Remains Issue Five

 

REMAINS (Issue 5):

A heist goes oddly wrong in Tim Lees’ SEX LIVES OF THE SPIRIT WORLD. When two thieves manage to break into a famous rapper’s house, one of them leaves *connected* to Dave, a most unusual ghost/demon. Lees brings the dark humor yet keeps this a satisfyingly weird tale.

Nils is paid to travel to New Guinea in search of exotic treasures, but finds himself in a terrifying predicament in Matt Flintoff’s TRIBUTARY, a sort-of *steampunk* version of The Wicker Man. Familiar but effective.

Aliya Whiteley’s SANDCASTLE CHALET follows two people whose lives have been affected by an entity that has altered their memories. They attempt to understand their condition by returning to a place they had visited during their childhood. The sense of dread here brings the chills.

INSIGHTS by David Vonderheide is brief yet epic in scope: a grim heartbreaking look at a man’s tragic life.

James Sallis delivers the latest installment of the ongoing LETTERS FROM NEW AMERICA series, and at this point I admit to being baffled. Perhaps when the saga is complete a reread will shed some light.

Rebecca Zahabi’s atmospheric THE SUMPTERS follows a guide who brings clients into a dangerous — and otherworldly — set of caves. This one is highlighted by a slick ending.

Ray Cluley’s LIKE THE DEVIL features an old man recalling his youth when, at age 17 in the early 1930s, he began racing cars for mobsters … and his first race took on a supernatural angle. The lengthiest story of the issue, and also the most memorable.

Bill and Tom are monster hunters in the shadowy A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR (by Toby Whithouse). Whithouse reveals info about this strange, pre-apocalyptic world through Bill’s thoughts as he stops for a beer during their endless travels.

Editor Andy Cox continues to select some of the best and most well-written dark fiction around, each tale accented by Richard Wagner’s unique artwork. Grab a copy or subscribe at REMAINS.