Nightmare #75, December 2018“The Ten Things She Said While Dying: An Annotation” by Adam-Troy Castro
Reviewed by Kevin P Hallett
There are two first publication stories in the 75th issue of Nightmare.
“The Ten Things She Said While Dying: An Annotation” by Adam-Troy Castro
Robyn has just begun working for a professor in this thought-provoking horror short. The brilliant, but obnoxious, professor is hoping for more than just clerical services from Robyn.
When the professor opens a portal to another dimension, he allows a being of unlimited power into Earth’s dimension. The being instantly annihilates the professor in an explosion. But Robyn survives, though mortally wounded, and the monstrous being will allow her to negotiate the fate of humanity. Can her involuntary negotiations save humankind?
The author has managed to cram many intriguing ideas into a short story that grabbed and held this reader’s attention quickly.
“The Island of Beasts” by Carrie Vaughn
In this intriguing short horror tale, the Lord of the Wolves has dumped the uncompromising werewolf, Lucy, on the Island of Beasts. Exiled for her unruly behavior, she must now find a way to survive an island full of savage werewolves intent on ripping her apart in five days, at the next full moon.
Shelter, water and some form of a weapon are her first priorities. But then the wolves come calling to see who this rare female werewolf is. But she isn’t about to let herself be someone’s prize.
Vaughn has crafted an engaging, character-driven story that is hard to predict and even harder to put down.