Grimdark “Bargaining” by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
“The Last Radio God” by Yaroslav Barsukov
“Crimson Shows the Way of Joy” by Eric LaRocca
“Lan Thena – Tales from the Bronze Age” by Christian Cameron (reprint, not reviewed)
“Save, Salve, Shelter” by Essa Hansen (reprint, not reviewed)
“The Cavalry” by João F. Silva (reprint, not reviewed)
Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf
In addition to new and reprinted fiction, this issue offers articles, interviews, and reviews.
The narrator of “Bargaining” by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan is the leader of a band of mercenaries hired to destroy a bridge before an invading army can cross it. To reach the target in time, they have to pass through an area made deadly in order to stop the worship of gods formerly honored there. Protective suits keep them from dying in the hostile environment.
The group accidentally draws the attention of a god that is capable of either killing or sparing each member. The narrator has to figure out what the rules governing the god’s decisions might be, even if it means great sacrifice.
Appropriate to the magazine’s theme, this is a gritty, realistic tale of violence and survival. The plot is imaginative and creates a great deal of suspense. One odd touch is the inclusion of a mercenary with immense strength but the mind of a child and the head of a seagull. Since the other characters are entirely human, this is likely to strike the reader as ludicrous in an otherwise serious story.
“The Last Radio God” by Yaroslav Barsukov takes place at a time in the near future when music generated by artificial intelligences has almost entirely replaced that written by people. At the same time, a mysterious entity, worshipped as a deity by some, inhabits radio towers. The protagonist was one of three siblings who sang a capella with the entity’s renditions of Frank Sinatra tunes. He blames the so-called god for an accident that killed his brother and sister, and seeks revenge.
One cannot fault the author for lack of originality. The story might be seen as partially a protest against art created by AI’s, although this is not a major part of the plot. Readers able to suspend their disbelief strongly enough to accept the bizarre premise are likely to enjoy this unique work, particularly if they are fans of Frank Sinatra.
In “Crimson Shows the Way of Joy” by Eric LaRocca, a person is selected each year to be executed. The narrator’s father was killed this way three years ago. In conversation with the executioner, the narrator offers to be the next sacrifice, while really planning to kill him. Their talk reveals something about the executioner’s feelings and desires.
This brief tale is more notable for its characters than its simple plot, although readers are likely to appreciate the ending. The premise is slightly reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s classic story “The Lottery,” but developed in a completely different way.
Victoria Silverwolf isn’t a fan of Frank Sinatra.