Grimdark “And Sneer of Cold Command” by Premee Mohamed (reprint, not reviewed)
“The First Bar at the End of the Day” by Ken Scholes
“Head Games” by Cameron Johnston (reprint, not reviewed)
“Adramelech” by Sean Patrick Hazlett (reprint, not reviewed)
“A Reputation for Prudence” by Richard Swan
Reviewed by Tara Grímravn
In addition to informative articles and entertaining interviews, there are five stories on offer in this 31st issue of Grimdark, all centering around twisted magics of one sort or another. Only two of the five tales are new, with three of them having been published elsewhere. As such, readers will find below a review only of the two original works.
“The First Bar at the End of the Day” by Ken Scholes
A man sits at a bar having a conversation with another patron about the terrible day he’s had at work. You see, he’s just seen the end of the world. And there’s no saving us from it.
This piece by Scholes is a rather short piece, though that doesn’t make it any less horrific. The premise, though not particularly innovative, is certainly on par with any Lovecraftian cosmic horror, with a few hints of Philip K. Dick’s “The Minority Report” thrown in. Unfortunately, the style in which it’s written is distracting. The one-sided conversation, complete with frequent acknowledged interjections, is kind of jarring.
I found myself being pulled out of the narrative every time the narrator had to acknowledge the romantic attentions by the bar patron to whom he was talking. Normally, such things wouldn’t bother me, as it can be a useful technique to establish setting, especially in such a short piece. However, I found myself questioning the believability of whether a random stranger in a bar would continue trying to seduce a person who is telling them, in a rather serious manner, that they are part of a secretive psychic organization and have just discovered a ravenous monster out to destroy humanity.
That aside, the story itself is a decent enough read.
“A Reputation for Prudence” by Richard Swan
Outside the town of Baniskhaven, Justice Konrad Vonvalt waits for Justice Klaudia Sokol in the ruins of an old temple. He has been summoned here to assist her with her last case before retirement. The goal is to approach and apprehend Lord Emil Baran, suspected of committing heinous crimes in relation to a number of missing townspeople. Of course, things may be even worse than they seem.
I must say that I quite enjoyed Swan’s story of necromancy, ancient gods, and cannibalism. It has a wonderful mix of Slavic and Russian cultural notes set within an obviously dark, fantastical setting. Swan’s scene description and worldbuilding are very well done, with a delightful twist at the climax. An excellent read, over all, and highly recommended.