A Dark Void Arises... — Lions In The Fog

This is a relatively new “biannual science fiction horror magazine.” Each issue features four short stories set “off Planet Earth.” I was impressed by the quality of the stories, and enjoyed the (all too short) reading offered by the magazine.

Dark Void Magazine, Issue 1, Spring 2022, Benjamin DeHaan, ed.

Nelson Stanley’s The Pain Cave takes the reader on a tour of the horrific end of a dystopian space mine manned by corporate serfs lead by a corporate drone. Stanley paints vividly bleak pictures with words, describing one character as looking “like an advert for a fascist protein bar” -- you know you got a clear mental image there. And in the end, there is still love. It’s an angry, doomed love, but still.

The others are also good. Prosthesis, by Marissa James, explores what happens when a battle to stay on top suddenly isn’t worthwhile, with a twist. Only The Rain has Jennifer R. Povey exploring xenodiplomacy gone horribly wrong. And David F. Shultz’s Starship Sepulcher resurrects a fantastic synonym for “tomb” and then takes on a bleak tour through a space-going one soaked in mystery and loss.

The Pain Cave was my favorite, but all of these are good -- the grim stories have been carefully curated, leaving a treat for readers.

Smirk factor: All clear: 2 pts (No smirking, and some lovely if very dark words)

Immersion factor: Chest-high: 1.5 pts (Sorry it wasn’t longer)

Writing quality: High: 2 pts

Character/plot development: Above-average: 1.5 pts

Innovative/interesting: Above-average: 1.5 pts

Total: 8.5/10 (4.25 stars, rounded to 5)

Dark Void Magazine, Issue 2, Fall 2022, Benjamin DeHaan, ed.

This issue is anchored by J.F. Gleeson’s The Writhyng Tongues of Jupiter, in which a prisoner is released, faces fate, and returns to his cell. Human Nature, by Diane Arrelle, offers a fresh look at what it means when aliens come to serve humanity. A Girl With No Name from Evelyn Freeling offers a grim and misogynistic world where a robot--with more humanity than many of the humans around her--tries to protect a girl from a bleak future. Finally, Husk by Spencer Nitkey continues the robot theme with a very literary look at memories.

A very solid sophomore offering from this magazine -- this resonated a little less than Issue 1, but the stories are high quality, and carefully assembled into this short but high-impact volume.

Smirk factor: All clear: 2 pts (No smirks, high-quality words)

Immersion factor: Chest-high: 1.5 pts (Even the weakest story was a treat)

Writing quality: Above-average: 1.5 pts

Character/plot development: Above-average: 1.5 pts

Innovative/interesting: Above-average: 1.5 pts

Total: 8/10 (4 stars)

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