- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of AmericaNonprofit Organization
- Axe CopEntertainment Website
- A Leap of DoubtPodcast
We're kicking off 2018 in a big way! Author Eric Schaller examines the weird landscape as an avatar of evil in stories by Machen, Hodgson, Lovecraft, Ballard, and more:
"Machen’s amazing short story, 'The White People' ... is initiated by a philosophical but nevertheless enthralling discussion on the nature of Sin and Evil. It is here that Machen performs an amazing sidestep around the quagmire of morality with its nebulous and ill-fitting definitions. Machen moves the concep...t of Evil away from human nature and into the landscape. Religions often focus on criminal actions such as theft, murder, and adultery, but these are not truly evil because, although negative, they arise from purely human failings. Rather, “There is something profoundly ‘unnatural’ about Sin, about Evil.” This statement, along with its examples, encompasses much of what I find stimulating in weird literature. Here, I explore the concept of landscape as it relates to the Weird, and as Machen describes, to Evil."
See More
We're wrapping up 2017 with a very exciting contribution to our 101 Weird Writers series by author Jon Padgett. Padgett explores absurdism, decrepitude, and dark humor in Thomas Ligotti's "The Town Manager":
"The humor in 'The Town Manager' is of an absurd (or, rather, absurdist) flavor, from the useless trolley to the murder of the trolley operator by possibly supernatural means via the semi-literate town manager. In the pivotal book, 'The Theatre of the Absurd,' Martin Esslin quotes philosopher Apuleius, describing ancient mime plays in which 'serious, even horrifying matters are miraculously mingled with the… humorous.' This is of a kind used by Ligotti, humor that might be found in a Beckett or Ionesco play – a hilarity that reinforces and deepens rather than defuses the horror of existence."
If you enjoyed Kristen Roupenian's story "Cat Person" in The New Yorker, check out her weird fiction story we ran in 2015 as part of our weird voyages and strange seas feature.
We're wrapping up our look at books that came out this year to honor the 100th anniversary of surrealist painter and author Leonora Carrington, born in 1917. In the fourth and final part of our series, author Selena Chambers reviews "Down Below," "The Surreal Life of Leonora Carrington," and "Milk of Dreams."
We're also giving away a copy of "Down Below." To enter, email your mailing address to weirdfictionreview@gmail.com with the subject of "Down Below" by December 6th. US residents only. Winner also receives a copy of "Calls for Submission," Selena Chambers' debut collection. Congrats to Vincent from Idaho who won our last contest which included a copy of Carrington's complete short stories.
One of our favorite things about the "Year's Best Weird Fiction" series has been reading each year's guest editor introduction. This year's intro, written by Helen Marshall, has a fantastic look at the nature of weird fiction with parallels to recent political events: "Weird fiction is a genre that knows about the apocalypse." Also, be sure to check out our interview with Marshall, up today too.
Just in time for Halloween! We have a short story and interview with the illustrious Matthew M. Bartlett up today. Bartlett's new collection, "The Stay-Awake Men and Other Unstable Entities" (Dunhams Manor Press), drops tomorrow. Be sure to check out his story "Spettrini"—very creepy and a perfect read for Halloween night.
We're reviewing the books that came out this year to honor the 100th anniversary of surrealist painter and author Leonora Carrington, who was born in 1917. In part three of our series, author Selena Chambers wraps up her look at "The Complete Works of Leonora Carrington" (Dorothy, a publishing project).
We're also giving away a copy of "The Complete Works of Leonora Carrington." To enter, email your mailing address to weirdfictionreview@gmail.com with the subject of "Carrington" by October 31st. US residents only. Winner also receives a copy of "Calls for Submission," Selena Chambers' debut collection. Congrats to Craig from Indiana who won our first contest which included a copy of Carrington's "Milk of Dreams."
Great article by Machado on "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson. If you haven't read Jackson's book yet, it would make an excellent Halloween read!
One of our favorite collections this year is Nadia Bulkin's "She Said Destroy" from Word Horde. Its social and political themes are biting and timely. We had the pleasure to ask Bulkin about her collection, growing up in Indonesia, and more.
It's Tanith Lee week at Weird Fiction Review as we remember her on what would have been her 70th birthday. Here's a fantastic interview she did with us back in 2012.
We have a special piece today to celebrate Tanith Lee's 70th birthday. She passed away in 2015 but left behind a prolific body of work in which she created her own brand of weird fiction combining elements of fantasy, horror, and the Weird. Author Craig L. Gidney looks at some of Lee's work including her new collection "The Weird Tales of Tanith Lee."
Weirdfictionreview.com remains committed to providing you the most content with the smallest amount of internet drama possible. Because, weirdlings, we love you. Now, here is a calming image for you to put on your laptop and view when you are feeling stressed. You're welcome.
We are sorry to say that here at WFR you are unlikely to find uncanny controversies or weird kerfuffle. Just, you know, lots of unusual weird fiction and thoughtful articles on weird fiction. We hope this does not disappoint. Cheers.
A stunning comics adaptation of Algernon Blackwood's The Willows is coming soon. Spread the word! http://mailchi.mp/…/willows-1-by-nathan-carson-and-sam-ford…
Gritty, dark, and surreal! We've got an interview and two excerpts up from David Leo Rice, author of "A Room in Dodge City." Brian Evenson calls his work, "what might happen if Edvard Munch knew alt-folk, lived in the U.S., and decided to paint directly on the inside of his own skull rather than on canvas." Also, the interview features pics of delicious tacos.
We're looking forward to NecronomiCon Providence next week. Lots of panelists that we've featured on WFR recently: Kij Johnson, Nnedi Okorafor, Jon Padgett, etc. Tickets are still available!
