” by Craig Faustus Buck.

After a string of short stories firmly grounded in noir style crime fiction, the next several stories are more science fiction or fantasy general tales. While enjoyable reads, they may not fit how you see the noir word, neo or otherwise.

“The Worst Game Of Baseball Ever Played” by Adam Breckenridge features a world gone mad. The unrest starts in the stands of a baseball stadium and soon spills over into the surrounding neighborhood. Extreme violence with no sign of law enforcement. Is our hero going mad? Is the world ending? Neither? Both? The answer is in the mind of the reader as this one is very much open to interpretation.

An incident at school means he is suspended and going home. Mom’s a bit worried about why he did what he did in “A Harvest Of Malice” by Matt McHugh. The story within the story is an ancient and powerful message-- if he listens.

It is 1965 and King Booker has a plan in “The Entitled Life And Untimely Death Of King Booker” by P. M. Raymond. New Orleans. Voodoo. Need I say more?

The final story returns the reader to a more crime fiction noir style bent and without the paranormal in Johnny Shaw’s “Or Not To Be.” A poker game in a bar goes wrong. At least it did for the guy who got invited to the game, won big, and now has one heck of a problem staying alive and keeping his winnings.

Dark Yonder: Issue 1 is an interesting mixture of stories. All the tales are solidly good. Some are more clearly crime fiction rooted noir type tales than others. Science fiction and fantasy elements are present in three tales. More than anything or any label, these are dark tales and not ones that make you feel very good about anyone involved. As was the legendary Thuglit, this is not a read that makes you feel all warm and gooey about humanity. The overall result here is an interesting and enjoyable read as well as a new market to keep an eye on going forward.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4lOsPxt

 

My eBook reading copy was a gift from a friend.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023, 2025

Short Story Wednesday Review: Dark Yonder: Issue 2, Spring 2023

After brief intros by Editors Katy Munger and Eryk Prutt followed by a drink recipe, it is onto the stories. Noted author S.A. Cosby powerfully kick things off with “A Song For The Shattered Hearts” Terry has had a really bad week. The kind of week that country and western songs are written about. At least he still has fishing and is doing so in a neglected spot on an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay. As a reader, you know he will catch something. The question is what will it be and what will the catch lead to.

 

Sticking around the club for the free after work drink was a bad idea in “Big Bob’s Donuts At 3 A.M.” by Megan Lucas. She met Teddy, felt a tingle, and felt seen and heard. Meeting Teddy created a new set of problems in an already hard life.

 

Jason has a plan for the old Florida motel in “Chicken Fly Christ” by Joseph Hirsch. Those plans are going to have to wait as a guest by the name of Craig Sakowitz is being a difficult check in. He isn’t the only one with problems in the motel.

 

Eli Tate and Norris Mapp are twelve years and riding mountain bikes adjacent to a lake. In “Wheelies” by Recita L. Clemons, they find an injured woman. While she is injured in some way, they can see blood, she also might be trouble.

 

He works for Roy’s Taxi and, over the years, has seen quite a lot more than a thing or two. He sees more stuff in “I’m Coming To Get You” by Kevin Brown. The good, bad, and the ugly past flow through this short story.

 

Tony is an artist and is dating Kenzie. Things are progressing along their relationship so he has invited her to his home for the first time in “Bear Hunt” by Warren Moore.  Art and art appreciation drive the romantic interest in their relationship. But, they may not see art and the artist the same way.

 

A child is missing in “Trayden’s 2!” by Alice Archer. That missing child is just one point in lot of stuff going on in this complicated story.

 

Jackson isn’t having much fun on vacation with his family in “Beach House” by Joe Labriola. This Memorial Day weekend getaway is a bust, all things considered. At least he found a hidden spot in a small gully just down from his rented beach house. At least he could go there and relax if he could just get five minutes to himself.

 

She likes to spend intimate time with men who have recently become widowers. She loves their grief as it makes her feel alive and powerful. In “Grief” by Preston Lang, Annabel and her obsession with broken men is the final short story.

 

Each of the tales presented in Dark Yonder: Issue 2, Spring 2023, is a good one. Noir is the universal theme and each tale is a dark one. While the setup parameters might occasionally be familiar to readers, the execution of the premise and how that is accomplished is what makes these reads work.

 

As is a first issue, Dark Yonder: Issue 2, Spring 2023, is well worth your time.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/42NFnMk

 

My digital reading copy was a gift from a friend. Yes, Virginia, I do have friends.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024 

Short Story Wednesday Review: Dark Yonder: Issue 1

Dark Yonder: Issue 1 opens with two introductions. The first is by Editor Eryk Pruitt in which he pays homage to Thuglit. The second is by Editor Katy Munger where she expresses her love for short stories, the idea of “neo noir,” and how it relates to what they are going to publish. Then, after a drink recipe, it is on to the stories.

Mike McHone starts things off with “Perforation Of A Moment.” Birch Run, Michigan, is not a favorite place for Josh Howard. He went back there to either finish his novel or commit suicide. Which it will be is a tossup. It is late October and the 49-year-old man is going through some things. He has not seen nothing yet.

In “The Twenty-One Foot Rule” by Mick Mamatas, one is reminded that bringing a gun to a knife fight is an interesting choice. Tracy and Robin are twins. They are in a constant battle for supremacy, one way or another.

“Dorothy” by Anna Elin Kristiansen is a tale of what happens after the slap. Her husband never should have slapped her. He did. Things had not been that great lately, but even he knows he should not have done that. Now he wants it all to blow over and to be easily forgotten.

Beni is being forced to be a child soldier in “Beni” by Greg Williard. His fate is grim, even if he survives the training. That same training might give the skills he needs to deal with those who killed his parents and changed his life forever.

Todd Pierce is working the bar as “Verna Maxwell” by Dana King begins. She came into the bar, started a tab, and likes Vodka Collins. Her walking into his bar is going to start a string of events that will ultimately lead to violence. The only question is what will happen and how bad it will be.

Reni knew somebody was in the house, but Teddy refused to get up and look. She used to be a cop, still has her K9 partner though he is up in years, and has the 1911 cold Teddy’s father used in WWII. She also has home field advantage in “Home Game” by Craig Faustus Buck.

After a string of short stories firmly grounded in noir style crime fiction, the next several stories are more science fiction or fantasy general tales. While enjoyable reads, they may not fit how you see the noir word, neo or otherwise.

“The Worst Game Of Baseball Ever Played” by Adam Breckenridge features a world gone mad. The unrest starts in the stands of a baseball stadium and soon spills over into the surrounding neighborhood. Extreme violence with no sign of law enforcement. Is our hero going mad? Is the world ending? Neither? Both? The answer is in the mind of the reader as this one is very much open to interpretation.

An incident at school means he is suspended and going home. Mom’s a bit worried about why he did what he did in “A Harvest Of Malice” by Matt McHugh. The story within the story is an ancient and powerful message-- if he listens.

It is 1965 and King Booker has a plan in “The Entitled Life And Untimely Death Of King Booker” by P. M. Raymond. New Orleans. Voodoo. Need I say more?

The final story returns the reader to a more crime fiction noir style bent and without the paranormal in Johnny Shaw’s “Or Not To Be.” A poker game in a bar goes wrong. At least it did for the guy who got invited to the game, won big, and now has one heck of a problem staying alive and keeping his winnings.

Dark Yonder: Issue 1 is an interesting mixture of stories. All the tales are solidly good. Some are more clearly crime fiction rooted noir type tales than others. Science fiction and fantasy elements are present in three tales. More than anything or any label, these are dark tales and not ones that make you feel very good about anyone involved. As was the legendary Thuglit, this is not a read that makes you feel all warm and gooey about humanity. The overall result here is an interesting and enjoyable read as well as a new market to keep an eye on going forward.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3uuKmFn

 

My eBook reading copy was a gift from a friend.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023