[On May 10, 2021 Strange Horizons officially expressed its political support for Palestinian solidarity. The views of Tangent Online reviewers are not necessarily those of Strange Horizons. Fiction critiqued at Tangent Online is, as much as is humanly possible, without prejudice and based solely on artistic merit.]

Strange Horizons, September 12, 2022

“The Poltergeist Rose: An Instructional Guide” by J. G. Lynas

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

“The Poltergeist Rose: An Instructional Guide” by J. G. Lynas takes the form of a set of directions revealing how to create the item named in the title. The procedure is complex, full of details that are frightening and mysterious. The flower itself, which becomes sentient during the process, is tormented horribly. The purpose appears to be to cause great evil to the recipient of the rose.

There are many strange things that remain unexplained in this surrealistic horror story. The author certainly creates an eerie and disturbing mood. Ambiguity is often an effective technique in chilling a reader’s bones, but some may find that this tale of terror overdoes it a bit.

Victoria Silverwolf likes roses.