Image © Brain Malachy Quinn 2019
Letter from the Editors Dear Reader, Speculative fiction is such a wide category of fiction that we strive to include something for everybody in each issue. This quarter, we did better than usual, with a space-based vision of the future, two stories that feel like fables told anew, a true "faery" tale, and modern take on what ancient characters might still walk the fog-laden streets of London: Tar -- Andy K. Tytler-- Robots often struggle with the ghost in the machine in speculative fiction, but what happens when the ghost is real -- and still very much alive? Krarg the Barbarian vs. the Afterlife -- Luke Foster -- Krarg sets a new high bar for single-minded persistence, all the way to the top of Mount Splendor and the Gateway of the Great Next. A Mouthful of Mushies -- Evan Rodenhausen -- For those of you seeking post-apocalyptic reckonings, a refreshing take on a somewhat moldy genre. Zhai Chengda's Wife -- Andrew Knighton -- A very considered tale of steampunk and high-stakes spycraft. Kill Screen -- Andrew Johnston -- What happens when you combine the sensibility of Jumanji, the nostalgia of Ready Player One, and season it with the plot of Christine? You get to. . . The Kill Screen. Pride Goeth Before a Fall -- Tim McKeever -- When demons fall in love, the grudges they hold span generations. Brian Malachy Quinn returns with his latest art piece titled Agravil, which reminded us a bit of "Pride Goeth Before a Fall". And don't forget Editors' Corner where our very own Candi Cooper-Towler presents her short story, Garder l'Equilibre. The Five Bridges have claimed many lives. Will it claim Rowland's too? We hope you enjoy these stories as much as we did! Thanks for reading, The Electric SpecTeam