Grimdark #41, January 2025“Bastards and Baguettes” by Justin Lee Anderson
“The First of Many Shudders” by Kaaron Warren (reprint, not reviewed)
“The Imbibing of Inggid Sel” by Moses Ose Utomi
“Red Hell” by Renee Stern (reprint, not reviewed)
“The Reeds of Torin’s Field” by Andrea Stewart (reprint, not reviewed)
“Black Goat Parade” by Josh Rountree
“Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent” by Scott Lynch (serial, not reviewed)
Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf
“Bastards and Baguettes” by Justin Lee Anderson involves a bakery that serves as a front for the sale of illegal addictive drugs. A disgraced member of the upper class, herself hooked on the substance, tries to discover the source of the shop’s supply. After the proprietor refuses to reveal his supplier, she winds up accused of murdering the powerful politician who was also after the drug’s source. One of the dead man’s aides threatens both her and the shopkeeper.
I have deliberately avoiding mentioning the story’s fantasy content, as this is minimal and not relevant to the plot. The drug is said to be made by a witch, but there is no evidence of magic. In essence, this is a gritty, violent crime story that happens to take place in an imaginary world. It will appeal to readers of suspense stories more than to fantasy fans.
In “The Imbibing of Inggid Sel” by Moses Ose Utomi, relatives of a murdered man literally drink the memories of suspects as part of the investigation of the crime. After relating the memories of three possible killers, the story supplies a twist ending.
Although this is also a crime story, the fantasy premise is of more importance than in the previous work. The author writes from the points of view of the three suspects effectively. Because we are told that the memories can be distorted into falsehoods, the procedure seems no more helpful than simply questioning the suspects.
“Black Goat Parade” by Josh Rountree takes place in a town that celebrates Christmas extravagantly, but also has its own rituals. The protagonist married a native of the town, and the couple have a young son. The story begins with the child turning into a satyr-like creature. The main character follows his son into town, where a ceremony is underway.
This is a horror story with few surprises in the plot. The main factor that distinguishes it from others of the same kind is the way that familiar aspects of the Christmas season contrast with gruesome terrors.
Victoria Silverwolf has a new pair of spectacles.