Nightmare #88, January 2020“Familiar Face” by Meg Elison
Reviewed by Kevin P Hallett
There are two first publication stories in the 88th issue of Nightmare.
“Familiar Face” by Meg Elison
Annie is struggling to get over the murder of her deaf wife, in this short horror mystery. Annie shares a house with other couples who have deaf partners. They all can sign, and they all miss Annie’s wife, Cara.
The house doorbell, armed with face recognition software, torments Annie, as it keeps announcing that Cara’s at the door. Is this a sign from the other side? Is there something the doorbell is trying to tell her about Cara; was she killed by a familiar face?
The author asked the reader to work out for themselves many aspects of the plot, which made for a challenging and rewarding read.
“Elo Havel” by Brian Evenson
In this horror short, the people of the City have a close bond with the forest that provides them food and materials, and in return the City gives it their dying. Delegates take those who are near death to the forest where they disappear forever. For ages the people love the forest and go willingly to die, leaving behind no evidence of their passing.
But one day a dying person resists, and their passing leaves a bloody stain on a tree. Others see this and begin resisting too. Soon the elderly fight back, and the delegates, like Elo Havel, must tie them up to trees. Eventually the time comes for Elo Havel to go to the forest to die. Though the others sent with him scream and protest, Elo chooses to accept his fate. He remains calm and willing to give his body to the forest.
Evanson’s story was well structured with an engaging pace and mystery to it.