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Blogs by Robert Anthony Montesino
Speculative Fiction Centre Summer Issue Release
7/20/2007 8:49:23 PM
I don't blog very often but I thought this would be a good tool to give notice of SFC Summer Issue release. So I'm posting the editorial I wrote highlighting some of what our summer issue has to offer it's readership. Check it out at www.specfiction.com
SFC Summer Issue 2007
Dear Readers
Our new Summer Issue is a little late but finally online, but trust me it’s worth the wait. The selection process was a difficult task—so many good stories made our short list it was truly hard to choose. Let me take this opportunity to thank all those who submitted and for taking an interest in SFC. We have a target date for the end of September for our Fall Issue and will be reading submissions from September 15-25th. Furthermore, we have a massive print Anthology project “HORIZONS” scheduled for late October, 2007. Enough said on that, now on with the show—
David Gardiner comes back to us again this year with his story, “AFTERLIFE.” A poignant powerful account of a dead mans life. Love, Murder, Regrets & Retribution drives this story forward in such a compelling way that it will leave readers engaged from the first word to the last. Mr. Gardiner paints pictures with his words in an “alla prima” first person narrative that reflects what a master craftsman and story teller can do when exploring an old theme with a new twist.
Now, everyone loves a good Zombie story right? In “THE TURNING” by Terry Lloyd Vinson, master of the macabre and horror writer extraordinaire offers us just that. “THE TURNING” is guaranteed to make your skin crawl and leave bumps like confetti all over your body. Whatever you do—don’t read this story when you’re alone on a moonless night, unless you enjoy (like I do) being scared out of your mind. Terry’s latest release “THE DEAD EFFECT” promises more of the same and is now available at Amazon.com & other major book retailers. So all you Horror fans out there—buy this book, you won’t be disappointed.
Our old friend, Gregory Bernard Banks is back in this issue with “THE ONE AND ONLY,” a unique piece of fiction, a cross genre story best described as a Horror Sci-Fi with zombie like elements wrapped around a futuristic Armageddon scenario with a historical perspective. What’s even more amazing is that Gregory does all this with an economy of words and still manages to leave readers with a powerful thought provoking twist at the end. It’s important to note Gregory’s story, “Into the Every” published in our Winter/Spring Issue won a top ten award. This story finished 6th in the Fantasy Sci-Fi category of P&E Readers Poll Awards. Congratulations Greg! Keep those head banging stories coming.
Leonard James first came to the pages of SFC with “THE TURNING OF THE SPIT” published in our Winter/Spring Issue. And now he offers us “BRIMSTONE.” Believe me folks, Leonard James is a writer to watch. This story is probably one of the tightest pieces of fiction I’ve had the pleasure to read in awhile—not one superfluous word. More remarkable is that Mr. James is probably not even aware of just how good he is. “BRIMSTONE” is not what it appears to be, a dusty forgotten out of the way place in another time and place. The setting for this story is a mid-western town before the turn of the century. The central character, a gun slinger named Garth McCants with nine kills under his belt. He’s riding into Brimstone looking to make it ten. What happens to him there is not only remarkable but, miraculous. I’m afraid to say more. But believe me this tale is much more than a spaghetti western saga, its life changing. Our kudos go out to Tim Vigil for the quick sketch of a gun slinger that illustrates this story. He is a popular and gifted artist. Look for his Mona Lisa series wherever alternative comics are sold.
C.H.Crowe is another writer who first published with SFC in the last issue with his story “BAIT.” Just when we thought we saw his best he comes back to us with “NOSERINGS,” an action packed thriller of a dishonorably discharged Marine who is just looking for a good time on a hot L.A. night. What he finds is more hell than any action in Iraq showed him on a bad day. Wanna find out why? Strap yourself down and go read the story. Enjoy it (I did).
Mary E. Rose does it again, with a two part serial entitled, “THE NAME ON THE WALL.” I’m not surprised to find that she does equally well with the horror genre as she did with her Sci-Fi thriller, “LINK DETONATOR.” She pens a mean story here and I am anxiously waiting for its conclusion which promises to be another winner. Part Two will be published in our Fall Issue. I’ll reserve further comment until that time.
Lastly, let me offer my sincere thanks, gratitude (and admiration) to my co-editor Lee Garrett, a multi-talented renaissance man who I feel privileged to call my friend. Just for the record as we enter our third year of publication of this magazine, none of it would have been possible without Lee’s help. A fine editor and excellent writer as his latest two stories—Darkhold and Last Request—demonstrate. In my honest opinion both stories are strong candidates for best in category for P&E 2007 reader’s poll awards. Again, why do I say that, well you got it ... go find and read them for yourself.
I know I promised to be brief (I lied) but I cannot conclude without giving my heart-felt thanks to our readership, many who have stayed with us since the beginning, offering us support, encouragement and most importantly, sharing our belief that we can keep this dream alive. Enough said.
Robert Anthony Montesino
Editor
Speculative Fiction Centre
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• Speculative Fiction Centre Summer Issue Release - Friday, July 20, 2007
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