It is my privilege to introduce three wildly different but excellent new stories in this September issue.
I’ll start with “Rabies in August.” Gene Goldfarb’s piece threw me at first. The opening paragraph starts off so kind and gentle, and then his devious sense of humor grabs hold of you and you’re stuck for the ride. This is a hilarious, sensitive, and satisfying story that repays a second reading.
Next up, Jordan Faber gives us “Fabric.” This is one of those stories I knew I wanted before I was halfway through. She’s got an undeniable hand for dialogue and description, and by the end of the story, you want to both hug and holler at the characters involved. Think Dostoevsky’s The Gambler. I feel about her characters a lot like I felt about Alexei and the rest.
And finally, “Volition” by Shamar English was also a very quick acceptance. I’ve had the privilege of reading some of his other work, and this piece shows off one of his strengths: a frustrated, alienated, and bewildered character trying to figure out the next step.
So, there you go. Grab a soda, find a chair, and enjoy the stories!
Happy reading,
Daniel R. Julian
Editor-in-chief